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How Many Audiophiles Have Do You Know?

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How many audiophiles have you ever met? The people that you've met here on Audiogon and at audio shows don't count. I'm trying to find out if audiophiles ever meet each other by happenstance. I have never been in a casual conversation when someone ever mentioned a hifi hobby.

The only time I've ever met an audiophile was when I was making a sales call in Denver, CO. I was in the lobby of a big real estate broker's office when the owner had his secretary bring me into his private office. As soon as I walked into his office I saw an unmistakably recognizable pair of Talon speakers with a pair of Krell monlblocs, Audio Research Ref2 Mk2 preamp and a Wadia cd player. I complemented him on his system. He was thrilled that I recognized his components...he was even more thrilled that I asked him to fire it up. I looked through his cd's and chose a few selections that I was familiar with. We talked audio for 30-45 minutes before we finally got down to business. Needless to say, I got the account. I was selling an excellent service, but I'm sure that my familiarity with audio sealed the deal.
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mitch4t
jazzerdave
163 posts
 
My dad is an audiophile, and had several friends in the same group back in the day, so I guess you could count them. I have one friend I've know since high school who also grew into an audiophile (he just picked up a set of Vandy 3A sigs).

There was also someone I met through a friend who was a major audiophile. I helped him build some acoustic treatments, he brewed some beer, and we spun some vinyl. His system was outstanding (he actually made his own record cleaning solution which seemed pretty good).

Other than that, I met a few amateur audiophiles when I was in the jazz program at North Texas, but none of them were truly serious. Like a couple of you have already said, it's not really something I bring up. However, the few times I've ran into another audiophile (and figured it out), it's been a great time.
metman
233 posts
 
Judging from most of the responses it is indeed quite rare to encounter an audiophile purely by chance. I personally don't know any but thought I was more the exception rather than the rule but I guess that's not the case. It certainly does sound like audiophiles are an endangered species
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,226 posts
 
The only real audiophile I've met and had over to listen to my system met me by correspondence through audiocircle.com, who didn't do so under the pretext to buy something but to listen to what I had and to bring over his equipment to compare. He's been over a few times and even brought another audiophile with him and we thoroughly enjoyed our time. I haven't seen or heard from his for awhile since he moved a bit farther away but we occasionally correspond.

I've been in this hobby since the late '70s when by ex-borther in law brought back some audio gear from overseas after his stint in the service. Its the best thing that ever happened to me. I only wish more people would show at least some kind of interest without their eyes glazing over when I speak of things audio but alas, we can't have everything.
tan43
128 posts
 
About 30 years, before I would consider myself an audiophile,
I met a gentlemen at an estate sale who was. He introduced me to a few other guys that were meeting about once a week to compare and listen to each others high end equipment. As time goes by we still have others join us. Some come just to see what all the fuss is about. Some are impressed and get hooked as I did and others don't get it.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I would say that I have met hundreds, especially when I lived in NY and earlier when the were probably 1 in a 100 men who were engaged. As dealers decline and free long distance and the internet increases, I have talked with many more than I have met face to face.
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