Why do people act like audiophile is a four letter word?

[bturk667]

I don't mean just on this page. It seems that a lot of people have something against Audiophiles. I'm just wondering why?

[46minaudio]

Define Audiophile.Bturk it seems we all have a different meaning for the word audiophile..

[TinHere]

Define Audiophile.Bturk it seems we all have a different meaning for the word audiophile..

Audiophile...Someone with better gear than you love, and still isn't happy with it.

[bturk667]

Audiophile...Someone with better gear than you love, and still isn't happy with it.

that's not mine. I listen to music not my system. A system is simply a means to an end. But, I do like my music to sound good. I for one an very happy with my system.

Question: Have you ever replaced a component in your system for a better built or sounding one?

[TinHere]

that's not mine. I listen to music not my system. A system is simply a means to an end. But, I do like my music to sound good. I for one an very happy with my system.

Question: Have you ever replaced a component in your system for a better built or sounding one?

I changed my speakers from Diva to Rockets.
I went from a JVC DVD player to a Panisonic CP72 to get DVD-Audio.
I went from an older Yamaha to the RX-V2400 to get DPLII, NEO 6 etc. and YPAO.
I went from a Klipsch KSW-12 to an SVS 20-39 PCi.

These changes came as a result of a limited budget and research on the forums. All the changes I made were well worth the costs. Like you I listen to the music and not the system, however these changes have made the music/movies sound better to me. They allowed me to enjoy different formats on the processing side. The speakers and the sub changes allowed for better reproduction of the processing. I'm very happy with my system now and it will remain the way it is until/if I decide I want to make changes for enhanced 2 channel with the Perpetual Technologies gear. I only really started giving audio products much thought a few years ago, but I have enjoyed music my whole life.

[bturk667]

Define Audiophile.Bturk it seems we all have a different meaning for the word audiophile..

A person who assembles an audio system that has the ability to reproduce recorded music in as high a fidelity as possible.

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[DMK]

I don't mean just on this page. It seems that a lot of people have something against Audiophiles. I'm just wondering why?

Because the term "audiophile" has become synonymous with someone who obsessively upgrades his gear with each new product that comes out, sells the gear he's loved for years when one of the audio rags pans it (if they ever do!), spends inordinate sums of money on cables, tweaks and other items of dubious value, who takes everything he hears at face value without trying to understand what might be causing the change, and who often cares more about his equipment than his music.

I find this to be the case with some audiophiles but I consider an audiophile as someone who cares about sound quality and stives in a reasonable way to make his home playback system sound as good as it possibly can. I have made one upgrade (a better phono cartridge) in 4 years. Is my system the best it can be? No, but I'm simply not willing to spend megabucks to get a small improvement. I'm quite happy with the way my system sounds, although I may play around with room EQ at some point soon. There's just too much good music sitting around in the bins at record stores waiting for my grubby fingers to displace them for me to want to drop $16K on new amplification. OTOH, if I HAD $16K extra to play around with, I'd buy those Wyetech Labs tubed separates... nah, I wouldn't! I'd buy more music with some of it and save the rest. If I were ungodly rich, I'd buy the Wyetech

If you consider yourself an audiophile but are also a reasonable person and don't go overboard, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Just as the person who is happy with his Technics rack system has nothing to be ashamed of.

[bturk667]

[QUOTE=DMK]Because the term "audiophile" has become synonymous with someone who obsessively upgrades his gear with each new product that comes out, sells the gear he's loved for years when one of the audio rags pans it (if they ever do!), spends inordinate sums of money on cables, tweaks and other items of dubious value, who takes everything he hears at face value without trying to understand what might be causing the change, and who often cares more about his equipment than his music.

but if it's their money and they are willing to spend it, well, what's the big deal? You or I might not understand why a person does this, but we don't have to.

Why do people buy cars that cost over $100,000 dollars? Because they can. That amount of money they spend maybe less, when you take their income into account, than you or I spend proportionately on a car. It is all relative. Sixteen thousand dollars maybe a lot for you, it sure is for me, but for some it's like walking around money.

How much they spend and on what many times is a statement to them. See how rich I am, see where I live, see what I drive, and see what I listen to my music through. But for some, they might just want to listen to music through equipment that they perceive as the best. They may also believe, you get what you pay for, and their point of deminishing return is high. So they spend the money. Again, it's all relative!

I have read others give the same argument that you gave. Now some seem to act as if a person is willing to spend HIS or HER money, and a lot of it on equipment, that it's a slap in their face. Almost as if he or she is spending their money. For what I spent on my system, some of my freinds would think I'm crazy. So what, I don't tell them how to spend their money, so they don't tell me how to spend mine.

If an audiophile is and does what you say they do and are, big deal. What's wrong with it?
It is their money after all.

[DMK]

[QUOTE=bturk667
If an audiophile is and does what you say they do and are, big deal. What's wrong with it?
It is their money after all.[/QUOTE]

There's nothing inherently wrong with spending a lot of money on audio gear or anything else for that matter. The problem comes when it becomes an obsession and all common sense goes out the window. Here's an example:

Not too many years ago, a pair of speakers I coveted were reviewed in an audio mag and the reviewer panned them severely. Shortly, they became available in the secondary market as all the audiophiles who owned them decided to dump them. I bought a 3 year old pair of speakers for $1600 that retailed for $7500. The owner couldn't wait to dump them. When I asked why, he said it was because of all the bad press. I replied "but did you all of a sudden stop enjoying them because a reviewer did?" Bottom line is that the guy took a huge bath on a pair of speakers he admitted he had loved just because the audio press didn't like them. They have been in my home ever since and they are the finest speakers I've ever heard in my life.

What's wrong with it? Nothing! I made out like a bandit! Seriously, there's nothing really wrong with it unless the process becomes bigger than the person. Many people that participate in the constant upgrading do NOT have the money even though they do become obsessed. But this can happen with anything. As I said, I'm an audiophile. That doesn't mean I'm obsessed with it. I am, however, obsessed with music but at least I don't have to lose what I already own to get more!

[bturk667]

[QUOTE=DMK][QUOTE=bturk667
If an audiophile is and does what you say they do and are, big deal. What's wrong with it?
It is their money after all.[/QUOTE]

The problem comes when it becomes an obsession and all common sense goes out the window. Here's an example:

I bought a 3 year old pair of speakers for $1600 that retailed for $7500. The owner couldn't wait to dump them. When I asked why, he said it was because of all the bad press. I replied "but did you all of a sudden stop enjoying them because a reviewer did?" Bottom line is that the guy took a huge bath on a pair of speakers he admitted he had loved just because the audio press didn't like them. They have been in my home ever since and they are the finest speakers I've ever heard in my life.

Again, as long as it's not you who is obsessed, then what does it matter? People have always thrown common sense out the window, and will continue to. I say let them, as long as they don't hurt anyone else.

Now, what makes you think the person you bought those speakers from was an Audiophile? Could he not have been an Audio Enthusiast? Let me guess why. Because he was swayed by a review. May this not just mean he's a dumb ass?

[DMK]

Again, as long as it's not you who is obsessed, then what does it matter?

It doesn't. At least, it doesn't to me. How obsessed people may become over audio gear is not something I worry much about. OTOH, you asked the question and I provided some possible answers. That doesn't mean I think that all audiophiles are obsessive, indecisive dorks. But that's how a lot of people, even people who care about sonics, feel about them, rightly or wrongly.

"Now, what makes you think the person you bought those speakers from was an Audiophile? Could he not have been an Audio Enthusiast? Let me guess why. Because he was swayed by a review. May this not just mean he's a dumb ass?

First of all, what's the difference between an audiophile and an audio enthusiast? I haven't an inkling. Second of all, he told me he was an audiophile. I had no reason to doubt him at the time and I don't now. But's he's without a doubt a dumb ass!