SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! Ultra senior editor Jason Thorpe to talk about My Audiophile Neighborhood, his ongoing SoundStage! Global series chronicling what happens when he introduces friends and neighbors to better sound.
But the conversation quickly becomes about something bigger: If we want hi-fi to thrive, how do we actually create new enthusiasts? Jorden and Jason discuss why good communication matters, why the hobby’s obsession with constant upgrading can work against it, the realities of the generation gap, and why advocacy has to extend beyond preaching to people who are already converted. Most importantly, they explore why praxis—putting ideas into action—is every bit as important as theory when it comes to bringing new people into hi-fi.
Sources:
Jason’s blog posts on SoundStage! Global: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/blogging-on-audio/181-jason-thorpe
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introduction to Jason’s audiophile neighbors00:09:35 Wanting something but not knowing what00:15:09 The importance of Orwell and engaging prose00:20:04 The compulsion to upgrade is optional00:25:35 The generation thing00:30:02 The importance of advocacy00:36:15 The importance of praxis00:39:22 The importance of incentive structures00:43:40 Outro music: "Kumare Brothers" by Dialgo

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Michael Johnson, Global Marketing Director for Monitor Audio Group, to discuss the Monitor Audio Experience Centre, creating gateways to audiophilia, and the company’s ten-year roadmap. They also explore whether vinyl represents hi-fi’s past or future, the role active speakers might play at Monitor Audio, and why video games could be an important way to introduce a new generation to better sound.
Sources:
“Monitor Audio: From Concept 50 to Hyphn and Beyond” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/monitor-audio-from-concept-50-to-hyphn-and-beyond-into-hi-fi-making-monitor-audio-speakers-the-response/
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions00:02:32 The Experience Centre00:07:46 Sound and the tech that creates it00:11:19 Conveying experiences00:15:25 A gateway to hi-fi?00:19:44 The ten-year roadmap00:21:53 Is vinyl the past or the future?00:28:39 What about active speakers?00:36:12 Audio for video games00:41:23 Outro music: “Let the Road Begin” by Ziv Moran

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Dominique Lingruen, vice president of sales for Linkplay Technology Inc., parent company of WiiM—a fast-growing hi-fi brand whose expanding lineup includes streamers, amplifiers, wireless speakers, subwoofers, and other products designed for the modern connected audio system.
Topics of conversation include Dominique’s personal history in hi-fi, WiiM’s meteoric rise, the importance of personalization, how the company is reaching a younger and more female audience, what happened with AirPlay, and—perhaps most importantly—the best recipe for banana pancakes.
Plus, what does WiiM even mean? Jorden finds out.
Sources:
WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Integrated Amplifier review by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1358-wiim-amp-ultra-streaming-integrated-amplifier
“The WiiM Amp Ultra—What’s Happened to Me?” by Jason Thorpe: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/opinion-menu/1297-the-wiim-amp-ultra-whats-happened-to-me
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions00:03:22 Manifesting Beckham00:06:23 It’s pronounced “WiiM”00:08:20 The pieces of the Linkplay puzzle00:13:56 Taking a big bet00:18:31 Appealing to different demographics00:21:28 From hi-fi to home theater00:24:32 What happened with AirPlay00:28:30 The future00:30:47 The headphone hook and the vinyl fad00:35:39 My-fi?00:40:14 What would a WiiM AVR look like?00:41:23 Outro music: “Four Leaf Clover” by Louis Island

Host Jorden Guth welcomes Emotiva founder Dan Laufman back to the podcast for a conversation about where hi-fi is headed. From the retro-inspired Nostala line to the need for high-value, long-lasting audio gear, Laufman explains why making great sound more accessible is essential to the industry's future.
Sources:
“Dan Laufman on the Value of Emotiva”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/dan-laufman-on-the-value-of-emotiva/
Emotiva BasX TA2+ stereo receiver by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1393-emotiva-basx-ta2-stereo-receiver
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions and the origins of Nostala00:04:34 Listening to the music or the speakers?00:07:23 Who is this retro-revival supposed to appeal to?00:10:14 Retro-inspired electronics, too?00:12:45 Making sense of model names00:19:42 These young audiophiles are a different breed00:23:11 Audio isn’t like other electronics00:30:13 Education is empowerment00:33:51 The return of Emofest00:35:21 The soundtrack to Dan’s life00:37:39 Outro music: “After 2AM” by Ziggy

Host Jorden Guth is joined by Matt Simmonds, Vice President of Product Development at Lenbrook, for a behind-the-scenes look at how modern hi-fi products come to life. Simmonds discusses his family's history in audio, the origins of Bluesound, the importance of industrial design, and how companies weigh innovation, market trends, and emerging technologies like AI when deciding what products to build next.
Sources:
"Bluesound's High-Style Pulse Sub+ Subwoofer"—SoundStage! Talks (December 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2-ljBZQ4uE
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions and family traditions00:06:34 Career-type decisions00:10:19 Why Bluesound?00:14:00 Design matters00:20:53 Avoiding cannibalism00:27:51 Polishing that crystal ball00:33:51 AI versus the real world00:43:04 Outro music: "Brother” by Montessori

This week, we pick up the ball from where the previous episode left off. Host Jorden Guth once again moderates a chat between podcast producer Dennis Burger and guest L. Paul Hales about the future of hi-fi and the place room correction has in that future. Topics include how one defines a good speaker, why kick drums can lose their oomph, why you wouldn’t EQ a piano, and a complete break-down of Paul’s five-point problem with room correction.
Sources:
“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/are-jl-audio-s-primacy-speakers-the-future-of-stereo/
“JL Audio’s Primacy Active Loudspeaker Systems: Charting a New Course Under Garmin” by Roger Kanno: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/blogging-on-audio/232-roger-kanno/1266-jl-audios-primacy-active-loudspeaker-systems-charting-a-new-course-under-garmin
“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?” (S5:E4): https://youtu.be/xdyxqp9kYvE?si=lZwAeCePVYoVOLl6
“Chest-Pounding Bass, Done Smarter 🔊 Theory’s Renegade Approach to LFE”: https://youtu.be/vtOgOT5hsu0?si=0J9qiAfDGGK-8XHR
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions00:01:59 What makes a speaker good?00:07:28 A thought experiment00:15:54 Get that kick drum out of my ass 00:25:07 Paul’s five-point problem with room correction00:33:31 The question of burn-in00:37:23 A band of speakers?00:38:25 Outro music: "Goosefeet” by Javapysch

This week, host Jorden Guth moderates a conversation between podcast producer Dennis Burger and returning guest L. Paul Hales, founder and chief designer of California-based Pro Audio Technology. Together, they explore the future of hi-fi and the role room correction may play in shaping it. This is the first installment of a two-part discussion.
Sources:
“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/are-jl-audio-s-primacy-speakers-the-future-of-stereo/
“JL Audio’s Primacy Active Loudspeaker Systems: Charting a New Course Under Garmin” by Roger Kanno: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/blogging-on-audio/232-roger-kanno/1266-jl-audios-primacy-active-loudspeaker-systems-charting-a-new-course-under-garmin
“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?” (S5:E4): https://youtu.be/xdyxqp9kYvE?si=lZwAeCePVYoVOLl6
“Chest-Pounding Bass, Done Smarter 🔊 Theory’s Renegade Approach to LFE”: https://youtu.be/vtOgOT5hsu0?si=0J9qiAfDGGK-8XHR
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions00:09:59 Can bad rooms benefit from room correction?00:16:43 Dennis enters the chat00:23:15 The parable of the piano 00:30:12 Direct vs. reverberant sound00:36:14 Grimes theory of economic unfairness, but speakers instead of boots00:40:59 Outro music: "Techné” by Art Against Agony

This week, host Jorden Guth sits down with SoundStage! Ultra’s Jason Thorpe and SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider to discuss their trip to Vienna for High End 2026—the first time the world's most important hi-fi show has been held outside Munich in more than two decades. Did the move affect the show? Was there a demographic shift among attendees? What were the most impressive products, rooms, and demonstrations? And perhaps most importantly, were the Vienna sandwiches up to par?
Sources:
High End 2026 coverage from Vienna, Austria, on SoundStage! Global: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2026-vienna-austria
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:36 Introductions00:06:46 Taking attendance00:09:22 Quantity and quality of the rooms00:14:23 How’d it sound?00:28:33 The best record Jason ever heard00:31:30 Bowers & Wilkins 800 D500:32:40 A demographic shift?00:35:02 The offsite controversy00:36:27 A 21st century player piano00:43:53 Outro music: "To Be the One” by Israel Wasserman