Mid Fi vs Hi Fi - How can you tell? [Archive]

RuSsMaN

08-05-2006, 11:01 PM

That age old question. Actually, it's been discussed a lot recently. I have the answer, in plain and simple fashion. How can you determine what's midfi, and what constitutes hifi?

Midfi comes in a carboard box, Hifi comes in a f$%king wood crate.

Had Uncle Charlie's memorial service today, and one thing became very clear - don't wait, and quit worrying. You can't take your money with you when you go anyway.

I made a purchase in his honor, his favorite solid state amp manufacturer. His words were something to the effect 'Son, if this stuff doesn't make you shit your flat hat, not much will.....'. I couldn't agree more.

Cheers,
Russ

dorokusai

08-05-2006, 11:05 PM

That's the kind of gear that separates the men from the boys. I would like to rub my nether region on the heat sinks.

audiobliss

08-05-2006, 11:05 PM

Hats off.

Those are some pretty, simple faceplates. They look great.

dkg999

08-05-2006, 11:16 PM

Inf'ingcredible! While Doro may want to rub up against them, I'm getting a woody just look'in at the pictures :D Definetely high-end, even if they didn't come in the wood crates!

RuSsMaN

08-05-2006, 11:17 PM

Yep, all this business is on the back end - rack handles, outputs, inverted and non inverted single ended inputs, adjustable input impendance....etc etc....

dragon1952

08-05-2006, 11:23 PM

F*#K me!:eek: Very nice ;)

audiobliss

08-05-2006, 11:32 PM

Yep, all this business is on the back end - rack handles, outputs, inverted and non inverted single ended inputs, adjustable input impendance....etc etc....
Wow, those things have got some features! Adjustable input impedance?! Gosh...

okiepolkie

08-05-2006, 11:44 PM

Those are monsters Russ. What are you going to mate with them?

dorokusai

08-05-2006, 11:45 PM

He told me he was mating WITH them, not the other way around.

michael_w

08-05-2006, 11:46 PM

Very nice Russ. Always interesting to see what new gear passes through your living room. (because it's always something crazy)

Cool dog too ;)

joeparaski

08-05-2006, 11:49 PM

Russ...curious, what do they each weigh?

okiepolkie

08-05-2006, 11:50 PM

I guess if you mate those mosters with Russ, then you get something awful, but that would just be my guess. I'll come up with a sketch later.

audiobliss

08-05-2006, 11:50 PM

Those are monsters Russ. What are you going to mate with them?
NHT 2.1's.

The top of one crate says 70lbs.

okiepolkie

08-05-2006, 11:51 PM

Russ...curious, what do they each weigh?

The top of the crate says 70 pounds.

Dennis Gardner

08-05-2006, 11:53 PM

I can only imagine the cuss words flyin' after a stubbed toe in the middle of the dark. Nice chunks of gear, Russ, Charlie would be proud.............

univera

08-06-2006, 12:01 AM

With death there is life.....

Zero

08-06-2006, 12:08 AM

Certainly a cool factor, for sure.

RuSsMaN

08-06-2006, 02:38 AM

amulford

08-06-2006, 08:14 AM

No shit...Nice.

BlueMDPicker

08-06-2006, 08:26 AM

Congrats and enjoy!

mantis

08-06-2006, 08:37 AM

$4800 amps driving $1400 speakers, a slight mismatch, for now... ;)

Hell yes, adjustable input imedance - mate with ANY preamp, tube, sand, passive - just dial it in. Oh, and the little bitch's name is Jenny. 16 yrs old. Grim death HAS to be knocking.

Cheers,
Russ

I'm sure you can fix that little problem. They sound like killer amps Bro, Nice and good luck with them. I agree with you can't take it with yeah, I just got to convince my wife of that.

Dan

tonyb

08-06-2006, 09:02 AM

Good taste Russ,You always have nice gear hangin' around.Now,normally when something new comes in the door,something is going out the door,
whats on the way out my man??:)

heiney9

08-06-2006, 09:29 AM

You just graduated to the next level.........very 'effing nice. I am jealous as hell, in a good way :D . Enjoy! I'm betting these won't be going anywhere soon or perhaps ever. I get a tickle in groin evertime I go back and look at those puppies.

H9

madmax

08-06-2006, 09:18 PM

Nice! You are correct, you can't take it with you so enjoy it while you can. I'm sure he would be happy to see you with your new boys...
madmax

speakergeek

08-06-2006, 10:14 PM

Awesome! Plain awesome.

dorokusai

08-06-2006, 11:26 PM

When it comes to heatsinks, all you really need is straight pipes. The JR monoblocks echo this idea. Some manufacturers, Sumo and Krell ring a bell, have some interesting aesthetic heatsink designs on some of their amps, but it's all aesthetics, zero additional function...but it certainly looks good :)

I prefer a simple look to high end as I don't like foo foo gear. The Burmester, Musical Fidelity kW gear and the JR 201 for example, throw a wrench in that idea. I have always had a hatred for silver until recently when some Rotel pieces came through the house and I noticed how it could be done nicely. I usually don't like my gear to stand out and would prefer it to look lean, mean and basically nondescript. When you add chrome, shiny rivets, tube windows, LED's under the tubes, neon, etc...and it was ALL OVER CES, it cheapens the gear for me visually.

Heavy, thick faceplates and brutal construction is what I look for in an amp, typically the rest follows, and it does so in spades for these two pieces.

Joey_V

08-07-2006, 02:55 AM

Daang... JR's nice schtuff.

halo

08-08-2006, 09:41 PM

Daang... JR's nice schtuff.JR + ML = :eek:

Dern nice Russ. So, what's the next addition?

SKsolutions

08-08-2006, 10:35 PM

Big set chrome ones.

RuSsMaN

08-08-2006, 10:41 PM

B&W 80something? Triangle?

Not sure, right now I'm just swimming in the sound (and getting stuff together to sell to pay for the damn things).

dave shepard

08-09-2006, 07:28 AM

Holly crap Russ nice pieces, congrats.

Dave

Joey_V

08-09-2006, 01:25 PM

JR + ML = :eek:

Dern nice Russ. So, what's the next addition?

Actually...

JR + ML = Homeless Beggar :(

hoosier21

08-09-2006, 01:32 PM

excellent

nuff said

reeltrouble1

08-09-2006, 02:06 PM

excellent

nuff said

yep, I like bar raising.

RT1

RuSsMaN

08-09-2006, 05:42 PM

I may need professional help soon - going to look at some Sonus Faber Grand Piano's - thought they might be a nice match.

Joey_V

08-09-2006, 05:47 PM

I may need professional help soon - going to look at some Sonus Faber Grand Piano's - thought they might be a nice match.
Bah.... go Cremonas or go home...

JK.

wallstreet

08-09-2006, 11:30 PM

Congrats on the purchase. How's it feel to own something that never needs upgrading?

Zero

08-10-2006, 01:35 AM

Cremona or better yet - Cremona Auditor

or go home, no JK..

mrbigbluelight

08-10-2006, 03:55 AM

He told me he was mating WITH them, not the other way around.

I'd be happy with the runt of that litter.

Wow ! :eek:

TroyD

08-10-2006, 07:33 AM

Go Beemer or go home....that's where you are going to end up anyway.

BDT

screename

08-10-2006, 10:23 AM

Here's a suggestion....

TroyD

08-10-2006, 10:30 AM

Would you take a kidney in trade?

BDT

RuSsMaN

08-10-2006, 12:07 PM

I saw that center channel in person yesterday, it makes the 802 look small - it's rediculous, it's sick. It's audio insanity of the highest order.

Yeah, I'll end up at B&W - but that itch will run me 10 grand at the end of the day, right now I've got a $3000 itch to scratch.

TroyD

08-10-2006, 12:23 PM

803's / 804's

I'm thinking the 804's would load up pretty well in your cave.

BDT

RuSsMaN

08-10-2006, 02:35 PM

I talked to Vu yesterday, look for an 804 diamond coming out REAL soon, and priced under the 803S - probably around 5 grand.

Joey_V

08-11-2006, 02:52 AM

804D?

Niiice.... finally a speaker for the masses.

Roy Munson

08-11-2006, 03:00 AM

Nice amps Russ!!

jdhdiggs

08-11-2006, 12:51 PM

Go ahead Russ, take your pick... I'd love to have any of these.

wingnut4772

08-11-2006, 01:10 PM

Very nice Russ. Almost all my gear now has come in a crate:D . So what's next for the speakers?

RuSsMaN

08-11-2006, 01:14 PM

Sonus Faber Grand Piano's for now in the cave, I'm going to keep rocking the Line Arrays in the 'big' room.

wingnut4772

08-11-2006, 01:21 PM

I love the Sonus Fabers ..I was really considering those before I got the Von Schweikerts. Enjoy!

halo

08-11-2006, 01:36 PM

Almost all my gear now has come in a crate:D .Damn! Guess I'm still suck in the ranks of mid-fi. Everything I have came in cardboard boxes :(

wingnut4772

08-11-2006, 01:47 PM

Damn! Guess I'm still suck in the ranks of mid-fi. Everything I have came in cardboard boxes :(

Well the most expensive piece of gear came in a cardboard box so go figure.:p

Joey_V

08-11-2006, 01:55 PM

Go ahead Russ, take your pick... I'd love to have any of these.

Geeez... those are niiiice... Wilsons...

halo

08-11-2006, 03:15 PM

Geeez... those are niiiice... Wilsons...What's wrong with the Magpies Joey?

Shizelbs

08-11-2006, 03:37 PM

Geeez... those are niiiice... Wilsons...

Those little Wilsons are quite nice. I haven't heard the big mofos. And yes, I believe they both come in crates. Is it another level of -fi if the gear both comes in crates, and comes with in home installation and calibration?

jdhdiggs

08-11-2006, 04:49 PM

Shelby,

I believe you are referring to $$$$$-fi gear.

TroyD

08-11-2006, 05:00 PM

REAL Hifi is when Dan (in full on HK Fooey garb) and liv4fam show up to open the boxes for you. :D

BDT

organ

08-12-2006, 02:14 AM

OMG Russ!!! Congrats man. That's some crazy looking mono's. I can only imagine how they sound. Show us a pic when you've got the system set up. Are you using the Melos as pre?

sucks2beme

08-12-2006, 10:44 AM

Hey Russ. You favorite audio shop has a set of demo PrAc D25's in mahogany, and a used set of ProAc Future 1's. That might save you some cash.

Andrew2112

08-12-2006, 11:21 AM

Outstanding, congrats Russ.
Equipment like this separates the men from the boys!!!

screename

08-12-2006, 11:52 AM

I would have a hard time choosing between the 803D and N802's if I were in the 4.5-6K range. Both are very good speakers in there own right.
I might be going to an all Diamond setup so I could be moving my cherry N802's. Let me know if you have any interest Russ.
Brad

Potential Sale item:
N802 pair Cherry 8.5/10
N804 pair Cherry 7.5/10
N805 pair Cherry with black stands 8/10
NHTM1 Cherry on black stands (2 of these) 8.5/10
HTM2D in Rosenut 8/10
SCMS's in Rosenut with wall mounts (Clean) 8.5/10
DS8S's in Rosenut (wallmount Monopole/Dipole) 6/10

Ahhh yes it's a sickness, gathering speakers....lol

Mazeroth

08-13-2006, 11:37 PM

I will drop 10 shots of Maker's Mark in celebration of this purchase.

Holy...shit.

Schris22

08-13-2006, 11:57 PM

Wow nice amps.

Sorry to chime in a little late.

Well since it's a big purchase on what to mate them with, I'll throw in my two recommendations. BW 8's are great and I want to hear sonus faber but also give (if you haven't) some vienna acoustics and some JM labs Utopia (most likely micro I think in your price range). If you have a chance to come down to Houston , my friend Viet from soundworld will take care of you as far as JM Labs go. Not sure of many places that have utopia and he had to bring in his personal set of utopias because he just sold some. Or Electra 1027 be.

Good luck,

Chris