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Where does "MidFi" differ from "HiFi" or "LOFI"?

Given the vast range of product and costs thereof in this industry, I'm curious where the "break points" are between levels of fidelity?   Equipment can range from $100's to $100,000s+, so where is "MIDFI" vs. "HIFI"?

The ear hears from a range of 20-20,000HZ, but mid-range is certainly not at the 10,000HZ level. 

just curious what you all think.

johnweiss
toro3's avatar
toro3
390 posts
 

High end is synonymous with Hi-Fi, but I’d like to think/hope that high fidelity isn’t compartmentalized just to the high end market. 

kota1
2,706 posts
 

FYI- The Law of Diminishing returns in audio gear is a fact:

 

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

These are just marketing terms, the most egregious being "high end" - puffery for the moneyphiles to brag about. Musical appreciation and enjoyment doesn't require labeling!

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

@ghdprentice : so for you $30K for streamer, DAC, preamp, amp, speakers is the transition from mid-fi to hi-fi? And the next level up is $10K per component? You must be reading too many TAS/Stereophile articles and ads! See my post above!

kota1
2,706 posts
 

The other thing is the labels change very quickly, a "high end" dac from 5 years ago can often be thrashed by a more recent "midfi dac" from today. 

I like the term Thomas uses in this video about high end dacs vs the new affordable dacs that are, "good enough" which sums it up:

 

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