SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

In this week’s first segment (2:30 to 15:01), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger talk about McIntosh Laboratory’s newest product, the LB200 Light Box. This $1500 black box is, in the words of McIntosh, “very unique.” But what is it? Brent and Dennis explain this history of this controversial product and debate whether or not it’s worth the price.
Next up (15:51 to 34:44), they take a call from Gordon Sauck, owner of Innovative Audio, Canada’s “largest vintage audio emporium.” Gordon shares some thoughts about Dennis’ recent article on the appeal of vintage gear, as well as some anecdotes about what his customers are looking for, what they’re buying, and what he considers the golden age for stereo receivers.
Finally (35:36 to 56:08), Dennis picks Brent’s brain about Chi-Fi earphones. What are they, why is Brent reviewing so many of them here recently, and is that term problematic or what? 
Sources:
McIntosh LB200 Light Box: https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/collections/gifts/products/lb200-light-box
“Why Is Vintage Audio So Hot Right Now?” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1196-why-is-vintage-audio-so-hot-right-now
Innovative Audio homepage: http://vintageaudio.ca/
“KZ x Crinacle CRN Earphones” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/earphones/334-kz-x-crinacle-crn-earphones
“CCA C10 Earphones” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/earphones/319-cca-c10-earphones
“NiceHCK DB3 Earphones” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/earphones/339-nicehck-db3-earphones
“TinHiFi T3 Plus Earphones” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/earphones/340-tinhifi-t3-plus-earphones

In this week’s first segment (03:48 to 17:46), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger discuss a new $29,150 headphone listening stack from dCS, and contrast that audio extravagance with a recent video from headphone tester/tuner Crinacle, in which he busts some myths about standalone headphone amps. 
Next up (17:46 to 44:32), SoundStage! Founder Doug Schneider calls in to discuss gear measurements from a publisher’s perspective. Are they bad for business? Do they alienate manufacturers? Are they useful to readers? And how do they help subjective reviewers support or defend their observations?
Wrapping things up (44:32 to end), Brent and Dennis give their thoughts on one of the most overused but poorly defined terms in audio: “resolving.” What does it mean in terms of speakers? Is “highly resolving” a good thing or a bad thing? A few videos from PS Audio’s Paul McGowan might give us some insight.  
Sources:SoundStage! Network landing page: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/
”Introducing dCS Lina” by TAS Staff: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/introducing-dcs-lina
“You Don't NEED an Amplifier” by Crinacle+ https://youtu.be/a3moaaOpYZM
PSB Speakers - 50 Years | Full Documentary: https://youtu.be/i_qy0dZDX8Q
“Can Speakers Be Too Resolving?” by PS Audio: https://youtu.be/6XFn8JPIr40
“Resolving Loudspeakers” by PS Audio: https://youtu.be/qPpr9g_i7xw
“What Speakers Have Resolving Power?” by PS Audio: https://youtu.be/PkErAEp7y0o
“What Measurements Can We Hhear?” by PS Audio: https://youtu.be/KHTYqOm3Y8c

In this episode, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger use an article by Gordon Brockhouse on SoundStageSimplifi.com about how SoundStage! Network contributors consume music as a springboard into a discussion about a new AES paper on how audio masters and streaming-app settings affect listener preferences. 
Next, the coverage of High End 2022 in Munich continues in the form of a discussion with SoundStage! editor-in-chief Jeff Fritz, who calls in to give his hot takes. 
Wrapping things up, Brent and Dennis ask and attempt to answer a simple question: How long does it actually take us to evaluate the sound of a new piece of audio gear? The answer may surprise you. 
Sources:"How We Listen" by Gordon Brockhouse: https://www.soundstagesimplifi.com/index.php/feature-articles/204-how-we-listen
"Listener Preferences in Streamed Music" by Jon Allan and Susanna Leijonhufvud: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=21557
“High End 2022 - Munich, Germany” by Doug Schneider, Jeff Fritz, Jonathan Gorse, and Edgar Kramer: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2022-munich-germany
"High End 2022: Jeff's Hot Takes" by Jeff Fritz: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2022-munich-germany/1015-he-2022-jeffs-hot-takes
“A Short Film About the KEF LS60 Wireless” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2022/05/a-short-film-about-the-kef-ls60-wireless/

In this episode, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger read the obituary for Onkyo, lament the company’s demise, then dig into why it may (or may not) ultimately be a good thing for the Onkyo brand. Next up, they discuss what is undoubtedly one of the most important speakers announced so far this year, the new KEF LS60 Wireless loudspeaker system. 
Wrapping things up, Brent and Dennis scratch the surface of SoundStage! Global’s coverage of High End 2022 in Munich, spotlighting some of the products that grabbed their attention.
Sources:
“Onkyo has gone bankrupt” by John Hvidlykke: https://www.lbtechreviews.com/news/hi-fi/onkyo-has-gone-bankrupt
“VOXX International Corporation Completes The Acquisition Of The Audio/Video Business Of Onkyo Home Entertainment Corporation”: https://investors.voxxintl.com/news-releases/news-release-details/voxx-international-corporation-completes-acquisition-audiovideo
“Premium Audio Company, LLC Comments on Onkyo Home Entertainment Bankruptcy Filing”: https://investors.voxxintl.com/news-releases/news-release-details/premium-audio-company-llc-comments-onkyo-home-entertainment
“KEF LS60 Wireless Loudspeakers”: https://www.soundstageaustralia.com/index.php/news/660-kef-ls60-wireless-loudspeakers
“A short film about the KEF LS60 Wireless” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2022/05/a-short-film-about-the-kef-ls60-wireless/
“High End 2022 - Munich, Germany” by Doug Schneider, Jeff Fritz, Jonathan Gorse, and Edgar Kramer: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2022-munich-germany

In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger kick things off by talking about declining sales and layoffs at the former heavyweight of the audio world, Bose. Next up, they dig into an article by Brent, in which he tested the consistency of headphones and earphones at a variety of price points. 
Finally, they discuss a recent article by Dennis, in which he discussed his annual self-administered hearing test and advocated for a wider discussion about hearing health in the audiophile community. 
Sources:
"Layoffs hit Bose as the company focuses on its ‘most popular’ products" by Anissa Gardizy: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/03/business/layoffs-hit-bose-company-focuses-its-most-popular-products/
“How Consistent Is the Quality of Headphones and Earphones?” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/333-how-consistent-is-the-quality-of-headphones-and-earphones
"Every Audiophile Needs to Do This Annually" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1189-every-audiophile-needs-to-do-this-annually
Mimi Health website: https://mimi.health/hearing-test-apps
AudioCheck High Frequency Range Test (8-22 kHz): https://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_frequencycheckhigh.php
AudioCheck Blind Tests: https://www.audiocheck.net/blindtests_index.php

In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger riff on an article by Diego Estan, in which he re-evaluated a pair of Stenheim Alumine Two speakers that demand something a little different in terms of setup. That leads to some insights gleaned from an interview Dennis conducted with Zoltan Balla and Blake Alty of Paradigm about how room design is influencing speaker design.
In the second segment, Brent and Dennis revisit the “live music as a reference” debate, which leads to a discussion about an old article by Sean Olive on live-versus-recorded-music tests and why they’re problematic. Lastly, they vicariously visit the Montreal Audiofest 2022 by way of SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider’s show coverage, and discuss the products they wish they could have heard themselves. 
Sources:
"Doing Our Due Diligence: Room Gain Revisited with the Stenheim Alumine Two Loudspeakers" by Doug Schneider and Diego Estan: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1661-doing-our-due-diligence-room-gain-revisited-with-the-stenheim-alumine-two-loudspeakers
"A Fantastic Gateway" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1186-a-fantastic-gateway-a-qa-with-paradigms-zoltan-balla-and-blake-alty-on-the-new-monitor-se-8000f-loudspeaker
"On Live Music" by Jim Austin: https://www.stereophile.com/content/live-music
"Why Live-versus-Recorded Listening Tests Don't Work" by Sean Olive: https://seanolive.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-live-versus-recorded-listening.html
"AudioQuest NightHawk Headphones" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/headphones/75-audioquest-nighthawk-headphones
"Montreal Audiofest 2022 - Montreal, Canada" by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/montreal-audiofest-2022-montreal-canada

In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger dig into a new album by David Chesky called Graffiti Jazz, a unique and fascinating jazz composition that comes with separate mixes for speakers and headphones. From there they transition into a discussion about Dirac Live’s new Auto Target Curve and how it potentially improves some aspects of room correction, as well as how it could be improved even more. As an aid to new listeners who’ve complained about overuse of terms like hertz and kilohertz without explaining what these mean, we’ve also included a few tone sweeps to illustrate the frequency ranges being discussed. 
To wrap things up, Brent and Dennis dig into two new articles about GaN FETs vs. MOSFETs and what they mean for class-D amplifiers, which gives them a perfect opportunity to dispel some myths about class D. 
Sources:
Graffiti Jazz (David Chesky) [Digital Download]: https://theaudiophilesociety.com/products/graffiti-jazz-david-chesky-digital-download
"David Chesky's New New Revolution in Headphone Sound" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/329-david-cheskys-new-new-revolution-in-headphone-sound
"Dirac Introduces New Dirac Live Auto Target Curve" by Joao Martins: https://audioxpress.com/news/dirac-introduces-new-dirac-live-auto-target-curve
"This One Room-Correction Trick Could Breathe New Life into Your A/V Receiver" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1109-this-one-room-correction-trick-could-breathe-new-life-into-your-av-receiver
"NAD C 399 Integrated Amplifier-DAC Review" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1179-nad-c-399-integrated-amplifier-dac
"Voice for True Wireless Earbuds, GaN, and More Exciting Audio Frontiers in audioXpress April 2022": https://audioxpress.com/news/voice-for-true-wireless-earbuds-gan-and-more-exciting-audio-frontiers-in-audioxpress-april-2022
"The Peachtree Audio GaN400: A New Breed of Class D Amplification" by Jacob Green: https://www.audioholics.com/amplifier-reviews/peachtree-audio-gan400

In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger slay the RF interference dragon with math and science. Next up, they opine about the new Lōkē subwoofer from Wilson Audio, which has caused quite a bit of controversy in the audiophile community in recent weeks. 
Wrapping things up, they dig into a recent article by Dennis about digital-to-analog converters and whether they make a difference, which leads to a discussion of an older SoundStage! Experience article by Brent in which he put this exact question to the test. 
Sources:
“Fono Acustica - Compás Speaker Ground System”: https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/fono-acustica-compas-speaker-ground-system/
“Wilson Audio Introduces the Lōkē subwoofer (for TuneTot)” by John Darko: https://darko.audio/2022/03/wilson-audio-introduces-the-loke-subwoofer-for-tunetot/
Wilson LōKē Subwoofer discussion thread at ASR: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wilson-l%C5%8Dk%C4%93-subwoofer.31552/
“How Much Difference Do DACs Really Make?” by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1183-how-much-difference-do-dacs-really-make
“The Problem with Blind Testing” by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/pulse-menu/834-the-problem-with-blind-testing