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The official podcast for SoundStage!, featuring host Jorden Guth for seasons 2 and 3, plus hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger for season 1
96 Episodes
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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
Due to an embargo on confidential information, we have to delay the release of our 8th episode this season until July 8. In that episode, we'll feature a podcast with KEF's VP of Technology, Jack O'Clee-Brown, discussing some exciting new KEF loudspeaker technology!
This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Pro Audio Technology owner/president L. Paul Hales, who shares his unique perspective about manufacturing in America and overseas, why different products for his different brands are made where they are made, how the current trade war chaos is affecting manufacturing and business decisions, and what the future may hold.
Sources:
“Marrying Hi-Fi with Pro Audio - Paul Hales”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/marrying-hi-fi-with-pro-audio-paul-hales-pro-audio-technology-origins-what-matters/
“What Do Knitting and Hi-Fi Have in Common? (Hint: It’s Politics)” by Dennis Burger: https://soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1339-what-do-knitting-and-hi-fi-have-in-common-hint-its-politics
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 Introductions
00:11:13 Supply chains matter
00:14:48 Are trade deficits all that bad?
00:19:49 When American manufacturing makes sense
00:21:38 How tariffs actually work
00:26:59 Why this trade war is unwinnable
00:28:58 How tariffs could work effectively
00:40:42 Looking to the future
00:57:33 Outro music: "Baby I’m Stuck in a Cone” Ge Filter Fish
This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth chats with SoundStage! Ultra editor Jason Thorpe about his adventures at High End 2025, the final year in Munich. Jason was there with SoundStage! Contributor Matt Bonaccio and SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider. They dig into the best gear Jason saw, his sense of larger trends, and what the upcoming move may or may not mean.
Also, sandwiches.
Sources:
High End 2025 coverage on SoundStageGlobal.com: https://soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2025-munich-germany
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 Introductions
00:05:39 Spools of wire
00:10:37 What do air hockey tables and turntables have in common?
00:14:31 The sound of speakers
00:22:07 More techno!
00:26:19 Black boxes
00:29:46 The future of High End
00:38:44 Outro music: "Look Up” by Diffie Bosman
This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is sits down for a one-on-one with Gabi Rynveld, PR and brand ambassador for International Audio Holding, to discuss the history of Siltech and Crystal cable, the importance of manufacturing in the Netherlands, how distinct companies maintain their personality and brand identity under the umbrella of one manufacturer, and more.
Sources:
“The Rolex of Hi-Fi Cables - Siltech's Flagship Royal Crown Series”: https://youtu.be/yN-nEreboLE?si=gTkHHRv4FGSwsyB-
“Ultra Hi-Fi: Crystal Cable's "Core" Silver-Gold Cable Line—the Diamond Series 2 Update”: https://youtu.be/vpWM6DeyXDE?si=GPM0Sgo8QqTyy6o_
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 The origin of Crystal Cable
00:12:40 HMS Elektronik enters the chat
00:22:47 New/old brand or old/new brand?
00:43:00 Don’t forget the music
00:47:50 Outro music: "Thaïs" by Jules Massenet, performed by Ohad Ben Ari
This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Jack Oclee-Brown, VP of Technology at KEF, to discuss the decisions that go into what products are made where, and the intricate relationship between measurements and manufacturing.
Sources:
“KEF’s Jack Oclee-Brown” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/kef-jack-oclee-brown-the-tangerine-waveguide-blade-loudspeakers-aspirational-hi-fi/
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 Discussions about quality and quantity
00:09:45 Lab standards vs. line standards
00:23:10 What about headphones?
00:28:37 Outro music: “Ohio Country” by When Mountains Move
This week, host Jorden Guth joins Martijn Mensink of Dutch & Dutch to discuss what aspects of the company’s beloved 8c speakers are made where, how the decision is made to craft some things in-house and outsource other elements, why driver manufacturing and DSP development are very different enterprises, and what the future holds for the design and manufacture of products of its type.
Sources:
“Martijn Mensink On the Magic of Dutch & Dutch”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/martijn-mensink-on-the-magic-of-dutch-dutch-active-speakers-cardioid-dispersion-acoustics/
"Dutch & Dutch 8c Active Loudspeakers Reviewed" by Diego Estan: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1270-dutch-dutch-8c-active-loudspeakers
"Intro to Dutch & Dutch and the 8c Active Loudspeaker - SoundStage! InSight": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2R9lEJH4Og&ab_channel=soundstagenetwork
"Dutch & Dutch 8c Active Loudspeaker in Detail - SoundStage! InSight": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-6R5HP8SE&ab_channel=soundstagenetwork
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 Introductions
00:21:43 Unexpected lessons
00:26:24 Outro music: “Get it Right” by Water on Mars
In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth chats with T+A elektroakustik COO Conradin Amft to learn more about the value proposition of where components are manufactured, why German manufacturing still has value in and of itself irrespective of the financial considerations, and why the choice fo where to manufacture is different for products with and without software.
Closing music: “Leaf by Leaf” by Yoed Nir and Ziv Moran
Sources:
“44 Years of T+A—Germany's Hi-Fi Giant in Detail”: https://youtu.be/lzW18SuAJW0?si=SUjQkUfzU-obTWDv
“T+A Elektroakustik Criterion S 230 Loudspeaker” by George de Sa: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1932-t-a-elektroakustik-criterion-s-230-loudspeaker
“The T+A Elektroakustik R 2500 R Proves Why the Stereo Receiver Might Make a Comeback” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/system-one/1938-the-t-a-elektroakustik-r-2500-r-proves-why-the-stereo-receiver-might-make-a-comeback
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 Introductions/What gets built where and why?
00:14:44 The software factor
00:26:36 “Leaf by Leaf” by Yoed Nir and Ziv Moran
This week, host Jorden Guth chats with Dynaudio’s Otto Jørgensen about the company’s manufacturing processes, its massive Jupiter speaker-measuring room and how it compares to anechoic chambers, and why some things must still be made locally from a practical perspective. They also dig into why you can’t look at the “Made in X” label on a component and truly tell where it’s made.
Outro music: “Raising the Stakes” by T Bless and the Professionals
Further reading:
Meet Otto: https://dynaudio.com/magazine/2016/march/ask-the-expert-with-otto-joergensen
Measures of success: how Jupiter delivers Dynaudio’s trademark quality: https://dynaudio.com/magazine/2018/december/how-jupiter-delivers-dynaudio-s-trademark-quality
Ibrahim Electric: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Electric
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 How Jupiter drives development
00:15:00 The manufacturing process
00:31:46 “Raising the Stakes” by T Bless and the Professionals
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by industry legend Sandy Gross to discuss his passion for hi-fi and his insider perspective on the three brands he co-founded and remains mostly closely associated with: Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and GoldenEar Technology.
Sources:
“The 2024 SoundStage! Network Awards for Outstanding Achievements and Products of the Year”: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1927-the-2024-soundstage-network-awards-for-outstanding-achievements-and-products-of-the-year
GoldenEar Technology Triton One.R loudspeakers by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1277-goldenear-technology-triton-oner-loudspeakers
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 Introductions
00:09:55 The origins of Polk Audio
00:21:30 That famous labcoat advert
00:26:01 Lights, camera . . . action?
00:29:14 The road to Definitive
00:36:02 Music Break: “Hypnotized” by Ian Post
00:37:02 GoldenEar and the art of the demo
00:43:05 A Triton by any other name00:54:19 Outro: “Blown Again” by Morphlexis
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Dr. Sean Olive, senior fellow at Harman International, to dive deeper into the development of the Harman target curve for headphones, the reason why so many alternative target headphone curves have cropped up in recent years, and what it all means for music fans.
Sources:
“Sound Researcher Dr. Sean Olive” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/sound-researcher-dr-sean-olive-tonmeister-nrc-harman-and-floyd-toole-target-curves/
“Dr. Sean Olive on 35 Years of ‘Fast Car’” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1259-dr-sean-olive-on-35-years-of-fast-car
Seong-Jin Cho: https://seongjin-cho.com/
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 Introductions
00:02:09 A deeper dive into the origins of the Harman target curve
00:18:26 Music Break: “Rush Hour” by Peter John
00:19:24 Everybody and his brother has a target headphone curve
00:38:02 Outro: “Piano Concerto (Ravel)” by Ohad Ben-Ari
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Ole Siig to discuss his history in hi-fi and the development and design of Treble Clef Audio’s distinctive and much-ballyhooed TCA-M active loudspeaker, which the SoundStage! Network video team covered when they traveled to Denmark last year to cover.
Sources:
“Treble Clef Audio's TCA-M Loudspeaker—Danish, Active, Expensive, and Dazzlingly Original” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/TNV6U9H1Rcc?si=62GFmSq_6iQs5Nw0
“January Snow Days—Treble Clef Audio and the David Chesky Trio” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1933-january-snow-days-treble-clef-audio-and-the-david-chesky-trio
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 The origins of Treble Clef
00:21:00 Music Break: “Heavy Traffic” by Amos Ever Hadani
00:22:20 What makes the TCA-M different?
00:53:00 Outro: “Baker St” by Duffmusiq
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by hi-fi industry legend Peter Lyngdorf for a supplemental chat, following the release of SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider’s one-on-one video interview on the SoundStage! Network YouTube channel. Peter Lyngdorf is the founder of many hi-fi brands, including DALI, Lyngdorf Audio, Steinway Lyngdorf, and he is also the founder the the HiFi Klubben retail chain, which has nearly 100 stores throughout Europe.
Sources:
“How Peter Lyngdorf Became Denmark's Most Prolific and Successful Hi-Fi Entrepreneur” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/QxTsEqlnEC0?si=LcSCeuGEZ2AAzESR
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 Origin stories
00:20:12 Music Break: “Less Than Tomorrow” by Raphaël Angelini
00:22:44 A different approach to room correction
00:54:09 Outro: “The Desert” by Patrick Ussher
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