The ideal What Hi-Fi? timeline for any great product is as follows. It is introduced, it is reviewed and gets five stars with a glowing write-up. Said product then officially goes up against the current class leaders in a What Hi-Fi? group test and emerges victorious. An Award win follows, making the product a staple recommendation for anyone looking to buy a component of that type and price. And possibly, it even enjoys repeat Award wins in the coming years simply because it is so good.
Unfortunately, not every excellent product enjoys such an illustrious journey. Some miss their rightful time in the spotlight. Why? Perhaps there are a number of superstar contenders in their category, and the product, good as it is, never quite escapes their shadow. Maybe their talents are not as obvious to the wider hi-fi community as they were to us, or their looks are divisive The problem could be poor marketing or limited availability. Or, all of the above.
