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Audiophile 101: What is an Audiophile?

Feb 23, 202311390 VIEWS

Image credit @Evshrug

In my time browsing various headphone and audio forums, I’ve observed again and again a somewhat amusing contradiction. If you go to a sound science forum and ask “What is an audiophile,” they will tell you an audiophile makes purchases based on emotion and nostalgia, with little regard for research, price to performance, and specs which would allow a system to be EQ’d into any sound (including the “ideal” sound). Meanwhile, there’s an opposite camp that will happily buy anything just because it makes them feel good, because “that’s the point of music,” meanwhile they would define an “Audiophile” as someone who pays more attention to gear, specs, and listens to tone sweeps more than music. Conundrum! Paradox! I’ll do you better: ‘WHY’ Audiophile? The truth is the word “Audiophile” comes from two roots: Audio* is easy enough to understand, while -phile comes from the Greek root “philos,” which carries a meaning that doesn’t directly translate to “loving” or “affection,” but also an attraction, tendency, or pursuit towards something. My Philosophy professor said that his field was not merely the study or love of knowledge, but a passionate journey for a complete understanding of everything there is to know, an ideal that could never reach a conclusion. Similarly, an audiophile is a person who is attracted to audio, an iceberg so deep that it also causes exploration, whether that person is trying to improve or change their system’s audio performance or whether they’re unable to leave their parked car until the song on the radio finishes. Dan Clark giving an audio seminar, Image credit @Evshrug

However people explore audio, it’s because we all share that common attraction to sound. It’s half-chosen, half-instinct. Often it’s awoken by someone close, a friend or family member who is already far along their audio journey, and they share their excitement and a taste of their experience. This taste sparks the imagination for just how music could fill our sense and feel like we’re ascending beyond the life of pure survival, or ignite a curiosity that if things can sound THIS good now, just HOW good can it get? How do you audiophile?
Image credit @Evshrug

Keep in mind the commonalities in the hobby… we all have a shared interest! That’s a great chance to carry conversations and perhaps strike up new friendships, maybe we can be that “Audio Uncle” for someone else (the cool uncle, I assure you ;) ). I would also encourage the perspective that people gaining expertise in another area than you is an opportunity to learn from them, and hopefully showing your respect sets the vibe that they can respond in kind. Also, don’t be afraid to be spoiled by something incredible… sure, you may have to readjust and maybe cheap experiences won’t be as thrilling anymore, but treating your senses to state of the Audio art, even just a demo, is one of the valid times to remind yourself that “You Only Live Once!” Image credit @Evshrug

I’d love to read your comments and stories about how you got into audio, and what brought you here 😃 Thanks for reading, and sharing - check back later for the next installment where I share an overview of the Audio Component chain! Footnote: * (if language roots interest you, audio comes from the Latin audire ‘hear’)

(Edited)

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May 15, 2024

The "Science Review"-philes, are NOT audiophiles. They are the Julian Hirsch Memorial Society... never really listen to music, they just sit there with their scopes, frequency analyzers, calibrated microphones, function generators and measure, measure, measure... after all, to them, we KNOW everything that makes an audio system perfect. Pfft. Then you got the deep pocket "audio philes". You know, the ones that sink money into the Mk. IV Reference Signature versions with cryogenic treatments.... after all, someone needs to buy those Tice Clocks, Mpingo disks, etc... These are the folks that will buy audio jewelry with $40K of bling and $5K of actual work in the electronics and their Bill of Materials (BOM). Someone has to keep those businesses running.. and that equipment looks good... sound? Well, these audiophiles only listen to 30 recordings and have short attention spans. Then you got the vast swatch of real audiophiles.. you know, the kind that want to listen to music and hopefully in a "high fidelity" mode. Sure, we can enjoy The Eagles playing on the PA of a Kyoto store... but sometimes it's nicer when you can hear how the guitar was picked, when the drum kit sounds realistic and the performance is dynamic... the strings should be on the left, basses on the right and the woodwinds a bit off center, behind, to the right. Some of us know how to handle the Science Review crowd... heck, some of us know how to build components, review schematics, etc.. and we know that measurements only scratch the surface since the real science of psychoacoustics is far from complete ( why does negative 2nd order harmonic distortion sound so realistic? )... and we also know that $40K of bling and a Reference Signature does nothing to the sound. So, we listen. We are audiophiles... and we do NOT have a coffee table in the living room.... That impacts the sound staging of the system... I mean that. And we have thousands of LPs, hi-rez files... hopefully no CDs..

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tony_e

Nov 8, 2024

tony_eBTW, I got a chance to hear the Plasmatronic tweeters with a pair of Quad electrostatics as woofer/midrange. The source was a Reference Recording of Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije. For the first time in my life, I heard music reproduction that sounds EXACTLY as the musical event, from mid orchestra, center of Row L. Unfortunately, the Plasmatronic "tweeters" are a High End Legend that I was very fortunate to listen to at the Burning Amp Festival '24. It's highly unlikely I will ever be able to own them... and then you need the helium bottle... Impractical? You betcha! Realistic? The best I've ever heard, even FAR better than those $750K Wilson Chronosonic ( which I've also heard).

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snapdog

Jan 19, 2024

Audiophile question. In the image I have marked base to treble channels and less to more of each channel. Let me know if this is correct? Thanks!

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foolishMastermind

119

Dec 24, 2023

I personally describe it as a "hi-res audio enthusiast". I got into this because I was mesmerized by how much better my music sounded on better gear, and it sent me down the rabbit-hole.

Ssjlkrillin

Nov 10, 2023

I do not bother with other people's definitions as it is subjective and opinionated, especially when the definition is meant to mock, insult or ridicule (a true definition does not do that). I have my audio interest which is shared by few in my circle but it's okay (I do not have an inclination for everything they find important). I never mention my hobby to others (unless they are in the know) and I NEVER brag about my gear or the relative cost, firstly because I am not a shallow, materialistic person (this will also apply to cars, clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc.), and secondly, who cares? I spend way more time discussing music than the gear.

Evshrug

4144

Keyboard Club Member

Nov 11, 2023

SsjlkrillinRight… I love discovering music that jives with me, and I like music through my gear for my own enjoyment. I don’t think having nice things makes me “elite” because thankfully great sound can be achieved with a bit of time spent saving up, but when something gives me joy I get the urge to share it!! Thanks for sharing your practical perspective, glad you’re enjoying the music!

Gore713

Oct 30, 2023

I know I actually understand and see the purpose of &, for an "Audiophile". Granted, There reviews are 12 pgs long front & bk . But,I'm certainly not one but, for Audiophile s abroad I have a much better understanding and comprehensive idea of what is important to me.

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Audiopro

173

Sep 21, 2023

True Audiophiles are Number one; Real Music lovers, and Number two; willing to spend whatever they can afford to build a system that gets as close as possible to "Number one." Within these parameters, the mistake that a lot of audiophiles suffer from is GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) attacks, and often buy into mythical science supporting attributes of wire, amplifiers and speakers that are not substantiated by science, or the laws of physics. I am a recording engineer and somewhat far from being an "audiophile".., I am a former musician and consider myself more of an "Audio Realist." When asked the BIG question as to how to improve their music listening experience, I start with questions about the acoustic character of the listening space. At this point eyes begin to roll and I will lose them until they are ready to seriously listen. Those that have listened were amazed at the results from some rather simple changes to their existing space, with no gear purchases.

Evshrug

4144

Keyboard Club Member

Sep 22, 2023

AudioproThanks for the comment! I’m experimenting with putting different things in my small bedroom studio… but sometimes I lose the motivation.

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AnotherVoice

115

Aug 24, 2023

Audiophiles, I think also break down into two camps, generally. Those who buy gear to get closer to music and those who buy gear because they love gear. I see this in a lot of gear hobbies. Some people buy gear for better performance but others buy gear because they just love gear. These motives are not mutually exclusive of course but we tend to gravitate towards one end or the other.

RayF

22225

May 29, 2023

HINT: he doesn’t shop here.

albertofgomez

Apr 28, 2023

I consider myself an "audio enthusiast", Audiophile is a very complicated term, and coming from Head-fi is sometimes a little complicated to understand even after all these years, and sometimes require a level of appreciation of the music, that is ruined by the quality of the recording, and honestly I can't deal with bad recordings, no matter how good the music is. The first problem we face, is that nobody will ever know how a recording is supposed to sound, and how true to the played material it was done, as all mikes and reflections in the room, all introduce colorations in one way or another, mixing monitors are not the best speakers, and even while they have a flat response, sometimes they are not 100% accurate. Add also that we have bad recordings, and good recordings, nothing related to the material itself, but to the production and mixing after it...so the first problem you face in audio, is to determine to what extend what you are listening is as close as the real thing as possible....having say that, the rest is just taste and enjoyment, and perception of the ears...what sound good to me, sounds colored to another listener...pick what you like, inside your budget, and you will be better served. I had spent some money following a dream that was always short to my expectations, so I stopped listening to people's recommendations, and began listening to my music instead...there is also a budget to fill, no matter how much I like it, I will never be able to afford an Orpheus, so even while indeed it is not my cup of tea, I know that I will never have it.

Evshrug

4144

Keyboard Club Member

Apr 30, 2023

albertofgomezWell, art is in the eye of the beholder… just as the meanings and emotions brought upon by paintings and lyrics are filtered through our own perception, so too is the tone of music. The artist and mixing engineers edit recordings to make them more punchy and part of a cohesive hole, and concerts sound way different than the studio, so it’s expected that the song exists within a certain latitude. Thus, I stopped worrying about “artist’s intent,” which sounds more like a marketing tactic to sell extended editions of already released movies. Here’s (one) artist’s intent:

https://songwhip.com/wilco/what-light I 💯% agree with you to “pick what you like, inside your budget, and you will be better served.” Your enjoyment is the end goal! In fact, since I get burned out on music, I revel in the fact that I can listen on my speakers and different pairs of headphones, and get something different out of it! Hope that turn of perspective gives you interesting thoughts. Three cheers from a fellow Head-Fi’er! Have a great weekend!

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