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??? Where Does "High End" Start ???

 There are terms we in this hobby use to describe certain characteristics of the components or sound evoked...Without fail,the terms entry level,mid-fi & high end will show up in component reviews or conversations regarding equipment components...
 So exactly how do we define these terms in absolutes?I understand there are components that,in this day & age,outperform their asking price in orders of magnitude but even if they do,they will invariably be tagged as entry level,mid-fi or high end simply based on their asking price..
 Assuming entry level starts at say $500.00 per component,where does that end & mid-fi start,$2500.00 per component,$3500.00,$4500.00,$5000.00?
 How far does that pricing structure go until you consider a component to be "high end"?
What are YOUR PERSONAL thoughts on this subject?

freediver

Showing 1 response by signaforce

signaforce's avatar
signaforce
352 posts
 

I asked chatGPT. It provided a great analogy:

Think of it like cars:

  • Mid-fi is a Lexus ES or BMW 3-Series — refined, high quality, plenty fast, satisfies almost everyone.
  • Hi-fi is a Porsche 911 Turbo or McLaren — extreme engineering and performance, but with rapidly increasing cost for smaller gains.

It ranked my system: 

So, your system as a whole sits in a “bridge zone” between mid-fi and hi-fi. You’ve outgrown mid-fi in most areas, but to an audiophile purist, the R11s keep you from being “all the way high-end.”

Maybe a BMW M5. I can live with that. 

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