The Definition of An Audiophile


My definition of an Audiophile is a person who seeks the recreation/reproduction of music in their home based on a live event.

The purpose of this thread is to gain an understanding of why the majority of people on this forum only compare components to each other. I don’t understand the terms of one amplifier sounding more musical than another. How about the “cold and sterile” attribute often attributed to Halcro amplifiers. The description “tube sounding” description sometimes applied to a solid-state amp is another example.

Whatever happened to a comparison of an actual live event? I consider myself an Audiophile; as well as, I presume, everybody else who frequents this website. How many of you so called Audiophiles have ever been to a decent live event. I’m not talking about your local Civic Center jam packed with 30,000 screaming punks smoking pot, no offense; I used to be one some time ago. How about a concert in a acoustically correct hall with minimal amplification?

The ultimate goal is unadulterated recorded music from the artist to your ears in the privacy of your home. As we all know every electronic component from the front-end source to the speaker adds some form of signature to the recording. The phrase “the best amplifier is the one that adds the least amount of unwanted distortion or noise to a signal” is a very good description. So when I read a thread on a comparison of a particular amplifier that sounds tube like or more musical then another this only mean one thing; the amplifiers are adding unwanted noise!!

Comparisons of “cold and sterile” are based on someone’s reference, most likely, to a tube amplifier or one that sounds tube like with it’s rounded off music transients to avoid the presumed solid state harshness. Have any of you Audiophiles ever thought that the “cold and sterile” attribute just might be the amplifier with the least amount of added distortion or noise to the original source?

How about the next time someone thinks about asking for advice on the qualities of a particular brand compared to another go to a live event before asking the question. That also goes for all you experts, with all the experience of multiple brand ownership and auditioning ready to give the advice. When you’re at this live event ask yourself this question; does the music sound tube like, cold and sterile, or does it sound like the real thing?
audia
I regularily attend live unamplified concerts, both large and small scale. I'm constantly reminded that the home audio system can never be anything more of less than a pale replica of the live event. Why waste time and money on a goal of achieving what is unobtainable. Settling for a sound that you like, a sound that reminds you most of what you would like to hear live, is enuf, IMHO. I've long since concluded that most folk who use the 'live music' as a goal don't get out much. :-)
My reference has been live music(acoustic and amplified)as a sound tech for the past 30+ years. Rest assured: You have opened a can of worms with this thread. Live music is absolutely not "cold and sterile" unless terribly mal-adjusted by the sound tech, or performed in a very poor acoustic(YES- I've witnessed both). Everyone's goal is not the same as yours or mine though, and their references, preferences and opinions will be as varied as their tastes. Whatever I think of their idea of music reproduction: What makes them happy in their listening rooms is strictly their own business. Further it remains their right to consider themselves an "audiophile", regardless of how ludicrous you or I feel the application may be in their case. That's just a matter of semantics.
This question or more properly negative diatribe has been written so many times I am surprised that the moderaters didn't immediately spit it back at you .
As for your problem about people making a hobby of listening to their music for their own enjoyment, in their homes anytime they wish versus going to a live concert is idiotic. Why are you so angered that we like to discuss the equipment we use, it is what many of us like to discuss. I am sure you can find some other sites which are concerned about and discuss, live events only. Go there and enjoy it.
The listeners whatever you want to call them are hoping to find the music reproduction equipment which they are endlessly trying to make better, ivesting time energy reading about is what this site is about. BTW it sound really good has always meant as much like live music as possible is a given . Incredible as it may well be, I guess you are too dim witted to know that.
The term Audiophile means music lover.
Most of this site is about that the fact that the term is applied to you by fairly disinterested "outsiders" if listen a lot and of course if the equioment sounds good is just a fact. I know that I never call myself that.I don't care at all if people call me this or that so if it bothers you don't use the term.
It's a just a bit difficult getting into fabulous acoustic event everyday. Do you think we should abandon our interest in the gear people try so hard to put together into system and discuss it makes us happy or at least entertaing is simple for you to fix, stop troubling yourself. Just stop reading thia and get yourself to live event instead.
We like our audio gear, most find it fascinating. If you don't who gives a shit.
An audiophile is someone who assembles a stereo system with care and then attempts to better it as a hobby.