I lately wonder why I’m an Audiophile.

@mrdecibel 

i’m at the point now where I’m very happy listening to my system, and really enjoying the sound. And it’s because the music is now primary.  So, I do believe I’m a somewhat reluctant audiophile.

mrdecibel

... Audiophile meaning : A person who is enthusiastic about high - fidelity sound reproduction. Whether it is the equipment, the music, or both, it can be different for each of us ...

That's pretty much the accepted conventional meaning of "audiophile." I don't know why the word seems to trouble some people. 

@mahgister ”hifi” enthusiasm suit(s) me less well…”

For once mahgister l am not in total agreement with you. I believe understanding “hi-fi enthusiasm” and the origins of the term is an age thing. I think l am older than you (l presume) as l started on this hobby in 1968. Audiophile was not a term used in the 60s, 70s or 80s as far as l can remember. 
 

Hi-fi enthusiasts were in those early days of stereo hi fidelity were not buying super priced high end products…. They didn’t really exist. Those that bought the best at the time had decent well made mass produced products reasonably priced. People like myself would experiment with the gear they had and would try and tweak the best sound they could out of “what they had”. Trying different cables to the speakers involved simple solutions like solid core copper mains cable is one example. The hi-fi magazines at the time talked about ways to achieve small gains in quality. The  press was more about the electronics (for those gifted in the knowledge) or building your own speakers and maintaining your equipment. Not like today’s magazines that just want their readers to buy more, more, more, and reap in the advertising money.

So l have to disagree with you thinking hifi enthusiasm means spending larger amounts of money over what an “audiophile” does today. Looking at the history of the term hi-fi enthusiast, to me it means more about spending less money and getting the most out of what you have. It also means buying more vintage gear and being satisfied with it, for what it is. Much the same as a car enthusiast that wants to restore a classic car. He makes it the best it can be, keep it up to standard for the age of the vehicle.

Audiophile also implies buying the best you can, maybe like @rvpiano suggested about “obsessive” and more often at fantastic prices?. Of course like yourself you have proven that you can buy cheap and nothing wrong with that. I think that makes you a hi-fi enthusiast. Getting the best out of what you have with little expense is more about enthusiasm than anything else l know.

You are completely right!

I goes too far about "hi-fi enthusiast  appellation..

I was focused on the pejorative attribution and  refusal of the appellation "audiophile" by some...i am not fearful of this word... I am audiophile (interested in acoustics ) and hi-fi enthusiasts (tweakers) 

You are completely right about the era... I come to this world in 1951..  and /or 

@mahgister ”hifi” enthusiasm suit(s) me less well…”

For once mahgister l am not in total agreement with you. I believe understanding “hi-fi enthusiasm” and the origins of the term is an age thing. I think l am older than you (l presume) as l started on this hobby in 1968. 
 

Hi-fi enthusiasts were in those early days of stereo hi fidelity were not buying super priced high end products…. They didn’t really exist. Those that bought the best at the time had decent well made mass produced products reasonably priced. People like myself would experiment with the gear they had and would try and tweak the best sound they could out of “what they had”. Trying different cables to the speakers involved simple solutions like solid core copper mains cable is one example. The hi-fi magazines at the time talked about ways to achieve small gains in quality. The  press was more about the electronics (for those gifted in the knowledge) or building your own speakers and maintaining your equipment. Not like today’s magazines that just want their readers to buy more, more, more, and reap in the advertising money.

So l have to disagree with you thinking hifi enthusiasm means spending larger amounts of money over what an “audiophile” does today. Looking at the history of the term hi-fi enthusiast, to me it means more about spending less money and getting the most out of what you have. It also means buying more vintage gear and being satisfied with it, for what it is. Much the same as a car enthusiast that wants to restore a classic car. He makes it the best it can be, keep it up to standard for the age of the vehicle.

l believe audiophile implies buying the best you can, maybe like @rvpiano suggested about “obsessive” and sometimes at fantastic prices?. Of course like yourself you have proven that you can buy cheap and nothing wrong with that. I think that makes you a hi-fi enthusiast. Getting the best out of what you have with little expense is more about enthusiasm than anything else l know.

Personally I've always preferred the term 'hifi enthusiast'. 'Audiophile' has aways sounded a bit more than a little pretentious than I like. Too much like a title than a description. I hate titles.

I just bought some stuff from England online. I filled out the order which was duly rejected because I did not include a 'title'. I used 'Mr' which was acceptable but dammed if I know why. I almost typed in 'Duke' to see what would happen, but then I thought that a lack of a sense of humor would defeat the sale.