hi-fi+ Magazine      August 2026

  hi-fi+ is a magazine that is serious about hi-fi. Our articles are intended to help you get the best from your system, rather than simply telling you to buy another one. Our reviews only cover product that we think is worthwhile. You can read more about that by looking at our reviews policy, but lets just say that our attitude to equipment is rather different, and we hope, much more informative. We haven't forgotten that hi-fi is supposed to be fun!

Sony's Disc-Free Future & Dynaudio's Exit Signal Shifts In The Global Audio Industry
How gaming, Blu-ray, and loudspeaker market changes reveal deeper trends in digital rights, active speakers, and regional hi-fi demand.
Editorial By Alan Sircom
A couple of interesting events took place this month, which have wider implications for the audio industry than might be seen from taking a surface view. The first is that Sony announced that, as of 2028, the next generation of PlayStation will not feature any kind of disc-based system. Rumours abound that Project Helix, the replacement to Microsoft's Xbox, will also be discless. Nintendo stopped using discs when the Wii U was discontinued more than a decade ago. In addition, Sony recently called time on its recordable Blu-ray players and blank media. In more tangiably audio-related news, Dynaudio announced that it was withdrawing its domestic product line from North America, just before its 50th anniversary. The company has said that it will be focusing its efforts on Europe and Asia, and will shut down its US subsidiary later this year. Both have led to considerable amounts of hand-wringing across the board, but both are likely legitimate strategic moves, reflecting significant change in the market.
---> Sony's Disc-Free Future & Dynaudio's Exit Signal Shifts In The Global Audio Industry.

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