Wayne Parham Messages: 18786 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
Well, yeah, I guess "mid-fi" is a fairly subjective and artitrary term, isn't it? I like NAD, have some of their gear, and didn't mean to be derogative of NAD. What I consider "mid-fi" are produts made in large quantities on an assembly line using parts purchased as commodites from various suppliers and sold retail through several commercial chains. Open up one amp and you'll see parts from various suppliers; Buy the same model amp a year later and find parts in the same locations from different companies. Mid-fi equipment is mass produced as opposed to being handmade. These things don't necessarily make what I'm calling "mid-fi" bad, and in fact, many mid-fi products sound much better to me that some "boutique" high-end products. But the market, manufacturing style and product perception is different.