Editing High fidelity (section)

== Modularity {{anchor|integrated|mini|lifestyle|midi}}==
[[File:HK AVR 245.jpg|thumb|Modular components made by [[Samsung Electronics|Samsung]] and [[Harman Kardon]], (from the bottom) an audio digital receiver, DVD player, and HD TV receiver]]

[[File:Sony XO-D20S Midi HiFi system (white bg).jpg|thumb|A Sony "midi" hi-fi from the late 1980s. Despite its appearance mimicking separate components, this is an all-in-one unit featuring a record player, a dual cassette tapedeck, a digital tuner, and an amplifier with integrated equalizer. Other midi systems integrating a CD player were also increasingly common by this point.]]

''Integrated'', ''mini'', or ''lifestyle'' systems (also known by the older terms ''[[music centre]]'' or ''midi system''<ref name="argos_midi" /><ref name="matsui_midi_47" />) contain one or more sources such as a [[CD player]], a [[tuner (radio)|tuner]], or a [[cassette tape]] deck together with a [[preamplifier]] and a [[power amplifier]] in one box. A limitation of an "integrated" system is that failure of any one component can possibly lead to the need to replace the entire unit, as components are not readily swapped in or out of a system merely by plugging and unplugging cables, and may not even have been made available by the manufacturer to allow piecemeal repairs.

Although some [[high-end audio]] manufacturers do produce integrated systems, such products are generally disparaged by [[audiophile]]s, who prefer to build a system from ''separates'' (or ''components''), often with each item from a different manufacturer specialising in a particular component. This provides the most flexibility for piece-by-piece [[upgrade]]s and repairs.

A preamplifier and a power amplifier in one box is called an ''[[integrated amplifier]]''; with a tuner added, it is a ''[[Receiver (radio)|receiver]]''. A monophonic power amplifier is called a ''monoblock'' and is often used for powering a [[subwoofer]]. Other modules in the system may include components like [[magnetic cartridge|cartridges]], [[tonearm]]s, hi-fi [[turntable]]s, [[digital media player]]s, [[DVD]] players that play a wide variety of discs including [[CD]]s, [[CD recorder]]s, [[MiniDisc]] recorders, hi-fi [[videocassette recorder]]s (VCRs) and [[reel-to-reel tape recorder]]s. Signal modification equipment can include [[Equalization (audio)|equalizers]] and [[Noise reduction#In audio|noise-reduction systems]].

This modularity allows the enthusiast to spend as little or as much as they want on a component to suit their specific needs, achieve a desired sound, and add components as desired. Also, failure of any component of an integrated system can render it unusable, while the unaffected components of a modular system may continue to function.  A modular system introduces the complexity of cabling multiple components and often having different [[remote control]]s for each unit.