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Welcome to the April 2026 issue!
With so much kit coming our way, sometimes it can be tough to see the wood for the trees and spot emerging trends. And that’s where hi-fi shows come in handy, gathering all the latest products in one place so we can read the runes, so to speak.

The Bristol Hi-Fi Show is traditionally our marker for the start of each year, affording us an indicator of where the industry might be placing its bets over the ensuing months, assumptions that can be checked at Ascot at the UK Hi-Fi Show Live in September.

You can see the highlights on p36, but I thought it would be worth sharing an overview of what Bristol revealed about where the hi-fi business is right now.

It was widely noted that there were fewer launches than usual this year and if you were looking for something groundbreaking, you might have been a little disappointed. With money tight and trade pinched, companies are understandably repackaging their winners rather than risking fresh developments. In other words, we’re seeing a lot of familiar products being offered in new colour schemes and special or anniversary editions.

Regardless, you can rest assured we’ll be spending 2026 hunting down the exciting affordable fresh innovations to enhance your listening pleasure.

Enjoy the issue!