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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??? 

128x128dean_palmer
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

 

This is pretty simple. Two “rules”:

 

1) Buy only what you can afford

2) Buy what you prefer (after personal experience, listening for yourself)

 

But I have to say: whoever says a cheap box store $50 pair of speakers sounds just like a $50,000 pair of speakers, or some cheap headphones for 50 years ago… I want to have what you are smoking. Please share. It will save me a bunch of money (maybe for a super duper bike, which I obviously don’t ride 😉🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️)

 

@mihorn : your shilling is unbearable. You must be very desperate. Complete turn off really. I would personally never buy something from you, even one cent on the dollar. And what you said here about listening to YouTube stuff vs. audio shows is outright “intellectually challenged “ (I tried very hard not to say “retarded” for respect of such individuals):

YT is where they can listen to audio sounds and decide what to buy. Visiting audio shows and stores is not enough to understand audio sounds. Watch as many audio equipment videos. So, they learn what to listen in expensive audio systems.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,181 posts
 

just a RECTIFICATION...

I never said that a 50 bucks vintage speakers sound like a 50,000 bucks speakers...

Second i said that my Tannoy dual gold or Magnepan ( few thousand dollars) in a bad room sound way less good than my 50 bucks Vintage Speakers Mission Cyrus which tannoy and Magnepan exhibit on blueprint paper and by most people experience, included mine, a better design ...THE ROOM BEAT THE SPEAKERS...

Third my vintage headphone from 1978 was the best in the world with Stax Omega, AkG K340... Inform yourself before spitting ignorance ... And optimized by me after 6 months of listening experiments and 6 modifications they beat anything i have listen to including speakers at a relatively low price...I dont speak here about 50,000 bucks speakers in a good room... You catch it ?

 

And you are deluded because your second rule is meaningless, because for sure people buy what they like listening to... It is a preposterouscommon place fact obervation...The problem is we cannot trust our limited experiences for most of us, and my advice is learn basic acoustic by fun experiments to increase our level of perception because WE ALL MUST LEARN HOW TO LISTEN...No baby is born mature audiophile or marure acoustician or maqture musician..

You did not NAME me but i recognized me... Think twice BEFORE putting absurd claims in my mouth... 😁😊

 

But I have to say: whoever says a cheap box store $50 pair of speakers sounds just like a $50,000 pair of speakers, or some cheap headphones for 50 years ago…

 
 

 

 

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

@mahgister : I am very sorry. I stopped reading your posts a long time ago, before you lost your house. So big apologies I won’t read this. I just know you slammed me, of course in your politically correct, polite, gentle, passive aggressive way. Which is OK. I take it, and I deserve it. Go Orange!
 

However, I would truly like to know what you smoke. I will immediately buy some

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,181 posts
 

I realize you did not think any wrong...

It is me who apologize... I am sorry...

I feel the urge to react too much it seems..

I smoked at the times acoustic articles wrapped in thin ring with a spice in them...😁😊

I wish you the best from my heart... I react too much too often but i did not means any harm just to precise my experience and thoughts ...

 

@mahgister : I am very sorry. I stopped reading your posts a long time ago, before you lost your house. So big apologies I won’t read this. I just know you slammed me, of course in your politically correct, polite, gentle, passive aggressive way. However, I would truly like to know what you smoke. I will immediately buy some

 

 

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

I smoked at the times acoustic articles wrapped in thin ring with a spice in them...

I apologize deeply for saying this… I am sorry… but I am very disappointed. I was looking forward to a formula. Or a store name ‘ brand.

 

I wish you the best from my heart... I did not mean any harm.… No animals were hurt while writing my post. Kindest regards 

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