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I almost got into an argument with a good friend because I didn't agree with his theory that there is a minimal difference (in terms of what you can actually hear) between top-of-the-line brands at Best Buy and an audiophile sound system that costs as much as a car. He has recently listened to some Rotel equipment and is beginning to see my side of the arguement, although he won't admit it for a few years. I haven't yet introduced him to my other friend with Wadia equipment and Nautilus loudspeakers. My wife understands me (she is waiting to see if I can actually save enough money to afford some new equipment instead of buying more CDs).

My wife tolerates my obession with music (she would rather read in silence). My son a, a musician of 17 (age), loves the sound but is just as content with his boom box. He has recorded some of his music and believes a tone-control-less system is a disservice to music. Every time he gets a new CD he plugs in the old APT Holman for its tone controls. He will admit that the main system sounds honest, and my music (chamber music or jazz). That's the way he goes.

Suffer socially? Audio obsession? No I don't. But then, I don't obsess over audio; I just listen to it.

NO. NO. No. No. No. (I'm in a denial phase right now.)

Lame question this time guys.

I dont know one person personally who is an audiophile like myself.

I know more detail can be obtained if I just buy another Super red Rolling Rock, or maybe that special Bladder support. Maybe if I turn off my neighbor's refrigerator it will make the soundstage open up more. There is this new tweak I MUST buy. It's Spjizm Oil from the under-topside of the rare Peruvian Bald Segal. I hear it finally makes CDs sound just like live music. Then there is this other new acoustic . . . Oh G-d please help me. Please help. Help . . .

By the way who wrote this silly question? It wasn't me!

Lost my last girlfriend because my system cost more than her car! She told me I was too materialistic. I asked who was being materialistic and suggested she get a better car.

Misspent youth followed by misspent middle age. Yeaah!

Not really, but a hobby is a hobby. The same people who don't understand an audio hobby doesn't mind breaking out the collector's addition Smith&Wesson, or show off their $20K boat. Music to alot of people, it would seem, is the jingle to a commercial, accompanies the credits to a movie, the theme to a sitcom...well, you get the picture. Most people can appreciate a fine stereo system, but can take it or leave it. Its funny, but a lot of musician friends of mine have very indifferent approaches to their stereo systems. They'd spend thousands on their instruments if they could, but wouldn't spend more than 6 or 7 hundred on a stereo. I wonder how musically inclined most audiophiles are?

I'm also involved in Quality Management, which again is rarely understood even though many people use the term.

Yes, eccentric, and the wife doesn't just think I need help, she knows I do. People find out that I'm an audiophile from my collecting of records. Then we talk about the stereo system that we have. They want to know how does it sound different than the stuff that they have/get at the department stores—you know, K-Mart, Wal-mart, and Target. Best Buy and Circuit City are big-time audio shops to most. They are surprised to find out that there is better equipment out there and that most of it is American-made. After telling them about the big sonic improvements that you get with the upgrade of equipment, I show them some of the advertisements in the audio magazines and they oooh and ah at the looks of the components. Then the worst happens—they find out the price. Jaws drop and you get that look (you know that look): "You're kidding! Right? They're crazy!" When we look at the equipment that's in their price range, it's very plain, dark, and boxy. Not many are willing to pay a premium for that. So they go back to the above-mentioned stores and buy their dark boxes with the pretty colored lights for much less, and pity us poor loonies for our foolishness. People just can not understand why the good equipment costs so much. Hell, I don't understand it myself a lot of the time.

I drive a $500 junker and listen to a $10,000 stereo system. Nuff said!!!

Caring about what others think of me is a worthless waste of time. Who cares?

The pursuit of audio excellence has indeed enhanced rather than restricted my social life. I will often invite guests to my listening loft, people I otherwise would not have shared time with in my home. Now that Mikey, through his great column in Stereophile, has induced me to return to vinyl, the visits and social interaction will increase.

My friend Jan's wife and my wife commiserate with each other about having audio nuts for partners, and support each other in efforts to control and limit acquisitions of more audio gear and even more recordings. But with long experience of their wiley ways, we still manage.

Hifi consisting of turntables, tube electronics, and horn speakers gets my women in "the mood." Soft saxaphone jazz, new age music, and Spanish guitar really do work. Yeah baby!

It's hard to be an audiophile! My sister-in-law took a look at my Von Schweikerts and said, "Ya know, Bose makes some speakers that are only this big, and you can put them right on the wall!" Her Mother had commented on my system as well, saying I was nuts to spend all this money on it (she never got to hear it). Fortunately, the sister-in-law was staying for a visit, and I had the chance to sit her down in the sweet spot and play her some music. She was impressed! Afterwards, I asked her to go listen to those Bose speakers again when she got home, and see if she still thought they would be a good choice. She said there was no need. My system was the best she had ever heard. She even commented that I had my bass and treble controls set perfectly. I had to laugh a bit as I told her there were no tone controls. She was surprised. Educate as many people as you can about the joys of a good system, and help our hobby flourish.

there is nothing more effective for ruining a good night on the town than sitting down for "just a song or two."

I am into finding the best way of listening to music.If some people don't like it-too bad!

I often invite my friends over to spin records while we eat and play cards. I have noticed odd characters who are anti-social and they seem most interested in things unrelated to music appreciation. It's the fanatics who are obsessed with high priced equipement, voodoo-science products, voodoo-science tweaks, cables, green markers, and the more kooky periphanalia. They will insist that a $20,000 Linn CD player will sound better than a $1000 CD player even though both have the exact same Pacific Microsonics HDCD chips. They will insist there are differences! I just want to hear music, not the sound of my money burning.