Do sound characteristics matter when moving from midfi to hifi?

1. I see the separation between mid-fi and high end as being more about philosophy & voicing than price.  Companies like Schiit & First Watt make cosmetic & economic compromises to produce gear with more than a whiff of high end performance.

2. There is actually MORE variation in system sound in the high end.  Mid fi systems tend to use the same tried-and-true cost-effective designs, whereas high end companies will go to extreme lengths to achieve their voicing standards.  Horns, electrostats, planars, ribbons, field coils, tubes, GAN FETs, R2R, FGA, etc. are all capable of making significant differences in your system.

3. I also highly recommend listening to live music, for its own merits.  If you love the sound of unamplified instruments, they will set the standard you seek with your sound system.

4. Many of the responses here are from those who have made a long journey.  Don't be intimidated by their stories!  Go listen to as many systems as you can.  Buy the speakers you like best & can afford.  Build your system around them and enjoy!  If you like them enough, you might not need to go through another full system upgrade for decades.  Of course, you probably will need to do the occasional technology upgrade.

I found that not every piece of equipment I tried went well with my system and made it sound better as I’ve upgraded from a combination system to separate components over time.  Suggest working with a local dealer(s) depending on what’s available near you or online with vendors that will let you buy, try and return for little no fee.  The only way you’ll know is to try in your room with your equipment in my experience.  Trust your ears as you decide and stay within your budget.  There is so much great equipment being made these days.  Enjoy your ongoing musical journey! 

Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to plan on hitting T.H.E Show in Costa Mesa this June. Just up the road from North County San Diego.

Where does one draw the line between Mid-fi and Hi-fi?

I live 10 miles due north of T.H.E. Show and you are welcome to come by and hear how good a 14 year old Oppo BDP-95 through 23 year old Yamaha RX-Z9 and "home made" 30-40+ year old JBL/AMT speakers can sound. I designed the speakers for the room over countless years and iterations of crossover development and can put the band right in the room with you. Total investment was <$6,000 and I purchased the Yamaha new back in 2002 ($4,500 less 10% back then). Receiver now has over 30,000 hours on it and still functions as new.

Both the RECEIVER and Oppo are run in "Pure Direct" mode and there is no eq or room compensation, electronic or physical used for music.

Would any of this be considered as Hi-end"??? I doubt it!

BUT!!! I attended T.H.E. Show last year and this puts most of what I heard at 10 times the cost to shame. Talk about a "disappearing act"...

You are certainly welcome to come by for a listen.

Can't respond to your message because I won't give Audiogon a credit card number..., but get hold of me when the show gets close and give me an email address.  I probably won't go this year because I'll be doing a garden railroad open house display for the Club and public that weekend.

https://youtu.be/jQ6rcU1Vbwo