Honey, we need to shrink the hi-fi.' Was this the phrase on the lips of audio companies through 2016? A glance through this Yearbook at the fabulous high-end hi-fi on offer certainly doesn't suggest that flagship turntables, amplifiers and loudspeakers are getting any smaller - my aching back is testament to this - but there is evidence of far greater integration of technology. Just as the revolution in high-res downloads drove the development of USB DACs and an upsurge in private listening inspired the launch of partnering headphone amplifiers, we've seen Bluetooth adopted as the bridge between our hi-fi and mobile devices and wired Ethernet connectivity embraced to access cloud-based streaming services and local NAS drives packed with music. Without an acceptance of increased integration, the typical audiophile might become submerged under an avalanche of new separates. And that's without a new turntable, arm and cartridge...
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