#audiophile #stereo #hifi
soundstagenetwork
The new Monitor Audio Hyphn loudspeaker is a landmark product for the 50-year-old British brand—it marries advanced acoustical concepts with daring industrial design. In this first of two videos on the Hyphn, CEO Robert Barford and global marketing director Michael Johnson explain the genesis of the Hyphn project and what the company hopes to achieve with it.
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
updated 1 year ago
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:20 How SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider inspired “Art+Tech”
00:22:56 Musical interlude: "My Bet" by RocknStock
00:24:05 It’s about the music, silly!
00:39:39 …except for opera
This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by James Hale, author of SoundStage! Xperience’s popular “Art+Tech” column, to discuss his unique approach to hardware and music reviews, how the column came about, the value of today’s audio gear as compared with that of decades past, and how technology influences the creation and enjoyment of art.
Sources:
"How Good Can the Focal Utopia Headphones Make Remarkable Recordings Sound?" by James Hale: soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/art-tech/1104-how-good-can-the-focal-utopia-headphones-make-remarkable-recordings-sound
"Battling Anxiety with Arcade Fire and the Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier-DAC" by James Hale: soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/art-tech/1072-battling-anxiety-with-arcade-fire-and-the-rotel-a12mkii-integrated-amplifier-dac
http://jameshale.ca/music.html
downbeat.com/site/author/james-hale
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
All of our sites:
www.SoundStage.com
www.SoundStageAccess.com
www.SoundStageAustralia.com
www.SoundStageGlobal.com
www.SoundStageHiFi.com
www.SoundStage.Life
www.SoundStageSimplifi.com
www.SoundStageSolo.com
www.SoundStageUltra.com
www.SoundStageXperience.com
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
#audiophile #hifi #luxury
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:20 Does high-res matter?
00:35:25 Musical interlude: "Concerto in Fm (Bach)" by Ohad Ben-Ari
00:37:21 The most important component of your system
00:41:45 Is MQA a snow job?
00:48:54 The beauty of Bach
This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Dr. Mark Waldrep of AIX Records fame to discuss changes in the audiophile music marketplace over the years, as well as Mark’s controversial and ever-evolving views on high-resolution music recording and playback, as well as why he stopped mastering records altogether.
Sources:
"Audibility of a CD-Standard A/DA/A Loop Inserted into High-Resolution Audio Playback" by E. Brad Meyerand David R. Moran: secure.aes.org/forum/pubs/journal/?ID=2#:~:text=The%20test%20results%20show%20that,Authors%3A%20Meyer%2C%20E
"Researching HD-Audio: The Truth" by Mark Waldrep: realhd-audio.com/?p=6993
aixrecords.com
itrax.com
“Music and Audio: A User Guide to Better Sound: by Mark Waldrep: musicandaudioguide.com
youtube.com/@markwaldrep5143
artistconnection.net
#luxury #hifi #audiophile
#hifi #audiophile #stereo
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
All of our sites:
www.SoundStage.com
www.SoundStageAccess.com
www.SoundStageAustralia.com
www.SoundStageGlobal.com
www.SoundStageHiFi.com
www.SoundStage.Life
www.SoundStageSimplifi.com
www.SoundStageSolo.com
www.SoundStageUltra.com
www.SoundStageXperience.com
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
youtu.be/uk5vckG5Imw
youtu.be/5BTZ5REwjCQ
They also produced four technical videos with Michael Hedges, Monitor Audio’s technical director. The first video was on loudspeaker dispersion. In it, Doug and Michael focused on how Monitor Audio designs drivers to optimize dispersion in all its speakers. You can watch that video here:
youtu.be/LOB7i7IcXJE
This second video is on how Monitor Audio designs its drivers for lower distortion in all its speakers. Watch to learn more.
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:20 What does a mastering engineer do?
00:20:25 Musical interlude: “Say No More” by Julian Hartwell
00:22:49 Digital vs. analog and radio vs. streaming
00:35:24 What music moves Bernie Grundman
In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by legendary mastering engineer Bernie Grundman to discuss what mastering is, what it isn’t, how mastering differs from remastering, and why vinyl sometimes sounds better than digital.
Sources:
“Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section” by Joseph Taylor: soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/recording-of-the-month-menu/1175-art-pepper-art-pepper-meets-the-rhythm-section
"Is It Just Me, or Are CDs Too Loud?" by Joseph Taylor: soundstagehifi.com/index.php/feature-articles/on-music/944-is-it-just-me-or-are-cds-too-loud
"The Music Man" on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/the-music-man-joe-taylor-on-vinyl-and-cassettes-next-gen-audiophiles-curated-music-selections/
youtu.be/92A3RNpOBXw
Numerous things affect speaker-dispersion characteristics, including cabinet design, crossover points, and the topic of this video, driver sizes. In this video, SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider speaks with Monitor Audio technical director Michael Hedges about the company’s choice to use a very small midrange driver in many speaker models to improve dispersion in the midrange, and to improve integration with the tweeter and woofer or woofers it is working with. Watch to learn more.
#audiophile #hifi
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
All of our sites:
www.SoundStage.com
www.SoundStageAccess.com
www.SoundStageAustralia.com
www.SoundStageGlobal.com
www.SoundStageHiFi.com
www.SoundStage.Life
www.SoundStageSimplifi.com
www.SoundStageSolo.com
www.SoundStageUltra.com
www.SoundStageXperience.com
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
Over the years, Laurence has developed marvelous loudspeaker technologies, and in this fifth and final video about those technologies, he demonstrates how effective O-rings are at reducing the transfer of resonances from the speaker driver to the cabinet. As a result, there in use in all of Vivid Audio’s speakers.
#audiophile #hifi
But whether you call them force-canceling or reaction-canceling, the goal with speaker design is the same—to eliminate the transfer of energy from the woofers to the speaker cabinet, which can cause resonances that could color the sound. In this video, Laurence Dickie explains what reaction-canceling woofers are, and he demonstrates why the system is so effective at eliminating that transfer of energy that could otherwise happen.
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
0:00 Announcement
0:20 What we measure
20:43 Musical interlude: “An Issue” by Lalinea
21:52 How much do these measurements matter?
1:03:59 Canadians rock!
In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and electronics measurements specialist Diego Estan to discuss the publication’s measurement philosophy and methodology, and also get to the root of what the heck quadrature is and why you should have paid attention in physics class. Along the way, they discuss some of the best-measuring gear they’ve experienced, some of the most idiosyncratic, and how and why these measurements matter. They also talk about an important topic to Doug: volume-control accuracy, something that surprised Jorden.
Sources:
“This is Why We Measure” by Dennis Burger: soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1240-this-is-why-we-measure
“Should You Buy More Amplifier or More Speaker Than You Need?” by Dennis Burger: soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1172-should-you-buy-more-amplifier-or-more-speaker-than-you-need
“NAD Masters M23 Stereo/Mono Amplifier Measurements” by Diego Estan: soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2912:nad-masters-m23-stereo-mono-amplifier-measurements&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154
“Atoll Electronique IN200 Integrated Amplifier Measurements” by Diego Estan: soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2772:atoll-electronique-in200-signature-integrated-amplifier-measurements&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154
“Is 'Trickle Up' Tech the Future of Hi-Fi?” by Dennis Burger: soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1243-is-trickle-up-tech-the-future-of-hi-fi
In third video about Laurence’s innovative tapered-tube technology, which dates back to the Nautilus, he explains to SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider how he had to employ radical thinking and design ideas to make the technology work in the S12. Watch this video to find out what Laurence Dickie did.
#hifi #audiophile #loudspeaker
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
0:00 Announcement
0:20 Growing up on Wilson Audio
21:54 Musical interlude: “Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Summer: 3. Presto” by the Dover Quartet
22:18 Reference standards, the importance of time alignment, and the future of hi-fi
47:28 Pink Floyd Fridays and guilty pleasures
This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Wilson Audio CEO Daryl Wilson to talk about what it was like to grow up alongside the storied brand, which his father, David, and mother, Sheryl, founded; how his path through life led him back to the company; and how Wilson speakers are designed, built, and voiced differently from other loudspeakers.
Sources:
“The Great North American Loudspeaker Tour: Wilson Audio Specialties” by Jeff Fritz: soundstageultra.com/twbas/twbas_200908_wilson.htm
Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 7 Loudspeakers review by Jeff Fritz: soundstageultra.com/equipment/wilson_watt_puppy_7.htm
Wilson Audio website: wilsonaudio.com
In our previous video, Doug Schneider talked to Laurence Dickie about his tapered-tube technology to capture unwanted rearward energy from drive units to produce a clearer sound. Laurence also demonstrated how it works. What this video explores is how Laurence deals with capturing the energy from the woofers, which requires an extremely long tapered tube—much longer than the ones that go behind the tweeters and midranges in his company’s speakers. As you’ll learn, the ingenious step was to use the cabinet itself as a tapered tube. Watch this video to learn more.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
The Moon North series is comprised of the all-analog 641 integrated amplifier, 681 network player and DAC, 791 and 891 network players and DACs, and 761 and 861 power amplifiers. Also new in the series is the beautiful BRM-1 remote control, which is intended to replicate the look and feel of Simaudio’s renowned volume control in a device that fits in the palm of your hand.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
As you’ll learn in this video, the name North was chosen for two reasons. One was to reflect the location the products come from, Canada, which is farther north than most countries. The other was to indicate a destination—something to aspire to. Fittingly, the products that make up the Moon North series are made in Canada and are claimed to be the brand’s best efforts yet.
The Moon North series is comprised of the all-analog 641 integrated amplifier, 681 network player and DAC, 791 and 891 network players and DACs, and 761 and 861 power amplifiers. Also new in the series is the beautiful BRM-1 remote control, which is intended to replicate the look and feel of Simaudio’s renowned volume control in a device that fits in the palm of your hand.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
#audiophile #stereo #hifi
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
0:00 Announcement
0:20 Why brand awareness matters
5:51 Musical Interlude I: "Jazz it Up" by Wesly Thomas
6:18 In conversation with Simaudio’s Étienne Gautier
23:45 Musical Interlude II: "Jazz it Up" by Wesly Thomas
24:07 The importance of emotional connections
Host Jorden Guth is trotting the globe this week and is tight on time, so he and producer Dennis Burger dug into the vaults to pull out an interview from last year with Simaudio’s marketing director Étienne Gautier. In this extended cut of the conversation, Dennis and Étienne discuss how the company’s marketing strategy is evolving and why Moon by Simaudio decided to sponsor the best art-restoration show on YouTube.
Sources:
“Moon by Simaudio Has Exited the Echo Chamber” by Dennis Burger: soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1201-moon-by-simaudio-has-exited-the-echo-chamber
"The Maverick" by Baumgartner Restoration: youtu.be/LV2eOu14fQM
Taskmaster on YouTube: youtube.com/c/Taskmaster
Hania Rani: haniarani.com
0:00 Announcement
0:20 Why Joe still loves vinyl
20:06 Musical Interlude: “Freerolling” by T. Bless & the Professionals
20:32 Crafting “Curator” and picking desert-island discs
In this episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStageX.com senior editor Joseph Taylor to discuss his love for vinyl, the cassette tape revival, creating the next generation of audiophiles, and the ways in which music mastering has changed over the decades.
They also dig into Joe’s ongoing “Curator” series of articles, how he finds his inspiration, why he focuses on certain artists, and how he and his daughters influence one another’s musical tastes.
Sources:
“Experience ‘Xperience’ Anew” by Joseph Taylor: soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/pulse-menu/1093-experience-xperience-anew
“En Attendant Ana: Juillet" by Joseph Taylor: soundstageaccess.com/index.php/music-and-movie-reviews/featured-releases/1032-en-attendant-ana-juillet
“Savak: Human Error / Human Delight" by Joseph Taylor: soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/recording-of-the-month-menu/1112-savak-human-error-human-delight
“James Brown, Curated” by Joseph Taylor: soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/curator/1099
You can also find links to all of Joe’s “Curator” articles at: soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/curator
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
In November 2022, the SoundStage! video team first traveled to Germany to visit T+A before going to the UK to stop in at Bowers & Wilkins—and in this fourth “SoundStage! Travelers” episode, we take you there with the team. T+A and Bowers & Wilkins are companies with cutting-edge design resources, topflight manufacturing equipment and processes, and a keen sense of direction of what kind of speakers they make. This video shows you what went on at these companies and what went on while getting there.
#audio #hifi #stereo
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
0:00 Announcement
0:20 Getting to know Geoff
23:09 Musical Interlude
24:15 YouTube, Noise canceling, and whether anybody can beat Bose
In this episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStageSolo.com editor Geoff Morrison to discuss headphones as a gateway drug into hi-fi, traveling with over-ears vs. on-ears, and mixing audio for a variety of headphones, speakers, and even YouTube.
They also dig into dedicated music players vs. smartphones, whether or not Bluetooth can deliver good sounds, if anyone can do noise canceling better than Bose, and Geoff’s personal recommendations for good in-ears and on-ears for on the road and at home.
By the way, Geoff’s first international trip since the pandemic was in 2022, not 2020, and feels horrified he said the wrong year during the podcast.
Sources:
“Bald Nomad – adventures described in words and pictures” by Geoff Morrison: http://baldnomad.com/
“A Bluetooth Blind Test” by Brent Butterworth: http://www.brentbutterworth.com/bluetooth-blind-test.html
@GeoffMorrison on YouTube: youtube.com/c/GeoffreyMorrison914
"Eardrum Suck: The Mystery Solved!" by Brent Butterworth: soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/178-eardrum-suck-the-mystery-solved
“Do Noise-Cancelling Headphones Hurt Your Ears? You’re Not Alone” by Brent Butterworth and Lauren Dragan: nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-do-noise-cancelling-headphones-work
@inveterate_adventurer on Instagram: instagram.com/inveterate_adventurer/?hl=en
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
We were visiting the Simaudio factory the day after the 250i v2 was announced, so we sat down with product manager Dominique Poupart to shoot a short video about the history of the product and its updates, as well as to learn why the company felt it important to continue with this integrated amplifier in its product line.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
#headphones #audiophile #hifi
0:00 Announcement
0:20 Introducing Jorden
25:22 Musical Interlude
26:30 Florida International Audio Expo 2023 coverage
To hear all episodes, visit: http://www.soundstage.life/
In this first episode of the second season of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, new host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider to discuss the road forward.
Although Jorden has been working for about ten years in high-end hi-fi as part of our video team, to most he is a new face in the hi-fi scene. But he has the experience and he is also keenly award of trends that appeal to young music listeners and to electronics purchasers in general. So when he and Doug start talking about Jorden and his background and where he will take this podcast from here, it quickly turns into a discussion about what the hi-fi industry is doing right and wrong from their perspectives–which Jorden inadvertently turned into a love letter to the UK brand KEF.
The two also take a virtual tour of the Florida International Audio Expo 2023 by way of SoundStage! Global’s coverage by Hans Wetzel and Doug Schneider, and discuss three speakers that really stood out to Doug, which are featured in the coverage, as well as in an article by Doug on SoundStage! Hi-Fi this month.
Sources:
Florida International Audio Expo 2023 - Tampa, USA: soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/florida-international-audio-expo-2023-tampa-usa
“The Best of Florida International Audio Expo 2023” by Doug Schneider: soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1762-the-best-of-florida-international-audio-expo-2023
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
You can read Brent’s full review here: soundstagesolo.com/index.php/equipment/headphones/365-crosszone-cz-10-headphones
In this video, Mike Perez gives you his impressions through a follow-up review.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1760-nad-masters-m23-stereo-mono-amplifier
In this video, SoundStage! founder tells you his history with the Purifi Audio Eigentakt amplifier used inside the M23, and he explains why believes this amplifier represents the promise of Purifi’s Eigentakt technology finally being fulfilled.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
0:00 Announcement
0:31 Introduction
4:48 Voltage is scary!
38:04 Musical Interlude I: “Breakwater” by Terry Landry
38:46 Amplifiers: How do they even work?
55:59 Musical Interlude II: “Kooky” by Brent Butterworth
56:51 New SoundStage! Solo editor, who dis?
1:21:06 Musical Interlude III: “Tomorrow’s Girl Today” by Terry Landry
1:22:14 Coda and credits
In their final episode as co-hosts of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger kick off a super-sized rant by digging into Robert Harley’s editorial from the February 2023 issue of The Absolute Sound to discuss what speaker sensitivity ratings actually mean and whether using volts instead of watts as a reference is deceptive (4:48 to 38:04).
From there (38:46 to 55:59), they dig deep to get to the bottom of the most important question in the domain of audio reproduction: what makes a 500-watt amp sound different from a 250-watt amp?
Next (56:51 to 1:21:06): an in-depth conversation with Geoffrey Morrison, the new senior editor of SoundStage! Solo, about his plans for the publication and how his travels influence his taste in and experience with headphones and portable audio in general.
Finally, Brent and Dennis take a few minutes to say goodbye and thanks to everyone who made this first season of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast possible.
Sources:
The Absolute Sound: theabsolutesound.com
"World Premier - Zesto Audio Eros 500 Select Class A Monoblocks" by Robert H. Levi: positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/zesto-audio-eros-500
Bald Nomad: http://geoffreymorrison.com
To view live links to all of our new content, visit www.SoundStage.com and scroll past the videos on the main page.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
You can watch our original Twenty5i video here: youtu.be/wWkuGdJKq_U
But in the summer of 2022, we returned to PMC, which is headquartered in Biggleswade, UK, to learn more about what the improvements were and how they affect the speakers’ sounds. Watch this video find out what acoustics engineer Toby Ridley told us.
#hifi #audiophile #speakers
More: Dennis Burger and Brent Butterworth also talked about this in the 26th episode of the SoundStage! Audio Podcast: https://www.soundstage.life/e/season-1-grand-finale-tas-speaker-sensitivity-rant-500-vs-250w-amp-geoffrey-morrison-plans-goodbye/
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
To view our main portal, visit www.SoundStage.com
soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1744
soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/art-tech/1094
The praise in the reviews is also why SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider decided to write about it and another product in a feature on SoundStageHiFi.com on February 1, 2023. That article is linked below:
soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1754
The RME ADI-2 DAC FS is billed as a digital-to-analog converter, but it’s much more than that, which Doug Schneider explains in this video. Watch to learn more.
#audiophile #hifi #stereo
Recently, Marantz introduced the AV 10 surround processor and companion Amp 10 16-channel amplifier, while Denon introduced the AVR-A1H audio/video receiver. SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider was at the North American press launch in late January in Carlsbad, California. There, he got to examine these new products inside and out, as well audition them. In this video, Doug explains what he learned there—including how similar and how different these new statement-level audio/video products are.
#audiophile #hifi #hometheater
0:00 Announcement
0:30 Introduction
2:26 Leaving Las Vegas
22:02 Musical Interlude I: “Larry's Lament” by Brent Butterworth and Ron Cyger
22:44 B&K 5128 vs. the Harman curve
45:57 Musical Interlude II: “Soft Landing” by Brent Butterworth and Dan Gonda
46:48 Past, present, and future…
58:57 Credits
In this week’s first segment (2:26 to 22:02), Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger talk about the former’s experiences at CES 2023, and reminisce about what the show used to be, both in terms of hi-fi and as an overall barometer of the state of the consumer-electronics market.
Next up (22:44 to 45:57), they return to the Harman target curve well yet again to talk about a new video from The Headphone Show, which discusses their move away from the Harman curve as a result of their adoption of the B&K 5128 head and torso simulator.
Finally (46:48 to 58:57), they wrap up this week’s episode with a bit of a retrospective and a look toward the future.
Sources:
"Best audio tech at CES 2023" by Hamish Hector: techradar.com/news/best-audio-tech-at-ces-2023-next-gen-soundbars-headphones-and-earbuds
"Say goodbye to the Harman target" by The Headphone Show: youtube.com/watch?v=ut5WeqH0vcs
"New Headphone Measurement Target FAQ" by The Headphone Show: youtube.com/watch?v=T-mcdEW66jc
"Introducing the newest SoundGuy: The Bruel & Kjaer 5128" by AJ Wykes: soundguys.com/introducing-the-newest-soundguy-the-bruel-kjaer-5128-45973
“A Fond Farewell” by Brent Butterworth: soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/366-a-fond-farewell
#audiophile #hifi #hifiaudio