HiFi vs MidFi

@waytoomuchstuff, great experiential  summary/fun read, thanks.
I find it interesting how  much flexibility was built into gear in the past. What did manufacturers have in mind when they gave us A/B/C speaker selectors? I think so That we would put long runs of speaker cable to other rooms outfitting music in an entire home with one receiver.  Certainly not to put multiple speakers in the same room and switch the way you see many of today’s audiophiles set up listening rooms. 
Many receivers Had a switch to reverse L/R , why?
mid-fi (mid range of product line) had bass/treble knobs. Hi end of product line included a midrange knob. To tease something more out of your speakers.
a Loudness button to contour low volume listening, but I liked it at all volumes. Like sprinkling sugar on strawberries, just makes it better.
muting button...why? Too lazy to turn the volume button!
having that tone control flexibility..... you could blindfold a listener to A/B speakers where in truth you play the same speaker with/without loudness button.
how many of us would be fooled,  call A midfi and B hifi?.

Midrange knob was to tease those great lyrics out of Dylan LPs. 

Many average consumers just simply wanted what they wanted. I like bass...give me more bass. If I can't turn up the bass, no good.

The idea of "the absolute sound" or recreating the recording space was far more of a radical niche concept in those days. Or at least the internet didn't exist to let those in the niche connect 24/7 like we do here.  

Bell and whistle features for marketing benefit is nothing new nor unique to audio. We still have it today. How many us have DACs with 7 filters but always use the same one that the reviews concluded was best? Cheers,

Spencer 

When I purchased my very first high end system to replace my Pioneer Elite receiver, I went with a Rotel combo preamp and amp which was the RB1080). I was told countless times by people including dealers that my Rotel was good “mid-fi” stuff.  I bought Def tech BP30 speakers and was told that was mid-fi too. At the time I took it to mean the brand and price. 

plus 1 millercarbon....thanks

It is all relative. To someone spending tens or hundreds of thousands on gear, MidFi is stuff selling for mere thousands.
To me, MidFi is gear selling for low hundreds like Best Buy receivers and stuff. I think calling it LoFi would be too derogatory.
Think most folks have MidFi.