You might think you are an audiophile, but in reality very few music lovers meet all the necessary requirements. Are you really an audiophile? Or are you just a great suitor??
Just because you have the entire Britney Spears catalog in your iTunes library doesn't qualify you, it's about the equipment you use and your understanding of music technology.
If you want to know whether or not you are a true audiophile, you can take our made on the spot 100 percent scientific proof below. Answer each question with a “Yes” or “No”, keep a running tally in your head, and we'll reveal the results at the end. That's right, you're about to find out if you're an audiophile.
Before we begin, it's important to qualify exactly what we mean when we say "audiophile."
According to Dictionary.com, an audiophile is someone who is “Particularly interested in high-fidelity sound reproduction.”
Wikipedia expands on this later, stating:
For the purposes of this questionnaire, it is the aspect of home listening that interests us. So, without further ado, let's get started!
Sorry, but wearing those incredibly uncomfortable free iPod/iPhone headphones just because they're "hip" doesn't qualify you as an audiophile. Instead, you need a pair of headphones that have exceptional build quality, high levels of comfort for easy long and, most importantly, an amazing sound. 10 Terms to Know to Identify the Best Headphones 10 Terms to Know to Identify the Best Headphones In this guide, we'll break down the jargon and show you what key headphone specs really mean, and why, or if, they matter. . Read more.
These are not cheap. For example, the Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones will set you back $1,699. Reportedly, it's like listening to real speakers.
Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System Buy now on Amazon Too low to show
We don't expect the most ardent audiophile to pay that much, but it's reasonable to expect a true advocate to spend upwards of $200. Without that level of investment, high-end quality simply doesn't exist.
Tidal Has Been In The News Why Jay Z's Tidal Streaming Service Is Doomed Why Jay Z's Tidal Streaming Service Is Doomed Jay Z Recently Relaunched Tidal, The Music Streaming Service which he acquired for $56 million. Tidal has 99 issues, and Ringtone is one. Read More
However, there is one thing that sets Tidal apart from the likes of Spotify et al...lossless music.
Lossless music preserves every detail of the original song recording; makes the file sizes much larger (nearly ten times the size of MP3 files), but the quality is greatly increased.
It means that true audiophiles would choose to subscribe to Tidal's lossless service for $20 per month rather than settle for a lesser quality alternative.
Let's get one thing straight:scientifically speaking, cable quality does Make a difference with the sound of your speakers. The speaker, receiver/amplifier, and cable create an electrical circuit, so using a cable with higher quality components will affect the resistance and capacitance of the circuit and change the output accordingly.
The capture? The difference is negligible. Which means it requires a highly trained ear to notice the change in sound. If you can hear the difference, you are most likely an audiophile.
Cardas Audio Clear Speaker Cable (pair), Banana / Spade, 2.5 meters Cardas Audio Clear Speaker Cable (pair), Banana / Spade, 2.5 meters Buy now on Amazon
We have already seen why vinyl is better than digital 4 reasons why vinyl is better than digital 4 reasons why vinyl is better than digital Greetings, peasants! What, are you still listening to MP3s? Look, as someone who knows more about music than you, I think it's my duty to tell you that there is a better way. It's called vinyl. Read more . There are many reasons, but possibly the biggest difference is the sound quality.
Vinyl is often the way the artist intended their music to be heard:it hasn't been digitally enhanced, it hasn't been artificially loudened, and it hasn't been saved, ripped, and converted a thousand times before it reached your ears.
Most people don't care enough about the difference in sound to head to a brick and mortar store and buy a vinyl record. Except audiophiles, who care too much.
I went to school in Manchester, England. During my stay there, we built a large indoor sports hall.
Not long after it was completed, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was looking for a place to record their new album. The conductor of the orchestra entered the room, clapped his hands once and knew immediately that this was the place for the recording.
He was clearly an audiophile. If you also have an ear for those things, you're probably too much.
Would you choose to listen to an old recording of Cliff Richard? “Congratulations ” On vinyl in favor of a modern band's digital release.?
Would you avoid your favorite artist's new release just because it was released on Forget Vinyl CD:4 Reasons Digital Is Superior Vinyl? 4 Reasons Digital Is Superior Vinyl is overpriced. Done. Digital is clearly superior for many reasons, some of which are presented below for your reading pleasure. Feel free to disagree, even if doing so makes you a massive non-conformist. Read more ?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these, then you are a) crazy (!) and b) an audiophile.
Poorly placed speakers can make a quality recording sound like fingernails dragging across a blackboard. Similarly, if you have spent several thousand dollars on an expensive setup The 5 Best Computer Speakers You Can Buy For Under $100 The 5 Best Computer Speakers You Can Buy For Under $100 What Are The Best Computer Speakers For desktop computer costing less than $100? Most computers require external speakers to sound their best. We've rounded up the best add-on computer speakers under $100. Read More
KEF Reference 3 Floorstanding Speaker - High Gloss Piano Black (Pair) KEF Reference 3 Floorstanding Speaker - High Gloss Piano Black (Pair) Buy Now On Amazon $13,999.99
If your speakers take center stage in your living room at the expense of sofas, tables, and TVs, you'll need to mark this question with a "Yes."
If you know the definition of scrolling speed, you can skip to question nine.
For the uninitiated, a rate of change is the "Rate of change of voltage per unit of time." In musical terms, it refers to amplifiers, specifically the amplifier's ability to sustain output at higher frequencies (ie, the speed with which an amplifier can respond to a rapid change in input level).
No, we don't really get it either. That is why knowledge of displacement rates is a determining factor in this quiz!
Back in the days of illegal file sharing, before we had Spotify and Tidal, we used programs like Kazaa and Limewire to grab other users' music files. The key to getting a good copy was to download the highest bitrate version possible.
In short, bit rate means the amount of data that is processed during a given period of time. In the world of music, this is typically measured in kilobits per second. The higher the bitrate, the larger the file and the higher the quality. How does audio compression work, and can it really tell the difference? How does audio compression work, and can it really tell the difference? In this article, we'll take a look at how music compression works and if it has any real effect on how music actually sounds. Read more.
On iTunes, music is delivered at 256 kilobits per second, while music heard on the radio is typically streamed at around 128 kilobits per second. A lossless file, like Tidal's, will run at over 1,400 kilobits per second.
To the average user, these differences are barely noticeable. However, if you have expensive headphones or a really good set of speakers, you'll be able to spot the differences more easily. And discuss them with your friends. To the point of boredom.
Have you been searching online stores trying to find a new album by that Cuban conga band? Have you flown to Nigeria to sample the latest African folk music? If you like music from other cultures and in other languages, you might as well be an audiophile.
Alternatively, you may have spent a small fortune buying import albums from your favorite artists just because they have a rare track on them. Or they are destined to be a collector's item in the future. Again, this could mark you as an audiophile for whom no effort or expense is too great when it comes to music.
So how many questions did you answer yes? Keep that number in mind, as here's our official breakdown of scores designed to determine whether or not you're an audiophile:
0: You are the opposite of an audiophile, an audio philistine. , If you want. Your music collection probably consists of Avicii remixes of Justin Bieber hits.
1-4: You are a lover of typical music. You enjoy spending money on occasional great-priced musical items and you're happy to make some sacrifices to maximize your enjoyment, but you're not about to take it to the extreme. Justin Bieber isn't in your library, though Avicii might.
5-7: You are an audiophile. You've built up an impressive library of songs and you're always looking for the best equipment to enjoy it. You think Justin Bieber is a singer, but you're not 100% sure.
8-10: You are the embodiment of an audiophile. Music producers ask for your input and you get free hardware samples from the best manufacturers in the industry that visit your mailbox weekly. You've never heard of Justin Bieber... you're lucky so-and-so.
Did you like this quiz? What was your score of 10? Are there any other questions that you think might be helpful in sorting out true audiophiles from wannabes? Please let us know in the comments below.
