Audiophilism is a hobby

From what I can tell an Audiophile Billy is anyone who does things differently than the way I do. If my system is inexpensive and my records scratched, it's the guy with Wilson speakers, McIntosh amps and UHQR records. For some it's the authors of angst ridden threads about which cable should I buy to solve my latest problem. Many Billies just post threads asking/hoping for people to agree that whatever they're  doing is the right thing. If you believe you're  not an Audiophile  Billy as defined here you're probably not reading this nor responding. You're sitting in comfy chair listening to some music, not worrying about what any of the folks here think.

I must admit, I now believe not all audiophiles are Audiophile Billies. However, unfortunately, I think. that a good many A’goners fall into this category. Otherwise there wouldn’t be so much handwringing over equipment that goes on.
It’s very sad that we (I often include myself in that category) can’t enjoy the magnificence of music and see the forest for the trees.

@wolf_garcia +1 X10, well said

Write “audiophilia nervosa” (or ‘audio nervosa’ or ‘audiophile nervosa’) into a Google search engine and then press, “search.”

I don’t know how one can’t see the clear difference between these two things:  
a) person listens to music they like
b) person presses “play” and then immediately goes into “analysis mode,” scrutinizing the fidelity of the audio.

I don’t know how a person could actually undertake the process of maximizing the level of satisfaction their home audio provides without being person b).

This doesn’t have to be something to be ashamed of or get defensive about.  
It’s a part of the process of being an audiophile.  
Nevertheless, such a process may indeed conflict with being a person who just enjoys their favorite music, every day, devoid of such cognitive preoccupations.
 

I always loved music...

But before my retirement and plenty of time to kill i never adressed the sound problem... And i never really loved my system even with the myghty mithical Tannoy,...

Then i listened music without thinking about the sound too much because i did not had nor the money nor the knowledge to improve it anyway nor the time to do it ...

Anyway i did not know how to improve my S.Q. at all , after all my system gear pieces was not so bad, then why was it not enthralling ? I listened anyway mostly Bach and with Bach sound does not matter much... 😊

I decided to solve the S.Q. problem as soon as i was retired and even if i was ignorant i know enough to understand that my system was not so much the problem but it was instead acoustical, mechanical and electrical noise floor problems...

In a word i studied acoustics to understand and i begun to  listen very  critically . Without these concepts in acoustics i could go nowhere , with them i begun to understand the sound body in the room for my ears ...

For an acoustician sound is related to specifics parameters...

We must learn by playing with these parameters.

Then problem solved. It takes me 2 years though full time, i am no crafty man i read and advised about reading analysis all my life. I never designed anything .😁

I designed my dedicated room and all acoustics devices... It was a success because i learned so much.

i listen music now in ectasy with a low cost system which is perfect in the specific window limits of the gear design i own  for sure...

Then to solve the problem asked me to stay  in analysis mode the two years it takes me to understand acoustics basic but it was each new day more and more fun like a challenge ...After it was done i never felt the need to go in analysis mode again . 😊

Now i dont need to be analytical because the sound quality is balanced and detailed enough and the others characteristics are optimal for what i have...

Even if upgrade is possible it is not even tempting because of price difference ( 10 times at least what i had paid) and my actual satisfaction ..

In fact as  some owners of very costlier system  may see me from above as a deluded cheap audiophile , i myself see them from my perspective as unlucky owner of very costly gear they probably  never learned to optimize in many cases ...😁

Creativity makes us proud. money cannot buy that . And in near listening with my modified speakers and TOP headphone believe me i feel on the Himalaya for a free ride (1000 bucks) not in a stopgap...

Conclusion : read about acoustics science .. play with the parameters and have fun at no cost if you have time and a room for sure... it is not for everyone...

😊

I don’t know how one can’t see the clear difference between these two things:
a) person listens to music they like
b) person presses “play” and then immediately goes into “analysis mode,” scrutinizing the fidelity of the audio.

I don’t know how a person could actually undertake the process of maximizing the level of satisfaction their home audio provides without being person b).