SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

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