When you say stickies do you mean the useful links? I did look at those before posting. I check'd these:
http://www.head-fi.org/a/glossary-of-terms,
http://www.head-fi.org/a/a-hopefully-helpful-headphone-buying-guide-for-newbies-by-boomana ,
http://www.head-fi.org/a/describing-sound-a-glossary. While they are interesting that wasn't really my question. I may use that glossary if I wanted to really get into the details of audio but not if I just want a laymans terms of what something is. Example:
Amplifier - an electronic device for increasing the amplitude of electrical signals. Normally it is the voltage that is amplified. Though primarily used to refer to headphone amplifiers that take a small audio signal from a CD player, sound card or DAC and amplify it to a level high enough for headphones or speakers. Most devices, even those that send out digital data, contain some kind of amplification circuit.
While that is interesting I have no idea what the hell it really means. I would rather have a noob type guide where the extent of the definition of an amp is like "it gives the headphones power which makes it louder and produces sound more accurately" (I'm not even entirely sure if that is true but you get the point.)
As for the describing sound glossary that would be quite useful once I really knew what components I want to buy but not at the point where I am just trying to figure out what these things do.
The buying guide for headphones is decent but covers the one piece of equipment that I really don't feel like people would not understand. While there seems to be a lot that needs to be considered about the headphones you buy, I also feel most confident about that.
After looking at those and then posting I dug deeper and found
this and
this for DAC's but I still have no idea what a DAC is.
If none of these are the "stickies" or "obviously named and placed" posts then please enlighten me on where they are because I couldn't find them.
I may have misworded what I really meant. I am looking for a comprehensive, easy to understand, beginners guide to a complete audiophile setup. Something that tells me what each component does and if it is necessary for someone brand new with limited money. Maybe some suggestions about different brands and what genre they are known for. Simplistic!