Don Richard Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Does anyone remember when the term "audiophile" came into general use? When I started fooling around with audio we were called "hi-fi nuts". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I think "audiophile" came into general use just prior to the disappearance of tone controls on higher end gear. "hi-fi nuts" were not to discerning in their listening. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Daddy Dee: How do you know that hi-fi nuts were not discerning in their listening? JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundbound Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Wasn't Audio Buff once used too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestonTom Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Good Question! I think it was a generation or two ago. At that time HiFi nuts were guys that read Popular Electronics and did father-son projects like building Dynaco and Heathkit amps or a bass reflex speaker cabinet.. Back then capacitors (etc) were described by things like: microFarads, polarization, and max voltage. Today, we are no longer interested in those boring things. Instead we like to identify capacitors (etc) by things like: "opens up the soundstage", "removes the veil", and whether the sound is like "cardboard" or like "chocolate". I don't understand it either .... -Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picky Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 According to Webster, use of the term "Audiophile" began the year I was born: 1951 I guess they knew I had arrived! LOL -GlennMain Entry: au·dio·philePronunciation: \'-de-o-?fi(-?)l\ Function: noun Date: 1951 : a person who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 JJK, Tongue in cheek comment, of course! Hey, do you know how to tell the difference between a Hifi Nut and an audiophile? The audiophile won't admit to liking Spam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Daddy Dee: That's funny. I like Spam. It was introduced in WWII for the grunts and the local populace in those ravaged countries loved it. But I guess if you are hungry you are not particular. They thought it was a delicacy of sorts. It makes a nice sandwitch. I like bacon sandwitches from Crackerbarrel too. And I thought that after eating Spam your hearing range increased to 25khz. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Hey Isn't an MP3 and "Audio File" ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLSamuel Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I always thought audio nuts and audiophiles were kind of after the same thing with the audio nuts being more hands on do it yourself kinds of guys (and gals) and the audiophiles being more the purchase it ready made. The other difference in my mind is that audiophiles can at times get caught up in overly minute insignificant (to the rest of us at least) differences in sound, real or perceived, and forget to enjoy the music - they'll keep striving for perfection while the audio nut will just kick back and enjoy the music. Audio buff would be closer to an audio nut maybe not so much a hands on tinkerer. In any case, audio nut, audiophile, audio buff, etc all have buff audio systems. just my .2 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 JJK, good one. I need a little help with those high frequencies. fenderbender. too good! Yay. an mp3 is indeed an audio file! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Stereo Review termed the phrase in the early 70's ...................... Stereo's were taking over the world !!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Richard Posted June 5, 2008 Author Share Posted June 5, 2008 Thanks for the info, guys. As best as I can remember somewhere in the '70s was when I first heard the term used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I plan to abopt that label in about 15 years as I become more cranky and like less and less of "Today's" music and there for claim that the CD is the best there is over this new "Audio" format "MP16- digital audio 3 dimensional analog file" in 2032. I will be part of the next generation of Audiophiles. The old CD players will be rehab'ed by rare "artists" for some crazy prices which I will be able to afford to remind me of my youth. I will visit garage sales to pick up mint copies of "orginal" CDs in those large plastic "mint" cases to appreciate in my own high priced system to experiance my own audio nirvana. Who is with me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLSamuel Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Well see JB. In my crystal ball, I see you rediscovering vinyl aound 2009 / 2010 and sending me your CD collection as your also trying to go green and wouldn't think of sending that worthless pile of plastic and aluminum foil to the land fill. I guess time will tell. Some I get right. Some I don't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 I plan to abopt that label in about 15 years as I become more cranky and like less and less of "Today's" music and there for claim that the CD is the best there is over this new "Audio" format "MP16- digital audio 3 dimensional analog file" in 2032. I will be part of the next generation of Audiophiles. The old CD players will be rehab'ed by rare "artists" for some crazy prices which I will be able to afford to remind me of my youth. I will visit garage sales to pick up mint copies of "orginal" CDs in those large plastic "mint" cases to appreciate in my own high priced system to experiance my own audio nirvana. Who is with me? I'm going out to Brandsmart right now and get a trailer full of cd players......they will be worth 1-2k each in JB's world!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I plan to abopt that label in about 15 years as I become more cranky and like less and less of "Today's" music and there for claim that the CD is the best there is over this new "Audio" format "MP16- digital audio 3 dimensional analog file" in 2032. I will be part of the next generation of Audiophiles. The old CD players will be rehab'ed by rare "artists" for some crazy prices which I will be able to afford to remind me of my youth. I will visit garage sales to pick up mint copies of "orginal" CDs in those large plastic "mint" cases to appreciate in my own high priced system to experiance my own audio nirvana. Who is with me? I'm going out to Brandsmart right now and get a trailer full of cd players......they will be worth 1-2k each in JB's world!!!! In 2032, a thousand dollar then is like 100 buck now, so just think what a 1000 buck now will be worth then? It boggles the mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Gee, The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste !!!!!!!!!!!! ................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 I was the kid in the 70's who had pages torn from Audio and Stereo Review taped to the walls in his bedroom. Remember Professor Lirpa's test results? I always thought the terms were Audiophile and Stereo Nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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