This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SVS president Gary Yacoubian and VP of marketing Nick Brown to discuss the company’s history, its unique approach to hi-fi and home theater, and how it actively engages with its customers.  Sources: SVS: https://www.svsound.com/ “The Only True Currency in This Bankrupt World” by Audio Unleashed: https://audiounleashed.podbean.com/e/the-only-true-currency-in-this-bankrupt-world/ “SVS Prime Wireless Pro Active Loudspeaker System” by Gordon Brockhouse: https://www.soundstagesimplifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/217-svs-prime-wireless-pro-active-loudspeaker-system “SVS Prime Pinnacle Loudspeakers” by Philip Beaudette: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1358-svs-prime-pinnacle-loudspeakers Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Greetings and salutations 00:06:32 SVS: A brief history  00:22:47 Music Break: "Everyday with You" by Ben Sharkey and Ziggy 00:24:09 How SVS builds its community 00:42:21 The soundtrack to Nick and Gary’s lives

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and SoundStage! Ultra senior editor Jason Thorpe to discuss Warsaw 2023, why it’s such a special show, what it’s like to be there, and what it was like to see it through the eyes of a young audiophile. Sources: SoundStage! coverage of Audio Video Show 2023 - Warsaw, Poland: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/audio-video-show-2023-warsaw-poland Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:01:07 What makes Warsaw special?  00:27:12 Music Break: "Let Me Show You" by Eldar Kedem & Floating World 00:28:47 A vicarious walkthrough of the show00:50:20 The soundtrack to Jason’s life

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Emotiva’s Dan Laufman to discuss the origins of his passion for hi-fi, the history of electronics manufacturing in the neoliberal era, how to make an profit in the audio business ethically, the long hard road to revitalizing North American manufacturing capabilities, and the virtues of being inclusive instead of exclusive.  Sources: Emotiva: https://emotiva.com/ "The True Cost of Saving a Few Bucks: A Q&A with Emotiva's Dan Laufman" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1144-the-true-cost-of-saving-a-few-bucks-a-q-a-with-emotivas-dan-laufman Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:01:11 The road to Emotiva 00:23:01 Music Break: "Terems" by Amit Sagie 00:24:07 The realities of 21st century manufacturing 00:55:02 The soundtrack to Dan’s life

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Martijn Mensink of Dutch & Dutch to discuss how an old clock radio incubated a love of music that developed into a passion for good sound that evolved into a career in speaker design. During the course of the conversation, they explore Martijn’s history of speaker development, the business ventures that preceded Dutch & Dutch, how the company’s cardioid speaker design is transformative, and where the company is headed in the future. Sources: Dutch & Dutch: https://dutchdutch.com/ Dutch & Dutch 8c Active loudspeaker review 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=n2R9lEJH4O "Dutch & Dutch 8c Active Loudspeaker in Detail" - SoundStage! InSight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-6R5HP8SE  Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:01:02 From AM radio to a life in speaker design 00:15:50 Why cardioid speakers hit different 00:31:12 Music Break: "Astra" by Magiksolo 00:32:31 Room acoustics, app development, and the future of Dutch & Dutch 00:50:23 The soundtrack to Martijn’s life

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by David Mascioni, Global Director of Brand Marketing for McIntosh, to discuss the origins of the original World of McIntosh Townhouse in New York City, how it developed, why it closed, and how the concept evolved into the new House of Sound at a new location, with much more representation for the entire McIntosh Group and its collaborators.  Sources: “Inside the Incredible World of McIntosh Townhouse - SoundStage! InSight (December 2019)”: https://youtu.be/PeskkKlY4ds?si=SZBLugld9miiLyMp "McIntosh Sound in the Jeep Grand Cherokee - SoundStage! Talks (January 2021)": https://youtu.be/d7_EoVrq12o?si=Ma7PhS3rS7QSLrX4 "Sonus faber Olympica Nova at World of McIntosh Townhouse | SoundStage! InSight (October 2019)": https://youtu.be/TBJRoH5uGQE?si=4TYfeW9rz7B6rB_U https://houseofsoundnyc.com/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:00:45 David fell in love with hi-fi at the World of McIntosh 00:27:54 Music Break: "Tell Me All the Lies" by Funky Giraffe 00:28:52 What’s different about the House of Sound? 00:43:53 The soundtrack to David’s life

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by legendary speaker designer Laurence Dickie to discuss his history with Bowers & Wilkins, the design of the iconic Nautilus, how his thinking on speaker design has evolved over to years, whether or not he draws inspiration from nature, and why his speakers are an exercise in engineering, not industrial design. Sources: "From the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus to Vivid Audio Speakers - Laurence Dickie’s Tapered Tubes (Ep:58)" by SoundStage!: https://youtu.be/dcef8tuxezU?si=6BDD7fWbYLp4ypiG "A Family of Linear-Phase Crossover Networks of High Slope Derived by Time Delay" by Lipshitz, Stanley P.; Vanderkooy, John: https://secure.aes.org/forum/pubs/journal/?elib=4598 https://vividaudio.com/ https://www.blastloudspeakers.com/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:01:05 The road to Bower & Wilkins and beyond 00:25:40 Music Break: "The Magnetic Buzz" by Moon Walk 00:26:33 Convergent evolution vs. convergent design 01:02:23 The soundtrack to Laurence’s life 01:04:45 "Golden Diamond" by Shahead Mostafafar

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and podcast producer Dennis Burger to discuss what Jorden has learned in six months of hosting the podcast, since he’s been able to speak to some of the hi-fi industry’s most influential and respected luminaries. As Doug often tells him, “Talking to these people is like getting a PhD course in hi-fi.” So has doing so helped Jorden? Listen and find out. Sources: Status and Culture by W. David Marx: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/659558/status-and-culture-by-w-david-marx/ How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog by Chad Orzel: https://chadorzel.com/?cat=4 Why Amplifiers Don't Sound the Same - Understanding Voltage and Current for Loudspeakers (Ep:71): https://youtu.be/pTeAJJQ9a10?si=huMJjMK62SiAEFCk Neil Young and Rick Rubin: World Record, Recording on Tape, and Creative Process | Apple Music: https://youtu.be/PZ-AVFpB3KI?si=FcAlAmr3OrXf10r4 Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:01:48 Lessons learned from the experts 00:23:43 Music Break: "Baby I'm Stuck in a Cone" by Ge Filter Fish 00:24:38 Artist’s intent, analog vs. digital, and more 00:40:45 What’s next? 00:47:52 The music that moves us

This week on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth is joined by Monitor Audio global marketing director Michael Johnson and technical director Michael Hedges to discuss how the Concept 50 speaker was developed; how it evolved into the company’s new flagship retail offering, the Hyphn; what makes a Monitor Audio speaker sound like a Monitor Audio speaker; and what’s in store for the future.  Sources: Monitor Audio Hyphn Speaker 1 - From Visionary Concept to Cutting-Edge Completion: https://youtu.be/uk5vckG5Imw Monitor Audio Hyphn Speaker 2 - Advanced Acoustical Concepts and Daring Industrial Design: https://youtu.be/5BTZ5REwjCQ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Introductions 00:00:40 How Michael and Michael fell in love with hi-fi 00:06:38: Making speakers the Monitor way 00:24:27 Music Break: "Dollshade" by Van Crankin 00:25:29 How the Concept 50 and Hyphn actually came together 00:33:26 The response so far… 00:40:49 We love rock’n’roll

This week on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth is joined by Anthony Grimani, former director of technology for THX and founder of Performance Media Industries, to discuss his history with Dolby and THX, why the room is such a crucial component of any sound system, home theater vs. hi-fi, room correction, and whether the world needed yet another speaker company. Sources: Grimani Systems: https://www.grimanisystems.com/ Performance Media Industries, Ltd.: https://pmiltd.com/ Sonitus USA: https://www.sonitususa.com/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:01:06 From Dolby to THX and beyond 00:06:34 Why the room is a crucial component 00:21:49 Home theater vs. hi-fi? 00:28:09 How to start dealing with the room 00:42:55 Music Break: "Talk" by Con Davison 00:44:09 Did we really need another speaker company? 00:55:36 How to find the right speaker for your room 00:58:30 Is room correction the answer? 01:08:04 No, but seriously, what is hi-fi?

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and former SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast cohost Brent Butterworth to discuss the what, how, and why of speaker and headphone measurements. What measurements correlate with listening impressions? How do active and wireless products complicate measurements? And what’s the right balance of listening versus measuring when it comes to fully evaluating a product. Sources: "Is the miniDSP EARS the Death of Headphone Measurement? Or its Savior?" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/152-is-minidsp-ears-the-death-of-headphone-measurement-or-its-savior SoundStage! Network speaker-measurements resource URL: www.SpeakerMeasurements.com  Sean Olive on Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car": https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7084958885526065153/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 What we measure with transducers and why 00:25:09 Musical interlude: "You Don't Really Exist" by Nim Sadot 00:26:40 When measurements go wrong and why bass always wins 01:04:01 Brent on the music that moves him

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Jack Oclee-Brown, VP of Technology at KEF, to discuss speaker design and engineering, the development of the Tangerine Waveguide, how electromechanical design and industrial design come together, KEF in cars, and more . . .  Sources: The Sweet Sound of KEF's Tangerine Waveguide: https://us.kef.com/blogs/news/the-sweet-sound-of-kef-s-tangerine-waveguide "KEF Blade Loudspeakers" by Barry Jones: https://www.soundstageaustralia.com/index.php/reviews/516-kef-blade-loudspeakers KEF x LOTUS Partnership: https://us.kef.com/pages/kef-lotus-partnership Metamaterial Absorption Technology: https://us.kef.com/pages/metamaterial Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Design choices and how they matter 00:20:22 Musical interlude: "Wanting You" by Jamison Dewlen 00:21:34 The value of aspirational products 00:42:11 The soundtrack to Jack’s life

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by James Hale, author of SoundStage! Xperience’s popular “Art+Tech” column, to discuss his unique approach to hardware and music reviews, how the column came about, the value of today’s audio gear as compared with that of decades past, and how technology influences the creation and enjoyment of art.  Sources: "How Good Can the Focal Utopia Headphones Make Remarkable Recordings Sound?" by James Hale: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/art-tech/1104-how-good-can-the-focal-utopia-headphones-make-remarkable-recordings-sound "Battling Anxiety with Arcade Fire and the Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier-DAC" by James Hale: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/art-tech/1072-battling-anxiety-with-arcade-fire-and-the-rotel-a12mkii-integrated-amplifier-dac http://jameshale.ca/music.html https://downbeat.com/site/author/james-hale Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 How SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider inspired “Art+Tech” 00:22:56 Musical interlude: "My Bet" by RocknStock 00:24:05 It’s about the music, silly! 00:39:39 …except for opera

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Dr. Mark Waldrep of AIX Records fame to discuss changes in the audiophile music marketplace over the years, as well as Mark’s controversial and ever-evolving views on high-resolution music recording and playback, as well as why he stopped mastering records altogether. Sources: "Audibility of a CD-Standard A/DA/A Loop Inserted into High-Resolution Audio Playback" by E. Brad Meyerand David R. Moran: https://secure.aes.org/forum/pubs/journal/?ID=2#:~:text=The%20test%20results%20show%20that,Authors%3A%20Meyer%2C%20E "Researching HD-Audio: The Truth" by Mark Waldrep: https://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=6993 https://www.aixrecords.com/ https://www.itrax.com/ “Music and Audio: A User Guide to Better Sound: by Mark Waldrep: https://www.musicandaudioguide.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@markwaldrep5143 https://www.artistconnection.net/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 Does high-res matter? 00:35:25 Musical interlude: "Concerto in Fm (Bach)" by Ohad Ben-Ari 00:37:21 The most important component of your system 00:41:45 Is MQA a snow job? 00:48:54 The beauty of Bach

In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman to discuss what mastering is, what it isn’t, how mastering differs from remastering, and why vinyl sometimes sounds better than digital. Sources: “Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section” by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/recording-of-the-month-menu/1175-art-pepper-art-pepper-meets-the-rhythm-section "Is It Just Me, or Are CDs Too Loud?" by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/feature-articles/on-music/944-is-it-just-me-or-are-cds-too-loud "The Music Man" on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/the-music-man-joe-taylor-on-vinyl-and-cassettes-next-gen-audiophiles-curated-music-selections/ Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:20 What does a mastering engineer do?  00:20:25 Musical interlude: “Say No More” by Julian Hartwell 00:22:49 Digital vs. analog and radio vs. streaming 00:35:24 What music moves Bernie Grundman

In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and electronics measurements specialist Diego Estan to discuss the publication’s measurement philosophy and methodology, and also get to the root of what the heck quadrature is and why you should have paid attention in physics class. Along the way, they discuss some of the best-measuring gear they’ve experienced, some of the most idiosyncratic, and how and why these measurements matter. They also talk about an important topic to Doug: volume-control accuracy, something that surprised Jorden.  Sources: “This is Why We Measure” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1240-this-is-why-we-measure “Should You Buy More Amplifier or More Speaker Than You Need?” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1172-should-you-buy-more-amplifier-or-more-speaker-than-you-need “NAD Masters M23 Stereo/Mono Amplifier Measurements” by Diego Estan: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2912:nad-masters-m23-stereo-mono-amplifier-measurements&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154  “Atoll Electronique IN200 Integrated Amplifier Measurements” by Diego Estan: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2772:atoll-electronique-in200-signature-integrated-amplifier-measurements&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154  “Is 'Trickle Up' Tech the Future of Hi-Fi?” by Dennis Burger:  https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1243-is-trickle-up-tech-the-future-of-hi-fi Chapters: 0:00 Announcement 0:20 What we measure 20:43 Musical interlude: “An Issue” by Lalinea 21:52 How much do these measurements matter? 1:03:59 Canadians rock!

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Wilson Audio CEO Daryl Wilson to talk about what it was like to grow up alongside the storied brand, which his father, David, and mother, Sheryl, founded; how his path through life led him back to the company; and how Wilson speakers are designed, built, and voiced differently from other loudspeakers. Sources: “The Great North American Loudspeaker Tour: Wilson Audio Specialties” by Jeff Fritz: https://www.soundstageultra.com/twbas/twbas_200908_wilson.htm Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 7 Loudspeakers review  by Jeff Fritz: https://soundstageultra.com/equipment/wilson_watt_puppy_7.htm Wilson Audio website: https://www.wilsonaudio.com/ Chapters: 0:00 Announcement 0:20 Growing up on Wilson Audio  21:54 Musical interlude: “Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Summer: 3. Presto” by the Dover Quartet 22:18 Reference standards, the importance of time alignment, and the future of hi-fi 47:28 Pink Floyd Fridays and guilty pleasures

Host Jorden Guth is trotting the globe this week and is tight on time, so he and producer Dennis Burger dug into the vaults to pull out an interview from last year with Simaudio’s marketing director Étienne Gautier. In this extended cut of the conversation, Dennis and Étienne discuss how the company’s marketing strategy is evolving and why Moon by Simaudio decided to sponsor the best art-restoration show on YouTube. Sources: “Moon by Simaudio Has Exited the Echo Chamber” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1201-moon-by-simaudio-has-exited-the-echo-chamber "The Maverick" by Baumgartner Restoration: https://youtu.be/LV2eOu14fQM Taskmaster on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Taskmaster Hania Rani: https://haniarani.com/ Chapters: 0:00 Announcement 0:20 Why brand awareness matters 5:51 Musical Interlude I: "Jazz it Up" by Wesly Thomas 6:18 In conversation with Simaudio’s Étienne Gautier 23:45 Musical Interlude II: "Jazz it Up" by Wesly Thomas 24:07 The importance of emotional connections

In this episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! Xperience senior editor Joseph Taylor to discuss his love for vinyl, the cassette tape revival, creating the next generation of audiophiles, and the ways in which music mastering has changed over the decades.  They also dig into Joe’s ongoing “Curator” series of articles, how he finds his inspiration, why he focuses on certain artists, and how he and his daughters influence one another’s musical tastes.  Sources: “Experience ‘Xperience’ Anew” by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/pulse-menu/1093-experience-xperience-anew “En Attendant Ana: Juillet" by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/music-and-movie-reviews/featured-releases/1032-en-attendant-ana-juillet “Savak: Human Error / Human Delight" by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/recording-of-the-month-menu/1112-savak-human-error-human-delight “James Brown, Curated” by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/curator/1099 You can also find links to all of Joe’s “Curator” articles at: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/curator Chapters: 0:00 Announcement 0:20 Why Joe still loves vinyl 20:06 Musical Interlude: “Freerolling” by T. Bless & the Professionals 20:32 Crafting “Curator” and picking desert-island discs

In this episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! Solo editor Geoff Morrison to discuss headphones as a gateway drug into hi-fi, traveling with over-ears vs. on-ears, and mixing audio for a variety of headphones, speakers, and even YouTube.  They also dig into dedicated music players vs. smartphones, whether or not Bluetooth can deliver good sounds, if anyone can do noise canceling better than Bose, and Geoff’s personal recommendations for good in-ears and on-ears for on the road and at home. By the way, Geoff’s first international trip since the pandemic was in 2022, not 2020, and feels horrified he said the wrong year during the podcast. Sources: “Bald Nomad – adventures described in words and pictures” by Geoff Morrison: http://baldnomad.com/  “A Bluetooth Blind Test” by Brent Butterworth: http://www.brentbutterworth.com/bluetooth-blind-test.html @GeoffMorrison on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GeoffreyMorrison914 "Eardrum Suck: The Mystery Solved!" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/178-eardrum-suck-the-mystery-solved “Do Noise-Cancelling Headphones Hurt Your Ears? You’re Not Alone” by Brent Butterworth and Lauren Dragan: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-do-noise-cancelling-headphones-work/ @inveterate_adventurer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inveterate_adventurer/?hl=en Chapters: 0:00 Announcement 0:20 Getting to know Geoff 23:09 Musical Interlude 24:15 YouTube, Noise canceling, and whether anybody can beat Bose

In this first episode of the second season of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, new host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider to discuss the road forward. Although Jorden has been working for about ten years in high-end hi-fi as part of our video team, to most he is a new face in the hi-fi scene. But he has the experience and he is also keenly award of trends that appeal to young music listeners and to electronics purchasers in general. So when he and Doug start talking about Jorden and his background and where he will take this podcast from here, it quickly turns into a discussion about what the hi-fi industry is doing right and wrong from their perspectives–which Jorden inadvertently turned into a love letter to the UK brand KEF. The two also take a virtual tour of the Florida International Audio Expo 2023 by way of SoundStage! Global’s coverage by Hans Wetzel and Doug Schneider, and discuss three speakers that really stood out to Doug, which are featured in the coverage, as well as in an article by Doug on SoundStage! Hi-Fi this month. Sources: Florida International Audio Expo 2023 - Tampa, USA:  https://soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/florida-international-audio-expo-2023-tampa-usa “The Best of Florida International Audio Expo 2023” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1762-the-best-of-florida-international-audio-expo-2023