Is Hi‑Fi About Sound?

What Hi‑Fi?, marking its 50th year in 2026, says recent listening tests have pushed it to ask whether hi‑fi buyers now prize ease and experience alongside sound. (whathifi.com) The magazine was founded in 1976, and its anniversary package has included a new column by Ketan Bharadia published on April 17, 2026 under the headline asking if sound quality is still the most important thing in hi‑fi. (whathifi.com) Bharadia’s case leans on recent reviews in categories where software, setup and daily use now sit next to sonic performance, especially music streamers and all-in-one systems. What Hi‑Fi’s current music streamers guide calls them “a convenient and versatile one-box solution” for pulling high-quality digital music from multiple online sources. (whathifi.com) That language marks a shift from the older hi‑fi ideal of separate boxes optimized for one job. In the 2024 Awards, What Hi‑Fi still split products into classic categories like stereo amplifiers, DACs, CD players and turntables, but it also gave major space to streamers, streaming services and systems. (whathifi.com) The recent reviews Bharadia points to show why the balance is changing. What Hi‑Fi’s March 2, 2026 review of the Moon 371 praised not just its audio performance but its “seamless user experience,” putting interface and operation in the verdict itself. (whathifi.com) The same pattern shows up at the entry level. What Hi‑Fi’s April 2026 coverage of Sony’s PS‑LX5BT and PS‑LX3BT highlighted Bluetooth, a built-in phono stage and automatic operation alongside sound, framing convenience features as part of the product’s appeal. (whathifi.com) That is especially relevant because many newer buyers do not build traditional rack systems with separate source, amplifier and speakers. What Hi‑Fi’s active-speakers guide now sells integrated amplification as a virtue, describing “great hi-fi sound” without needing a separate amp. (whathifi.com) Software has also made usability harder to ignore when judging audio gear. During Sonos’ 2024 app crisis, What Hi‑Fi reported that the company removed key features in a redesign launched on May 7, 2024, and later detailed a seven-point plan to rebuild trust by improving the app experience. (whathifi.com 1) (whathifi.com 2) None of that means sound has stopped mattering. The same outlet’s reviews and awards still center listening tests, and its latest hi‑fi coverage continues to describe products in sonic terms such as “balanced,” “engaging,” “controlled” and “exceptional.” (whathifi.com 1) (whathifi.com 2) The argument is narrower than that: in 2026, a component that sounds superb but is awkward to control, buggy to stream to, or difficult to fit into a room can lose ground to one that sounds slightly worse but works better every day. That is the question What Hi‑Fi chose to raise in its anniversary year, and it is a question shaped as much by apps and habits as by amplifiers and speakers. (whathifi.com)