What exactly is an audiophile?
When we read about this topic, the term is typically skewed negative. The implication is that audio hobbyists who spend foolishly- are audiophiles. Nope. That isn’t an accurate definition. Target missed.
An audiophile is someone who loves music, first and foremost. When he listens to his system, he pays 100% of his attention to how it sounds. It is someone who wants the last drop of realism from his system.
I am flattered to be called an audiophile.
Please note, my definition didn’t denote WHAT kind of music. Nor did it stipulate a price point.
You can be an audiophile with modestly priced shelf speakers or powerful towers or panels. An audiophile has the PASSION to make a singer or band sound like they’re in your room, playing for YOU- at your budget.
We audiophiles pursue our hobby a million different ways. Variety makes the world go round.
A rock and roll animal would likely choose Klipsch Fortes for about $5k. A classical piano hound like me would prefer the Amphion LS7. They’re very different speakers. Each is right for its owner!
It turns out that few of us have the exact same system. Our taste of what is “most real” for our investment is personal. We each reserve that call for ourselves. You and your best buddy don’t have to agree on what is most real for the same dollar. You can both be audiophiles.
Someone who has music on all day with Sonos boxes can be a music lover. But nobody is really paying attention. Hence it’s wall paper. We audiophiles… are after a more personal, and emotional musical experience.