Made-in-Germany Hi-Fi and Playback-Control Software from T+A
In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth chats with T+A elektroakustik COO Conradin Amft to learn more about the value proposition of where components are manufactured, why German manufacturing still has value in and of itself irrespective of the financial considerations, and why the choice fo where to manufacture is different for products with and without software.
Closing music: “Leaf by Leaf” by Yoed Nir and Ziv Moran
Sources:
“44 Years of T+A—Germany's Hi-Fi Giant in Detail”: https://youtu.be/lzW18SuAJW0?si=SUjQkUfzU-obTWDv
“T+A Elektroakustik Criterion S 230 Loudspeaker” by George de Sa: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1932-t-a-elektroakustik-criterion-s-230-loudspeaker
“The T+A Elektroakustik R 2500 R Proves Why the Stereo Receiver Might Make a Comeback” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/system-one/1938-the-t-a-elektroakustik-r-2500-r-proves-why-the-stereo-receiver-might-make-a-comeback
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 Introductions/What gets built where and why?
00:14:44 The software factor
00:26:36 “Leaf by Leaf” by Yoed Nir and Ziv Moran
--------
29:02
Dynaudio's Otto Jørgensen: Made in Denmark and Elsewhere
This week, host Jorden Guth chats with Dynaudio’s Otto Jørgensen about the company’s manufacturing processes, its massive Jupiter speaker-measuring room and how it compares to anechoic chambers, and why some things must still be made locally from a practical perspective. They also dig into why you can’t look at the “Made in X” label on a component and truly tell where it’s made.
Outro music: “Raising the Stakes” by T Bless and the Professionals
Further reading:
Meet Otto: https://dynaudio.com/magazine/2016/march/ask-the-expert-with-otto-joergensen
Measures of success: how Jupiter delivers Dynaudio’s trademark quality: https://dynaudio.com/magazine/2018/december/how-jupiter-delivers-dynaudio-s-trademark-quality
Ibrahim Electric: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Electric
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:31 How Jupiter drives development
00:15:00 The manufacturing process
00:31:46 “Raising the Stakes” by T Bless and the Professionals
--------
34:45
The World's Greatest Speakerman? Sandy Gross: From Polk to Definitive to GoldenEar and Beyond
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by industry legend Sandy Gross to discuss his passion for hi-fi and his insider perspective on the three brands he co-founded and remains mostly closely associated with: Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and GoldenEar Technology.
Sources:
“The 2024 SoundStage! Network Awards for Outstanding Achievements and Products of the Year”: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1927-the-2024-soundstage-network-awards-for-outstanding-achievements-and-products-of-the-year
GoldenEar Technology Triton One.R loudspeakers by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1277-goldenear-technology-triton-oner-loudspeakers
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 Introductions
00:09:55 The origins of Polk Audio
00:21:30 That famous labcoat advert
00:26:01 Lights, camera . . . action?
00:29:14 The road to Definitive
00:36:02 Music Break: “Hypnotized” by Ian Post
00:37:02 GoldenEar and the art of the demo
00:43:05 A Triton by any other name00:54:19 Outro: “Blown Again” by Morphlexis
--------
58:40
Dr. Sean Olive on the Harman Target and Its Myriad Alternatives
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Dr. Sean Olive, senior fellow at Harman International, to dive deeper into the development of the Harman target curve for headphones, the reason why so many alternative target headphone curves have cropped up in recent years, and what it all means for music fans.
Sources:
“Sound Researcher Dr. Sean Olive” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/sound-researcher-dr-sean-olive-tonmeister-nrc-harman-and-floyd-toole-target-curves/
“Dr. Sean Olive on 35 Years of ‘Fast Car’” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1259-dr-sean-olive-on-35-years-of-fast-car
Seong-Jin Cho: https://seongjin-cho.com/
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 Introductions
00:02:09 A deeper dive into the origins of the Harman target curve
00:18:26 Music Break: “Rush Hour” by Peter John
00:19:24 Everybody and his brother has a target headphone curve
00:38:02 Outro: “Piano Concerto (Ravel)” by Ohad Ben-Ari
--------
41:16
A Completely Different Speaker—Ole Siig of Treble Clef Audio
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Ole Siig to discuss his history in hi-fi and the development and design of Treble Clef Audio’s distinctive and much-ballyhooed TCA-M active loudspeaker, which the SoundStage! Network video team covered when they traveled to Denmark last year to cover.
Sources:
“Treble Clef Audio's TCA-M Loudspeaker—Danish, Active, Expensive, and Dazzlingly Original” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/TNV6U9H1Rcc?si=62GFmSq_6iQs5Nw0
“January Snow Days—Treble Clef Audio and the David Chesky Trio” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1933-january-snow-days-treble-clef-audio-and-the-david-chesky-trio
Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:30 The origins of Treble Clef
00:21:00 Music Break: “Heavy Traffic” by Amos Ever Hadani
00:22:20 What makes the TCA-M different?
00:53:00 Outro: “Baker St” by Duffmusiq
France