The Article
HiFi World Magazine Closes
12th September 2022
I have just received this sad news from the editor and publisher of HiFi World, Noel Keywood
The release says…
“Published since 1991, I regret to tell you that after 32 years Hi-Fi World magazine must now cease publication, since the company producing it – Audio Web Publishing Ltd – has became financially unviable due to loss of bookstand sales in the High Street, at railway stations and airports around the world during the Covid Pandemic. Until 2019 Audio Web Publishing Ltd was trading profitably, but has currently ceased to do so.
“As director I am obliged to liquidate the company and have appointed KSA Group Ltd (licensed insolvency practitioners) to assist and place the company into a creditors voluntary liquidation in order to protect creditors interests.
“All creditors of the company will receive, by post, from KSA Group Ltd, details of a forthcoming creditors meeting and how to make a claim in the liquidation for any financial loss you may have, or are likely to incur.
“I offer heartfelt thanks to all the readers who have supported us for so long. It was the work of my lifetime and very enjoyable too. Thank you all so much. Noel Keywood, publisher.”
As many of you will know, I was a contributor to the magazine. In fact, the longest serving contributor until very recently. I’ll be sad to see it go. It was an odd, quirky little magazine which offered a voice, all its own. It scooted off in its own direction. It never felt corporate. If anything, it was the closest HiFi news-stand magazine I know to a hobbyist publication.
And that’s why I liked it. That’s why I was attracted to writing for the thing, all those years ago.
And end of an era.
It’s a shame that HiFi World has come to the end of the road. I have been supporting this magazine for many, many years and am very sad it has come to an end. I really enjoyed the vintage features and articles by the reviewers.
Unlike HiFi News, most of the audio equipment reviewed was in a price range (A lot of the time) that mortals like me, could either save or afford to purchase. The reviews were always interesting and written by enthusiast, who have a passion, like the readers who supported this great monthly bundle of HiFi joy.
I would like to extend my thanks to Mr. N .Keywood and all the gang at HiFi world for many years of enjoyment.
Fingers crossed, you all return in some HiFi shape or form.
Kindest regards………….JFD.
Many thanks, John.
I am saddened and disheartened to hear this.
I was an avid fan and subscriber to Hi-Fi world back in the early ’90’s all the way to the mid 2000’s.
I was put on to the publication by an audio engineer and HiFi store associate when explaining how annoyed I was by other publications, either for their lack of content and pages mostly devoted to advertising and blatant pandering to their favorite brand names and overly subjective reviews with vague metaphorical narratives among other things. You get my drift.
Hi-Fi World was and remained fresh and honest, A good mix of subjective and objective reviewing and testing and a genuine delight for the more hobbyist orientated music lover and gear head.
As life and other interests and priorities took precedence and I stopped buying the publication.
Regrettably, I sold all of my Hi-Fi world magazines when I moved house. Something I regret, looking back.
I did however keep a small remnant of the Kit speaker and amplifier pull out articles that I have to this day, and I did drop by every so often on their website to keep tabs on reviews and other articles.
I wish Noel Keywood and Hi-Fi World crew all the best moving forward. I will never forget how influential and entertaining this little British publication was for me.
God Bless.
Many thanks for your thoughts, Phil. Much appreciated.
Really sad to see the end of HiFi World. Had a very unique signature in the world consumer journalism. Honest and objective plus a hint of personal spin regarding “holy cows” . Great read well written without the superlative soup with sly hints of wry humour. Sincerely hope some form of resurrection may happen.
That’s a shock. I am saddened by their demise. I’ve just finished rebuilding a pair of Mullard 5-20s as per the first supplement found in the the Tonbridge audio jumble. Just loved the fact that they extolled the virtues of olde and current kit. But most of all my introduction to the glow of a valve. Sally missed.
Such bitterly sad news. The only hifi magazine I trusted.
Late to get this sad news. HFW was a unique voice in UK hifi – the ONLY magazine I trusted. I kept meaning to subscribe rather than fighting with congestion in Smiths ! Too late. Best wishes to the staff. Is there any way to access back catalogue- for a donation or fee ?
Ed
I’m not aware of any archive I’m afraid, Edward.