Mid fi has a negative connotation in these parts. That’s all. One can either laugh or be insulted. Best to not use the term unless that is the message intended.
Some amps of any type can be labeled as mid fi compared to others of same type, SS Class D, tube, whatever based on whatever criteria one chooses including the sound quality.
The point is not all of any type are created equal. Some of each type these days compete in the big leagues but play the game differently. Some in the minor leagues.
Also safe to say Class D competes well in all leagues at most any price point these days.
Its generalizing and labeling all products of a particular type equally for better or for worse that causes problems just like labeling all persons of a particular nationality or religion negatively causes similar confusion and problems, just of a lesser importance in the case of hifis.
The BelCanto C5i in particular has shocked me in that my quite tube amp friendly Triangle Titus speakers sound the best ever with it. The 60 w/ch are Ok but not the best with any of my OHM or Dynaudio speakers though I have had visitors from Agon still compliment the sound with those even. Which just goes to show it all depends. Class D amps play the game radically different than OTL tube amps do. But both can deliver big league results (Class D for less perhaps especially when cost of speakers factored in) based on my listening experience perhaps both even with easier load speakers that are required more for the OTL or tube amps but easier load in general tends to benefit all amps to some extent when done right.
Also I would note that modern OHM Walsh speakers (especially the larger models) are a good bit more efficient than Magnepans and not as tube amp unfriendly as one might anticipate. I found Magnepan to need power (though not so much current) to a much greater degree than OHM when I owned both.
Some amps of any type can be labeled as mid fi compared to others of same type, SS Class D, tube, whatever based on whatever criteria one chooses including the sound quality.
The point is not all of any type are created equal. Some of each type these days compete in the big leagues but play the game differently. Some in the minor leagues.
Also safe to say Class D competes well in all leagues at most any price point these days.
Its generalizing and labeling all products of a particular type equally for better or for worse that causes problems just like labeling all persons of a particular nationality or religion negatively causes similar confusion and problems, just of a lesser importance in the case of hifis.
The BelCanto C5i in particular has shocked me in that my quite tube amp friendly Triangle Titus speakers sound the best ever with it. The 60 w/ch are Ok but not the best with any of my OHM or Dynaudio speakers though I have had visitors from Agon still compliment the sound with those even. Which just goes to show it all depends. Class D amps play the game radically different than OTL tube amps do. But both can deliver big league results (Class D for less perhaps especially when cost of speakers factored in) based on my listening experience perhaps both even with easier load speakers that are required more for the OTL or tube amps but easier load in general tends to benefit all amps to some extent when done right.
Also I would note that modern OHM Walsh speakers (especially the larger models) are a good bit more efficient than Magnepans and not as tube amp unfriendly as one might anticipate. I found Magnepan to need power (though not so much current) to a much greater degree than OHM when I owned both.