Are there any audiophiles here? At what point do you become an audiophile? What are the components that make you an audiophile? What JBL products are considered audiophile?
Are there any audiophiles here? At what point do you become an audiophile? What are the components that make you an audiophile? What JBL products are considered audiophile?
An Audiophile is where I keep al my reciepts are warranties in a manilla folder I put in my phile cabinet.
It's someone who enjoys this hobby. That's the way I look at it. As I see it any long term member here is one. What the internet and some of the snobazines have done to the meaning really doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. Like any hobby there are extremes but it doesn't change the core fact that we all enjoy this stuff.
Rob
I totally agree.Originally Posted by Robh3606
It's someone who enjoys this hobby. ...... . Like any hobby there are extremes but it doesn't change the core fact that we all enjoy this stuff.
Rob
Also, anyone who has dedicated an entire room of their home to their stereo system, must certainly be an audiophile.
Tube / Solid State or Vinyl / Digital === we are all in it for the love of 'that sound' whatever that means to us as individuals.
Frederick
It's someone who enjoys this hobby. That's the way I look at it. As I see it any long term member here is one. What the internet and some of the snobazines have done to the meaning really doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. Like any hobby there are extremes but it doesn't change the core fact that we all enjoy this stuff.
RobI also agree. If you love vintage speakers for their particular sound or the most exotic boutique devices from the rarified brands advertised and glowingly reviewed in the audio rags, I think you are an audiophile. Audiophile also includes the kid with an iPod and boombox but wishes he had a "better" system. As Dome points out it is about your enthusiasm or emotional commitment to sound.
Of course there is also the politics of audio... where some feel you must have tubed or class A solid state electronics and expensive speakers to be an audiophile... and those who disdain all that is expensive and feel it is all an evil con.
As Rob said, it is a hobby. If all you can afford is a pair of old Advents and a vintage receiver or you have the latest mega dollar system... it isn't the gear that makes you an audiophile or not, it is your passion and the joy you get from this stuff.
Which speakers from JBL are "Audiophile?" I guess that depends on who is listening to them... some might love their EONs and others their 250Tis...
Widget
There is much to like and something to dislike for almost everyone in this article. Apologies if it has already been referenced.
http://www.stereotimes.com/comm011602.shtml
This one from the same site may not add much, but it is fun: http://www.stereotimes.com/comm021802.shtml
Clark
Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears
I've always considered JBL a breed apart. I don't recall ever connecting JBL with "Audiophile", quite the opposite.
I'm definitely not an "Audiophile". Thanks for the link.
alltheolefilesAn Audiophile is where I keep al my reciepts are warranties in a manilla folder I put in my phile cabinet.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought that "audiophile" has some negative implications because it's linked to subjectivism. I can't explain it nearly as well as Douglas Self:
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/ampin...o/subjectv.htm
There might be people here who disagree, but here's an example: Anyone who spends $1000+ on a single cable is a gullible sucker. Even the company that makes the cable knows it's just a regular cable... but you can't blame them for capitalizing on suckers with good marketing.
Subjectivism is an interesting subject in itself, but stereo reproduction has some relatively recent history that polarized our hobby a bit and needs to be known to add some perspective.
Julian Hirsch lorded over the most popular audio magazine's equipment review department for many years. He was thoroughly convinced that if two amps, for instance, measured the same, they sounded the same. In other words, a meter man's meter man. Anyone who can actually hear pretty well and actually listens will immediately notice differences in presentation between an SET amp and a transistor amp, no matter how similar the specs, so what gives? While the high end accessory business does indeed hide behind the theory that some elements of sound reproduction can not be currently measured, it is not just a theory. The current state of audio analysis is no more complete and perfect than any other scientific or engineering endeavor.
Mr. Hirsch certainly was in no hurry to leave his dials and listen to the music, and it made no more sense than trying to describe how the sky looks by measuring it's average brightness with a light meter. A lightly overcast day could measure identically to a beautiful day mixing blue sky and cumulus clouds. And now it seems that meter men and listeners will not be on friendly terms any time soon.
As to a possible motive for sane people spending way too much on simple components, see this old post of mine: http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...28&postcount=2
So what is an audiophile? I quote my old signature: Whereas a good audiophile endeavors to reproduce the performance, the poor audiophile listens to his equipment instead of the source material (THE MUSIC).
Clark in Peoria
Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears
My idea of an audiophile is someone that has a pair of 6" speakers mounted on 6' horns connected to their 3 watt amplifier with $2000 per yard, pure silver speaker cable. And dont forget the $300 wooden block on the power cable. It makes the sound better you know.
I have driven heavy trucks all my working life. As a driver one has to be aware of noises ( thumps pops, hissing, grinding or the sound of breaking glass ) lol Not to mention the clatter of the engine , the whine of the turbo or the roar of the exhaust.
At days end l like to unwind by listening to some music .It relaxes me and attunes me to a more serene place.The evolution of my gear to listen to it has been on going for over 45 yrs. It was never an obsession. I let my ears be my guide.
I see discussions here that are very interesting does that make me an Audiophile ?
I understand there is no cure for Audiophilia but there are some interesting therapies to ease to ease the discomfort of the sufferer.
Over the holidays I purchased a hd-dvd player. I also managed to obtain a cd encoded in dts. Put the two together and the experience was almost , well its hard to describe. Surely it can't get any better than this. A little unsettling though. No longer are the musicians on stage in front of you. Now you are standing in the band.
Guess I am one (of you)
Thought this video might be interesting.
http://www.rockechoes.com/passionate-audiophiles/
Steve K
I think its the guy who says, " I CAN hear a difference," when given a blind A/B test of the same speakers
The same guy who's willing to BUY hype and not reality....
Then there are those of us who enjoy listening to music and want to know why what we hear sounds so good.. And on the other side there are those who don't care and just want things to get magically better without knowing why they did..
An audiophile may not like to hear this, but money can never buy them happiness, they are only temporarily content and can never be truely satisfied.
I think we all need to be happier enjoying what we have and be willing to learn what we are striving for rather than just forking out money in the hopes that someone else will tell us.. Just my .02...
If incoming AC Power is 50% and the equipment rack is 30% of the music, that only leaves 20% for the source material, equipment, and environment.
Priceless.
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