What defines mid-fi versus high-end?

Most people define audiophile experience  by their conventional conditioned marketing definition: price tag...

I am different and more free in my take because of experience, i define hif-Fi experience by acoustic cues and experience.... 

It has everything to do with performance. 

Lg1 made a good point.   I recall going to various audio stores in CT.  There would be the ‘high’ end room having all separate components, exotic brands that were out of my price range.  Then there would be one or more mid-fi rooms with NAD, Adcom…. separate components and receivers……. So the dealers certainly had a hand in planting this mindset by segregating brands and price points.

Depends on the individual’s ear as well, as everyone has different preferences as well as levels of expertise on how to listen. But if my way were the hifi-way, hifi simply means holographic. Natural and detailed in presentation to the point that it is believable that the musicians are in the room playing for you, and the images are completely vivid and communicate everything they are supposed to for you. Anything less is less than hifi. 

The most important thing here is that the room and setup have as much to do with the sound as the gear does. For example, I’ve heard high-priced gear that does not sound hifi whatsoever because of poor setup or synergy. 

Mid-fi to me is gear that is a gateway to hifi sound but is unable to image or resolve to the level of fidelity I describe above. 

If it costs a fortune and doesn’t as good as it should does that = midfi?   Expensive midfi?