FAQ
Audio
What Is an Audiophile?
You’re an audiophile if you care about high-fidelity sound enough to chase it on purpose. Not “music sounds nice in the kitchen” nice. More like “this recording has a second guitar part hiding in the left channel and now you can’t unhear it” nice.At the plainest level, an audiophile is a person who’s enthusiastic about sound reproduction, and who wants playback that’s accurate to the recording, not sweetened to taste. That last part matters. A lot of people love bass boosts and sparkle. Audiophiles usually want fewer “enhancements” and more truth, even when the truth is messy.
You don’t need a mansion, a mahogany rack, or a private pressing plant. Audiophiles land on a spectrum. Some keep it simple and buy a solid pair of headphones and a decent source. Others build full systems, tune the room, then sit in the same chair like it’s a witness stand.
The core impulse is the same: you want to hear what’s there, not what your phone speaker invents. You start paying attention to things most people ignore, like imaging, soundstage, tonal balance, low-level detail, and whether the room is quietly sabotaging everything.
If you’re wondering whether this is a hobby or a mild condition, yes.
How do you know if you’re an audiophile, or just picky?
You’re not just picky if the sound itself becomes the point. If you sit down to listen and you’re not doing anything else, that’s a sign. If you “just need five minutes” to adjust speaker placement, and an hour disappears, that’s another one. Time has a way of slipping when you’re chasing a version of “right” you can’t define, but you’ll know it when it clicks.You might also notice you’ve developed a low tolerance for bad playback. Not in a snobby way, more in a tired way. Thin mixes. Harsh highs. Boomy bass. Bluetooth that smears the edges. You hear it, and your face does that little grimace before you can stop it.
Many audiophiles learn the basics of gear and specs not because it’s fun homework, but because it helps them stop guessing. You start recognizing why a headphone’s impedance matters, what a DAC does, why an amp isn’t always about loudness, and how the recording quality sets the ceiling no matter what you buy.
Another tell is community gravity. You read reviews, lurk forums, and swap notes with other listeners. Not because you need permission, but because you’re trying to separate real improvements from expensive vibes.
You can still love music without being an audiophile. The difference is that you’re chasing the sound, and the sound starts chasing you back.
Does being an audiophile mean you need expensive gear?
No. It means you’re willing to spend attention, and sometimes money follows. The hobby has a talent for turning “reasonable upgrade” into “why do I own three sets of headphones that all look the same?”But cost isn’t the entry fee.
A good setup can be modest if you make smart choices. A capable pair of headphones or speakers matters more than shiny extras. Source quality matters, too, because heavily compressed files can strip away detail you can’t buy back later. Some audiophiles prefer lossless files, CDs, or vinyl. Not always because vinyl is “better,” but because the format and ritual slow you down and make listening feel deliberate.
Room and placement can beat shopping. Speakers in a poor room can sound like a confession recorded under poor lighting. Small changes, like moving speakers off the wall or controlling reflections, can improve clarity more than another box with a power light.
Also, don’t let the culture bully you. Many people enjoy budget systems that deliver more than they pay for. The obsession with “audiophile-grade” everything can get silly fast, and not every pricey tweak shows clear, repeatable gains for every listener.
If your system makes you stop scrolling and start listening, it’s doing the job. The rest is just you deciding how deep you want the rabbit hole to go, and how much rent money you want to keep.
Why do audiophiles argue about formats, cables, and “golden ears”?
Because the hobby sits at the intersection of physics and feelings, and those two don’t always get along. You’re dealing with real variables, like acoustics, frequency response, distortion, and noise. Then you add a human brain that wants patterns, wants meaning, and sometimes wants to justify the purchase you swore was “the last one.”Formats are an easy fight. Some listeners prefer analog playback like vinyl for its character and the hands-on ritual. Others stick to digital because it’s consistent and clean, especially with good masters and lossless playback. Neither camp has the only moral high ground. You’re choosing trade-offs.
Cables are where it gets spicy. There are cases where proper shielding, decent connectors, and correct lengths matter. Past that, claims can outpace proof, and the arguments turn into a personality test. If you want to stay sane, focus on changes you can actually hear in your setup, ideally with quick comparisons, not with a week of “I think it’s tighter.”
“Golden ears” is community slang for people who seem to spot tiny differences quickly. Sometimes that’s training and attention. Sometimes it’s confidence. Sometimes it’s noise, dressed up as certainty.
The clean truth is this: you can love accuracy, you can love your gear, and you can still admit the hobby gets absurd. You’re trying to pin down sound, an invisible thing, in a room full of echoes, with a mind that lies for sport.
reMarkable Digital Paper Tablets
What’s the real difference between reMarkable 2 and reMarkable Paper Pro?
You’re choosing between black-and-white calm and color with a light.reMarkable 2 is the thinner, lighter-feeling carry, built around a paper-first screen with no backlight. It’s designed for handwriting, reading, and marking up documents without extra glare.
reMarkable Paper Pro is the heavier top model with an 11.8-inch Canvas Color display (2160 × 1620 at 229 ppi) and an adjustable reading light. It’s still a focused notebook, just with color accents and night-friendly visibility.
How long does the battery last on these tablets?
If you hate babysitting a charger, you’re in the right aisle. reMarkable 2 is rated for up to about 2 weeks of battery life.Paper Pro is rated for up to 14 days of regular use and features a 5,030 mAh battery that charges over USB-C. Real life varies with Wi-Fi and the light, but the intent is the same: long stretches without hunting for an outlet.
Can you write directly on PDFs and review documents?
Yes, and that’s the point.Both are built to annotate PDFs like you mean it, notes in the margins, underlines, edits, the kind of marks you’d leave on paper when you don’t trust the author yet. You can also keep documents corralled with folders and tags, so your work doesn’t turn into a junk drawer.
Does handwriting conversion actually work?
It works, with conditions.You can convert handwriting to typed text, which helps when you need to turn messy meeting notes into something you can send without shame. But don’t expect miracles if your handwriting is rushed, tight, or full of symbols. Clean strokes and clear spacing get better results.
Can you type on a reMarkable, or is it handwriting only?
You can type if you add the keyboard case.With Type Folio, you can type, then go right back to pen. It’s built for people who bounce between scratchpad thinking and clean paragraphs. If you want one device to handle both modes, Type Folio is the hinge.
Do reMarkable tablets sync to your phone and computer?
They can, if you use reMarkable’s ecosystem.With a Connect subscription, you can use reMarkable’s apps on desktop and mobile to access your notes across devices. The pitch is simple: you write on the tablet, then you can pull the same pages up elsewhere when you’re out in the world and the paper is back at home.
Can you integrate with Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive?
Can you integrate with Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive?Do the Markers need charging, and what’s the deal with the eraser?
No charging. No pairing rituals. Just pick it up and write.The Markers attach magnetically and don’t need charging. If you want an eraser on the stylus itself, you’re looking for Marker Plus, which has a built-in eraser. If you’re comfortable with on-screen erasing, the standard Marker keeps it simple.
Is Paper Pro a “real tablet” with apps, speakers, and audio?
No, and that’s part of the bargain.Paper Pro is a digital notebook first. It doesn’t have speakers, and it doesn’t support Bluetooth, so you’re not piping audio to earbuds or treating it like a media slab. The software is designed to stay narrow: read, write, annotate, organize. Everything else happens on another device.
Is the reMarkable good for e-books and long reading?
It can do it, but you might not love it.Paper Pro supports importing PDF and ePub files, but it’s not trying to be a full e-reader with extensive reading controls. If your main goal is books first, you may feel the limits. If your main goal is work, notes, drafts, and documents, it’s in its element.
Are accessories interchangeable between reMarkable 2 and Paper Pro?
Except for the charger, don’t count on it.Paper Pro accessories aren’t backward compatible with reMarkable 2 accessories. If you’re switching models, plan for the idea that folios and some hardware won’t carry over.
Will your reMarkable continue to receive software updates?
That’s the stated direction.reMarkable has a track record of regular updates and new features over time, and the company positions both devices as long-term tools, not disposable gadgets. If you care about what changed last week, check the official release notes.
Is there a reMarkable Paper Pro “Move” tablet?
Yes.Little. Cute. Annoying, because the pages, hence the templates too, don't correspond in size between the Move and the reMarkable 2 and reMarkable Paper Pro.
If you have a big one and the Move, you'll need two types of templates. However, the Move is so cute - and practical - that we'll accept anything.
What about sustainability, repairs, and refurbished options?
You can cut waste, but you can’t fully escape the machine.Paper Pro has published sustainability figures (including a stated CO2 footprint and recyclability percentage), and reMarkable sells certified refurbished devices as a more affordable, sustainable option.
Repairs outside warranty may be limited, so a refurbished product may be the practical option if you want a lower price and less risk.
What’s the return policy if you try it and it doesn’t fit your life?
You’re not trapped.reMarkable sells with a 50-day full refund window (don't forget to check) and typically includes free shipping in many regions. Read the current terms where you’re buying, then test it like you mean it: real meetings, real reading, real late-night notes. If it doesn’t click, send it back.