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

Let’s looks like fun. I’ll take a shot at it:

Low-Fi:

"Perceived value" driven with emphasis on features and/or convenience. Provides minimal performance with just enough "information" tossed out in the space for listeners to recognize the basic elements of the performance or, in the case of "home theater", deliver decernable dialog -- if you have excellent hearing. Wide distribution enables economies of scale and manufacturing efficiencies making the item competitive with other "like" products. Zero consideration for service/support in that repairing the item would cost more than producing (and, shipping) a replacement. Sonic attributes include: one note bass, "pinched" midrange (fundmentals are anemic), sound coming from 2 channels but not a "stereo presentation" as we understand it. Unable to answer the bell when dynamic passages require it.

Mid-Fi:

Legitimate attempt to provide some level of audio performance, given budget constraints. Often teathered to "brand recognition" where some familiarity of the manufacturer is desired. "Nitch" pieces and obsure brands often do not play well in this space but can be successful if they perform well above their weight class and are good at making themselves visible in the marketplace. Features and convenience are usually strong considerations here in that "mid-fi" users are not programmed (yet) to abandon the "cool stuff" on the front panel or remote control. Some level of service and support exists, often with good-to-excellent communication with needed resources. Audio attributes would include the ability to provide a strongly emotional experience with mimimal listening fatique. Some "warts" in the sonics are acceptible and given a "pass" due to cost of the equipment. Parts and build quality are limiting factors to "affordable" price ranges, while relatively high volume provides good manufacturing efficiencies and access to new (and, often expensive) technology amortized over many units. Good-to-excellent "bang for the buck" is a common attribute in better examples of the "mid-fi" price/performance range. There are rare instances where ’mid-fi" priced gear can be a world beater, and history has demonstrated that this over many decades. Yet, other examples of "mid-fi" priced products, regrettably, have Lo-fi performance (or, worse).

Hi-Fi:

The differentiation between Hi-Fi and "high end" is a subtle, but important one. It has also been said that "high ticket" is neither "Hi-Fi" or "high end" because it could ungloriously fail to satisfy the goals of each.

Hi-fi asserts a loyalty to the original. In those "suspension of disbelief" moments, we are emotionally and intellectually transported to another place -- temporarility suspending our belief that we are engaged with a substitute for that reality -- a mere facsimile, and not the "thing" itself. The "price of admission" can be rather daunting. The level of precision required, robustness of parts, manufacturing inefficiencies, and engineering costs spread over a relatively small number of units can reach the sky pretty rapidly. However, as mentioned above, all the stars CAN line up and a product can be greater than the sum of its (humble) parts.

Reaching the highest plateus of audio performance is often accompanied by a high degree of attention to esthetics, a impressive credibility story attached to uncommon attention to details -- or both. Exceeding the price point of affordablity above mere mortals does provide a level of prestige and exclusivity to the brand. The assumption here, of course, is that many dollars spent will pay sonic dividends and, a wild degree of emotional attachment to the esteemed brand.

Hi-fi is not necessary a "this AND this" proposition but rather a "this OR this" proposition. Performance CAN be the strongest consideration and delivered in full glory with a very strong cost/performance relationship. So, obtaining stellar SQ with a minimalist approach is still "Hi-fi". And, yes, beautiful pieces with stunning great looks can sound spectatular as well. They’re just going to cost (much) more.

Each listener will determine what "exit" they want to get off on. Hi-fi to some may be Mid-fi to others. The term "intelligent ignorance" comes to mind here. Not knowing what you "don’t know" can be a blessing. And, save you a lot of money.

 

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

You need to think in terms of octaves, not the full frequency range. 20Hz to 40Hz is an octave, 40Hz to 80Hz is an octave, 80Hz to 160Hz is an octave. 10KHz to 20KHz is one octave. 

Regarding the Lo-Fi, Mid-Fi and Hi-Fi terms, @jasonbourne52 got it right. Those were terms not invented by electrical and audio engineers, but by sales people to make sure they could upsale customers and make them feel bad if they bought the cheaper alternative. 

They are arbitrary and not related to price much at all. Consider this: Someone listening to a $300 CD boom box might think it is Hi-Fi compared to a "Lo-Fi"  $10K turntable playing a vinyl record with snaps, crackles, and pops. 

seems to me that much of the "high end" world of audio products tries to impart a "luxury" feel and sound. the feel part is attention paid to aesthetics [the way a knob turns, switches flip/sound, heft etc. the audio part seems to be extra attention paid to reducing odd-order harmonic distortion [since the human hearing mechanism uses odd-order harmonics to determine overall volume], resulting in the familiar [to millionaires] sensation of turning up the volume and the sound just getting bigger and bigger, rather than merely louder/brasher. once heard, it is never unheard, it becomes one of those "jeez, how would i ever be able to afford anything like this unless i win big on the lotto?" kind of deals. it renders more plebian audio rather like eating cold audio leftovers rather than a banquet of sound. my experience "experiencing" a golden-eared setup of huge class-A monoblock room heaters powering [barely] a giant room-dominating pair of magnapan tympani III speakers. i have not heard anything to equal that assortment of ace audio. 

@moonwatcher

Nice post, especially for non musicians like myself.

There never seems to be enough easy to digest information on musical frequencies. Where exactly does bass start, and what's the difference between bass at 60Hz and that at 40Hz?

To make matters worse there's also the dreaded Fletcher-Munson curves.

 

According to the article linked below:

"Beyond just understanding this curve, it’s necessary to pay homage to the brilliant minds behind this phenomenon; Harvey Fletcher and Milden A. Munson.

In the 1930’s, the two researchers accurately measured, produced, and published a set of curves that showcased differences in the human ear’s sensitivity to loudness in relation to frequency.

The conclusive result of these curves also demonstrated that the human ear is most sensitive to frequencies between 3kHz and 4kHz."

 

I would have thought it would be a little higher, but there you go. It's amazing to think this work was done almost 100 years ago.