What kind of audiophile are you?

[DanielT]

Cheep Audio Man's roost of certain audiophile stereo(pun intended)types. Even when he takes the mickey out, for example, ASR in the video, he does it with a twinkle in his eye.It's all in good faith. He actually likes ASR.

He doesn't actually take a position but he describes the audiophile sterotypes in a fun way I think.

Do you recognize yourself in any of Cheep Audio Man's descriptions?

He takes takes the mickey out of himself in the video too.

 

[DSJR]

I'm a hybrid, into vintage gear ('cos I can't afford or even house well finished new stuff), the little far-east boxes (dacs mainly) and maybe amps one day if I don't return to built-in actives and of course, a now dyed-in-the-wool ASR poster who appreciates the extensive measurements done here and elsewhere and learning as much as possible how to read a full Klippel test as the speakers will always sound different in different rooms anyway, so no real means of hearing them properly because of this (unless you know the 'room' and your speakers in it well).

 

[IngMishael]

Cheep Audio Man's roost of certain audiophile stereo(pun intended)types. Even when he takes the mickey out, for example, ASR in the video, he does it with a twinkle in his eye.
He doesn't actually take a position but he describes the audiophile sterotypes in a fun way I think.

Do you recognize yourself in any of Cheep Audio Man's descriptions?

He takes takes the mickey out of himself in the video too.

Won't watch the video since it's by CheapAudioMan but I'm a do it once and do it right kinda audiophile who spends a gigantic amount of time listening to music that fussing over human led feelings about my setup.
I'm a music connoisseur

 

[Joe Smith]

I like my equipment, and buy new things from time to time, but it's mostly to have music in my life wherever and whenever I want. I don't need "the best" or so spend a lot of money to impress other people. I do like well-designed things that have attractive appearance and have logical, human-aware design.

Even though I don't need to, I change equipment and setups in my house around "just because I can," not because I think I will hear something magically different.

I've left behind the search for "better cables", op-amp changes that I'd be able to hear...all of that "mite on the hair of a gnat's nose stuff"...you can have it.

 

[Snarfie]

Curious nothing about a Vinyl addiction segment or the Hipster came close enough. Probably it will cost him a audience.

 

[ivayvr]

I watched one of his videos a few years ago and never again. The fact that I remember the experience is a clear indication of my opinion about him...
I would define myself as a "born again" audiophile. Some 50 years ago, I was obsessing about having the absolute best equipment possible, doing all the tweaks that could improve the sound...As time went by, I adopted a more realistic approach, shifting the focus to other, more tangible segments of life.
A few years ago, in a big part owing to the ASR, I reached the level of satisfaction with my current sound system, that I don't feel the urge for constant "upgrading".
The other part of the experience is the fact that my ears are probably the weakest link of my sound system and upgrade opportunities in that area are extremely limited.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I've been utilitarian since I first got interested in audio when I was in high school. I appreciate the aesthetics of good industrial design but I'm primarily interested in the best sound I can afford. My budget is, uh, modest. I'm old and definitely wearing out. My hearing is as good as it gets with hearing aids, 8KHz highest frequency. One thing that's consistently pleased me is that gear has been getting cheaper. I need to convert the cost of my bedroom system--primary listening environment--to 1965 dollars. It's considerably better than what I had in 1965 when I bought my first real hifi system.

 

[Multicore]

I am the pragmatic antiaudiophile. As such I don't think I'm a good fit for these categories. I'm here for the witty banter and occasional aesthetic and philosophic conversations, which can be quite good.

 

[Sgt. Ear Ache]

I like good music, good sound, and equipment that gets me there. I love that I can look at measurements and see (to a degree well beyond what my 58 year old ears can resolve) pretty much exactly that a given piece of equipment is doing what it is intended to do (and not doing anything I don't want it to do) so that I can put together a system (for shockingly low $) that does what I want it to do without my having to play weird head games with myself guessing if this or that change could improve things. I'm not watching the vid though so I don't know what category that puts me in.

 

[mlsstl]

I also didn't watch the video -- seems like most videos like this take four or five times the amount of time needed to say whatever they have to say. However, I gave up on using the word "audiophile" to describe myself years ago. Way too much pretense and bullshit involved so I have no desire to associate myself with those who use the word. I just enjoy good music played on a good sounding system. There are a lot of ways to get there and it doesn't necessarily involve spending a lot of money.

 

[DanielT]

Won't watch the video since it's by CheapAudioMan but I'm a do it once and do it right kinda audiophile who spends a gigantic amount of time listening to music that fussing over human led feelings about my setup.
I'm a music connoisseur

I watched one of his videos a few years ago and never again.

In this case, CheapAudioMan is just joking lovingly with stereotypical ideas of what different categories of audiophiles are. It's exaggerated, of course, otherwise it wouldn't be funny. He also has something positive to say for each category in conclusion. He doesn't diss anyone outright.
Then maybe some people can identify with what he says to some extent. Nothing wrong with that, I think.

For my part, I think it's fun to test used cheap speakers, a lot of which I've bought via tips, tests and what I've generally read here on ASR. Vintage is fun but has become more expensive over the years. EQing, and learning about it is fun. Overall, it's fun to read what knowledgeable people share here on ASR. I learn a little
from them. All of Amir's tests are icing on the cake. New DAC bought thanks to one of Amir's tests.
DIY, when, if, I get started with it is rewarding.I've also gotten a lot of really good music tips from ASR. So for me it's a mixed bag.

 

[Multicore]

In this case, CheapAudioMan is just joking lovingly with stereotypical ideas of what different categories of audiophiles are.

Yeah, but where does he get it from? On what are these comic stereotypes based? I watched the video when it was posted in the jokes thread and I don't know anyone like any of them. I suspect it's coming from the weird self-referential feedback loop of ootoobers reacting to other ootoobers and reading their comments, something that conjures a digital pseudo-reality out of reactions to reactions to reactions. Social media is not real life but spend enough time there and it might turn into real reality.

Honestly I have no idea. I don't know that world (I know one 80s hifi fan but his system sounds like crap, my BT boombox sounds better). So maybe Cheep Audio Man's jokes land for some but to me he was roughly as funny as when Beato does his angry dad rants.

 

[Robin L]

Cheap Audio Antique.
First system, back in 1973, was the system Consumer's Report favored; Acoustic Research Model 3 speakers, Acoustic Research integrated amplifier, Acoustic Research turntable, Shure 91 ed cartridge. Excellent system for the time, but it didn't last long. Over time I bought and then unloaded all sorts of gear I found at thrift stores and yard sales, and the core of my current system—amp, powered subwoofer, floorstanding speakers—came from Amvets. I've always paid attention to measurements. Part of my cheapskate ways can be seen in my source of music, mostly streaming but also a lot of $1 CDs.

 

[IngMishael]

In this case, CheapAudioMan is just joking lovingly with stereotypical ideas of what different categories of audiophiles are. It's exaggerated, of course, otherwise it wouldn't be funny. He also has something positive to say for each category in conclusion. He doesn't diss anyone outright.
Then maybe some people can identify with what he says to some extent. Nothing wrong with that, I think.

For my part, I think it's fun to test used cheap speakers, a lot of which I've bought via tips, tests and what I've generally read here on ASR. Vintage is fun but has become more expensive over the years. EQing, and learning about it is fun. Overall, it's fun to read what knowledgeable people share here on ASR. I learn a little
from them. All of Amir's tests are icing on the cake. New DAC bought thanks to one of Amir's tests.
DIY, when, if, I get started with it is rewarding.I've also gotten a lot of really good music tips from ASR. So for me it's a mixed bag.

Oh I have no qualms with you sharing the video and I am joyed to see some discussion. And me disliking CheapAudioMan started way before I knew what ASR was lol

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I've been utilitarian since I first got interested in audio when I was in high school. I appreciate the aesthetics of good industrial design but I'm primarily interested in the best sound I can afford. My budget is, uh, modest. I'm old and definitely wearing out. My hearing is as good as it gets with hearing aids, 8KHz highest frequency. One thing that's consistently pleased me is that gear has been getting cheaper. I need to convert the cost of my bedroom system--primary listening environment--to 1965 dollars. It's considerably better than what I had in 1965 when I bought my first real hifi system.

According to the CPI inflation calculator, the approximately $500 cost of my bedroom system which includes a combination integrated amp/dac is about $50 in 1965 dollars. The $300 used component system I bought back then would be about $3000 in 2025 dollars. For $50 in 1965 I could have gotten a fairly nice table radio or a low to medium price portable record player.

 

[MattHooper]

I find cheap audioman’s exaggerated “ every day schmuck” schtick to be fairly agonizing to sit through. But I watched the video.

I didn’t see myself in one of those categories.

I suppose I had to categorize myself it would be something like “An old school audiophile but with a healthy respect for science, and a distaste for bullshit.”

By old school I mean I still have tendencies I developed since becoming an ardent audiophile in the early 90s, reading the absolute sound Stereophile , etc.

If I want to investigate a piece of gear - and here I’m talking mostly about loudspeakers - then I find a way to listen to it (rather than just go on measurements even if they are available… although some measurements can rule out a speaker for me).

Although I had my room acoustically renovated, and aside from one dalliance with subwoofers and room EQ, my preferred method is still the old: buy a pair of speakers, spend time adjusting speaker position, and listening position, until I have pleased my ears.

I’ve long been interested in science and the philosophy of science, so for me measurements and blind testing have always been highly relevant in audio, and the way to ultimately weed out all the pseudoscience.

I just happened to not have the type of technical engineering aptitude that makes doing measurements fun and compelling.
Nor am I interested in DIY.

And if I am experimenting with something that’s on the edge of plausibility - eg speaker footers, tube rolling, I’m happy to acknowledge that without firmer evidence, the results could be simply due to my imagination. The fact that I bristle at anti-scientific claims, doesn’t mean that I need to be doing science at every moment in life. (if I’m trying out a new spaghetti sauce recipe, it’s not like I’m doing science).

And I’m old school in highly valuing swapping subjective impressions with other audiophiles. For me, the subjective effect is ultimately what it’s all about (which doesn’t commit one to be believing in woo ) and that’s why I value talking about it so much.

 

[HalSF]

I’m anti-audiophile. The word is burdened and spoiled by numerous unappealing and negative connotations, which is why so many sensible people preface their comments on gear and audio sound with “I’m no audiophile, but…” It’s very difficult to talk about being an audiophile in a way that makes it seem like a positive, non- neurotic thing to aspire to be, without a lot of hemming and hawing and anxious nitpicking and border patrolling about what it means, the way that Cheap Audio Man anatomizes the seven categories of audiophile he’s cooked up for this video.

I value excellence in hi-fi gear and sources because I love and revere music and want to hear it reproduced as faithfully and accurately as possible.”Audiophile” is way too jumped-up to honestly reflect those straightforward, down-to-earth values.

 

[WideEyedToad]

I'd say in a beginner, but wants to take a step forward.

 

[DanielT]

I'd say in a beginner, but wants to take a step forward.

Welcome to ASR.

Step forward you say. Then ASR is a good place to be and take part in what is discussed here.

My tip, spend the most time and energy on finding speakers and or headphones that suit you. When buying, spend the most money on speakers/headphones in your hi-fi system.

To make it easier, the video below can help you find what you are looking for regarding speakers. Measurements tell you how the speakers sound:

 

[RickS]

Yeah, but where does he get it from? On what are these comic stereotypes based? I watched the video when it was posted in the jokes thread and I don't know anyone like any of them. I suspect it's coming from the weird self-referential feedback loop of ootoobers reacting to other ootoobers and reading their comments, something that conjures a digital pseudo-reality out of reactions to reactions to reactions. Social media is not real life but spend enough time there and it might turn into real reality.

Honestly I have no idea. I don't know that world (I know one 80s hifi fan but his system sounds like crap, my BT boombox sounds better). So maybe Cheep Audio Man's jokes land for some but to me he was roughly as funny as when Beato does his angry dad rants.

My takeaway was much the same but only perused the video. Wished I would have spent the time more productively than listening to a youtuber’s superficial segmentation.