Am I right for this forum?

I don't understand your question, are you asking that the 3K value is below or above audiophile "grade"?

Or do you feel not welcome here, for some other reason?

$3000? Get out!

Kidding. You love and create music, and listen to and appreciate reproduced music systems. Sounds like you should stick around. 😏

I started my music journey listening to a mono table top radio in the basement, for well under $30. It took me at least 30 years to get above $3,000. But it's the music I heard on that mono set that counted. The music is still number one, and in your case it's Eva, Christy and Mozart that counts. I never listened to Tool, but will try it out.

Stay around, even if it's just for the music.

"So...am I an "audiophile," or not? Do I belong here, or not?"

Yes! You do belong here! 

Are you a music lover or an audiophile? This is a question that many people ask themselves, but what is the difference between the two? And do you need to buy expensive audio gear to be a music lover? Is an audiophile a music lover? Is a music lover an audiophile? Do you need to be an audiophile to be a music lover vice versa? In this blog post, I will try to answer these questions from a music lover perspective, and share some facts and figures about the audio world. I hope you will find this post informative, inclusive, and easy to read!

First of all, let me define what I mean by a music lover and an audiophile. A music lover is someone who enjoys listening to music, regardless of the genre, format, or quality. A music lover may have a preference for certain types of music, but they are open to discovering new artists and styles. A music lover may also have a basic or modest audio system at home, or use headphones or earbuds to listen to music on the go. A music lover’s main goal is to enjoy the music itself and the emotions it evokes.

An audiophile, on the other hand, is someone who cares about the technical quality of the audio experience. An audiophile may have a preference for certain genres of music, but they are more interested in how the music sounds than what it means. An audiophile may also have a sophisticated or expensive audio system at home, or use high-end headphones or earphones to listen to music on the go. An audiophile’s main goal is to achieve the highest fidelity possible, and to hear every detail and nuance of the music.

According to a survey conducted by Groove Patterns, 63% of respondents identified themselves as music lovers, 25% as audiophiles, and 12% as both. The survey also found that audiophiles tend to spend more money on audio equipment than music lovers, and that they are more likely to listen to lossless or high-resolution formats than music lovers. However, the survey also revealed that both groups share a passion for music and that they can learn from each other.

So, do you need to buy expensive audio gear to be a music lover? The answer is no. You can enjoy music with any device or system that suits your budget and lifestyle. Of course, if you want to improve your sound quality, you can invest in better audio gear, but you don’t have to break the bank to do so. There are many affordable options on the market that can deliver great sound for less money. For example, you can buy a pair of decent headphones for under $100, or a Bluetooth speaker for under $50.

Is an audiophile a music lover? The answer is yes. An audiophile may have different priorities and preferences than a music lover, but they still love music. They just want to hear it in the best way possible. An audiophile may also appreciate aspects of music that a music lover may overlook, such as the production, mixing, mastering, or recording techniques. An audiophile may also have a deeper knowledge of audio technology and terminology than a music lover.

Is a music lover an audiophile? The answer is maybe. A music lover may not care about the technical quality of the audio experience as much as an audiophile, but they may still appreciate good sound when they hear it. A music lover may also be curious about how audio gear works and how it affects the sound of music. A music lover may also be willing to try new formats or genres of music that an audiophile may recommend.

Do you need to be an audiophile to be a music lover vice versa? The answer is no. You can be either one or both, depending on your personal taste and interest. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy music, as long as you respect other people’s choices and opinions. You can also learn from each other and discover new things about music and audio.

+100 dougsat

There are helpful people here and also some people who never grew up and like to hear themselves talk. If you can separate these two groups and only take the positive and educational from the forum it can be a good place. IMO