Wishing our readers good health and relaxed reading for this, our summer edition, our audio scribes have continued their work, ears and pens at hand, to deliver yet more knowledge and opinion on matters audio.
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Brexit is having an impact on audio commerce, delaying imports and exports. Some electronic components are in short supply meaning the production of designs has been delayed or halted. The export red tape has led to some companies setting up depots in the EU at significant cost, to ensure delay-free sales and delivery into Europe. Unquestionably prices have risen over the last year, up to 10% in some cases. Some items are simply unobtainable.

HIFICRITIC  Volume 14  Number 4  October-December 2020

​Completing another (partial) lock down issue, we have been able to create and sign off the varied content for this, our 60th issue. Magazine production has been held to our customary if somewhat delayed scheduling. And all at HIFICRITIC hope that our readers are in good shape. Flexible planning and keeping going, if you can, is one way of dealing with these strange times.  

​I would be the first to admit it has helped preserve my peace of mind while many thanks are due to our team of home working freelancers working assiduously from their homes. I would also like to thank the audio industry who have generously put themselves out and supplied a host of exceptional products for the HIFICRITIC team to evaluate. My own contributions began with a report on eight interconnect and loudspeaker cables, while a few more turned up in conjunction with another massive audio electronics review. 

The HIFICRITIC team of freelance reviewers and journalists has found ways to continue investigations and write ups, with many new review products successfully sourced and delivered for evaluation. I thank all our contributors and those involved in the magazine’s production who are supporting the HIFICRITIC project.

Also, thanks to our readers who have contacted me with comments and suggestions. As our government might well put it, our audio and music examinations, evaluations and judgments have continued at pace!

Our 2016 spring issue is packed with reviews and features:

• Our moderately priced hit is the ATC SCM 11 compact loudspeaker which sailed though our most exacting testing to score a Best Buy Award.
• Martin Colloms digs deep into the technology behind the new amplifier sound from NAIM, and at last scores the sound quality for the Naim 300DR power amplifier.
• Editor Paul Messenger has a rewarding time hanging clearly effective Vertex Leading Edge sound control panels in his listening room.
• Music expert Mark Prendergast looks back at the Krautrock phenomenon.
• Chris Bryant checks out the new Benchmark DAC2HGC preamp and headphone amp all-in-one.