SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth is joined by Simaudio’s product director, Étienne Gautier, for a wide-ranging conversation about where hi-fi is headed—and what needs to change. They discuss the lack of industry standards, what hi-fi can learn from other sectors, the real value of trade shows, the role of education, and how today’s “hustle culture” mindset affects both companies and consumers.

Sources:

“Inside the Moon 371: Étienne Gautier on Simaudio's New Compass Collection”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/inside-the-moon-371-etienne-gautier-on-simaudios-new-compass-collection/

“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
00:00:36 Introductions
00:03:31 Organizing the industry and setting standards
00:12:03 Cross-polination in hi-fi
00:14:01 Journalistic standards?
00:17:46 Trade show blues
00:19:35 Education and exposure
00:25:33 Coming out of the basement
00:32:03 Connected vs. disconnected
00:31:49 Outro music: “Magilla Trench” by Art Against Agony

In the Season 5 premiere of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth sits down with Conradin Amft, CEO of T+A Elektroakustik, to explore how high-end audio needs to evolve to reach a new generation.

The conversation digs into the headphone-to-hi-fi pipeline, the growing appeal of all-in-one systems, and why user interface, user experience, and industrial design now matter as much as sound quality. Amft also explains what hi-fi can learn from other industries—and how a legacy brand experiments without losing its identity.

Sources:

“Selling Emotions: Conradin Amft on T+A’s History and Future”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/selling-emotions-conradin-amft-on-tas-history-and-future-then-to-now-hi-fi-tomorrow/

“Made-in-Germany Hi-Fi and Playback-Control Software from T+A”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/made-in-germany-hi-fi-and-software-from-ta/

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions
00:06:00 The headphone-to-hi-fi pipeline
00:12:00 The appeal of all-in-ones
00:15:57 Inspiration from other industries
00:22:06 UI and UX
00:24:40 Aesthetics matter more than ever
00:30:20 Testing new waters
00:31:49 Outro music: “Take Me Home” by Channel 13

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