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What defines mid-fi versus high-end?

I’m in my mid fifties and I recall 30 years back mid-fi to me fell into the NAD, Adcom, B&K…. For high-end I considered Mac, some of the Counterpoint offerings, Cary…. so forth.  I had another post going where I mentioned I acquired an Onkyo  home theater receiver that retailed new for $1,100.   Yet another agoner responded that it does not rate as mid-fi.   We all have our opinions of course.   So right or wrong here.
How do you define the parameters of high-end versus mid-if?  By money range, by brand…?

 

pdspecl
big_greg
6,623 posts
 

The "difference" is a subjective matter of opinion, so it can't be "defined".

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,504 posts
 

The High-end is stuff that costs just a bit more than I want to spend.

noske
783 posts
 

Isn’t hi-fi simply short for high fidelity?

If so, then what is mid-fi?

Once that is sorted out, and should there be some meaningful discussion about mid-fi versus high end that is agreeable, then what about a discussion about hi-fi versus high end?

Failing any of that, what is the logical conclusion?

 

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,664 posts
 

Here ya go!

In the bad old days when someone used the term “mid-fi” audiophiles knew exactly what it meant – a product that reproduced music with limited fidelity, designed to be sold a particular price-point to less discriminating customers. A plastic Yorx boombox with built-in cassette and CD player would be a prime example.

petg60
1,486 posts
 

The ladder: low fi, mid fi, hi fi, high end.

Mostly by price and not necessarily by brand.

Audiophile quality from hi fi and up.

 

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