How is Mid Fi defined?

I don't think that Hi Fi, Mid Fi or Low Fi can be defined in a way that very many would agree, but since I've seen it referenced several times I figured I'd ask what it means to different people. I hadn't really considered that my speakers were anything but Hi Fi, but after seeing what level of gear is available they just might fit the bill.

I guess I might consider my Focal Chorus series speakers Mid Fi because they are technically a "budget" line of speakers.

Also, it might be reasonable to consider Mid Fi to be having a home theater receiver rather than a dedicated two channel amplifier.

I think that many of the comments are on track for a reasonable distinction, but like everything else, black & white doesn't exist.

Let's examine my system:

(1) Focal Chorus 836v speakers. Not a "Big Box" store item, but is considered to be the flagship of the "budget" series of speakers. - Vote Hi Fi

(2) Integra 50.1. Not a "Big Box" store item, but is a multi-channel unit. - Vote Upper Mid Fi

(3) Martin Logan Dynamo 700 subwoofer. Is a "Big Box" store item and has wireless capability. - Lower Mid Fi

(4) Pioneer Elite SACD player. - I don't think it is a "Big Box" store item. Is definitely design for pure audio listening with minimal features and buttons (the main unit has three), but is designed to interface with a matching reciever. - Vote Hi Fi

(5) Integra 6-disk CD player. - Not a "Big Box" store item, but is certainly designed for convience and cannot complete with the Pioneer Elite for sound quality. - Lower Mid Fi

Overall I think my system average is Mid Fi, but having compared their sound to much more expensive products I believe I'm fairly high on the cost/return curve.

"Why do you have the need to define your gear in some nebulous ranking system?" - Tvad

I honestly don't care where my equipment ranks in the Low/Mid/Hi Fi world, I'm happy with it. Being an engineer I like to understand/explain things using concrete examples because it increases the chances of people understanding the point. While I know that this is a nebulous subject with no real answer, it's interesting to see how different peoples ideas about Hi Fi work when applied. Having read several references to Mid Fi it seems reasonable to have a general understanding of what that might mean.

I'm likely Mid Fi simply by the way I purchased my equipment. I visited the store to "kill some time" and ended up being impressed with the sound of some bookshelf speakers. I listened to several speakers in that store, but really never looked anywhere else before making my final choice. My reasoning was that I couldn't imagine being happier with another speakers looks or sound so why waste the time listening to very different systems in very different rooms to try and compare apples and oranges.

I listened to speakers ranging in cost from $650 a pair to $180,000 a pair and several level in between. I knew I was happy with the ones I purchased when I could listen to the most expensive speakers and not feel like mine sounded "bad" in comparison. After visiting the store I would avoid listening to my previous speakers for a few days to let the comparison ability to wear off. Now I can visit the store and listen to the high end and come home still being happy.

Tvad - It sounds like you've met an engineer before! We tend to approach things a little differently than the rest of the world.

Your system is mid fi if selling it during a time of financial hardship wouldn't make a significant difference. This definition is variable as well as money has different value to different people.

In my case, I doubt I could get enough money selling my entire system to really make a significant difference unless I was getting down to not being able to afford food. A few thousand dollars would be helpful in the immediate short term, but unless the actual problem was solved I would likely choose to skip that particular step and move on.

I've never understood people selling all their stuff. My brother-in-law sold his blu-ray player a while back and likely got $20 for it. Did it really make a real difference in his finances, I doubt it.

@mahler123 I wish you would have confirmed the status of my system as hifi 11 years ago as I could have been happy and not upgraded :-)

I know have a Pathos Classic One amplifier, a modified (though budget) DAC, and even some audiophile approved audio connects.  Look at me go!