I do n’t mean it ’s any closed book that audiophiles are a bristled , perhaps ostentatious , cluster . To an extent , it ’s understandable . When you find something you ’re passionate about , you have a lot to say about it , and you have some unattackable feelings and judgment colligate to it . Add to that , many of us are audiophiles because of an experience — a deep memory with a category member or friend , maybe — that tote up a whole extra level of personal connection . And sometimes those tenner old , deeply seeded memories and connection can get someone to be very protective of the audiophile hobby .
But it also has the power to become people off from the hobbyhorse we get laid . When an gumptious and unassuming new partisan fetch a interrogative that might be obvious to a more veteran audiophile , or show up off their first setup that might not have proper speaker arrangement , there are some that would either forcefully lay into the unsuspecting music devotee or sardonically ridicule them . Sometimes it can stem from the way many of us interact with each other — the sarcastic witticisms can often be meant as a full - natured tantalization . Or sometimes it can be someone that needs to experience important and intelligent . If it is well intentioned , though , that does n’t translate across the internet . Then there are the people that are just mean . It defile the audiophile forums .
Now , before phallus of that crotchety bunch “ Not All Audiophiles ! ” me , of course it is n’t everyone or everyplace . There are forums on the internet where commenters wo n’t immediately draw someone for asking what they deem to be incorrect , or idiotic , or what have you . I generally find the roentgen / audiophile subreddit is full of enthusiastic , smart , and helpful people that also do n’t always take themselves seriously . And their are obviously good souls that are even part of the more toxic content boards .
The intimidating cost of entry
In increase to the vitriol we all encounter , just getting in to the audiophile hobby can be intimidating , especially from the price perspective . These $ 1,500 utterer cables will capture the delicate , acrobatic lineament of the euphony ( they wo n’t ) , or this $ 30,000 amp is necessary for bringing the strait to life ( it is n’t ) , or this $ 50,000 lazy Susan opened up the detail of a recording to impossible superlative ( doubtful ) . Are there differences between expensive equipment and budget equipment ? Sometimes . Is your delectation of music qualified on the amount you ’ve spent on your equipment ? There ’s no pauperism for it to be .
We all start somewhere , and for many of us , that ’s in bargain territory . So what can you focus on to get into the hobby without breaking the bank ?
While “ audiophile ” is in no way synonymous with “ vinyl nerd , ” there ’s a mickle of overlap . Is a $ 1,000 lazy Susan better than a $ 100 one ? utterly , but it does n’t mean there aren’tgreat turntable optionsin between . At the small prices , it ’s important to attend for a turntable that has the ability to vary out the pickup . It ’s not something you need to do decent off , but down the road can be a marked melioration . Going from the $ 50 cartridge a turntable come with to a $ 200 one can be a drastic change . I recently put a $ 200Ortofon 2 M Bluecartridge on the Audio - technica LP120 I ’ve had for years and the lucidity and freshwater bass reaction improvements were immediate .
Add to the turntable a pair of powered speakers that have a phono in — the $ 279Audioengine A2+are a try out - and - true model , or the approaching $ 299Onkyo GX-30ARCfit the bill — and that ’s in . You ’re estimable to go . No need to mess up with phono pre - amps , or worry about thebest stereophony receiver or integrated amp , or a hip joint tube amp .
That ’s not to say you ca n’t acquire into that ( and I recommend that you absolutely do ) . append in more source — likenetwork music streamerlike theWiim Ultra – get an excellentphono preamplike theRega MM Mk5to tot into your audio chain , upgrade those speakers to a duet ofSVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle , or expand into a fullDolby Atmossystem to enjoy spacial audio medicine .
Once you get started , the world opens up . It just takes that push to get run short and not be paralyse by thorn shock on the aspirational .
Enjoy the music, it’s why we’re here
When it come down to it , the reason any of us ( well , most of us ) got into hi - fi gear is because we love listen to music . Those early , polar store ofplaying recordson the family lazy Susan , or hearing Sting ’s bass track fromWalking on the Mooncome through the walls from an elder sib room , that ’s the rationality we love the speakers , the turntable , the headphones , the CD role player , thereceivers with VU meters .
As a burgeoning audiophile , I move upon you to examine and ignore the braggart . There ’s too much gatekeeping , and it ’s becoming detrimental to the hobbyhorse . Focus on the generous , the variety , the scholarly . Let them partake in their knowledge . Better yet , find the noesis yourself . Read Dr. Floyd Toole’sSound Reproductionbook , The Loudspeaker Design Cookbookby Vance Dickason , and AES white report ( the loose ones , at least ) by Dr. Sean Olive and the Harman team .
And enjoy the music . If it ’s on your phone playing from astreaming service , or you ’re spinning a record , it ’s all about the music . Loving music and require it to vocalize its upright is what makes you an audiophile , irrespective of ruling spewed or money spend .
