SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

What does it mean for audio gear to be “technically correct,” and why should listeners care? In the fourth-season finale of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth and producer Dennis Burger are joined by John Siau, vice president of Benchmark Media Systems. He discusses his background in the broadcast industry and how that experience shaped Benchmark’s engineering-driven approach to audio design. The conversation explores the evolution of DAC technology, the relationship between hi-fi and professional audio, and the ongoing balance between listening impressions and objective measurements. Siau also explains why he believes accurate measurements ultimately lead to better musical performance and addresses common misconceptions about digital audio. The episode concludes with a look at Benchmark’s commitment to designing and manufacturing its products in the United States, and why the Syracuse, New York–based company sees domestic production as both a practical and philosophical choice. Sources: “Florida International Audio Expo: Aretai and Benchmark Present a No-Nonsense Showstopper”: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/florida-international-audio-expo-2026-tampa-usa/1255-fiae-2026-aretai-and-benchmark-present-a-no-nonsense-showstopper Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:07:09 DACs of a different era 00:10:03 Why hi-res matters for production 00:12:43 What does transparency mean? 00:16:00 Hi-fi vs. pro audio 00:19:09 Listening vs. measurements 00:23:32 Linear phase and the issue of ringing 00:27:50 Nerding out on Nyquist 00:33:41 Born (and built) in the USA 00:40:03 Outro music: “Seven Seasons” by The Days

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast producer and SoundStage! Access editor Dennis Burger to offer a sneak peek at what’s ahead in season five of the podcast. They discuss Dennis’s recent editorial, “Yet Another Navel-Gazing Editorial About Boomers, Kids, and the Future of Hi-Fi,” as well as a manifesto from SoundStage! Network founder Doug Schneider titled “A New Year’s Wake-Up Call for the Hi-Fi Industry,” and what it all means for the long-term health of our hobby, our industry, and the media outlets that cover them both. Sources: “Yet Another Navel-Gazing Editorial About Boomers, Kids, and the Future of Hi-Fi” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1368-yet-another-navel-gazing-editorial-about-boomers-kids-and-the-future-of-hi-fi “A New Year’s Wake-Up Call for the Hi-Fi Industry” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/2024-a-new-years-wake-up-call-for-the-hi%E2%80%91fi-industry Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:01:27 The hi-fi demographic shift from 10,000 feet 00:10:02 Can video games be hi-fi? 00:13:51 Does the dominant entertainment medium influence the hobby? 00:30:29 Why is “movies vs. music” a thing? 00:43:05 The marketing trap 00:54:36 Outro music: “Strata” by Lake Union

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Thomas Gunvaldsen, Project Lead at Arendal Sound, to discuss his path into audio, Arendal Sound’s evolution, and the design thinking behind the new 1610 series of loudspeakers. Gunvaldsen explains how the 1610 series applies key concepts from Arendal’s flagship 1528 series to deliver high performance at a lower price—and what truly sets it apart from the company’s earlier designs. Sources: “Arendal Sound 1610 Loudspeakers: Near-1528 Performance, Lower Price” on SoundStage! InSight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNKB5PML1LY  “The Norwegian Speaker Company More Audiophiles Need to Know About: Arendal Sound” on SoundStage! InSight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Hmz0cYTBY  “Arendal Sound’s Big Leap” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/arendal-sound-s-big-leap-innovation-impact-and-a-transformational-year/ “Arendal Sound 1528 Monitor 8 Loudspeaker” review by Philip Beaudette: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/2021-arendal-sound-1528-monitor-8-loudspeaker Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:05:42 From car to home 00:08:33 Flirtations with snakeoil and the road to objectivity 00:11:04 A side quest in China 00:15:44 The longest interview ever 00:19:08 Speaker evolution 00:28:33 1610 00:35:00 A lot of holes 00:37:35 Outro music: “Plantation” by Omri Smadar 

As Bryston marks its 50th anniversary, host Jorden Guth sits down with CEO James Tanner for a wide-ranging conversation about where the company came from—and where it’s going next. Bryston’s roots trace back to medical electronics before the company transitioned into high-performance audio in the 1970s, when Chris Russell began designing amplifiers that would define the brand’s reputation. In this discussion, Tanner reflects on Bryston’s history, its long-standing commitment to manufacturing in Canada, how and why aspects of the famous warranty have evolved, and what the next 50 years could look like for one of high-end audio’s most enduring companies. Along the way, the conversation touches on manufacturing realities, brand recognition, and—inevitably—some Canadian hockey talk. Sources: “The History of Bryston According to CEO James Tanner” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/the-history-of-bryston-according-to-ceo-james-tanner/ “Canadian Hi-Fi Trilogy: Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab—All Under One Expanding Roof” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1785-canadian-hi-fi-trilogy-axiom-audio-bryston-and-magnum-dynalab-all-under-one-expanding-roof Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:07:40 When’s our anniversary? 00:11:39 Making more, not less 00:14:20 Where does the factory end? 00:15:17 Brand recognition matters 00:18:38 Warranty changes 00:21:49 The next 50 years of Bryston 00:24:40 Two Canadians talking about hockey 00:26:21 Outro music: “Blues for Leo” by Amos Ever Hadani 

For this landmark 100th episode (Season 4, Episode 22), current host Jorden Guth is joined by original hosts Dennis Burger and Brent Butterworth for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolution of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast. Together, they look back at how the show began, why it needed to change, and how it has grown across four seasons into what it is today. Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:01:04 The origins of the podcast 00:05:23 Passing the baton to Jorden 00:10:40 Technical difficulties 00:15:48 Turn, turn, turn 00:28:31 Why we care where it’s made 00:37:12 We get comments! 00:43:25 Doug’s master plan 00:48:07 Outro music: “Bamba African Market” by Kaleido Sea 

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Lasse Danielsen, sales and marketing director at Electrocompaniet, for a conversation that blends personal history with company heritage. Danielsen talks about a lifelong obsession with music, the role of happenstance in bringing him to Electrocompaniet, and how those same values are reflected in the brand itself. The discussion explores Electrocompaniet’s Norwegian origins, why the company has chosen to remain based and built in Norway from the beginning, and how designing, assembling, and sourcing nearly all parts locally continues to define its products. Together, they examine how place, people, and long-term thinking shape Electrocompaniet’s sound, identity, and future direction. Sources: “‘The World's Best-Sounding Power Amplifier’ of 1977—Electrocompaniet's Surprising 52-Year History” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/gu49PjqtyiI?si=tm3GF1PuRzHSkU7P “Precision in 1000 Steps: Electrocompaniet’s EC 5 Preamplifier” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/0oY0tx1FAog?si=hTMZICutPbSdszSQ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:04:57 A fateful conversation 00:07:45 Job transitions 00:10:36 A brief history of Electrocompaniet 00:15:10 The Michael Jackson connection 00:18:30 Another gold-dust moment 00:20:17 Westcontrol enters the chat 00:25:42 A question of off-shoring 00:28:48 New preamp, who dis? 00:39:36 Outro music: “How the Story Goes” by Ge Filter Fish

Host Jorden Guth travels to Stavanger, Norway, to visit T-Time Vinyl Plant, where he sits down with general manager Sigve Håland to discuss how the facility came to be, why it’s located where it is, and how modern vinyl records are actually made. The conversation then moves step by step through the pressing process—from lacquers and stampers to presses, cooling, and quality control—explaining what truly matters for sound quality in today’s vinyl era. Sources: T-Time Vinyl Plant: https://t-timevinylplant.com/ “T-Time Vinyl Plant record pressing” by SoundStage! Network on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1402154741482521 Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Origin stories 00:04:10 Norwegian . . . vinyl? 00:07:14 Good vibes 00:10:53 Why press locally? 00:12:59 Keep cool, man! 00:16:36 Pellets to platters 00:19:49 QC 00:22:37 What about the rejects? 00:28:17 The future of T-Time 00:30:44 Outro music: “There” by Lake Jons

This week on the 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦! 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵, host Jorden Guth sits down on location with Arendal Sound founder and CEO Jan Ove Lassesen to look back at the company’s most pivotal year to date. Following the launch of the flagship 1528 series—its most ambitious engineering project yet—Arendal Sound has experienced rapid growth and major operational shifts. Lassesen walks through what has changed since the 1528’s debut: how the company approaches R&D and measurement, what its prototyping pipeline looks like today, how shipping and logistics have evolved, and what it really takes to move a product from concept to customer in a global direct-to-consumer model. It’s an inside look at a brand navigating momentum, scaling ambitions, and the challenges that come with success. Sources: “Norwegian Loudspeaker Disruptor: Arendal Sound Founder Jan Lassesen” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/norwegian-loudspeaker-disruptor-arendal-sound-founder-jan-lassesen/ “Exposed: Arendal Sound 1528 Loudspeakers—Key Design Details Audiophiles Need to Know”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nr6ExBq3Ss “The Norwegian Speaker Company More Audiophiles Need to Know About: Arendal Sound”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Hmz0cYTBY Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Catching up with Jan 00:06:28 R&D as a time-saver, Klippel as a space-saver 00:09:26 Prototyping 00:11:37 The long and winding road from manufacturer to consumer 00:20:48 The right solution for the right customer 00:22:52 The shipping problem 00:26:45 The path forward 00:34:00 Outro music: “Somni” by Lake Union

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Vinnie Rossi, founder of VinnieRossi. They trace his path in audio—from the beginnings of Red Wine Audio (a name inspired by the Italian translation of “Vinnie Rossi”) to the creation of the VinnieRossi brand and its flagship Brama series. Vinnie also talks about where his products are built, why those manufacturing choices matter, and how they shape his design approach. Sources:  “About Vinnie Rossi” by Hans Wetzel: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/in-good-company/1007-about-vinnie-rossi Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions  00:05:26 The road to Red Wine 00:16:32 A change of names 00:33:21 Where it’s made and why 00:39:50 A choice of tubes 00:44:33 Outro music: “Mon Amour” by ANBR

Host Jorden Guth talks with SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and SoundStage! Ultra editor Jason Thorpe about Warsaw’s Audio Video Show 2025—what sets it apart from other hi-fi events, their favorite gear finds, and whether optical phono cartridges are the future or just a niche. Sources: Audio Video Show 2025 Coverage from Warsaw, Poland, on SoundStage! Global: https://soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/audio-video-show-2025-warsaw-poland Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 The road to Warsaw 00:04:27 New gear, who dis? 00:09:37 The business of audio shows 00:15:40 Optical vinyl? 00:22:45 Why Jason isn’t holding space for the CD revival 00:27:00 The best of the rest? 00:40:47 Room for improvement? 00:43:50 Outro music: “L.A. Suite: Sunset Blvd / Peatloaf Ave” by Art Against Agony

Host Jorden Guth visits Diapason founder Alessandro Schiavi in Brescia, Italy, to talk about his lifelong pursuit of musical realism and the art of building speakers by hand. Schiavi traces his journey from teenage recording engineer to maker of some of Italy’s most beautiful loudspeakers, explains why every cabinet is still crafted locally from aged walnut and olive wood, and introduces his latest creation—the Didascalìa, a stunning two-way floorstander debuting today. Sources: “Diapason Didascalìa — Rethinking the Two-Way Loudspeaker” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/V94uSXjLeqE  Diapason: https://www.diapason-italia.com/en/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions  00:10:26 The case for natural materials 00:15:00 Handcrafted artistry 00:20:31 Didascalìa 00:31:15 Trying to please all the people all the time 00:35:56 Outro music: “Under a Weary Moon” by Ziv Moran

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Bill Voss, Business Development Manager (US) for Technics, to explore the brand’s long history within Panasonic and its continued dedication to reproducing music with accuracy and emotion. Voss discusses how Technics has carried its legacy of analog excellence into the digital era, why innovation remains central to its identity, and how the company’s blend of precision engineering and musical warmth continues to deliver true audio bliss. Sources: “WHY Music Enthusiasts Still Love VINYL Records!” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/uaastkHfUsM?si=ynTbigAuTdyIL_YT Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions  00:05:16 Six Degrees of Technics 00:12:52 The distinction between Technics and Panasonic 00:18:10 Can you call it a comeback? 00:26:14 Why vinyl? 00:43:44 Outro music: “Stick Around” by Max Hixon

In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, Étienne Gautier, product director at Simaudio, joins the conversation to discuss the launch of the Moon 371 integrated amplifier. He explains the thinking behind the new model, the company’s design and engineering philosophies, and why the 371 is the first step in Simaudio’s forthcoming Compass Collection series. From the roots of the company’s innovation culture to the technologies inside the 371, Gautier provides an insider’s view of how Simaudio is shaping its next generation of products. Sources: “Meet the Moon 791: Simaudio’s Next-Gen Streaming Integrated Amplifier”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-quykEscBH0 “The Moon 371’s Secret Amplifier Weapons: MDCA and MHP Explained”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nbJaSVR17A “Simaudio’s North Collection: The Future of Hi-Fi?”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/simaudio-s-north-collection-the-future-of-hi-fi/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions and the obsession with oligarch audio 00:02:56 What’s in a name… and some numbers? 00:12:51 What better time than now? 00:19:47 A different sort of power supply 00:21:55 Remote options 00:30:29 What’s to come? 00:32:13 Outro music: “Entre les Doigts” by Sarah Benasouli

We all know the saying: “Good things come to those who wait.” And it’s true once again. While our current episode is finished, we must wait until September 30 to launch it because of an embargo from Simaudio. But come next Tuesday, we’ll be back with an episode that reveals all the details about a compelling new product from this well-established Canadian hi-fi brand.

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage’s Doug Schneider and Dennis Burger to discuss three issues holding hi-fi back and how we’d fix them. Is there too much emphasis on astronomically priced products? Is the industry ignoring potential new customers? Are there just too darned many speaker companies? . Sources: The Record Centre: https://therecordcentre.com/ “The Dynaudio Contour Comeback: Legacy and 20 Black Edition Loudspeakers”: https://youtu.be/xJ1GvkM6ats?si=ZCjvuqvH-piOB90m “The Most Dangerous Myth in Audio”: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1174-the-most-dangerous-myth-in-audio Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions and the obsession with oligarch audio 00:16:49 What even is an audiophile? 00:19:52 Record shops as the new nexus of hi-fi? 00:27:05 Part of the problem or part of the solution? 00:30:22 Are there just too many speaker companies? 00:35:17 Why bother? 00:58:19 What we’re listening to 00:59:31 Outro music: “Chasing a Hurricane” by Leva & Patric Lemieux

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Valerio Cora, founder and CEO of Acora Acoustics Corporation, to discuss the manufacturing of stone speakers (no, you read that correctly), how relying on exotic materials affects decisions about where and how to manufacturer, and what it means to deliver a luxury experience. Sources: “What’s Fresh at the Florida Audio Expo? Acora Acoustics . . .” by Jason Davis: https://youtu.be/_q7pMJ3LSjs?si=6CuOUDp72lZLX-h0 Acora Acoustics: https://acoraacoustics.com/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions 00:02:44 Acora Acoustics’ origin story 00:10:37 Would off-shoring be more or less expensive? 00:16:45 Working with truly unique materials 00:22:33 A question of burn-in 00:27:38 Heavy metal thunder? 00:30:35 What defines a luxury experience? 00:32:55 Outro music: “The Ice Cream Booth” by Ziv Grinberg

In this episode, host Jorden Guth talks with Badar Qureshi, president of PML Sound International—the company behind Paradigm, Anthem, MartinLogan, and GoldenEar Technology—about how his years at Toyota shaped his approach to building world-class audio gear. They discuss where and how each brand’s products are made, why lean manufacturing matters in today’s unpredictable world, how the pandemic affected production, and the surprising parallels between crafting high-performance cars and high-fidelity speakers. Sources:   “Paradigm's Prestige Series | SoundStage! InSight” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/_q7pMJ3LSjs?si=6CuOUDp72lZLX-h0 Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions and getting to know Badar 00:03:14 How to decide what gets made where 00:10:17 GoldenEar enters the chat 00:12:11 The ABCs of supply chains 00:17:31 The chaos of COVID and its lingering effects 00:25:34 Applying the lessons of the past to the future 00:35:11 Long-distance quality control 00:43:38 Outro music: “Nuevos Colores” by Tomas Novoa

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is is once again joined by Ian Colquhoun, founder of Axiom Audio. This time, they’re on Ian’s boat having a conversation about the ins and outs and what-have-yous of hi-fi manufacturing in the 21st century, with topics including the current trade war, as well as the unconsidered logistics of this sort of work. Ian’s company, Colquhoun Audio Laboratories, owns the Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab audio brands. Sources: “Axiom Audio’s Ian Colquhoun and NRC”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/axiom-audio-s-ian-colquhoun-and-nrc-origin-dr-floyd-toole-music-types-twin-tweeters-measurements/ “Axiom Audio’s Ian Colquhoun and NRC” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/axiom-audio-s-ian-colquhoun-and-nrc-origin-dr-floyd-toole-music-types-twin-tweeters-measurements/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions and a history lesson 00:06:02 A revolution in manufacturing 00:10:17 Making stuff in the current geopolitical climate 00:13:02 Tariffs and such 00:26:11 The unconsidered logistics 00:29:23 Outro music: “Get Outta Way” by Where’s Lulu?

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Andrew Welker, Chief Product Officer at Colquhoun Audio Laboratories, owner of Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab, This podcast is a first for us: it is recorded entirely inside an anechoic chamber! The two discuss Welker’s history with hi-fi, as well as the importance of having a human element in quality control despite the fact that we’re living in an increasingly automated world. Sources: “Axiom Audio’s Ian Colquhoun and NRC”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/axiom-audio-s-ian-colquhoun-and-nrc-origin-dr-floyd-toole-music-types-twin-tweeters-measurements/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 Introductions and a personal history with audio 00:04:23 The Paul Barton connection 00:05:44 A fortuitous education 00:11:55 Ian Colquhoun enters the chat 00:13:52 The basics of quality control 00:27:06 Problem solving and preparedness 00:31:55 Outro music: “How We Fell in Love” by Tom Meira Armony

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Jack Oclee-Brown,  VP of Technology at KEF, to discuss the company’s new VECO technology, what inspired it, how it works, how it was developed, and the new products that rely heavily on it. Sources: “Xio with VECO: KEF’s Revolutionary Velocity Control Technology in Its First Soundbar Explained”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K842LVG1Ur0 “KEF's Breakthrough VECO Speaker Technology to Lower Distortion–Explained by Its Inventors”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pXeETlY4uU  Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:31 What is VECO 00:07:54 The inspiration for VECO 00:20:15 The ups and downs of voltage amplification 00:24:05 New soundbar, who dis? 00:31:53 Building a better playlist 00:33:44 Outro music: “Nao’s Lullaby” by Rafi B. Levy