Arendal Sound’s Big Leap: Innovation, Impact, and a Transformational Year
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
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Inside VinnieRossi: From Red Wine Audio to the Brama Series
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.
“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
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Warsaw’s Audio Video Show 2025: What Made This Year Stand Out
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
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Carved from Sound: Diapason’s Alessandro Schiavi and the New Didascalìa
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
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Inside Technics: Where Analog Warmth Meets Digital Precision
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
México