Have a great rest of your weekend everyone! You can see more about that Mid-Fi system I was talking about (under $2k) at my website here: www.stevehuffphoto.com/tube-amp-klipsch-speakers-and-a-streamer-for-under-2000/
Its ironic that klipsch RP600MII sound more like REAL instruments than many high dollar boutique speakers. The voicing on a lot of that stuff is polite , laid back and soft. It does NOT sound anything like a real instrument. Especially cymbals, which sound like they are muted on these boutique speakers. They lack presence,, transient impact and realism.
Holy $h!+, I didn't even realize how much your subscriber account has gotten! Congratulations bro🎊 I'm happy to see you doing so well and I hope it continues. 100k is a pretty significant achievement for an audiophile channel.
I can't really enjoy music on a $10 or even $50 Bluetooth speaker. I do use it as background listening or to check out new releases though when doing some work etc. I don't even enjoy music on my girlfriends old. Sony system. I really do enjoy listening to music on my mid-fi and hi-fi systems though, listening as intended brings music to life, bring enjoyment!
There's the danger with this hobby. You can reach a point where the music doesn't matter anymore because you only listen to your system. And you need to realize when this happens, stop and think about it. "Do I really need something 'better'?" There's a lot of audiophiles that are lost into a void of perpetual insatisfaction tryin' to find something they even don't know what it is, and where music is just something that hasn't have any real value for itself. You need to know at some point when to stop and just enjoy what you have.
I'm happy with my Mid Fi Naim Muso V1 :D I can totally get lost in it and appreciate the tonal presentation. HiFi is nice to hear once in a while, but our brains always adjust due to hedonic adaptation.
You probably enjoy listening to music more with your Naim Muso than a lot of "audiophiles" who spend more time listening to their systems than they do to music.
In my humble opinion my Arcam SA10 with Wharfedale Denton 80's and ML Subwoofer is HiFi enough for me..... You most certainly Don't need to spend $15K plus for Hifi.......
The concept of mid-fi doesn't trigger me but I know it does many others and I understand why. There does feel like some snobbery baked into the term. That said, it is still true. Whatever you want to call it. There is gear that is certainly above the average background music 'system' that takes performance to the next level (e.g. sub $1000 bookshelves), and then there is gear that steps beyond into the territory of performance, nuance, aesthetics, craftsmanship, etc. I'm of very modest means but have heavily invested into the hobby over the last year. Sat here with some 15k of gear and find it all to be just entering the realm of what's possible and consider it mid-fi for sure. The system is no slouch, but I am aware of it's weaknesses and limitations and fully aware of how it could be stepped up from where it's at. I'm sorry everyone if you're triggered, but the reality is there are nuanced levels of performance gains that you may not personally justify, but if you're critical or become more critical, you may find yourself EASILY justifying the outlay when you hear what's possible.
Back in the day, I used a dedicated tube type phono preamp plugged directly into an Adcom 200 watt amp designed by Nelson Pass, feeding some Snell speakers that I bought at the factory, all hooked up with early Audioqust products. It sounded glorious. But I also subscribed to The Absolute Sound, and therefore had no problem calling my system firmly mid-fi.
For sure. In those days, spending $2500 would give me hart palpitations. I never did as I didn't have that kind of cash as a teenager but I would save and spend and usually would be in the $1500 range. It was nothing like todays gear though in design, build, parts, etc. These days there is a lot of "overkill" designs made for those who will buy anything at any price.
If you buy new at retail there is definitely more to be had up to $30k or so- it’s at that level that I’d say that kicks in for the high fi top tier- but you are 100% right when buying used or mixing used and new that $4K can get you an OUTSTANDING system in a given room that is compromised anyway.
sadly, this is true. Though there is such a low barrier to being an audiophile now, most are content with the stuff that is easy to find and sourced easily from online, tech and big box stores...people dont find out about audiophile level gear until they come to a point (in their experiences) of wanting better audio experience...and most don't.
The three levels are: 1. Normal, sufficient gear 2. Overpriced gear (the gains in audio quality are nullified by the clueless music taste of the buyer) 3. Doctor & lawyer priced ludicrous gear (no discernable audio quality improvement over level 2; analogous to Leica in the photography space)
Naw. Theres normal and sufficient, there's gear where the sound is the prime goal while meeting a price point, there's much better stuff that has that same goal at much higher price points and then the luxury market where stuff is talked about glowingly in The Robb Report and you need a reservation with the dealer if you want to own it. Use whatever labels fit. But I suspect that the point you were shooting for was something different.
So, in other words, Christoph Munch, anyone who doesn't have the type of gear you have or doesn't share your musical taste is hopelessly clueless, right? Let me take a wild guess here : you know nothing about hi-fi and have more chips on your shoulder than dollars in your pockets...
Big Time, most 6 Figure Americans would consider $2K - $3K for a system Hifi..... Most middle and upper middle class people would never spend $15K on a Stereo.
Disagree You can be an audiophile with emotional connection on an affordable system. You are putting price based on your experience but that is not the same for everybody.
Of course we can connect emotionally with a really good mid fi system. But it’s still mid fi. That’s all I’m saying. It does get quite a bit better from there. Thank you.
I think around US30k can achieve a pretty gd system. DAC Denafrips or Holo May Audio. CD transport Jays Audio. Integrated amp or separates Willsenton class A with rolled tubes , Kinki Studio separates , Line Magnetic. Spkrs too many depending on taste.
Well not exactly, with a nice vintage setup of below 10 k€ you can play well in 70 k€ plus league.. just a matter of what vintage device/system to go for…
I thought I was mid-fi. My equipment: Active speakers Q-Acoustics M20 £399; Marantz CD player £280; sub-woofer £250; Brennan J7 around £400; Topping E30 DAC £130; cable connects £100. I don't think I qualify. Shucks.
There is plenty of "audiophile" equipment , between the $2000 all in one audio and the $50, 000 stereo components. Example given , Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, Sony, Emotiva, Anthem and others, without incurring in a $50 K expense. Not " midfidelity", High Fidelity. Cheers.
Yes, those would and do fall under the “mid fi” category when looking at the entire picture of what is available and how far things can be taken. Those brands you mention certainly fall under mid fi as it does get much much more refined and “audiophile” up the line. Thank you.
Dude - burn piles are dumping into the air. We all need clean air to breath. In the words of Bill McKibben from his New Yorker article on climate change; “stop burning things”.
By all appearances you have a nice place, BUT if you have spent $50K on a Stereo system if you aren't a multi millionare in a mansion, my friend, you have some issues and they aren't HiFi related issues.
Like any hobby we each have our own interests. Weather it's cars, travel, cameras, collecting antiques, artwork, motorcycles, etc. Their are various levels to every hobby and each person decides which level to play in. And some make sacrifices in other areas to play in them levels. You should look deep inside yourself before making such a comment.
A 50K stereo system isn’t generally purchased all at once but rather by careful curation over time. Many people who have systems like this have actually spend considerably more in incremental upgrades over time. I see the same behavior in collectors and enthusiasts in many hobbies
@@pike3685 I sold a Krell KPS20i. Bought a Music note MU21 transport and a Gustard x16 DAC. Together they sound better than the Krell. Only the bass is a bit thinner. DAC's have become so much better in the past 15 years.
Have a great rest of your weekend everyone! You can see more about that Mid-Fi system I was talking about (under $2k) at my website here: www.stevehuffphoto.com/tube-amp-klipsch-speakers-and-a-streamer-for-under-2000/
Its ironic that klipsch RP600MII sound more like REAL instruments than many high dollar boutique speakers. The voicing on a lot of that stuff is polite , laid back and soft. It does NOT sound anything like a real instrument. Especially cymbals, which sound like they are muted on these boutique speakers. They lack presence,, transient impact and realism.
No matter the costs for hifi/lofi.
As long as you take pride and care for your audio gear, in the end, that’s all that really matters.
AMEN!
Yeah, price points mean absolutely nothing.
Spot on- I don’t like to put a price to become an audiophile -
Holy $h!+, I didn't even realize how much your subscriber account has gotten! Congratulations bro🎊 I'm happy to see you doing so well and I hope it continues. 100k is a pretty significant achievement for an audiophile channel.
Thanks man!
I’ve cried while listening to my iPod. Multi thousand dollar systems are not necessary...but they are fun.
Thanks so much for your unique insight. You bring us to a higher level of understanding and appreciation.
I can't really enjoy music on a $10 or even $50 Bluetooth speaker. I do use it as background listening or to check out new releases though when doing some work etc. I don't even enjoy music on my girlfriends old. Sony system. I really do enjoy listening to music on my mid-fi and hi-fi systems though, listening as intended brings music to life, bring enjoyment!
Congrats on 100K on this channel.
There are two levels: those who use their system to listen to music and those who use music to listen to their system.
This is 100% correct.
There's the danger with this hobby. You can reach a point where the music doesn't matter anymore because you only listen to your system. And you need to realize when this happens, stop and think about it. "Do I really need something 'better'?" There's a lot of audiophiles that are lost into a void of perpetual insatisfaction tryin' to find something they even don't know what it is, and where music is just something that hasn't have any real value for itself. You need to know at some point when to stop and just enjoy what you have.
@@carlosnieto8241 truth right there
I'm happy with my Mid Fi Naim Muso V1 :D I can totally get lost in it and appreciate the tonal presentation. HiFi is nice to hear once in a while, but our brains always adjust due to hedonic adaptation.
You probably enjoy listening to music more with your Naim Muso than a lot of "audiophiles" who spend more time listening to their systems than they do to music.
Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers.
I have a pair of 805 d3 for fronts and 705s2 for rears. I run them with 2 asw500 subwoofers love it
I don't bother listening to music until I have the time to sit down and enjoy listening to my electrostatic speakers.
I have several systems at different price points for different listening.
In my humble opinion my Arcam SA10 with Wharfedale Denton 80's and ML Subwoofer is HiFi enough for me.....
You most certainly Don't need to spend $15K plus for Hifi.......
I run Denton 80's with a Yamaha CR-800 receiver and a Dual 1209 turntable ( both 70's ) and that's Hi-Fi for me!
@@michaelschafer6379 No it's not according to this TH-camr, you have to spend at least $15K... LOL
Dang, so I am short of 14.400 bucks
@@michaelschafer6379 lol
The concept of mid-fi doesn't trigger me but I know it does many others and I understand why. There does feel like some snobbery baked into the term.
That said, it is still true. Whatever you want to call it. There is gear that is certainly above the average background music 'system' that takes performance to the next level (e.g. sub $1000 bookshelves), and then there is gear that steps beyond into the territory of performance, nuance, aesthetics, craftsmanship, etc.
I'm of very modest means but have heavily invested into the hobby over the last year. Sat here with some 15k of gear and find it all to be just entering the realm of what's possible and consider it mid-fi for sure. The system is no slouch, but I am aware of it's weaknesses and limitations and fully aware of how it could be stepped up from where it's at.
I'm sorry everyone if you're triggered, but the reality is there are nuanced levels of performance gains that you may not personally justify, but if you're critical or become more critical, you may find yourself EASILY justifying the outlay when you hear what's possible.
Back in the day, I used a dedicated tube type phono preamp plugged directly into an Adcom 200 watt amp designed by Nelson Pass, feeding some Snell speakers that I bought at the factory, all hooked up with early Audioqust products. It sounded glorious.
But I also subscribed to The Absolute Sound, and therefore had no problem calling my system firmly mid-fi.
Enjoy the music...catchy slogan. Deserves a t-shirt, me thinks.
An audiophile system back in the 80s even 90s usually cost under £1000. Components were several £100s not £1000s.
For sure. In those days, spending $2500 would give me hart palpitations. I never did as I didn't have that kind of cash as a teenager but I would save and spend and usually would be in the $1500 range. It was nothing like todays gear though in design, build, parts, etc. These days there is a lot of "overkill" designs made for those who will buy anything at any price.
It's diminishing return after spending about 4-5k on everything. DAC/Speakers/AMP/Preamp
If you buy new at retail there is definitely more to be had up to $30k or so- it’s at that level that I’d say that kicks in for the high fi top tier- but you are 100% right when buying used or mixing used and new that $4K can get you an OUTSTANDING system in a given room that is compromised anyway.
Congratulations on 100k. Keep up the great work.
The "Wife Factor" really hurts tho😫
General public thinks when they have a Bose system or a Samsung soundbar, it's a hifi level.
sadly, this is true. Though there is such a low barrier to being an audiophile now, most are content with the stuff that is easy to find and sourced easily from online, tech and big box stores...people dont find out about audiophile level gear until they come to a point (in their experiences) of wanting better audio experience...and most don't.
LEVEL #4…. My FENDER “George Benson” Tube amp and the 1969 GIBSON Les Paul Gold top….. playing Wes Montgomery 🎸🇨🇦
The three levels are:
1. Normal, sufficient gear
2. Overpriced gear (the gains in audio quality are nullified by the clueless music taste of the buyer)
3. Doctor & lawyer priced ludicrous gear (no discernable audio quality improvement over level 2; analogous to Leica in the photography space)
Naw. Theres normal and sufficient, there's gear where the sound is the prime goal while meeting a price point, there's much better stuff that has that same goal at much higher price points and then the luxury market where stuff is talked about glowingly in The Robb Report and you need a reservation with the dealer if you want to own it.
Use whatever labels fit. But I suspect that the point you were shooting for was something different.
So, in other words, Christoph Munch, anyone who doesn't have the type of gear you have or doesn't share your musical taste is hopelessly clueless, right?
Let me take a wild guess here : you know nothing about hi-fi and have more chips on your shoulder than dollars in your pockets...
enjoy your Yugo
If you have a Klipsch RP600 M II and a tube amp, you are an audiophile! Not sure about the term mid-fi either, smells like gatekeeping to me.
Big Time, most 6 Figure Americans would consider $2K - $3K for a system Hifi..... Most middle and upper middle class people would never spend $15K on a Stereo.
@Listener - Audio Enthusiast LMAO..
hell Yeah .. youtubers go mad.
Exactly I never liked the term mid fi
Disagree You can be an audiophile with emotional connection on an affordable system. You are putting price based on your experience but that is not the same for everybody.
Of course we can connect emotionally with a really good mid fi system. But it’s still mid fi. That’s all I’m saying. It does get quite a bit better from there. Thank you.
50k with those speakers?
I think around US30k can achieve a pretty gd system. DAC Denafrips or Holo May Audio. CD transport Jays Audio. Integrated amp or separates Willsenton class A with rolled tubes , Kinki Studio separates , Line Magnetic. Spkrs too many depending on taste.
Well not exactly, with a nice vintage setup of below 10 k€ you can play well in 70 k€ plus league.. just a matter of what vintage device/system to go for…
@@karl1196 Yes you are right but unfortunately thats not an available option where I come from
I thought I was mid-fi. My equipment: Active speakers Q-Acoustics M20 £399; Marantz CD player £280; sub-woofer £250; Brennan J7 around £400; Topping E30 DAC £130; cable connects £100. I don't think I qualify. Shucks.
Im at around $5k for my whole system and i dont qualify too. Welp, lets just enjoy the music.
Interesting take on things.
There is plenty of "audiophile" equipment , between the $2000 all in one audio and the $50, 000 stereo components. Example given , Yamaha, Marantz, Denon, Sony, Emotiva, Anthem and others, without incurring in a $50 K expense. Not " midfidelity", High Fidelity. Cheers.
Yes, those would and do fall under the “mid fi” category when looking at the entire picture of what is available and how far things can be taken. Those brands you mention certainly fall under mid fi as it does get much much more refined and “audiophile” up the line. Thank you.
Heck yeah!😀
Dude - burn piles are dumping into the air.
We all need clean air to breath.
In the words of Bill McKibben from his New Yorker article on climate change;
“stop burning things”.
I tend to switch between 1 and 3 depending on circumstances. I guess my out of the house headphone listening might fall into category 2.
By all appearances you have a nice place, BUT if you have spent $50K on a Stereo system if you aren't a multi millionare in a mansion, my friend, you have some issues and they aren't HiFi related issues.
No different to someone spending $50k on a car who doesn’t live in a multi million dollar mansion 🤷
Like any hobby we each have our own interests. Weather it's cars, travel, cameras, collecting antiques, artwork, motorcycles, etc. Their are various levels to every hobby and each person decides which level to play in. And some make sacrifices in other areas to play in them levels. You should look deep inside yourself before making such a comment.
A 50K stereo system isn’t generally purchased all at once but rather by careful curation over time. Many people who have systems like this have actually spend considerably more in incremental upgrades over time. I see the same behavior in collectors and enthusiasts in many hobbies
@@ruanswanepoel4111 A 50K Car is much more useful on a daily basis than a sound system.....
People have multiple kids, marriages and cars that all cost way more than $50k.
👍
Nice………
Lol. 3 levels you say.
Do you have any clue what $50,000 means to most people?
You make it seem frivolous....
Because they are rich
I sold my 12000 $ Krell CD player, replaced it with a "cheap" Chinese transport and a 450 $ DAC. it sounds much better !
Which models are you talking about?
@@pike3685 I sold a Krell KPS20i.
Bought a Music note MU21 transport and a Gustard x16 DAC. Together they sound better than the Krell. Only the bass is a bit thinner. DAC's have become so much better in the past 15 years.