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.

128x128johnweiss

@audiotroy +1 The backlash against HEA equipment is approaching a comical level. IMO the Youtube audio community has perpetuated this negative attitude. One must realize this is an important form of revenue for many of the Youtubers that push inferior audio products. Another angle is a form of "brainwashing" the masses that very little money is needed to create a "state of the art" audio system. To create a true HEA system takes knowledge/time/flexibility(open mind) and unfortunately a sufficient amount of financial resources are needed.

I look at it this way: at what point do I hear a difference in SQ between two products. So there a multiple levels, not just three. I had a $500.00 DAC, and although the $1-3k DACs sounded different, and in some cases better, I was not really impressed until I went a little past $5k for a new DAC. I expect I’d have to go to $10-12k to get a profound difference from there, and so on.

So the jumps are less ‘digital’ and more ‘analog’…just depends on where and when you started the journey. 

@kota1 

Good link.

When someone like Andrew Robinson, who has owned all kinds of high priced gear tells you that in performance level there is little to nothing extra sonically to be gained by going the extra mile (or extra $100,000+) then perhaps we ought to pay him some attention.

Robinson has been there and done it and despite describing himself as a recovering audiophile, he has lived to tell the tale.

No doubt his marriage to the lovely Kristi has been of a great help to him in getting his priorities straightened.
 

In his own words:

I have three passions: my wife, filmmaking and music.

 

 

@audiotroy

+ 1 ….. well said, sir! It is not - and never has been - a primary segregation based primarily on an ad hoc variable assertion of arbitrary and highly biased price points.

Rather, It’s all about ascending strata points vis-a-vis the ascending quality of the parts used, then the ascending superior design and actual build assembly quality, and topped off with added attention to the features and like details,

THUS … the sequential audio performance improvements at each strata that is clear and significant at each step.

With it comes the inescapable and progressive matched step-up in price… sure… it’s gonna cost you progressively more , but it is encapsulated best in the the following metaphor:

”… “Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” - Warren Buffet.