[Warren_Buff]

Laundrew,
K2 is great but DD66000 is some divisions ahead (K2 is more wallet friendly).
Below are two pictures of DD66000 (and a very young audiophile ?).

[Laundrew]

I can only dream 

 

Be well...

[Rclark]

I think there should be a category #5:

Owns shakti stones, green felt pens, and scented candles.

[SoundGame]

It's apparent that the audiophiles are in the 30+ to 50+ range, at least on this forum. 

Makes me think, do we become more like audiophiles with age?  Perhaps.

I appreciate that there are various levels of audiophile..as I espressed earlier, from novice to Jedi Master with the later incorporating items that border on the magical, sureal..and utilize "the Force".

Some take the path as far as they can and others stop along the way.  All the while, there is some appreciation for the music - unless they just love to listen to test tones and pink noise.

[genjamon]

Not many 20 somethings have the cash to play in our game.

[Diamond Dog]

Not many 20 somethings have the cash to play in our game.

Nor do they have the inclination...

D.D.

[Laundrew]

Not many 20 somethings have the cash to play in our game.

I can see down the road that this will probably apply to at least 95% of us

You would think that the older individuals become, they have retired the majority of their higher debts such as mortgages and the kids education. It is interesting that many seniors are now carrying more debt into their retirement. As for younger audio enthusiasts, I somewhat doubt that they will have the disposable incomes required to purchase high end audio gear when it is going to be very hard for them to keep a roof over their heads in the not so distant future.

I was chatting with my bank representative a few weeks ago and this very subject of cost of living increases and high debt loads that Canadians are carrying came up - she informed me that some of her clients were carrying debts of up to $100,000 - on top of their mortgages. I told her that it is also irresponsible of the banks to be dangling these huge "carrots" in front of people when they should be saying "no."  She basically said that if Bank A did not give them the money, they would simply go to Bank B and get it because they had the equity in their homes - after all, it is a business.

Be well...

[DaveNote]

I'm think there are a few categories here:
1) music lover (pure)
2) music lover who's an audiophile
3) audiophile who loves music
4) audiophile (pure)

#1 loves music and couldn't care less what it's recorded on or played back through.  A music lover just the same.
#2 loves their music but believe that utilizing better sound equipment can help them enjoy that music more.  If they could not afford the gear, that would be fine, they would still listen and enjoy the same amount of music.  THE MUSIC DRIVES THEIR INTEREST IN THE GEAR but the HEART is the MUSIC.
#3 love the gear and everything that goes with it, fiddling and playing with it to get perceived improvements - they also love music but would not nearly listen to as much of it, if they couldn't have a good playback system and source files.  So the amount they listen to music and the time they spend with music is based on or driven by their fascination with the gear.  Though they love music, THE GEAR DRIVES THEIR INTEREST in MUSIC.
#4 A rare breed, more focused on the great then anything else and spend little time actually listening to the music.

I believe that 2, 3, and 4 are audiophiles but that you can to a more pure definition at the ends of the spectrum.  I find myself between 2 and 3 with a slight lean to 3.

SoundGame, this is an interesting topic, and there have been many thoughtful comments. I cannot add to them, but can respond to the OP question. I am an audiophile, and fit your #3 category, with this corollary: when the new gear makes enough difference, I find even my oldest favorites carrying me away all over again. I confess to loving the gear and especially going on the hunt for something new and finding out if it makes a difference or not in the sound it produces.

I seldom listen to music intensely. Normally I read while my music plays (usually jazz). But my current system which raised the quality of the sound to a new level (see your "musicality" thread) that earlier iterations of it didn't do - the music it reproduces now frequently draws me away from my reading and compels me to listen more intently to the music.

At this rate, I run the risk of falling into the living hell your category #1. If this were to happen, just think of the irony, if not tragedy - becoming such a successful audiophile that I end of being a music lover instead. Oh, the Horror! 

Dave

[vegasdave]

Yes, I am an audiophile! 39 years old. I love music, but the sound quality of it is very important as well!

[Pez]

I'm thinking Laundrew needs to donate all his equipment to me and I'll install some in-ceiling speakers for him. Since he's a music lover he won't miss his Bryston stuff at all and a real audiophile can enjoy it. 

[bunky]

I tend to think of Audiophiles as guys who audition gear and explain thier listening experience in grand terms as if they were describing wines at a wine tasting.i like the term audio enthusiast better. dont get me wrong, i own lots of gear and love playing with the equipment as much as i enjoy listening to the music.but let's face it, without the music the gear is absolutely useless.

[Rclark]

 I personally don't think it's anything to be ashamed of. Man, your stereo is awesome. What's wrong with that?

 So what if some people think it's weird? Some people enjoy eating detergent. I think it's wierd when people aren't into listening to music well.

 It's one of the fundamental features of human life, music.

 ...I tell people I'm an audiophile.

[Devil Doc]

I logged on at O'Dark thirty. I dunno, am I an audiophile?

Doc

[BrysTony]

I logged on at O'Dark thirty. I dunno, am I an audiophile?

Doc

Good point!  I would say that a person is certainly likely to be an audiophile if he has more than X number of posts on AudioCircle.  I'm not sure what X is but it is probably <50.

Tony

[DEV]

I was chatting with my bank representative a few weeks ago and this very subject of cost of living increases and high debt loads that Canadians are carrying came up - she informed me that some of her clients were carrying debts of up to $100,000 - on top of their mortgages. I told her that it is also irresponsible of the banks to be dangling these huge "carrots" in front of people when they should be saying "no."  She basically said that if Bank A did not give them the money, they would simply go to Bank B and get it because they had the equity in their homes - after all, it is a business.

Be well...

Just look at all the vehicles out there that people are driving and the cost of such, the % is very low of owners whom actually own such out right. Most lease or finance because they don't have the money to pay for such out right, lets not forget about all of those other items out there that people lease or finance, from furniture and on.

Lets face it that's just a fact of life and people live day to day on credit period.

I was shocked of how many actually finance their audio habbits, on credit of some sort because they don't have the extra cash.

A guy wanted to by my turntable recently and mentioned he is awaiting for his finance to clear 

I recall a few years ago a guy wanting to purchase a pair of amps and made referrence he wouldn't be able to pay his landlord rent and his girl friend will be pissed if she finds out why, I just could not sell them to him knowing such.

To me that's just wrong!

[Laundrew]

Just look at all the vehicles out there that people are driving and the cost of such, the % is very low of owners whom actually own such out right. Most lease or finance because they don't have the money to pay for such out right, lets not forget about all of those other items out there that people lease or finance, from furniture and on.

Lets face it that's just a fact of life and people live day to day on credit period.

I was shocked of how many actually finance their audio habbits, on credit of some sort because they don't have the extra cash.

A guy wanted to by my turntable recently and mentioned he is awaiting for his finance to clear 

I recall a few years ago a guy wanting to purchase a pair of amps and made referrence he wouldn't be able to pay his landlord rent and his girl friend will be pissed if she finds out why, I just could not sell them to him knowing such.

To me that's just wrong!

If credit is respected and used intelligently - it is a great resource. Unfortunately, people can be their own worst enemies at times. I was chatting with an individual at work last year and he was complaining that he had a "hard time" making ends meet and he grossed just under $120K that year. 

A friend sums it up best when people live beyond their means "Living a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget - it is going to catch up to you sooner or later." 

Be well....

[sfraser]

My father had a similar saying " My mouth, she says she likes champagne, but my pocket book says beer"

[Stu Pitt]

If credit is respected and used intelligently - it is a great resource. Unfortunately, people can be their own worst enemies at times. I was chatting with an individual at work last year and he was complaining that he had a "hard time" making ends meet and he grossed just under $120K that year. 

A friend sums it up best when people live beyond their means "Living a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget - it is going to catch up to you sooner or later." 

Be well....

Making ends meet depends just as much upon where you're living  as how much you make...

My wife and I grossed about $125k last year, and took home far less than that due to taxes and health care.  We spent $38,400 in rent and daycare.  The apartment was an average apartment in a safe enough neighborhood.  The daycare center had very good people taking care of our daughter, but wasn't any where near the most expensive place.

We both drive Toyotas - 1 paid off, and one halfway paid off.

Had we stayed another couple of months, we'd have had to file bankruptcy.

To own a decent home and not more or less live paycheck to paycheck in the Metro NYC area, you need a household income of at least $200k.  Unless of course you own the house outright.  In Westchester County, NY the median house price is $550k.  10% downpayment on that is $55k.  $125k in the Metro NYC area with a 15 month old in daycare doesn't get you much!

We moved back to the Albany, NY area.  Moved in to an apartment my father owns while we pay off our debt and then save up enough to buy our own place.

[werd]

Making ends meet depends just as much upon where you're living  as how much you make...

My wife and I grossed about $125k last year, and took home far less than that due to taxes and health care.  We spent $38,400 in rent and daycare.  The apartment was an average apartment in a safe enough neighborhood.  The daycare center had very good people taking care of our daughter, but wasn't any where near the most expensive place.

We both drive Toyotas - 1 paid off, and one halfway paid off.

Had we stayed another couple of months, we'd have had to file bankruptcy.

To own a decent home and not more or less live paycheck to paycheck in the Metro NYC area, you need a household income of at least $200k.  Unless of course you own the house outright.  In Westchester County, NY the median house price is $550k.  10% downpayment on that is $55k.  $125k in the Metro NYC area with a 15 month old in daycare doesn't get you much!

We moved back to the Albany, NY area.  Moved in to an apartment my father owns while we pay off our debt and then save up enough to buy our own place.

Aha

moves in with his parents.....lol. Thats pathetic.

[James Tanner]

Making ends meet depends just as much upon where you're living  as how much you make...

My wife and I grossed about $125k last year, and took home far less than that due to taxes and health care.  We spent $38,400 in rent and daycare.  The apartment was an average apartment in a safe enough neighborhood.  The daycare center had very good people taking care of our daughter, but wasn't any where near the most expensive place.

We both drive Toyotas - 1 paid off, and one halfway paid off.

Had we stayed another couple of months, we'd have had to file bankruptcy.

To own a decent home and not more or less live paycheck to paycheck in the Metro NYC area, you need a household income of at least $200k.  Unless of course you own the house outright.  In Westchester County, NY the median house price is $550k.  10% downpayment on that is $55k.  $125k in the Metro NYC area with a 15 month old in daycare doesn't get you much!

We moved back to the Albany, NY area.  Moved in to an apartment my father owns while we pay off our debt and then save up enough to buy our own place.

Hi Stu

Toronto has a similar issue with average house prices being in the 500K range.  God knows you can buy a good cartridge for that kind on money

James