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When are speakers considered Hi-Fi and not Mid-Fi???

What determines the status of "Hi-Fi?" I was recently considering a pair of Klipsch Heritage Cornwall speakers. They get rave reviews, have almost a cult-like following, no longer have harshness from the horns, and are very resolving. Other than not reaching down too low into the bass as some speakers do, why are they not considered Hi-Fi? They can clearly reproduce the full range of sound with an incredible image and are not missing any capability in person or on paper. Seems when we follow a thread on here about most any speaker at any price there is always a contingent that feels to need to post that the certain speakers under discussion are Mid-Fi not Hi-Fi. I only use the Klipsch Cornwalls as an example to start. Budget is not an issue, and cost should not dictate. I was also looking at the Magnepan 20.7 for another example, and they are $13k more than the Klipsch, but low and behold someone within seconds pops up and says these are Mid-Fi speakers. I kind of bet I could ask about a Sonus Faber Aida at $130k and within a few seconds someone will pop in and call them Mid-Fi as well. When do we reach "Hi-Fi" these days? Is it simply an endless and baseless dick-measuring contest? Seems like it. If we were talking cars we always have the guy who brags about the 0-60 times of certain cars, but it's clear that the 0-60 time alone does not qualify a car to be a "supercar" as there are so many other things the car must have and do to make it into that class, and like speakers there is not always 100% agreement on what the factors are. When do we reach Hi-Fi status for speakers??? 

128x128dean_palmer
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,741 posts
 

Here you may have a point...

I try to do it...But perhaps i am not so good at doing it as well as i think...

If i am not clear about something, please ask and say it...i will try my best...

English is not my first language, and i live in quebec city then i never learned it by speaking  but only by reading books with limited vocabulary... ( science and philosophy)

Good night... And thanks for the exhange... I like to discuss...Too much... Perhaps...

 

Excessive politeness dont replace clarity...

Agreed. Why don’t you just do it?

danoroo
239 posts
 

When are speakers considered Hi-Fi and not Mid-Fi???

To audio snobs the answer is, when they exceed a certain price point.  To music lovers they are meaningless terms. 

vladtheimpala
99 posts
 

What mahgister said..."No product is mid-fi or hi-fi by virtue of his price tag alone for me..."

For example, stratospherically priced Bang & Olufsen is not the first thing to come to mind in discussions of hi-fi.

curtdr
348 posts
 

I own the Heresy IV from the Heritage line... definitely hi-fi.  Startling in a good way, engaging, non-fatiguing... captivating and addictive.  In a bigger room, I'd go for the Forte IV or the Cornwalls.  

n80
2,107 posts
 

I've been away from Audiogon for a while. Nothing has changed.

Lots of good common sense advice. Lots of people with 'x' many years of experience in complete and bitter disagreement about the exact same things in every post here with other people with 'x' many years of experience.

So why not throw my hat in the ring? I don't have 'x' number of year of experience or golden ears by the way.

First, I think Hi-Fi and Mid-fi are perfectly reasonable terms despite having no real concrete parameters. Yes, they are fluid but they can get us in the ball park.

I have an extremely nice system at home. Inherited it. Love it. I have a very nice but more modest system in another room featuring Aerial Acoustics 6Ts. Love it.

At my cabin I have a used NAD integrated and a pair of vinyl wrapped Polk Audio towers all of which cost under $400 total. I love the way this system sounds. The sound stage is frankly amazing.

This leads me to several conclusions, most of which have already been mentioned:

1. Listen to stuff. If you can't then experiment. Find out what makes you happy.

2. The room matters. My rooms at home are not ideal. There is surely a cost. Not enough to matter much to me but in the case of my cabin the speaker placement is a lucky bit of good fortune as they couldn't go anywhere else. But I am certain that's why the Polks sound so good. Do what you can with the room you have.

3. Don't doubt that you can put together a mid-fi system that you will like unless you  think you are acoustically unpleaseable or simply want to get on the audiophile gear treadmill.

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