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

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