How many of you photographers are also audiophiles?

Do the two compliment each other? I think so. I mean, each has discerning enthusiasts even to the point of ad nauseum!

I try to draw my own line something short of that and try to remember that I'm just a serious hobbyist. I still have a few friends left thanks to that way of thinking!

(Don't mind my ramblings... I'm just trying to get to 30 posts so I can offer up my excessive supply of audio equipment for trade towards my rekindled interest in photo gear in the Marketplace!)

what would you qualify as an 'audiophile', and are we talking home or car?

Usually audiophiles Like tube based gear. Having said that i work for Rogue Audio.

Well, I do have some tube based gear but that's not really a qualification. Tube gear has a distinct sound. Some audio buffs like it and some do not. For many it can sound too muted or drippy. Many audiophiles want the closest they can achieve to live music... you know... realism. In that regard it can be viewed as similar to how photographs are interpreted, eh?

I don't consider car audio as audiophile quality and that has nothing to do with the quality of the gear or the environment while stationary (a car is a nice sealed environment while sitting still). No, it's the fact that cars move and unless you can isolate the car from all outside influences, it's going to have a great affect on serious listening. Just MO.

Another link between the two is the whole analog vs digital thing. Many audiophiles still prefer the non-digitized sound of vinyl LP's and regard analog as a gapless scale of fidelity. I'm new to the digital world of photography, but I imagine some old school film buffs feel the same way.

The inputs have changed over the years, but the core of my sound system is:

Mark Levinson
ML-1
2 ML-2's
Infinity RSI

I'm an studio engineer by trade, so yes. But I'm broke too..so no..haha

In a way, photography and music compliment each other for me. In a way, you're still painting an image for your audience.

With one, I try and do it with sound. With the other, you paint with light.

IMO tubes are not always best. It is a personal opinion.
I remember the famous experiment where the presidents of all the high end equipment manufacturers were blindfolded and listened to $500 and $25,000 systems. The $500 system was chosen 2/3 times.

I am a Carver fan. Old school stuff from before Bob Carver left to company. I must have 10-12 pieces in various systems in several rooms (preamps, amps, CD players, etc. I think the ct-17 was the best receiver/pre-amp ever made.

Both hobbies will drive you nuts - whether you are pixel peeping or comparing speakers/amps...

H20boy wrote in post #9529119
what would you qualify as an 'audiophile'

Good question, because if it involves:

Oxygen Free Copper
Hellically Wound Cables
Pre-Burned In Cables
or Cryogenically Treated CDs

(the list goes on)

Then you're talking about crackpots, not audiophiles.

amen.

Old school....McIntosh Labs power driving Cerwin-Vegas.

mckinleypics wrote in post #9531465
Both hobbies will drive you nuts - whether you are pixel peeping or comparing speakers/amps...

Yea verily!

It's even worse when you're in a position to have to decide between the two because your credit cards force the issue..."Hmm, do I buy that 5D Mark II and the new 70-200 2.8 IS II or do I buy that Onkyo Integra DTR 9.9 and the Emotiva IPA-7? Or do I just run screaming for the hills?"

In my case, I run screaming for the hills!

And of course, with photography you don't have to tear a room apart like you do with an home theater upgrade!

(Updated 2006):
Panasonic TH-42_60U 42" plasma
Pioneer VSX-1015 AVR
Pioneer DV-F727 300-disc changer
Oppo DV 970 DVD player
Klipsch Forte II (I'll be buried with these speakers!)
Klipsch RC-35
Klipsch RS-35
Hsu VTF-2 Mark II
APC Type H Power Conditioner

I'm an audiophile but not, I think, the kind meant by the OP. I'm learning piano after wanting to for most of my life.

I think I should give up work to allow me to pursue my hobbies. Of course, I wouldn't be able to afford my hobbies ...

McIntosh amps here....just lovely