??? 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

I've always thought of it more as in brands rather than price..... I am going to date myself pretty quickly with the brands, but none the less, everyone will get it.  

Denon, NAD, Yamaha,  entry level audiophile.  and occasionally, each brand would step into midfi.  

Adcom, Sumo, maybe a Hafler bridged into midfi.... 

Conrad Johnson, Threshold, Audio Research started High End....

Of course none of this is absolute Today, Brands like Schiit, go entry level and tip toe into mid as do others, but in general brands do target this way.  

As product improves,  there are some entry level priced products that are very good. There is more blurring and a ton of opinion, but when is that not the case in this hobby. 

If we disregard all this expansive language, the goal for many of us is to reproduce the recorded music in such a manner as to be as accurate as possible to the source. The best approach to this goal is to choose DACs and amps that have the maximum measureable SINAD, IMD, etc., and speakers combined with room impacts that provide an ideal, measureable reproduction accuracy.

That’s why it is best to rely on professional measurement resources like Erin’s Audio Corner, Stereophile measurements, and Audio Science Review as a first blush for finding extraordinary audio components. We can also rely on them for calling into question all the silliness about cables, power conditioning, cable lifters, and related audiofoolery.

Then we get to real hi-end stuff, equipment that performs optimally regardless of cost or heritage.

ASR: "All amps sound the same, just get the one with the best SINAD. Ditch your preamp, it only adds distortion. 192 Kbps is all the digital resolution anyone ever needs. Just buy whatever that’s rated Golfing Panther and you’ll do just fine".

Audiogon: "My $3000 network switch sounds stunning. You need to invest at least 30% of the cost of your system in cables. A good USB cable costs $1500, but some $500 ones are said to sound decent. Caelin personally recommended these speaker cables and they are such game changers that I will never need new speakers again! Best $15,000 I’ve ever spent! You get what you pay for!".

Both of the above are attempts by people unable to decide for themselves what sounds good from what doesn’t, to quantify the value of hifi gear through criteria unrelated to sound quality.

My two cents here is that both extremes are doing the community a disservice.

 You are completely right in my book ....I repeated this here for years...

Subjectivist audiophiles and objectivist  few specs measuring  obsession are focussed as twin brothers are  on the "Gear piece" specs for one group or taste for the other group...Not on the system/room/ears-brain ...

The two group ignore the optimization process of their system/room especially the acoustics and psycho-acoustics part...

 

 

 

ASR: "All amps sound the same, just get the one with the best SINAD. Ditch your preamp, it only adds distortion. 192 Kbps is all the digital resolution anyone ever needs. Just buy whatever that’s rated Golfing Panther and you’ll do just fine".

Audiogon: "My $3000 network switch sounds stunning. You need to invest at least 30% of the cost of your system in cables. A good USB cable costs $1500, but some $500 ones are said to sound decent. Caelin personally recommended these speaker cables and they are such game changers that I will never need new speakers again! Best $15,000 I’ve ever spent! You get what you pay for!".

Both of the above are attempts by people unable to decide for themselves what sounds good from what doesn’t, to quantify the value of hifi gear through criteria unrelated to sound quality.

My two cents here is that both extremes are doing the community a disservice.