Audiophilia: A "neurosis" first discovered in 1957, still no cure

Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:18PM EDT

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And don't forget audiophipia's close cousin, videophilia—both of which turn their victims into obsessive, compulsive freaks who live and die by their A/V equipment. Count me among the infected.

CNET audio guru Steve Guttenberg (or rather, his concerned wife) found this great story from the Time.com archives, dated January 14, 1957, which first detailed the dreaded affliction known as "audiophilia."

According to one Dr. Henry Angus Bowes of St. Anne's Hospital in Quebec, audiophilia is (as Time put it) "the excessive passion for hi-fi sound and equipment." Amen to that.

Profile of the likely victim? "Middle-aged, male and intelligent ... they are often singe (or if married, childless) ... they rarely play any instrument well themselves  ... is very frequently of compulsive personality, and tends to go through rituals in the playing of his recordings." I like the "intelligent" part, but "compulsive"? "Rituals?" That's sounds worrying.

Oh, and a few more symptoms: Victims may "treat their hi-fi set as the emotionally immature treat a car—as an expression of aggression, as a power symbol." Also, the afflicted may crank the sound "until it reaches the physical level of pain ... one addict told me he would not be satisfied until he could hear the drop of saliva from the French horns." Maybe a set of $7,000 audio cables would help.

Yeah, it all sounds pretty nuts ... or does it? After reading the Time article, I think I might have to diagnose myself with "videophilia"—an "excessive passion" for flat-screen TVs, which features symptoms such as obsessing over the black levels on a given HDTV. (I had a severe attack after seeing a demo of Pioneer's new Kuro plasma sets.) Still, I don't think I bought my Sony Bravia as "revenge" against my wife, as Dr. Bowes suggests. (Or hey—maybe I'm just in denial.)

OK, show of hands: Who here's a audiophiac? What about you videophiliacs out there? What's your drug—er, component of choice? Don't worry, you're among friends here.

Related:
Do you have the audiophile 'disease'? [CNET]

Comments on Audiophilia: A "neurosis" first discovered in 1957, still no cure

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  • 6 Posted by rajdreamz777 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey, I've got 2 quadraphonic receivers from the 70's, as well as a whole lotta other add-ons, which I won't bore you guys with by listing. There's so much going on in this world that is wrong, and my philosophy is try to do the right thing, help right what wrongs you can, and in the meantime be happy and have a little fun. Anyone still got their lava lights and mood rings?

  • 7 Posted by moshedani on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am guilty as charged; I am an audiophile and I am not in search of a cure! Funny, I was born in the year the term was invented. Does it mean I was destined for it? And yes, I fit the profile. And yes -nothing gets between me and my CJ amp and pre-amp, my Audio physics speakers and Cal CD player (the company is no longer in business).

  • 8 Posted by lothian505 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    my drug of choice ? money, so i can can continue to enjoy my visual audiophilia.. thank you ben franklin

  • 9 Posted by pixel_nv on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yahoo is pissing me off with these made up sicknesses and phobias. I mean really, what ever happened to just living? It seems like everyday we MUST know what happened to celebrities, and these list that they come up with are pure crap.. truely created to get people to spend money on useless things, or to move somewhere or visit somewhere. I mean Jesus! are people really that naive to fall into this crap?

  • 10 Posted by jamesgasta on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Guilty as charged. I've been hooked since the late 60's when Fisher, Marantz, Kenwood, Scott, Dynaco, etc battled it out. My first high end receiver back in the late 60's was a Fisher 500, price was the same also. Maybe thats why they called it the 500. In todays market, 500 bucks will get you much much more performance and features than the Fisher and others gave. Today, I'm very happy with an Onkyo SR805 receiver, Paradigm Studio 80 speakers and a Denon DVD/CD player, and my $100 dollar Monster speaker cables my wife thinks I bought when I had too many. JJ

  • 11 Posted by cornstalks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    After putting it off as long as I could stand, I just bought a 42" LCD, then of course I'm having to upgrade my 15 year sound system, just bought a Harmon Kardon receiver and looking for a bunch of new speakers. Look out everyone, I might be contagious!

  • 12 Posted by jennife0 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I wonder if more men then women are afflicted with this neurosis? I would bet my lunch that they are. I know my hubby is afflicted and it drives me crazy!! Why must you have the best right when it comes out...can't you at least wait and stop salvating until the price goes down a bit? This affliction is puttin us in the poor house :)

  • 13 Posted by cruzemilio46 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    hi my name is junior and i am an audiophiac and an videophiliac. my choice of drugs are. a vizio 32 inch LCD HD t.v. a pioneer home theater system. i have an xbox 360 hooked up to my HD tv using component hook ups (yes i know hdmi hook up i would get a better picture) component hook ups are good also. yes i know its like doing crack and the drug is good but you know there is a better and stronger kind of crack out there but you just can' afford it so you use the cheap stuff :)

  • 14 Posted by waltzer2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm an audio/videophile. I enjoy watching and listening to a good movie as it was intended by the film makers. Same with the music artists. I would rather watch a movie at home than the theater. I can relax in my underwear if I want, pause for a quick break or phone call, and not miss a thing. With my DVR, I never miss the important plays in the football game. Just pause the live action, and fast forward to live during the long commedrcial breaks. My sound system is just a good Sony receiver with 6.1 surround sound with Bose speakers, and it sounds as good as or better than most theaters, and I* control the volume.

  • 15 Posted by daryl6266 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    12,000 Jeff Roland model 7 400 watt mono blocks. 3.000 Wireworld speaker cables. Everyuthing sits on a spike that then sits on some kind of air filled stand. 7.000 EAD processor. 5.000 C.E.C transport. JBL L300 & 5150 Speakers. Prices are for what they went for new. I have recovered buy need to get rid of my stash before i relapse and start all over again. Any buyers?

  • 16 Posted by wcurtin1962 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a much worse and advanced version of Audiophipia. It’s called Tubephipia, where I’m not satisfied unless all of my audio equipment is vacuum tube driven!

  • 17 Posted by theangrycrab on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    This means nothing. Back in the day, you would see an entire dept in department stores and people would pay 1500 for a radio, record player, and tape deck. This translates to $5000 + today. So give people a break if they have a couple of ipods.

  • 18 Posted by phunkimonki15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    i'm addicted to my ipod but i think it would be better to be a music junkie than a drug junkie

  • 19 Posted by daryl6266 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have an ipod too! That's why i am selling all my stuff!!!!!

  • 20 Posted by noed692001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've been one for ages.Rotel components are a bit expensive but brilliant and gives a lot of listening pleasure.They are excellent with a pair of B&W speakers.

  • 21 Posted by ichigoociel666 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    halo , pie kabarmu le ? apik apik wae to ? ojo nakal yo le ..

  • 22 Posted by ronaldgato on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    hey I was like seven years old when a neighbor passed by with his stereo on his shoulder and playing real loud You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon, and from that one on I was like nuts about music and stuff and just last month my wife gave an ipod and I m still wondering how i lived without it!!

  • 23 Posted by rizaljp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    In 1957, even homosexuality was a disease. In 2008, 'death' is becoming a disease. Who cares? Are you happy?

  • 24 Posted by roadcykler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am becoming more and more stricken with this audiophilia. Currently I have a Harman/Kardon receiver, Oppo universal player, a Music Hall turntable and a pair of speakers I just built with Merrill 4.4 drivers. They are called Zigmahornets. I'm done for a while but my next goal is a good subwoofer. Oh yeah, I have one piece of tube equipment, a VP130 phono pre-amp.

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