May 2019
What's Within This Issue Of Hi-Fi World
Editorial By Noel Keywood

  This month's lead product – the gorgeous World Design Pre4 preamplifier came up in the slow lane, even a back lane. The first one we received wasn't quite right so review was postponed. There was no space in a torrent of other products coming in on the fast lane, most of them perfectly preened. World Design Pre4 did not come with a Press Release, shiny press shot images or anything else – it crept in through a back lane I could say here. But it floated to the top, through wonderful sound quality and build quality, pushing itself onto our front cover this month, in chrome plated sparkling glory that you can see more of on p10. A very unique product in every way.

We continue our coverage of Roon music distribution software with the full monty package provided by Roon's own Nucleus+ server – a complex product for a modern age where software is slowly taking precedence over the hardware it runs on. Intelligence isn't always so intelligent, as you can read on p27, but that's overlooking all that Roon can do. It's a seriously heavyweight but audiophile piece of code writing.

And to make that point Naim's recent ND5 XS 2 can be used as a Roon Ready end-point DAC, carrying Roon software, although I suspect it's own web surfing abilities will be foremost in most people's minds, since Jon Myles found it a great way to access music services, as you can read on p54.

Arcam started out with their punchy but smooth A&R A60 amplifier. Recently they announced new SA20 and SA10 models, now with on-board digital ability. Martin Pipe takes a close look on p18.

Valves still have their place, different more expensive circuitry and the use of weighty transformers limiting appeal. But if you want high sound quality they are always worth the effort. Meanwhile, software systems like Roon are becoming ever more influential. I hope you enjoy both in our latest issue.

--- Noel Keywood, Editor

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