Hi-fi is the abbreviated form of high fidelity. It was first used in the 1950s to describe the reproduction of images or sound in their most basic form. Most people associate hi-fi with sound, such as music. It indicates that the reproductions are crisp, free of background noise, and have minimal distortion. Enhancements are limited because the equipment is designed to make reproductions as close to the original as possible.
High-resolution audio and video components were initially met with skepticism. Many people didn’t believe there was much of a difference and thought hi-fi was just a marketing ploy to get people to buy more expensive equipment. Enthusiasts quickly discovered that it did, in fact, provide higher-quality reproduction. This technology and its components became so popular that the term was used to refer to both the components and the technology. People may say things like, “Put a record on the hi-fi,” when referring to a record player or turntable.
Today, the term is applied to any sound system of superior quality. Other components that make up home theater systems are also included. A television, DVD player, and satellite receiver, as well as a compact disc player, other stereo components, and surround sound speakers, may all be included.
Hi-fi enthusiasts, like computer enthusiasts, enjoy putting together custom systems. A hi-fi enthusiast, like a computer enthusiast, will select individual components from various manufacturers in order to take advantage of specific specialties. This is not only the best way to build a one-of-a-kind, high-quality system, but it also allows the enthusiast to build the system one piece at a time, allowing her to spend more on each component. Rather than spending a large sum of money on an entire system up front, one can build a collection of high-quality components over time. When it comes to upgrading equipment, this is also important because the enthusiast can simply replace one piece at a time.