Hi-Fi and Hi-End acoustics: only marketing or systems with perfect sound?

Among speakers there is a rating of classes. It does not apply to individual products, but describes product groups by characteristic features. In the advertising and marketing materials of manufacturers, the term Hi Fi acoustics is used. Hi End kits are considered even higher, which are considered an exclusive product and elevate the owner to a level inaccessible to simple audiophiles. To understand the difference between these or those high classes of acoustic products is possible when considering the features of their design and hardware solutions.

What are Hi-Fi and Hi-End Class Speakers

Hi-Fi is an abbreviation. It is formed from two English words High Fidelity, which literally translate as "high compliance". This can serve as a brief description of the technical characteristics of acoustics of the corresponding type. The design solution for speakers reproducing sound with minimal distortion includes:

• strong cases excluding spurious vibrations;
• sealed acoustic modules, ensuring the correct formation of vibrations at full volume range;
• a group of speakers (an audio system reproduces a wide range of frequencies with only a few sound emitters);
• Built-in frequency filters for dividing the audio range into bands for individual speakers.

Do not think that Hi-Fi speakers are extremely expensive. It can be a budget device, an excellent choice for the home. In this case, the column is made of wood or quality plywood.

The sound of multi-band speakers depends on the characteristics of the amplifier. It can be built-in (active acoustics) or external. When buying, you should pay attention to the amplifier and the characteristics of the frequency filtering system. The better these electronic components, the more reliable is the sound created by the acoustics.

The design decisions of Hi Fi systems can be very different. The number of bands, the dimensions of the body are changing, passive diffusers, the subwoofer sector and much more are added. Accordingly, the price is changing. But the main factor that forms it is the output power of the system.

All manufacturers of Hi-Fi acoustics, which can be put in the house, provide detailed test data for their products. You can understand exactly how the speaker will sound according to the amplitude-frequency characteristics, the graphics of which are located in the passport of the products. The blockage of high frequencies, the lack of expression of bass - everything is visible on the frequency response.

Hi End Acoustics - a highlighted exclusive product. And this is expressed not only at an extremely high price. The system for building the body and generating a signal for each speaker can be arbitrarily complex. For instance:

• double walls of the case are made of solid wood or plywood, up to 50 mm of total thickness;
• for separation of frequencies not bandpass filters are used, but separate amplifiers for each speaker;
• vibration zones are completely separated: acoustics with the help of special legs do not transmit frequency forces to the floor covering;
• measures are being taken to increase the mass of the column. In particular, the Hi End installation may have a base in the form of a marble slab to neutralize directional vibrations.

The high rank and exclusivity of the top class acoustics means that her designer is not organic. Flight of fancy can be the most varied. There are curved columns made in the form of musical instruments, divided into several modules and much more. Hi End systems are like an exclusive car interior created in a single copy or available to a very limited number of consumers.

Types of Hi-Fi Acoustics

Both Hi End and Hi Fi acoustics, first of all, differ in their constructional design for one or another type of indoor installation.

1. For large halls and rooms, it is worth choosing speakers with a floor installation. In such systems, there are nodes for good air circulation, the so-called pumping of the room. In addition, in floor systems, it is not necessary to minimize the size, therefore, the housing zones for installing the speakers have optimal volumes for optimal operating modes of the emitter.
2. If the potential owner of high-end acoustics has a small apartment, it is recommended to buy speakers with ceiling installation. They guarantee authentic reproduction of a wide range of frequencies. However, due to the need to minimize the dimensions of the case, engineers refuse phase-inverter circuits. But the column is quite capable of qualitatively pumping up a small room.

Of particular note: among Hi-Fi acoustics, you can find a huge number of active type systems. They are equipped with their own amplifier, which qualitatively converts the signal and creates power for the speakers. However, in the Hi End class there are exclusively passive speakers. For them, today you can buy special amplifiers that form separate signals for the operation of low-frequency and high-frequency speakers.

To ensure the maximum level of sound quality of a Hi End or passive Hi-Fi system, it is recommended to use special cables to connect it. They are made of silver-plated, gold-plated conductors, have the same contact groups. Such a product provides minimal distortion, protects against signal loss during transmission. In the presence of an electromagnetic clutch and shielding, a complete absence of interference, interference from external sources to the cable is guaranteed.

Technical parameters (how to choose)

The main thing that you need to study when choosing acoustics of the class Hi Fi, Hi End - graphs of amplitude-frequency characteristics. The following indicators are evaluated on them:

• bandwidth of reproduced frequencies. The optimum value is in the range from 20 to 42000 Hz. But it is better that the strip is as wide as possible. For example, 15-45000 Hz;
• frequency response graph. It should be as smooth as possible. There is no way to do without falls at the border of the range. However, over the entire frequency band, the line should be smooth, preferably horizontal;
• power selection is purely individual. You can use the recommendations for the average indicators for a certain volume of the room.

When choosing an active system, an analysis of the power of the amplifier is not performed. But often when choosing a passive acoustics, a signal preparation device is acquired at the same time with it. The rule for choosing an amplifier is quite simple. Its power should be at least 1.5 times greater than the nominal acoustics. It is desirable that the amplifier can provide the speaker at the highest level. For this, its power indicator must exceed the corresponding maximum acoustics.

For Hi Fi, Hi End systems are also analyzed:

• housing specifications. It should be made of wood or wood-containing materials of significant thickness (MDF, plywood, chipboard);
• the presence of phase inverter circuits. They help acoustics sound juicier and are often present even in expensive, exclusive models;
• the shape of the legs. Cone - help reduce the vibration transfer coefficient of the floor;
• column stabilization pattern. A heavier bottom is a practical and fairly effective option.

In Hi End acoustics, separate inputs are used for different speaker bands. For the operation of such systems, a special amplifier is needed. It should have outputs of the Bi-Wiring, Bi-Amping class. The use of such equipment guarantees not only crystal clear authentic sound, but also the expansion of the frequency range, the stable operation of acoustics in any modes.

Rating

Based on consumer preferences, expressed in terms of sales and the number of positive reviews, a 2019 rating was compiled for high-end acoustics. It includes models with an affordable price, high-quality sound and undoubted ease of use.

Heco Ascada 600 Tower

This audio system is an ideal choice for an apartment. She does not need external amplifiers, frequency filters. Supports wireless device connectivity. A fairly modest power, however - sufficient for an apartment, does not allow to identify deficiencies in the playback of extremely low frequencies. Acoustics sounds juicy and will bring a lot of pleasure.

Jamo S 805 HCS

Designed for the use of an external amplifier, this set of speakers can be a convenient option for those who want to build a system with perfect sound. By connecting the Jamo S 805 HCS to a special amplifier, you can get a high-quality, three-dimensional, three-dimensional sound picture. However, it will not be authentic without the use of a subwoofer, which will need to be coordinated with the parameters of the main speaker system.

Monitor Audio MR6

This acoustics is the best choice for those who want to get a good sound for reasonable money. There are no comments on the operation of the system. However, bragging to friends does not work. The system is rather utilitarian, simple, it sounds without shades, it simply reproduces the supplied signal qualitatively. An undoubted advantage is the support for Bi-wiring / bi-amping Hi End inputs.

Vector HX100

This acoustics can only be used as an additional sound source. It is convenient in the role of rear speakers, including due to the nature of the mount. An undoubted advantage is the presence of gilded separate inputs for frequency signals. However, the narrow range of reproduced frequencies does not allow the use of these speakers as the main sound source.

YAMAHA NS-6490

This system is shelf-type speakers, passive. The sound quality can give odds to many eminent and well-known models of acoustics. The system capacity is enough for a medium-sized room. However, due to the thin walls of the case and the small mass of the speaker, the YAMAHA NS-6490 has the expected disadvantages in the form of bounce, harsh sound and lack of bass in some types of musical compositions. However, in general - the model can be called ideal in terms of price / quality.