SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

SoundStage! | The SoundStage! Network | Schneider Publishing Inc.

The official podcast of SoundStage!, featuring host Jorden Guth (seasons 2–5) and Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger (season 1).

  1. Can Hi-Fi Survive? Paradigm, Anthem, WiiM, and the Future of Audio

    May 22

    Can Hi-Fi Survive? Paradigm, Anthem, WiiM, and the Future of Audio

    This week on the SoundStage! Network Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth is joined by Blake Alty, product manager for Paradigm and Anthem, along with John Bagby, managing director at PML Sound—the parent company behind Paradigm, Anthem, MartinLogan, and GoldenEar. Together, they discuss how brands maintain distinct identities under one corporate roof, how manufacturing scale affects modern hi-fi, the industry’s generational divide, the partnership with WiiM, and whether high-end audio risks losing touch with ordinary music lovers as million-dollar systems increasingly dominate the conversation. Sources: “Paradigm Shift—The Bagbys Are Back!”: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1350-paradigm-shift-the-bagbys-are-back “A Fantastic Gateway: A Q&A with Paradigm's Zoltan Balla and Blake Alty on the New Monitor SE 8000F Loudspeaker”: 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 Chapters: 00:00:00 Announcement 00:00:36 Introductions 00:07:21 Maintaining separate brand identities 00:11:30 Economies of scale 00:13:54 Defining value in an uncertain economy  00:17:11 The future of million-dollar hi-fi 00:20:39 The myth that kids don’t care about good sound 00:24:03 Headphones 00:25:55 The next generation 00:29:16 Wonder Twin Powers, Activate! 00:33:04 Education matters 00:34:52 Ten years down the road? 00:40:43 Outro music: "Crystal Ball” by Adv3n7ur35

    43 min
  2. Technically Correct: John Siau on DACs and Measurements

    Mar 13

    Technically Correct: John Siau on DACs and Measurements

    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

    44 min
4.1
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

The official podcast of SoundStage!, featuring host Jorden Guth (seasons 2–5) and Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger (season 1).

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