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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??? 

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Showing 3 responses by kokakolia

kokakolia's avatar
kokakolia
198 posts
 

@audioman58 This is why I went with single driver speakers. For the record, I purchased Klipsch RP600M speakers prior. I hated them. Then I stumbled upon GR Research's teardown of the Klipsch RP600M. And yeah, the crossover couldn't be worse. The crossover actively scooped up the midrange with poor engineering design. So I went into the opposite direction towards single drivers without crossovers. And I'm convinced! For moderate/low volumes in a flat single driver speakers are perfect. Most of the music is in the midrange anyways...

Perhaps I am closer to "Hi-Fi" under $2k that way because I don't use an awful crossover? I am using EMS LB5 drivers FYI. 

kokakolia's avatar
kokakolia
198 posts
 

I am amused that people didn’t mention the inconvenience of Hi-Fi compared to Mid-Fi. 
 

Picture this: you go to a big box store and immediately walk out with a pair of Polk speakers and a Denon or Marantz integrated amp with a DAC/Phono Stage/Streamer. Everything is under warranty and immediately available for the same price everywhere. 
 

OR 

You can go to a dealer. The service is terrible. The prices are marked up. The unit isn’t technically new. Or you have to wait months for your amp and speakers to get built out of exotic materials. When the item is shipped it gets damaged or there are huge defects. You have to wait some more and deal with more people. 
 

I mean there’s something inherently convenient with mass produced equipment with factory specs. Hand made stuff is very inconsistent and overrated. 
 

 

kokakolia's avatar
kokakolia
198 posts
 

@deep_333 This where I throw a wrench in your statement. People are going bananas over JBL, Klipsch, Yamaha, Pioneer and Marantz on the new and used market. I see pairs of JBL L26 sell for 300€ and I roll my eyes. I think that there's a huge degree of snobbery in the budget category. On one hand, we have brand recognition with speakers (OMG! Klipsch! JBL!), and SiNAD with amps (class D is the holy grail, apparently...). 

My point is: I saw a local ad for Ruark Swordsman Plus II speakers (90€). It may as well be free. And nobody gives a flying care. If these things had a JBL logo they would sell for 800€ easily. Just toss in an old Arcam amp for 80€ and you're done. Nobody gives a flying care about Arcam, buy them cheap. 

I have to resist the urge to accumulate cheap vintage gear, it takes a lot of discipline. "Low-fi" is trap. You're overspending for junk. Good gear doesn't sell because people don't know about it. 

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