are any of your friends audiophiles?

I'm just a guy who loves music, it's my love of shiny things that gets me in trouble! I have several friends who love music as much as me, but they seem totally indifferent to sound quality. It really boggles my mind, since a rather modest investment can heighten your enjoyment exponentially. Maybe one day they'll get it.

Yes, my brother and best friend, who unfortunately live on the other side of the country, are both into this, too bad I moved out to Reno, can't seem to get people here together, and I think there are a few.

A lot of people dine out on a regular basis, but very few have a trained palette. Also, a lot of people drink wine, but again, very few have a trained palette. So, following that train of thought, a lot of people listen to music, but very few have a trained ear. Over and over, both here, on AC and other forums, many people admit that they just can not hear a difference. Others do hear some difference but can not justify the cost or other things are more important.

When I was in grade school we were required to take a music class and learn how to play an instrument. The school even provided less privileged students with basic instruments. I learned how to play the flute. Eventually I took some guitar and piano lessons. In college, to satisfy elective requirements, I took some music appreciation courses. These days, most grade schools don't even have music programs. Fewer and fewer high schools even have bands. So, know wonder there are less people with trained ears and an appreciation of good music performances; just look at all the millions that are content to listen to compressed formula music on their Ipods.

As far as audiophile friends go, I'm down to just two. In addition, most "high-end" stores in my area are out of business or only doing custom install.

Yes, actually I have a few, the first two I think I can take credit (or blame, if you ask their wives!), for their becoming audiophiles.

One, is my brother in law, who after hearing my system, decided to invest a couple of thousand into a nice little system. (He bought my Basis 1400, w/RB300 arm as a starting point.) He will come over to my house (when our wives, who are sisters visit), and we'll listen for a couple of hours every month or so.

Another friend, whom I have known for over half my life, also liked my system, and after he and his wife bought their new house, decided that he wanted to have a nice stereo as well. He invested about $5K into his system. It reminds me of my first system actually. (Tube amp and B&W speakers.) We don't get to listen too ofter together to listen anymore, due to our busy lives, but we still get together occasionally.

And finally, one of my newest friends, has a system better than my own actually. (I met him on Audiogon, when I bought his used ARC PH-3 phono preamp a few years ago, when I decided to get back into analog.) We have helped each other out quite a bit. He has more funds than I do, so he can experiment a bit more than I can, so I get to learn from his hands on experience with various gear. However, I am really good at researching which gear is really top notch, and so he has taken my advice on a couple of items for his system, and they have usually worked out for him. We try to get together every couple of months to exchange our latest finds in music. (I am into Rock mostly, and he is into classical and jazz, so it works out great that we get to expand each other's horizons.) We also went to CES this year, and that was great fun.

I look forward to continuing to make friends in our audiophile universe.

An individual who lives right near me has 36,000 discs and albums. No, that is not a typo, he has 36,000 of them. When he told me I thought for sure he meant 3,600, but he corrected me on that. He described the cabinets and shelving necessary to hold his collections. He stated that he has a problem with buying media (I'd say!) in that when he acquires a new artist he cannot buy just one album or disc - he has to get everything they've recorded.

As excessive as that is, he has a POS stereo and I cannot convince him to come over and share some time so that our two worlds can intersect. He seems to have absolutely no interest in it. A real shame.

Another audiophile friend is definitely "old school" with his vintage McIntosh equipment. (Not ripping on it, just pointing out this guy has never upgraded in 20+ years). He wants "live concert" feel, so he's got Klipsch mains with 15" bass (if I recall correctly), AND twin subs in a bedroom about 12x14! The experience of listening to his system at higher levels is somewhat like having a pile driver operating outside the room. No matter what system we listen to at my place, they never have enough bass for him!

Another audiophile friend was a DJ for a while, so he has a habit of making compilations of his music on disc. He does a superb job and has introduced me to several wonderful artists. He and I could probably get together every week for the foreseeable future and never run out of conversation and good times listening.

One poor couple I know have a lovely system and they've put much into a dedicated room, but they always seem to have issues with their equipment. Problems with an amp now, then their wiring, etc. In the summer their room overheats from the huge ARC tube amps, so the equipment sits unused a good portion of the year. It's fun enertaining them since they are into "Space Metal" and other genres of music that I'm not. It's like a cultural exchange to share our different favorites. I remember one time they put on some of their SERIOUSLY hard driving speed metal (or whatever they called it) music and were commenting, "Oh, this has good definition," while all I heard was DISTORTION! Of course, they suffer immeasurably with my Smooth Jazz discs. Our mutual love of equipment conquers musical differences.

It is a true blessing to find an "audio brother" (and rarely an "audio sister").