SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

In this episode, host Jorden Guth talks with Badar Qureshi, president of PML Sound International—the company behind Paradigm, Anthem, MartinLogan, and GoldenEar Technology—about how his years at Toyota shaped his approach to building world-class audio gear. They discuss where and how each brand’s products are made, why lean manufacturing matters in today’s unpredictable world, how the pandemic affected production, and the surprising parallels between crafting high-performance cars and high-fidelity speakers.
Sources:
 
“Paradigm's Prestige Series | SoundStage! InSight” by SoundStage! Network: https://youtu.be/_q7pMJ3LSjs?si=6CuOUDp72lZLX-h0
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 Introductions and getting to know Badar00:03:14 How to decide what gets made where00:10:17 GoldenEar enters the chat00:12:11 The ABCs of supply chains00:17:31 The chaos of COVID and its lingering effects00:25:34 Applying the lessons of the past to the future00:35:11 Long-distance quality control00:43:38 Outro music: “Nuevos Colores” by Tomas Novoa

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is is once again joined by Ian Colquhoun, founder of Axiom Audio. This time, they’re on Ian’s boat having a conversation about the ins and outs and what-have-yous of hi-fi manufacturing in the 21st century, with topics including the current trade war, as well as the unconsidered logistics of this sort of work. Ian’s company, Colquhoun Audio Laboratories, owns the Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab audio brands.
Sources:
“Axiom Audio’s Ian Colquhoun and NRC”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/axiom-audio-s-ian-colquhoun-and-nrc-origin-dr-floyd-toole-music-types-twin-tweeters-measurements/
“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/
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 Introductions and a history lesson00:06:02 A revolution in manufacturing00:10:17 Making stuff in the current geopolitical climate00:13:02 Tariffs and such00:26:11 The unconsidered logistics00:29:23 Outro music: “Get Outta Way” by Where’s Lulu?

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Andrew Welker, Chief Product Officer at Colquhoun Audio Laboratories, owner of Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab, This podcast is a first for us: it is recorded entirely inside an anechoic chamber! The two discuss Welker’s history with hi-fi, as well as the importance of having a human element in quality control despite the fact that we’re living in an increasingly automated world.
Sources:
“Axiom Audio’s Ian Colquhoun and NRC”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/axiom-audio-s-ian-colquhoun-and-nrc-origin-dr-floyd-toole-music-types-twin-tweeters-measurements/
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 Introductions and a personal history with audio00:04:23 The Paul Barton connection00:05:44 A fortuitous education00:11:55 Ian Colquhoun enters the chat00:13:52 The basics of quality control00:27:06 Problem solving and preparedness00:31:55 Outro music: “How We Fell in Love” by Tom Meira Armony

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Jack Oclee-Brown,  VP of Technology at KEF, to discuss the company’s new VECO technology, what inspired it, how it works, how it was developed, and the new products that rely heavily on it.
Sources:
“Xio with VECO: KEF’s Revolutionary Velocity Control Technology in Its First Soundbar Explained”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K842LVG1Ur0
“KEF's Breakthrough VECO Speaker Technology to Lower Distortion–Explained by Its Inventors”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pXeETlY4uU 
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 What is VECO00:07:54 The inspiration for VECO00:20:15 The ups and downs of voltage amplification00:24:05 New soundbar, who dis?00:31:53 Building a better playlist00:33:44 Outro music: “Nao’s Lullaby” by Rafi B. Levy

Due to an embargo on confidential information, we have to delay the release of our 8th episode this season until July 8. In that episode, we'll feature a podcast with KEF's VP of Technology, Jack O'Clee-Brown, discussing some exciting new KEF loudspeaker technology!

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Pro Audio Technology owner/president L. Paul Hales, who shares his unique perspective about manufacturing in America and overseas, why different products for his different brands are made where they are made, how the current trade war chaos is affecting manufacturing and business decisions, and what the future may hold. 
Sources:
“Marrying Hi-Fi with Pro Audio - Paul Hales”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/marrying-hi-fi-with-pro-audio-paul-hales-pro-audio-technology-origins-what-matters/
“What Do Knitting and Hi-Fi Have in Common? (Hint: It’s Politics)” by Dennis Burger: https://soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1339-what-do-knitting-and-hi-fi-have-in-common-hint-its-politics
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 Introductions00:11:13 Supply chains matter00:14:48 Are trade deficits all that bad?00:19:49 When American manufacturing makes sense00:21:38 How tariffs actually work00:26:59 Why this trade war is unwinnable00:28:58 How tariffs could work effectively00:40:42 Looking to the future00:57:33 Outro music: "Baby I’m Stuck in a Cone” Ge Filter Fish

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth chats with SoundStage! Ultra editor Jason Thorpe about his adventures at High End 2025, the final year in Munich. Jason was there with SoundStage! Contributor Matt Bonaccio and SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider. They dig into the best gear Jason saw, his sense of larger trends, and what the upcoming move may or may not mean. 
Also, sandwiches.
Sources:
High End 2025 coverage on SoundStageGlobal.com: https://soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2025-munich-germany
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 Introductions00:05:39 Spools of wire00:10:37 What do air hockey tables and turntables have in common?00:14:31 The sound of speakers00:22:07 More techno!00:26:19 Black boxes00:29:46 The future of High End00:38:44 Outro music: "Look Up” by Diffie Bosman

This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is sits down for a one-on-one with Gabi Rynveld, PR and brand ambassador for International Audio Holding, to discuss the history of Siltech and Crystal cable, the importance of manufacturing in the Netherlands, how distinct companies maintain their personality and brand identity under the umbrella of one manufacturer, and more.
Sources:
“The Rolex of Hi-Fi Cables - Siltech's Flagship Royal Crown Series”: https://youtu.be/yN-nEreboLE?si=gTkHHRv4FGSwsyB-
“Ultra Hi-Fi: Crystal Cable's "Core" Silver-Gold Cable Line—the Diamond Series 2 Update”: https://youtu.be/vpWM6DeyXDE?si=GPM0Sgo8QqTyy6o_
Chapters:00:00:00 Announcement00:00:31 The origin of Crystal Cable00:12:40 HMS Elektronik enters the chat00:22:47 New/old brand or old/new brand?00:43:00 Don’t forget the music00:47:50 Outro music: "Thaïs" by Jules Massenet, performed by Ohad Ben Ari