Fun read...

@george53 

Great point. Most things in life are compromises… often easy… but still. Pursuing perfection a one or two things is good for the soul. For me audiophilia has been, within my financial constraints, a lifetime pursuit of perfection. Now retired, I reap the rewards of the decades of in depth research and outsized investment. This and photography have been incredibly rewarding. And unlike so many other things, once completed it is virtually free. 

By the author's definition, audiophilia would suck. 

Since I was a kid ,I have always been around audio equipment. From my uncle Mike recording on his Reel to Reel tape recorder in 1960.To My grandfather and his RCA console,to my stepfather and his Motorola Stereo console. My Jncle Sonny's friend Harrand his Stereo equipment, amps, tape player.I would read all the Audio magazines out then Stereo Review, Audio etc.I wanted to own my own Audio equipment. I never had thousands of dollars to spend.But from read and listening I have done a good job on my equipment. I'm 72 now retired and just enjoying what I have.

Nattering nabobs of negativism sounds about right. Agnew (crook that he was) thought the press was too intrusive into his personal (criminal) affairs.

It's one thing to expose corruption, another to fancy oneself some kind of corrective for society at large. 

All the best,
Nonoise

The author is simply outside looking in.  The main reason we do this is a “much deeper connection with recorded music”.  No other art touches the soul like music.

The joy of exploration. The joy of the treasure hunt. The fun of trying out different components, simply targeting increased enjoyment.  The science behind the technology.

Sure this hobby can be costly, but the emotional connection to the music and gear exploration is priceless to audiophiles in this hobby.