My Journey Through the World of High-End: What Is High-End, Really?

If someone asked me today what high-end is, I would probably surprise them.

After more than thirty years in the industry, I would not give a definitive answer. Although I have sold top-class equipment, met exceptional designers and listened to hundreds of audio systems, I still do not know the precise definition of high-end.

The definition of hi-fi, however, is clear. It is short for high fidelity – the faithful reproduction of sound. The aim is to reproduce music as faithfully as possible, as close as possible to a live performance.

But what, then, is high-end?

A higher level of hi-fi? Technical perfection? Luxury? Hand craftsmanship? Or simply a high price?

At university, during a lecture on optimization, our lecturer told us: “Never say ‘most optimal’. Once something is optimal, it cannot be more optimal.”

I ask myself a similar question today. If the goal of hi-fi is the most faithful reproduction of music possible, what does high-end actually mean?

Over the years I have discussed this with designers, manufacturers and people who have devoted their entire lives to music. I was surprised to discover that even among them there is no single answer.

Today, the term high-end is sometimes confused with high price. Prices of top-class equipment continue to rise to dizzying levels. That alone, however, does not mean a better musical experience.

I will return to this question many times in this blog. Not because I know the right answer, but because after more than thirty years I am still searching for it.

Milan Weber