In Reply to: Mid-fi brands : any preference . . . posted by Hi-Fi Nut on April 30, 2012 at 03:05:25:
*steps on soap box*
I view "Mid Fi" as being a bit of a perjorative term. Nearly every component we are talking about spanks the typical hifi/home theater gear sold in the big box stores! Also someone who spends $1-3k on a system is getting first rate sound, and if they pay attention to setup, acoustics and system matching, it will likely out perform systems multiples of its price from people who don't do that and just whip out a checkbook. Sure more expensive gear *can* sound a lot more nuanced, and will do so - but to imply that humble prices = not hifi is dead wrong.
Whew! I feel better now! ;)
*steps off soap box*
Having said that, I'd list the equipment that is at the lower end of the price range of the hifi ecosystem, I am including only the stuff I have heard in a well done system - and things I feel set up right can make the higher dollar items a bit fearful!
1. Marantz non-Reference series (some are so good it makes you wonder what the fuss is about with their Reference series!)
2. Naim's "i" series (In the UK, only)
3. Peachtree Audio (Skip the iPod dock and save a bundle)
4. Rega (Brio-R, DAC, CDP, Turntables!)
5. Outlaw Audio (Great stereo receiver, good monoblocks!)
6. Belles Audio - Soloist series (OK ... this is at the next level, but they give you a bang for your buck you just don't get at the prices they play at - and if there is a time to push it is for them. You won't need to upgrade for a good long time, if ever!)
Speakers:
1. Magnepan! (MMG to 1.7's - use a beefy amp, though)
2. Rega (Speakers are really good - and affordable!)
3. Usual Suspects: Paradigm, PSB, Focal
4. Unusual pick: Bose 901's. If you set them up like you would a Maggie - they sound really close to them tonally and are less fussy about sound-staging. Read a review on Tone Audio and went to a friend who had them and set them up per the article and it was astonishing to say the least. Not as detailed, but also very easy to listen to!
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"You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you." ~ R A Wilson
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Follow Ups
- RE: Mid-fi brands : any preference . . . - Bromo33333 12:40:30 04/30/12 (2)
- Interesting choices...... - AbeCollins 19:26:55 04/30/12 (1)
- RE: Interesting choices...... - Bromo33333 06:59:15 05/01/12 (0)