| Steve, every month you answer all sorts of questions, but I have an embarrassing direct question; how would you define the term audiophile? I like sound, can I call myself an audiophile?
Please do, and welcome to the club. Anyone who cares about sound quality is at least a budding audiophile. Another characteristic that defines audiophile behavior is the simple act of listening, as opposed to just having music playing in the background. Audiophiles possess the rare ability to enjoy music and sound without multi-tasking -- reading, doing housework, exercising, etc with music in the background. Just settling in with nothing but music admits to the club. Another defining trait: audiophiles believe that by improving the sound of their system, they enhance their appreciation of music. And it doesn’t have to be expensive high-end gear -- over past columns I’ve recommended affordable alternatives. |