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When are speakers considered Hi-Fi and not Mid-Fi???

What determines the status of "Hi-Fi?" I was recently considering a pair of Klipsch Heritage Cornwall speakers. They get rave reviews, have almost a cult-like following, no longer have harshness from the horns, and are very resolving. Other than not reaching down too low into the bass as some speakers do, why are they not considered Hi-Fi? They can clearly reproduce the full range of sound with an incredible image and are not missing any capability in person or on paper. Seems when we follow a thread on here about most any speaker at any price there is always a contingent that feels to need to post that the certain speakers under discussion are Mid-Fi not Hi-Fi. I only use the Klipsch Cornwalls as an example to start. Budget is not an issue, and cost should not dictate. I was also looking at the Magnepan 20.7 for another example, and they are $13k more than the Klipsch, but low and behold someone within seconds pops up and says these are Mid-Fi speakers. I kind of bet I could ask about a Sonus Faber Aida at $130k and within a few seconds someone will pop in and call them Mid-Fi as well. When do we reach "Hi-Fi" these days? Is it simply an endless and baseless dick-measuring contest? Seems like it. If we were talking cars we always have the guy who brags about the 0-60 times of certain cars, but it's clear that the 0-60 time alone does not qualify a car to be a "supercar" as there are so many other things the car must have and do to make it into that class, and like speakers there is not always 100% agreement on what the factors are. When do we reach Hi-Fi status for speakers??? 

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2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,503 posts
 

HiFi means High Fidelity. Largely it’s in your mind and relative. When someone attaches a label to a piece of gear/kit, that is what it is in their mind (they may have never heard the audio component before). For some who go to audio shows and have heard hundreds of speakers.. they may have a better idea of HiFi vs MidFi. But if they say Magnepan 20.7 speakers don’t qualify as HiFi but you have a pair in your living space and think they sound spectacular... that is High Fidelity to you.

To put it another way...

"We see what is in back of our eyes, not what is in front of them".

pmm
220 posts
 

Good question.

I am sure, you will receive various opinions.

I think Klipsch is a well regarded Hi-Fi brand.

I think, the term "Hi-Fi" is often misused. "Hi-Fi" being marginalized into "Mid-Fi" is just snob BS.

pmm
220 posts
 

@2psyop +1

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,484 posts
 

Both great speakers ,  however I don't think you could pick two speakers that are more different.    

I don't get hung up on what's HiFi , LoFi....  that's all someone else's opinion.  

I haven't heard a Magnepan in a long time.   I would imagine the 20.7 gives state of the art sound, or at least a taste of it.     I have heard Cornwall and other big Klipsch many times and that's the sound I lean toward...

The smartest thing you can do when researching speakers is go out and listen to them.  Especially at those,price points, but any speaker really.   I just bought a pair of speakers sight unseen but they have a demo period.   

There's no wrong or right, only what your ears and brain tells you.  I have been to shows with treated rooms containing $$$$  gear that didn't wow me.   I have heard modest systems that made me do a double take.   

 

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