SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

Back to Speaker Basics: Axiom Audio’s New Performance44 Series

Axiom is a Canadian loudspeaker brand founded by Ian Colquhoun in 1980. It was one of the first companies to adopt the design principles based on the research Dr. Floyd Toole was conducting at Canada’s National Research Council (NRC). Today, Colquhoun not only owns Axiom Audio, but also Bryston and Magnum Dynalab. This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Ian Colquhoun to discuss the value engineering that made the company’s new Performance44 loudspeaker line possible. 
Sources:
“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/
“Axiom Audio's M100 v4 Loudspeaker”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cdPUHJKx70
“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 Announcement00:00:30 What makes Performance44 different?00:15:00 Music Break: “My Bet” by RocknStock00:16:12 Why now?00:30:41 Outro: “Batteries Are for Flashlights, Not for Pickups” by Art Against Agony

2024 SoundStage! Awards for Products of the Year and Outstanding Achievements

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider to discuss the 2024 SoundStage! Awards for Products of the Year and Outstanding Achievements. Doug gives the insight on what the awards me and how they are chosen, as well as explain the special awards video SoundStage! created with singer Kellylee Evans.
Sources:
“The 2024 SoundStage! Network Awards for Outstanding Achievements and Products of the Year” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1927-the-2024-soundstage-network-awards-for-outstanding-achievements-and-products-of-the-year
“The SoundStage! Australia Products of the Year Awards 2024” by Edgar Kramer: https://www.soundstageaustralia.com/index.php/features/929-the-soundstage-australia-products-of-the-year-awards-2024
“Best Hi-Fi Products and Top People 2024—SoundStage! International Hi-Fi Awards” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/FYH1bDPczbA?si=-w2b7pGQudQSmIfU
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:30 Products of the Year: categories and choosing00:05:03 Explaining the Outstanding Achievement awards00:05:03 Outstanding Achievement award winners00:13:02 Music Break: "The Wassail Song" by The Reed Pittman Trio00:15:03 Welcome back from the break00:15:14 Products of the Year: Distinction category (core sites)00:15:14 Products of the Year: Outstanding Performance category (core sites)00:24:58 Products of the Year: Outstanding Performance category (SoundStage! Australia)00:26:53 Products of the Year: Distinction category (SoundStage! Australia)00:29:16 Products of the Year: Exceptional Value category (SoundStage! Australia)00:30:22 Products of the Year: Exceptional Value category (core sites)00:34:22 Where to find the awards (core sites)00:35:31 Outro: “Jingle Bells” by TEO

Stereos: What's the Stuff in the Middle?

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by podcast producer and SoundStage! Access editor Dennis Burger to discuss his latest editorial, “The Stuff in the Middle.” The premise: everyone understands what source devices are. They also know speakers. But these days, most normies doesn’t have a clue what black boxes go in between—if there’s anything between them at all.
Sources:
“The Stuff in the Middle” by Dennis Burger:  https://soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1317-the-stuff-in-the-middle 
“Do You Care About Features?” by Geoffrey Morrison: https://soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/434-do-you-care-about-features
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:30 Adventures in hi-fi at the Y00:18:11 “March of the People” Sémø00:20:20 Are old audiophiles the problem?00:50:40 Outro: “Null” by VESHZA

Norwegian Loudspeaker Disruptor: Arendal Sound Founder Jan Lassesen

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Jan Lassesen, founder of Norway’s Arendal Sound, to discuss the company’s origins and history, its distinctive philosophy, the benefits of direct-to-consumer sales, and the evolution of the product line that has led to the 1528 series. 
Sources:
EISA Awards: Home Theater Audio 2020-2021: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/testbed/mm4/index.php/eisa/2020-2021-awards/2020-2021-home-theater-audio/1463-arendal-sound-1961-series-eisa-2020-2021
Arendal Sound 1723 Tower S loudspeaker review by Philip Beaudette: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1848-arendal-sound-1723-tower-s-loudspeaker
“Arendal Sound 1528 Tower 8 Loudspeaker: “Why I’m Going 3500 Miles to Learn How it Happened” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1920-arendal-sound-1528-tower-8-loudspeaker-why-im-going-3500-miles-to-learn-how-it-happened
Arendal Sound Club: https://club.arendalsound.com/
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:20 Introductions00:04:51 The road to Arendal00:29:35 “Write a Sentence: The Headbanger’s Confusion” by Art Against Agony00:30:33 The evolution of Arendal00:53:35 Outro: “Celestial Rhythms” by Ariel Dahan

Warsaw Audio Video Show 2024 Recap - Traveling | Warsaw Vibe | Rooms and Demos | Bad Music

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and SoundStage! Ultra editor Jason Thorpe to discuss Warsaw’s Audio Video Show 2024, including what was different about this year, what was the same, and what it all means for the state of the hi-fi industry.
Sources:
SoundStage! Audio Video Show 2024 coverage from Warsaw, Poland: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/audio-video-show-2023-warsaw-poland
Audio Video Show: https://audioshow.pl/ 
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:20 Introductions00:03:53 Millionaire’s Row and beyond…00:35:16 Music Break: "Emissary" by Art Against Agony00:36:58 What has changed? What hasn’t?01:02:15 Outro: “Borderline Love” by Jessy Gerber

Rebroadcast: Bernie Grundman, The Music Master

Host Jorden Guth’s new baby finally made his debut, so we’re taking a break again this week and resharing one of our favorite season 2 episodes, in which Jorden was joined by legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman to discuss what mastering is, what it isn’t, how it differs from remastering, and why vinyl sometimes sounds better than digital.
“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 News!00:00:31 Announcement00:00:51 What does a mastering engineer do? 00:20:56 Musical interlude: “Say No More” by Julian Hartwell00:23:19 Digital vs. analog and radio vs. streaming00:35:55 What music moves Bernie Grundman

New Loudspeakers Galore - DALI | Treble Clef Audio | Radiant Acoustics | Arendal Sound | Focal

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider to discuss all of the hot new speakers coming out right now, including models from DALI, Treble Clef Audio, Radiant Acoustics, Arendal Sound, and Focal. They dig deep into the specifics, and also touch on why so many new and noteworthy loudspeakers are coming out now.
Sources:
“DALI Epikore 11 Loudspeaker” by Jason Thorpe: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1225-dali-epikore-11-loudspeaker
“New DALI Epikore 9, 7, and 3—‘Affordable’ Flagship Speakers from Denmark” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/BSVHm31EmV4?si=_traJo-IQqWVZZZv
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 New Speakers from ALI, Treble Clef Audio, Radiant Acoustics, Arendal Sound00:31:36 Music Break: “Mojo” by Jimit00:32:50 Focal, too. But why now?00:59:24  “Mirleft” by Guy Buttery

Take a Break and Reflect - Anthony Grimani on Speakers, Rooms, Acoustics

Host Jorden Guth is expecting another child with his wife. Producer Dennis Burger has a few written reviews to catch up on for the SoundStage! Network. As a result, we decided it is a good time to take a quick break before we resume season 3 in a couple of weeks.
But we're not going to leave you hanging with nothing to listen to. Jorden Guth went through our archives and thought this was a good change to revisit the 12th episode from season 2: "Anthony Grimani on Speakers, Rooms, Acoustics." If you have not listened to it, we think you will enjoy it. If you have listened to it, you might want to listen again because there is a good change you will pick up on something that you didn't pick up on before. Enjoy!