High-end amplifier clarification?

I’m going to take a different tack and suggest that what makes a system high-end, is more the dedication and care put into it by it’s builder than the equipment itself. If the user is aware of, and his system achieves, some measure of those audio characteristics that we all seek, it is high-end.

To me, "High End" always preceded the word "Audio" and not a specific component. You could take one of those half million dollar amps, hide it behind the curtains, and hook it up to a pair of $200 speakers and feed it from a consumer CD player and I'll guarantee that the music coming out of it will be anything that will make anyone notice the amplifier. Much like putting Pirellis on a minivan. It's still a minivan.

A truly high-end amplifier is the one you want, but cannot afford. Once you can afford it and actually buy the thing, the high end moves up a notch. And on and on -- forever.

Then there is the definition that it's not high end if it's not hand-built.

Yep, Agree with hodu.
Hi-End is the one you can't afford, or perhaps breaks the bank when you DO.