Shattering audiophile stereotypes
Audiophile gear is always really expensive.
Not true. While there's no shortage of stupid expensive audio toys, there's lots of affordable stuff too, such as Rotel's beautifully built RA 1062 integrated amplifier ($699).
(Credit:
Rotel)
Audiophiles rarely embrace new technology.
Guilty, with an explanation. Audiophiles don't jump on every new tech gizmo that comes down the pike, so we steered clear of iPods for the longest time. But now that we can get uncompressed digital directly out of the little buggers with devices like Wadia's 170iTransport, audiophiles are getting with the program. We were just waiting for them to sound decent.
All audiophiles are really old.
You got me, there are very few under 40 'philes, and I wish I knew why. That certainly wasn't true when I was in my early 20s. Please don't write and whine that younger people can't afford the good stuff. Good stuff was always expensive, but if you really wanted it, you found a way to buy some. Second hand high-end gear is a good way to get in.
Audiophiles are all anti-digital.
No way. Sure, there's a lot of hard-core vinyl junkies reveling in analog bliss, but at least three or four times as many audiophiles are into digital and steer clear of vinyl. Most stick with CD and some mix CD and SACD/DVD-Audio discs into their collections. Some go both ways, and savor the best of analog and digital.
Audiophiles are weird.
True, but no weirder than guys who obsess about watches, cars, baseball cards, or boats. Audiophiles have a passion for sound and music. Is that such a bad thing?
Steve Guttenberg is a frequent contributor to magazines and Web sites including Home Entertainment, Playback, and Ultimate AV. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. 
Is there a way to contact Steve Guttenberg? I may have access to a very unusual 35 mm projector that has only been used 1 time (It belongs to my father-in-law). He is 85 years old and has been in the business his whole life. I also wanted to ask about the best way to sell my Mark Levinson LPN 2 pre-amp with all the original cabling. I have an Adobe file describing the unit that I got from the company in Bedford, MA (USA) who bought Mark Levinson. It cast about $7,000.00 new and matches up pretty well to some of their new products. I hope you can respond Steve. I'll get more info on the projector.
Steve Thompson
Chicken and egg question, right?
There are people out there that have never heard a well recorded CD, let alone sit down and listen to good music on a turntable.
My nephew came over to listen to some music a few months back.
...so after picking his jaw up off the floor after listening to Norah Jones' CD, Come Away With Me, and then hearing the same record off of an LP, he turns around and says, what can you put together for me for $300?
I do like their sound. In fact, some friends have been amazed when told they're listening to a vinyl record. In some ways, they sound more real, but it seems like they don't have the solid bass or extreme highs that CDs have.
I always believed there were 2 types of Audiophiles, 1 was the guy that got the best equipment because it was the best and then when better came out he would buy that. Then the 2nd type is the guy that loves sound and vision and they the best they can afford. When they have more money or better comes out they listen or see it to see if the improvement is worth it, when it becomes worth the cost they buy it. For example DVD's vastly superior to VHS so spending $300 + on a DVD player was worth it, compared to blu-ray and it is not currently worth it. When they have 5 disc Blu_ray DVD changers than I will see.
In my opinion the 1st type of audiophile does not appreciate anything but having the best, if this is the type of person that Steve is lamenting the loss of than good riddance.
About high end audio. I blame the internet. Why pay full price when the internet can get you the same item for 50% less??
- by zbangando May 30, 2009 7:17 PM PDT
- I fail to see that in order to be considered an audiophile, age is considered a factor. As for someone that spends $600 dollars on audio equipment in total or close to it, I feel needs to be exposed to higher standards.
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