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Audiophile, Hi end, Hi fidelity. These terms mean different things and may or may not overlap into each other.
Hi Fidelity, was a term coined in the 1950s which was used to distinguish audio equipment (tube amplifiers) that were able to reproduce sound frequency for 20 to 20,000 hz within specified distortion numbers. And with the rapidly growing home audio market, the term helped to fuel the audio design and power competition , as manufacturers like Leak, Williamson, McIntosh, Ampex, later, Fisher and Scott, Harman Kardon, Marantz, etc, tried to seperate themselves from the competition with better distortion or power output numbers.
Audiophile, is a person who literally loves audio or reproduced music. So, any vintage tube audio equipment that reproduces a sound that someone loves can be considered "audiophile". This could also be true for modern solid state equipment too. But, in the context of audio magazines, and audio forums, audiophile connotes a more dedicated follower almost obsessed. Media and advertising has used the term to influence people which has further resulted in the term acquiring a monetary component.
Hi end is therefore the moneyed aspect where the more it costs the "higher the audiophile quotient" can be. Thus, people can become instant audiophiles with the purchase of the proper equipment as recommended by magazines, price tags, or sales people.
Unfortunately, our ears or auditory perception is not linked to an oscilloscope or distortion meter and in the final analysis your brain is the final arbiter as to what constitutes an excellent sounding equipment or not. And once the brain is involved the decision making process becomes much more complex. And all the demos, discussions, forum fights, prices, and recommendations, will need to be resolved by your own choices balancing all the different factors.
Hi Fidelity, was a term coined in the 1950s which was used to distinguish audio equipment (tube amplifiers) that were able to reproduce sound frequency for 20 to 20,000 hz within specified distortion numbers. And with the rapidly growing home audio market, the term helped to fuel the audio design and power competition , as manufacturers like Leak, Williamson, McIntosh, Ampex, later, Fisher and Scott, Harman Kardon, Marantz, etc, tried to seperate themselves from the competition with better distortion or power output numbers.
Audiophile, is a person who literally loves audio or reproduced music. So, any vintage tube audio equipment that reproduces a sound that someone loves can be considered "audiophile". This could also be true for modern solid state equipment too. But, in the context of audio magazines, and audio forums, audiophile connotes a more dedicated follower almost obsessed. Media and advertising has used the term to influence people which has further resulted in the term acquiring a monetary component.
Hi end is therefore the moneyed aspect where the more it costs the "higher the audiophile quotient" can be. Thus, people can become instant audiophiles with the purchase of the proper equipment as recommended by magazines, price tags, or sales people.
Unfortunately, our ears or auditory perception is not linked to an oscilloscope or distortion meter and in the final analysis your brain is the final arbiter as to what constitutes an excellent sounding equipment or not. And once the brain is involved the decision making process becomes much more complex. And all the demos, discussions, forum fights, prices, and recommendations, will need to be resolved by your own choices balancing all the different factors.
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