hi-fi an overused term or perhaps not?

hi,
i've been evaluating my seemingly pathological collection of hi-fi gewgaws and wanted to ask the following question...
what exactly is hi-fi today?
is it the traditional multi thousand pound source / pre / power / elephant phallus wires and speakers?
or perhaps a mega expensive home theatre system with 7.1 /. height channels individual monoblock amps, multi format source.
is it a single brand system which comes in a box with speakers included.
is it computer audio?
dvd - a (titter)
ac3 / dts
vinyl
mp3's?
sacd?
streaming audio over a network?
dab?
minidisk?
8-track?
on demand internet?

where are the lines drawn between hi, mid and low fi and are they drawn because of the amount of money spent on replay equipment? the bit rate? the rotation speed? what?

your views would be aprieciated...
cheers


julian

 

Julian,

For me they are drawn by the importance people place on supposedly better sound.

Given that most people spend less than £1,000 on so called "hifi" but still enjoy their music, I would suggest that everyone on this forum has a clinical issue and should seek help.

For me, hifi is something that allows you to forget the equipment and concentrate on the musical performance.

And DVDA is great

 

In that case my iPod is hifi -

Michael.

 

In that case, my hi-fi is hi-fi.

-- Ian

 

Oh no - how do I get a hi-fi, I've only got a stereo system?

 

Well I'm hifi less also, I just own a music maker

 

Yes it is Michael. Anything else, seeing as the humble ipod serves it's purpose, is surely superflous and purely a case of indulgence.

 

I will keep my mouth shut on this subject... :guiness:

 

I believe it's down to the colour of the L.E.D's

Blue is an obvious sign of High Fidelity!

 

I think blue LEDs are more likely a sign of Musical Fidelity... real men use those 'orrible cheap green LEDs.

Dunc

 

I thought real men disconnected all lights/displays as they degraded the sound