What Earns The Title "Audiophile"?

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Do you need a £20,000 watch? Is it worth £20,000?

Watches are an interesting point of comparison. Most expensive watches are mechanical, and are less good at the business of telling the time than their cheaper quartz relatives - the opposite of what should be the case with well-chosen hifi.

Basically, watches are jewellery.

 

[jjbomber]

So when does someone officially become classified as an Audiophile and is it just people's declaration to make themselves fell important and sound impressive.

Interested to hear others thoughts

Audiophile is someone who listens to a hi-fi rather than to music!

 

[Friesiansam]

Time is not better when determined from an expensive watch compared to a cheap one.

Are you sure about that? I'm sure we've all heard mention of "quality time"!

 

[Friesiansam]

But you obviously cared how what you bought sounded. You didn’t just buy a pair without listening, as many would nowadays.

True enough but, I was no audiophile, certainly so judged by the dictionary definition. The only thing I was obsessed with then was cycling. I was still young and fit then...

 

[shadders]

But you’re referring to the extremist audiophiles, which you’ll get extremists in any hobby. There’s plenty of audiophiles out there that that are just plain old audiophiles - and they’re most likely at the budget/mid-priced end of the spectrum as well - but others see all audiophiles the same way.

Hi,
Not really referring to extremes of hifi.

From the reality of physics and engineering perspective, anything subjective about a passive component in hifi producing a difference in sound is farcical. Yet, many audiophiles believe this, so it is not extreme.

Magazine reviews and the adverts they carry compound this, and the forums just reinforce it more.

The higher end equipment is seen as something to aspire to, when in fact the budget and mid priced equipment is really as good as it gets.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[davidf]

Audiophile is someone who listens to a hi-fi rather than to music!

That definition of an audiophile is someone who is interested in, and appreciates sound reproduction - but that doesn’t mean they don’t also enjoy the music…

 

[davidf]

Basically, watches are jewellery.

They are jewellery, but they have become a status symbol, and is currently a very big industry, like cars, phones, etc.

 

[davidf]

Hi,
Not really referring to extremes of hifi.

From the reality of physics and engineering perspective, anything subjective about a passive component in hifi producing a difference in sound is farcical. Yet, many audiophiles believe this, so it is not extreme.

Magazine reviews and the adverts they carry compound this, and the forums just reinforce it more.

The higher end equipment is seen as something to aspire to, when in fact the budget and mid priced equipment is really as good as it gets.

Regards,
Shadders.

Extremists, not extremes.

Passing off all subjectivist content regarding hi-fi as “farcical” is a bit extreme…

 

[shadders]

Extremists, not extremes.

Passing off all subjectivist content regarding hi-fi as “farcical” is a bit extreme…

Hi,
If people "believe" that a passive component can impart a sound signature, which is contrary to the laws of physics and engineering, which is subjectivism and prevalent throughout the hobby, is not extreme, but it is farcical.

That is why audiophiles are ridiculed.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[Gray]

I hope for his sake it isn't "Skint" 🤔

....one fewer letter 😉

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

We're veering off topic into the same old issues - this is about what might define an audiophile, not about subjective experiences or capacity for self-delusion.

 

[shadders]

We're veering off topic into the same old issues - this is about what might define an audiophile, not about subjective experiences or capacity for self-delusion.

Hi,
What you have just stated is contradictory. We are talking about what earns the title audiophile, and critical to that is how audio (equipment) is interpreted.

You may not like the discussion, but it is very much on topic.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[Dom]

People need to chill, here you go.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm44SV8xUDo

 

[nopiano]

Watches are an interesting point of comparison. Most expensive watches are mechanical, and are less good at the business of telling the time than their cheaper quartz relatives - the opposite of what should be the case with well-chosen hifi.

Basically, watches are jewellery.

This made me think of high-end turntables. These still fascinate me, though from afar, but they’re quite often arguably jewellery in Hifi terms, especially compared with digital sources. Digital sources keep more accurate time/speed!

 

[jjbomber]

Here's a quote I've just read on another forum:
'My last two power cables and loudspeaker cables cost £21k for 4 x 2 metre length’s… they were worth every penny to me'
I'm not going to ask you to suggest what title you think he's earned.

Mr Andrews? Or Russ to his friends!

 

[Gray]

Mr Andrews? Or Russ to his friends!

Can't be him. He just uses the freebies (whilst laughing at his customers).

 

[Tinman1952]

Hi,
If people "believe" that a passive component can impart a sound signature, which is contrary to the laws of physics and engineering, which is subjectivism and prevalent throughout the hobby, is not extreme, but it is farcical.

That is why audiophiles are ridiculed.

Regards,
Shadders.

Almost as ridiculed as those 'scientific engineers' who think everything can be reduced to measurements and there have been no improvements in audio since the 1960s.....🙄

 

[shadders]

Almost as ridiculed as those 'scientific engineers' who think everything can be reduced to measurements and there have been no improvements in audio since the 1960s.....🙄

Hi,
Some magazines provide measurements and others do not. The measurements can never tell you how something sounds, only whether the equipment has been well engineered.

A 1960's amplifier will measure woeful compared to todays equipment.

Audiophiles have different approaches on how they select equipment.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[manicm]

Is someone who spends 100k on a car, if one would indulge me, an autophile?

Then why judge someone who would rather blow 100k on hi-fi, including 20k worth of cables or not.

 

[Friesiansam]

Then why judge someone who would rather blow 100k on hi-fi, including 20k worth of cables or not.

I suspect many, maybe most, who spend that kind of money on hifi, are more interested in showing off to their rich mates, than concerned about what it sounds like.

 

[manicm]

I suspect many, maybe most, who spend that kind of money on hifi, are more interested in showing off to their rich mates, than concerned about what it sounds like.

Maybe, but a massive generalisation there, after all it's much easier to show off with a new Porsche. I can almost guarantee you that many of those rich mates may be nonplussed at the hi-fi.

Also, it's actually not that hard at all to blow 100k, for starters how much does a pair of KEF Blades cost?

 

[Friesiansam]

Maybe, but a massive generalisation there, after all it's much easier to show off with a new Porsche. I can almost guarantee you that many of those rich mates may be nonplussed at the hi-fi.

Show the hifi off to the right mates!

Also, it's actually not that hard at all to blow 100k, for starters how much does a pair of KEF Blades cost?

For those who can, you're right.

Kef Blade 1 Metas are about £30k, add a flash turntable, a phono stage, a 2 box amp and some of Russ Andrews finest snake oil (cables and power doobries) and you're there.

 

[Gray]

Is someone who spends 100k on a car, if one would indulge me, an autophile?

Then why judge someone who would rather blow 100k on hi-fi, including 20k worth of cables or not.

I'd certainly judge both of those examples in the same way.

 

[Gray]

...20k worth of cables

I'd prefer to have something to show for my money.
Add a couple more grand and you can have a pair of these staring at you.
(As we've said, often the more you pay, the more hideous things look).

Cabasse Pearl Pelegrina Loudspeaker

Availing itself of the latest DSP and Class D amps, the Pearl Pelegrina is a sophisticated 'connected' speaker There's no escaping it: sitting in front of Cabasse's Pearl Pelegrina, the £22,599 flagship of the French company's Pearl speaker range, the punning phrase 'the eyes have it' kept going...

www.hifinews.com

 

[record_spot]

I hope to God never to "earn" that title...