We’re hoping he’s got that amp, speakers, headphones or any other bit of gear you’ve lusted after all year, tucked away aboard his sleigh and labelled with your name and address.

Yes, it’s that time of year again.

And a time for the StereoNET team to wish all of our loyal readers here and overseas, as well as our sponsors a joyous Christmas and an even better New Year.

It’s been an exciting year for the audio-video fraternity. And an important one for StereoNET.

StereoNET's Publisher, Marc Rushton, has been labouring behind the scenes to ensure readers are well served with up-to-date news yarns and a moveable feast of comprehensive features and reviews.

As well as finding time to muster a complete hi-fi show.

For those that have somehow missed attending the Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show, can we say with perfect candour, it was a boomer.

The show was strongly supported by the local audio industry and well attended by a diverse audience who clearly enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the array of audio goodies on display.

Approaching its third year, the Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show had a couple of major differences to most other audio shows: it attracted a horde of younger people, and it managed the impossible by drawing in women and families.

Next year’s show promises to be even bigger and better. StereoNET will continue to publish show news and features regularly during the lead up to the 2018 show.

Looking back at 2017, it’s clear we need to say to our readers, “take a bow’’. The applause and trumpet chorus you hear is the StereoNET team thanking you for making our site, your site, the destination for music lovers, audiophiles and those simply passionate about audio-visual.

With your help, we accrued 2.1 million unique readers throughout 2017. That’s 2.1 million individual people logging on to the site during the year.

Of course, most of those visitors liked what they saw and kept logging in to the amount of 4.8 million total visitors. Quite a number!

The number of pages visited by our readers climbed to a heady 1.15 billion. Allow this figure to seep in ‘cos it’s a complete mountain range load of pages.

As the 2017 stats were officially compiled they revealed the top ten brands you searched for eagerly on StereoNET.

These were:

1. KEF
2. Denon
3. Bowers & Wilkins
4. Chord Electronics
5. Pioneer
6. PS Audio
7. Tannoy
8. Bluesound
9. Elektra Audio
10. BenQ

While most are recognisably pedigree brands, it’s worth noting Elektra Audio is the Australian brand keeping company with the big boys which is a mighty effort.

This simply confirms the esteem that forum members and StereoNET's general readers hold for this Melbourne base brand’s valve preamplifier, stereo, and multi-channel power amplifiers.

Google’s search terms for readers finding and making their way to the StereoNET website also makes for interesting reading. Most interesting is the inclusion of Sansui on this list, a brand that most in the Western countries thought had gone to god decades ago.

Mighty Yamaha headed the list that was comprised of the following brands:

1. Yamaha
2. Sansui
3. Pioneer
4. NAD Electronics
5. Marantz
6. Sony
7. KEF
8. Luxman
9. JBL
10. Rega

StereoNET’s most read reviews in 2017 were led by the comprehensive overview of the KEF LS50 wireless speakers that accrued 23,390 readers.

Your most read reviews for 2017 are:

1. KEF LS50 Wireless Speakers (23,390 Readers)
2. Pioneer XDP-300R Digital Audio Player (15,192 Readers)
3. Denon AVR-X4300H Network AV Receiver (11,413 Readers)
4. KEF Porsche Design Motion One Headphones (10,714 Readers)
5. Kii Audio KiiThree Active Loudspeakers (8,479 Readers)
6. Anthem MRX-1120 AV Receiver (8,372 Readers)
7. Bowers & Wilkins 805D3 Speakers (7,898 Readers)
8. ELAC Discovery Music Server (7,071 Readers)
9. Hulgich Audio Astor Loudspeakers (6,321 Readers)
10. Mobile Fidelity Ultradeck Turntable (5,861 Readers)

The audience for Hulgich Audio’s Astor loudspeakers should encourage other Australian manufacturers to keep on doing what they do best because StereoNET readers actively seek out audio gear made in Australia.

StereoNET already has a proud history of supporting Australian brands. A history we’ll keep ramping up in 2018.

As for the news stories and yarns that our readership found most interesting, this was led by Harman International’s Acquisition of Arcam with 12,238. A number we feel, reflects reader interest in Arcam.

Australian brand SGR Audio and national audio celebrity Len Wallis, owner of Sydney’s Len Wallis Audio racked up a pile of readers.

The most read stories of 2017 on StereoNET are:

1. Harman International Acquires Arcam (12,238 Readers - 15th July)
2. BenQ Smashes Prices on 4K Projection (11,711 Readers - 30th October)
3. SGR Audio: From Humble Beginnings (11,405 Readers - 10th June)
4. Aldi's $799 4K UHD TV Will Sell Like Hotcakes (10,136 Readers - 4th May)
5. PS Audio's Stellar Range Available Next Month (8,186 Readers - 13th April)
6. Len Wallis, Celebrating 39 Years (8,118 Readers - 29th May)
7. Tannoy Goes Back to the Future (7,719 Readers - 25th Feb)
8. KEF LS50 Wireless Sneak Preview (7,659 Readers - 18th Jan)
9. Pioneer Steps Up With Hi-Res Music (7,185 Readers- 21st April)
10. KEF's Q Series Clearance Sale (6,106 Readers - 1st May)

A list that confirms StereoNET readers love fresh, hot news items. But they also like to receive bargain alerts as the Aldi, BenQ and KEF’s Q Series clearance sale amply displays.

These stats and others like these will assist StereoNET to shape its presentation style and content throughout 2018. A year that’s already shaping up as a bumper one measured in audio-video terms.

We hope you’ll continue to join us in 2018 and we look forward to sharing your interest and passion for what is, a great and abiding hobby for most of us.

Finally, a big thank you must be said to our team of Moderators who voluntarily help to maintain the wildly popular Forums. Without you, the forums would simply not function so well at providing millions of readers with good advice, fun banter and an inviting and welcoming community.

All the best for the festive season and thank you, readers and sponsors, for your continued loyalty and support.

See you in 2018!