Hi-Fi has nothing to do with the number of outputs. Hi-Fi I'd a very limited specification which every sound chip is capable of. It's basically a frequency range requirement made up in the 60s or 70s. And really only is relevant for analogue systems.
The complaints in this article are as silly as the label on the motherboard.
There is no Hi-Fi standard or specification. There is no specified range of frequencies or other defined measure of any other qualities. Hi-Fi is a marketing term that has always been a marketing term. You are correct, however, in saying it has nothing to do with the number of outputs or speakers a system has.
The FTC actually declined to create a Hi-Fi standard in 1953 based on feedback and insights from the phonographic-TV-Radio industry due to it being impractical to define such a standard.
The Billboard wrote an article regarding this in the December 19, 1953 issue.
From the British Dictionary
high fidelity
noun
1.
the reproduction of sound using electronic equipment that gives faithful reproduction with little or no distortion
(as modifier): a high-fidelity amplifier
Often shortened to hi-fi
Some definitions have included the implication of being able to produce a "full range" of frequencies, however, this is also subjective and not defined. Each individual has a varying range of audible frequencies.
The concept "hi-fi" is not defined so calling something Hi-Fi is never right or wrong.
Its a subjective term:
A 100 dollar mp3 player actually has very good sound, but you can spend over a million dollars on audio gear.
Who decides where hi-fi starts and where it ends? (mostly the person writing the article and it starts where most of your readers consider the price to be expensive).
In other words, its a term used to serve an agenda.
It does not to be a bad one but it is one non the less.
One of the clear red flags in this article is considering something "old" as not hi-fi.
Personally, Id rather know what DAC is used rather than what codec.
This is spot on. It's a (subjective) marketing term used to describe something that can faithfully reproduce recorded audio with little or no distortion. The author of this article is incorrect in their assertion due to a flawed concept of what Hi-Fi is.
I too would be more interested in which DAC as well as which capacitors were used as these would be more likely to introduce degradation and distortion.
HDMI port:
To "gamebrigada" there is one HDMI port, and one DP port.
I'm guessing they made one 90-deg to the other intentionally to help differentiate the two so it would actually be EASIER if you can't see what you are doing.
Both of those definitely look like they are HDMI ports, not 1x Display Port & 1x HDMI. I agree that this seems somewhat strange in placement, but motherboard manufacturers often don't cater to our aesthetic OCD. They will often do things like this due to trace design simplicity or other small economical considerations.
-PopinFRESH