Music lover or audiophile?


I think you have to decide, are you a music lover or audiophile?  I know the majority will say, both.
 I’m not so sure though. The nature of audiophilia is to get in there and fiddle with the tools, like any other hobbyist.  The difference in our hobby though is that presumably, our ultimate goal is to have the best musical experience we can get. The hobbyist is never really finished. The manipulation of the materials is the fun. The music lover, however, wants to get the most out of that esthetic experience.  
By continually plying materials, the audiophile is on an endless quest for better sound.
 After years of this quest, I’ve decided I can be a music lover or an audiophile.  I’m happy listening to my system now the way it is.  So, I’ve decided to be a music lover once again.
rvpiano
If I keep changing hardware, it is hard to enjoy music.

I had not changed any major audio components between 2013 to July 2018 except adding inexpensive Cocktail Audio X12 music server.

But during last one year period, I had done major renovation except the speaker (Lansche4.1 which I will keep for my life) spending 50k$.

Today I pulled the trigger for end game headphone system of Stax 009S and KGSSHV Carbon amp.

I will have two years of break and just enjoy music
Indeed, music lover first, audiophile second.
What came first?
Music, of course!

The nature of audiophilia is to get more out of even the crappiest recordings.

Guys who don't know how to execute that will be sitting around with their 3 records on repeat. I run away as fast as I can when I see a dude who falls in this category.

Music First!

The nature of audiophilia is to get in there and fiddle with the tools, like any other hobbyist.

“I think you have to decide, are you a music lover or audiophile?” Really? Why? This is a ridiculous statement. Why? Because it imposes limitations on humans that does not reflect reality. Also it sounds arrogant, pretentious, shortsighted and stupid. IMO.