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In your opinion, what is Hi, Medium and Low end?

Hey All,

I am new to this arena and for all the reading and homework it seems like there is a lot of circumstance out there. It seems that the comment that I see the most is, “…see how it works with your system.” And while this is true about a great many things in life it seems that we are all trying to find a sense for balance for our budget. The other thing that I learned is the spending a lot will not always yield the desired result.

So…regardless of price, here is my question. In your opinion, if your were to put together a system (say something to do it all, as I don’t know about everyone else but I couldn’t afford one for music and one for movies and other activities) in the following three categories: as high medium and low; what would it look like?

Say maybe with the following categories:

1) Processor, Preamp & Amp OR Receiver
2) Sources (CD, Phono or whatever)
3) Cables (Speak, Interconnect and whatever)
4) Power and related products
5) Other tweaks

Did I miss anything? Please feel free to add. :D

There are no motives hear but to learn, I have just bought a bunch of stuff that make me happy and I am just curious or maybe trying to prove that I am not on crack. ;-)

Cheers,

Blu
blu_audio
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 

"Mid-fi" tries to be everything to everybody and usually falls short in every way.

"Hi-fi" does one or two things well but fails miserably at something else.
abucktwoeighty's avatar
abucktwoeighty
1,079 posts
 
I hate when narrow minded people put down solid state gear. Just because it's not your cup of tea doesn't make it low end. There are plenty of hi end SS pieces to choose from.
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
Let me put it another way.

"Mid-fi" is like a handyman that bows out when he gets in over his head.

"Hi-fi" is a specialist technician that's dangerous out of his field.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
Low-end - designed mainly for price.
Mid-fi - designed for balance between sound quality and price.
Hi-end - designed only for sound quality.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I hope your smart enough to ignore Glory, that has to be one of the dumbest suggestions ever.

Low Fi, IMO is mainly stuff you get at a large chain store, its cheap easy to purchase and looks like its all you need, and it somewhat is unless you actually really care about performance....like Mcdonalds.

Mid-fi, a bit harder to spot in the stores but some companies that make crap have "Elite", "ES", "Master", "Select" gear that is the top of their respective lines......a bit less afordable but pretty justifiable to many folks. It also is companies that have always produced well recieved and priced gear, maybe "NAD, Rotel, Rega, Music Hall" fall into this section among many others and its usually somewhat mass produced and many have a long track record of value. These might be considered like "Outback Steakhouse".
HiFi, boy this can be a large well established company with huge factory they own, could be another large firm that ships out fome parts from overseas and some is in our back yard, could be one guy that makes just a few extreme priced and performing items a year and many times its drop dead sexy. Its almost always very high priced and some is the sort of stuff that most folks simply shake their head at failing to understand why anyone would pay so much for items they feel fall into the earlier price ranges. This stuff is a reservation required suit and tie joint with valet parking, 5 star media reviews, and a palce most will never see or appreciate. man I am bored!
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