HiFi vs MidFi


I’m a relative noob to the audiophile scene, having just invested in an integrated amp and upscale (for me) speakers.  From time to time, I hear the term “MidFi” for some components.  Is there an objective or just largely accepted definition for this term?  I’d be curious to hear feedback on what constitutes HiFi vs. MidFi across various components.  
128x128bigtex22
Hi bigtex

late to respond but ok.

Hi-fi High Fidelity ... we are living in a golden age of High Fidelity.  The "mid-fi' stuff is just fine.  It is more than just fine.  
The thing is this:  There is some music and what is the meaning of that music?  This is important despite the fact that I cannot tell you what it is.  Why?  Because music is music, it is not words.  So can have excellent verbal descriptions of paintings or music but music has musical meaning.  

How do we get that musical meaning?  Well by listening with open minds (and maybe some training and experience but that is not all that important).  Does the equipment impact on this?  Well actually no.  No!  If you break down a concerto into its components; the melody remains the same whatever the gear is.  The key does not differ either.  The harmony is not different.  Pretty all the music is the the same.  You want good hi fi gear : well you will get better timbral accuracy (ie a violin will sound closer to a real violin).  This is good and yeah I go for it.  But if you have mid-fi gear will you enjoy music less? No.  
But back to my point about a 'golden age'.  My giddy aunt!  Marantz, Onkyo, and Yamaha and others will give you a truly superlative amplifier for peanuts.  Goodness knows how many great budget speakers are out there.  And when I say budget ... let me add my personal experience: I have $20K speakers but my earlier 1K speakers delivered the music.

And don't get me started on sources.  

Dude:  Welcome to the world of Hi-Fi.  It is really great.  There will be tons of people who are zealots and pronounce "it is the music man ..."  I say they are kinda right  ... actually they have to be right by definition but you have come onto a hi-fi forum and the way I see it is that the gear is fine tuning. 
add my personal experience: I have $20K speakers but my earlier 1K speakers delivered the music.


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There is more snakeoil going on in speaker hype that all other snakeoil concerning all things audio,, well, except for the cable snakeoil, Nothing can touch that snakeoil
But speakers take 2nd place.
My WBer things can outperform any xover speaker in midrange
xover types I conisder midfi, WBers hifi.
Take Sonus faber, nice speakers, they use Scan Speak. Scanspeak are not going to outperform my WBers in WB fq’s. SF =$$$$$$$$
My WBers = $.
There ya go, pay hifii prices, yet you only get midfi midrange.
Sure Souns fabers perform well on simply jazz, you get some complex full jazz orchestra /classical orchestra going, the midrange in the Sonus fabers fall short vs midrange of a WBer.


Sonus faber on a good amp, WEll my Seas single W18E001 + Millennium will perform equal to this mega priced Sonus faber.
Seas W18 $300 + Mundorf 10uf Supreme @ $250 + Millennium @$350 + Mundorf 6 uf cap SESGO @ $300 X 2 = alotttt less than Sounus faber.
Equal performance.
Now a pair of WBers @ $550. Blows Seas’ away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlOhiTpZCek&t=17s


Sonus faber on a good amp, WEll my Seas single W18E001 + Millennium will perform equal to this mega priced Sonus faber.
Not true. I have listened to many of your videos, including with the Thors. I have not heard a single video of yours with sound anywhere near the ballpark here. You are standing in the parking lot outside the stadium. I have heard your Wideband drivers too.....not better than even the Seas. There is a level of refinement in the Sonus Faber video that your system is miles away from......Sorry but yours is in the !
Now wait just one minute\
Are you saying
Scan speak is superior to Seas..
How is this possible 
Both Midwoofers are 87db
True Scanspeak madea  very unique midwoofer with the Neo Dymium magnet, which indeed will out perform the Seas in dynamics.
But then  it all comes down to Carbon Fiber cone vs Magnesium.
I'ma  Mag fan. I serious doubt I'm going to like Carbon Fiber in upper mids with vocals/instruments classical muisc.
This is where it come down to.
Which do you prefer 
Seas Trym
Or SonusFaber.
I know which  will have superior upper bass/lower midrange.
The name Sonus Faber in big neon lights, flashing.
Works every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMQi4FgGuIc
.not better than even the Seas

Well if we put the Thors back together and put 1 Thor on 1 channel, WBer (single 8) on the other. 
You might wish to vote for Thor. 
But that low sens will not work for my classical music.
The WBer has no resonsnces at low/mid vol
Its the only speaker that would work for my cup of tea.
Not a   panel, horn, stat, xover type.
The sony cam  does no justice to the WBer's performance.

Music starts at 6:41.
oh How I loved my Thors. 
Life like vocals, nice solid punch in the bass. clean smooth mids, no over hang resonances. 

no fatigue.
Will give Sonus Faber 2 ways with the incredible Neo Dymium midwoofer from ScanSpeak, a  good run for its money...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFr2NTqTT40