The interpretation of dreams

From streamers to speakers, the following pages feature our pick of the high-end hi-fi kit that dreams are made of. And if you can turn your dreams into reality, so much the better

Everyone loves to dream. Even if the things we are dreaming about are beyond our reach, there's no harm in indulging in a little wish fulfilment from time to time. With that in mind, we are proud to present this round-up of our favourite premium hi-fi products in each of the nine categories listed below. These are all products that we have welcomed into our test-room over the past year or so; they represent a cream-of-the-crop cross section of the most impressive kit to have gone through our review process.

This is no-compromise equipment made from the best materials by, for the most part, specialist companies who have the expertise, resources and enthusiasm to strive for excellence in their field. And achieve it.

Of course, these beauties (and many of them are very beautiful) aren't just fantasy fodder - they have been made to be used. So if you are lucky enough to be able to afford any of the products included here, the following pages will serve as an invaluable reference bank to help you make an informed choice on how to refine your system.

Admittedly, times are hard right now for many people, but - just for a while - we encourage you to forget austerity, embrace the pursuit of excellence and enjoy this sonic pageant of prowess. We don't think you'll regret it.

AMPLIFIERS

Lavardin 

ITx

Amplifier £7399

This is one for the purists

We first came across Lavardin's IT integrated amplifier back in the late '90s. That original was a simple, low-powered unit that somehow contrived to deliver a musical performance so exquisite that the memory of it remains emblazoned in our minds to this very day. We have tested thousands of products since that review, but few of them have left such a marked impact on our collective psyche.