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??? Where Does "High End" Start ???

 There are terms we in this hobby use to describe certain characteristics of the components or sound evoked...Without fail,the terms entry level,mid-fi & high end will show up in component reviews or conversations regarding equipment components...
 So exactly how do we define these terms in absolutes?I understand there are components that,in this day & age,outperform their asking price in orders of magnitude but even if they do,they will invariably be tagged as entry level,mid-fi or high end simply based on their asking price..
 Assuming entry level starts at say $500.00 per component,where does that end & mid-fi start,$2500.00 per component,$3500.00,$4500.00,$5000.00?
 How far does that pricing structure go until you consider a component to be "high end"?
What are YOUR PERSONAL thoughts on this subject?

freediver
rsf507
2,450 posts
 

Starts between your ears! 

freediver OP
1,400 posts
 

A search using AI yielded this:
Entry level:$1000.00 -$4000.00
Mid Fi:$4000.00 - $8000.00
High End:$8000.00- $30,000.00
Ultra High End:$30,000.00 +.....
What do you think?

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,980 posts
 

People misinterpret the meaning of high in high end when in fact it was the people who came up with this stuff who were high.  They even spelled it wrong leaving out 2 whole letters. 
 

 

maprik's avatar
maprik
89 posts
 

High end starts when you start hearing the differences between components and you change a component in search of better quality reproduction..

ghdprentice
8,131 posts
 

I have to make the judgement by looking at components. their performance, and quality of construction and then looking at the prices. From this point of view this is what I think:

Consumer level tends to be less than $2K... although for instance Schiit performed better than equivalent boxes that are consumer. 

MidFi probably $2K - $8K+ somewhere. Typically where NAD and Rotel fit in.

Typically entry level high end about $10K... Audio Research just introduced some equipment in the $9K... this is ideal high end entry level. Excellent sound quality built to last decades.  

Mid tier high end $20K - $40K

Upper tier $50K+

Rough... but most of the electronic components I have listened to fall pretty well into this... with some variation. I think over the last couple years the mid-tier moved from $15K to $20K

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