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…?

pdspecl04-30-2022 1:35am

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audioguy85 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,018 posts 05-14-2022 at 07:42pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete The size of your wallet, and the amount of envy for those who can afford a better system. 😁
mahgister Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 13,012 posts 05-14-2022 at 07:45pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete The size of your wallet, and the amount of envy for those who can afford a better system 😁will never rival my pride being able to create one at very low cost !
mapman Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 22,198 posts 05-14-2022 at 08:19pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete In this day and age, if something sounds “mid-fi”, it just means you bought the wrong stuff. Fix that! Hifi can be had for a pittance these days. A pair of Grado headphones and a smart phone to stream from will do to start. Move up to a pair of Vanatoo active speakers and voila…..more hifi for practically nothing. Ditch the junk if it does not sound good !
phusis Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,203 posts 05-14-2022 at 09:17pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete What defines mid-fi versus high-end? It's somebody's idea of a distinction that essentially comes down to a difference in price.
2psyop Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,572 posts 05-15-2022 at 01:58am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete For those of you who equate higher prices with high fidelity have you ever seen the youtube channel where Danny Ritchie from GR Research compares some hi-fi, high cost speakers to more budget friendly and shows his viewers what they get for the money? Quite an eye opener. More money shelled out does not alway lead to better sound.