Audiophilism is a hobby

We figured in a previous thread that there less than a million audiophiles in the US and of that group only a small number care enough to post about it on internet sites.

This estimate is probably off and the number is a lot higher, imo. The younger audiophile is a "home theater" guy, with a HT setup, spatial headphones, etc. I know quite a few of them in my city. They view audio as a multitasking system for their music, movies and games. Their setups tend to sound shockingly good and in many cases may beat the daylights out of some of the $$$$ channel based purist systems around here.

The older lads here probably have little to no idea about the above mentioned, play games, etc. Purist stereo rigs my be a dying breed, but, the above mentioned is not. If these uppity audio brands don’t repurpose themselves a bit, they will be closing shop soon enough.

The fact that AV forums have skyrocketing memberships and sites like Agon have dwindling membership should be initial proof.

I think it's something you do for pleasure. Is sex a hobby?

For those who say they don’t understanding the issue or “the angst,” it is thus:  

As advantageous as high audio fidelity is, the processes by which the music lover achieves such is very often deleterious to actually loving the music. It’s hard to love the music when instead of just loving it one is very pre-occupied with the scrutiny of fidelity-related minutiae.  
Non-Audiophile Fred is just sitting there loving the music.  
Audiophile Billy is sitting there fretting about the distortion, the transient accuracy, the imaging, the soundstage, on and on and on and on….

Fred is actually enjoying the beauty, wonderment, emotional richness, mental stimulation, perhaps even transcendence that music provides.  
Billy is a ball of anxiety, angst and minutiae-scrutinizing madness.
That’s the issue and “the angst.” 

@oldaudiophile

I concur with what you’re saying. Those who don’t “fiddle” with their rigs, but are happy with the sound they are achieving can probably also be termed audiophiles. But the nature of this forum is that it dedicates itself to the type of audiophile who likes to manipulate equipment, which I consider rates the category of a hobby. If you’re not interested in the manipulation of equipment why would you become a member of Audiogon? Once you’ve achieved the sound you’re happy with you can join a music forum.

@tylermunn,

EXACTLY!