SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast
SoundStage! | The SoundStage! Network | Schneider Publishing Inc.
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The official podcast for SoundStage!, featuring hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger
Available episodes
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Mar 17, 2023
The Inveterate Adventurer - Headphones as Hi-Fi’s Gateway Drug | Bluetooth Quality | The Best Noise-Canceling Cans
In this episode, host Jorden Guth is joined by SoundStage! Solo 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: https://www.youtube.com/c/GeoffreyMorrison914
"Eardrum Suck: The Mystery Solved!" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.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: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-do-noise-cancelling-headphones-work/
@inveterate_adventurer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inveterate_adventurer/?hl=en
Chapters: 0:00 Announcement 0:20 Getting to know Geoff 23:09 Musical Interlude 24:15 YouTube, Noise canceling, and whether anybody can beat Bose
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Mar 3, 2023
Introducing Jorden - Hi-Fi Marketing | A Love Letter to KEF | The Three Best Speakers at Florida International Audio Expo 2023
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: https://soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/florida-international-audio-expo-2023-tampa-usa
“The Best of Florida International Audio Expo 2023” by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1762-the-best-of-florida-international-audio-expo-2023
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Feb 4, 2023
Season 1 Grand Finale - TAS Speaker-Sensitivity Rant | 500 vs. 250W Amp | Geoffrey Morrison Plans | Goodbye
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: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/
"World Premier - Zesto Audio Eros 500 Select Class A Monoblocks" by Robert H. Levi: https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/zesto-audio-eros-500/
Bald Nomad: http://geoffreymorrison.com/
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Jan 20, 2023
The Connected Future of Something or Other - CES 2023 | The Harman Curve Again | Looking Forward
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: https://www.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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut5WeqH0vcs
"New Headphone Measurement Target FAQ" by The Headphone Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-mcdEW66jc
"Introducing the newest SoundGuy: The Bruel & Kjaer 5128" by AJ Wykes: https://www.soundguys.com/introducing-the-newest-soundguy-the-bruel-kjaer-5128-45973/
“A Fond Farewell” by Brent Butterworth: https://soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/366-a-fond-farewell
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Dec 29, 2022
How Much a Lemon is S’posed to Squeeze - Favorite Products of 2022 | Audio Distribution Changes | JBL and Headphones
This week, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger kick off the discussion by digging into SoundStage!’s year-end coverage (3:17 to 26:06). In addition to discussing their favorite products of the year, they also talk about three people who deserve recognition for significant contributions to audio reproduction.
Next up (27:03 to 45:43), they dig into a piece from Stereophile about the ways in which audio distribution is changing, especially at the higher end. That leads right into a conversation (46:27 to 1:01:40) about JBL hitting an important milestone in the headphone market, and what implications that may or may not have for the validity of the Harman curve.
Sources:
"The 2022 SoundStage! Network Awards for Outstanding Achievement and Products of the Year" by Doug Schneider: https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1747-the-2022-soundstage-network-awards-for-outstanding-achievement-and-products-of-the-year
"Henry Kloss, Dead at 72" by David Lander: https://www.stereophile.com/news/11260/index.html
"Sivga SV023 Headphones Offer Outstanding Performance & Value for $450 - Take 2 Headphones" by Mike Perez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUaDnqOEg6w
"Re-Tales #27: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes in the hi-fi industry" by Julie Mullins: https://www.stereophile.com/content/re-tales-27-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes-hi-fi-industry
"JBL Hits 200 Million Headphones Milestone": https://news.harman.com/releases/jbl-hits-200-million-headphones-milestone
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Dec 16, 2022
That One Where Geddy Lee Raps - TAS on Taiko | CheapAudioMan Power Cable Test | ”XTC, Curated”
This week, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger start by taking a look at The Absolute Sound’s coverage of the Taiko Audio Extreme music server and evaluate some claims made by the manufacturer and reviewer alike (4:48 to 20:43). Does a glorified hard drive really need 700,000µF of capacitance? And should your music server really serve double duty as a space heater?
Next up (21:43 to 43:40), they check out a recent video by YouTuber Cheapaudioman in which he blind-tested a mid-level power cable and compared its performance to a stock cable with the same model of amp. More importantly, they dig into the comments section, which is surprisingly constructive.
Wrapping things up this week (44:23 to 56:28), Brent and Dennis skim the surface of a new article by Joseph Taylor on SoundStage! Xperience titled “XTC, Curated,” and also discuss other entries in the series, which dig deep into the history and output of a variety of musical artists.
Sources:
“2022 Golden Ear: Taiko Audio Extreme Music Server” by Matthew Clott: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2022-golden-ear-taiko-audio-extreme-music-server/
"The Art of Electronics, 3rd Edition" by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill: https://amzn.to/3Pmno96
"Do Power Cables Make a Difference? The Results Surprised Me - Blind Testing the Audioquest NRG-Z3" by Cheapaudioman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im1aKrc3A6E
“XTC, Curated” by Joseph Taylor: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/curator/1087-xtc-curated
“Curator” category page on SoundStage! Xperience: https://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/features-menu/curator
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Dec 3, 2022
Emerson, Lake & Palmer at the Grocery Store - Audio Science Review Misses | Audiophilia in Harper’s | Hi-Fi and Skateboarding
This week, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger visit the Audio Science Review forums to shine a spotlight on an overlooked comment by Dr. Sean Olive. The topic? Who should and shouldn’t be included in listening panels and whether a university janitor’s opinions about good sound are as valid as those of your average AES member (4:28 to 21:25).
Next up (22:25 to 39:08), they opine about something of a unicorn: an article about audiophilia in a completely mainstream publication. In this case, it’s a piece by Sasha Frere-Jones in the latest issue of Harper’s titled "Corner Club Cathedral Cocoon.”
In this week’s final segment (39:52 to 57:34), Brent and Dennis watch a new episode of SoundStage! Real Hi-Fi, in which founder Doug Schneider discusses what skateboarding and hi-fi have in common, and why the resurgence of popularity of the former is good for the latter.
Sources:
"Headphones and the Harman target curve" on Audio Science Review: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/headphones-and-the-harman-target-curve.17914/page-18&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#post-1381960
"Where Are We At With The Harman Curve?" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/217-where-are-we-at-with-the-harman-curve
"The Relationship between Perception and Measurement of Headphone Sound Quality" by Sean Olive: https://seanolive.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-relationship-between-perception-and.html
"Corner Club Cathedral Cocoon” by Sasha Frere-Jones: https://harpers.org/archive/2022/12/corner-club-cathedral-cocoon-audiophilia-and-its-discontents/
“View of the World from 9th Avenue: by Saul Steinberg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View_of_the_World_from_9th_Avenue
“Hi-Fi Will Never Die, Because Skateboarding Didn't - SoundStage! Real Hi-Fi (Ep:48)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksUDpzu8gHA
“Rubik’s Cube: A Craze Ends” in The New York Times Archives: https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/30/business/rubik-s-cube-a-craze-ends.html
"Rubik’s Cube And Spin Master: A $50 Million Deal With Endless Possibilities" by Joan Verdon: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanverdon/2020/11/15/rubiks-cube-and-spin-master-a-50-million-deal-with-endless-possibilities/
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Nov 17, 2022
An Ultra-Mega Special Guest - Steve ”The Audiophiliac” Guttenberg | Dolby Atmos | SVS and Totem Acoustic Speakers
This week, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger are joined by their old friend Steve Guttenberg—aka ”The Audiophiliac”—to discuss his recent interview with Professor Edgar Choueiri, the man behind the BACCH-SP Stereo Purifier (4:00 to 20:15).
Steve was also kind enough to stick around for the second segment (20:54 to 46:15) to discuss Dolby Atmos for music and movies alike, as well as some particularly disastrous surround sound mixes from the DVD-A/SACD era.
Wrapping things up this week (46:50 to 1:06:27), Brent and Dennis dig into two speaker-system reviews from Gordon Brockhouse on SoundStage! Simplifi: the new SVS Prime Wireless Pro, as well as the Totem Acoustic Kin Play Tower. Despite being superficially similar, in that they’re both speakers with their own internal amplification, these are actually two quite different products likely to appeal to two very different consumers.
Sources:
"Professor Choueiri perfected SPATIAL (3D) AUDIO!" by Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ484SKyOAc
"SVS Prime Wireless Pro Active Loudspeaker System" by Gordon Brockhouse: https://www.soundstagesimplifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/217-svs-prime-wireless-pro-active-loudspeaker-system
“Totem Acoustic Kin Play Tower Powered Loudspeaker System” by Gordon Brockhouse: https://www.soundstagesimplifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/216-totem-acoustic-kin-play-tower-powered-loudspeaker-system
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Nov 4, 2022
A Purposeful Grimace & A Terrible Sound - Lavardin ”Memory Distortion” | Spotify Platinum | Products from Audio Video Show 2022
In this week’s first segment (3:54 to 26:09), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger dig into a review of the Lavardin ITx20 amp and discuss the manufacturer’s claims about “memory distortion” and how its circuitry eliminates that. This leads to a larger discussion about another big bugbear in the audio industry: the time domain.
Next (27:03 to 41:30) they unpack the news that Spotify is supposedly introducing a new $20 Platinum pricing tier that adds lossless hi-fi audio, as well as some other new features that are ill-defined as of yet. Will listeners be willing to pay $20 a month for CD-quality music, or is Spotify hoping the other doodads are the biggest draw?
In this week’s final segment (42:21 to 55:17), Brent and Dennis continue a time-honored tradition of vicariously visiting an audio show by way of SoundStage! Global’s coverage thereof. This time around, it’s Audio Video Show 2022, which was held in Warsaw, Poland.
Sources:
"Lavardin ITx20 Review" by Alan Sircom: https://hifiplus.com/articles/lavardin-itx20-integrated-amplifier/
“The Most Important Algorithm Of All Time” by Veritasium: https://youtu.be/nmgFG7PUHfo
"Spotify could be readying a hi-res audio Platinum plan" by David Nield: https://www.techradar.com/news/spotify-could-be-readying-a-hi-res-audio-platinum-plan
"Audio Video Show 2022 - Warsaw, Poland" by Doug Schneider and Jason Thorpe: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/audio-video-show-2022-warsaw-poland
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Oct 20, 2022
Dennis Said Something Nice - Qobuz’s THX Spatial Audio | Hi-Fi Components that Matter | Factory Tours
In this week’s first segment (3:28 to13:55), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger discuss a story about a new Qobuz playlist featuring songs mixed for THX Spatial Audio. The mixes are designed to make the sound from your headphones seem like it’s coming from within the room rather than right in your ears. Does it work? Is it worth your time? And did Qobuz accomplish something that Apple couldn’t with this?
Next (14:58 to 30:48) they pontificate a bit on a new review of the Nordost QNet network switch and QSource linear power supply in Stereophile, except they really don’t talk much about the review itself. Instead, they use it as a springboard for a discussion about which components make a real difference and which components don’t. They also answer the age-old question: “What’s the all-time best jazz-backed beat poem about critical thinking?”
In this week’s final segment (31:24 to 52:10), our dynamic duo uses SoundStage! editor-in-chief Jeff Fritz's “Europe Tour 2022” series as an excuse to talk about factory tours, the value thereof, and whether or not engineering tools can truly be considered beautiful.
Sources:
"THX Spatial Audio on Qobuz: Listen with ANY Headphones!" by Jacob Green: https://www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/thx-spatial-audio-qobuz
"Playlist: THX Spatial Audio" by Qobuz USA: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/playlists/thx-spatial-audio-exclusive-tracks/10766496
"NAD C 399 Integrated Amplifier-DAC" by Dennis Burger: https://soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1179-nad-c-399-integrated-amplifier-dac
"Storm" by Tim Minchin: https://youtu.be/jIWj3tI-DXg
"Giant Steps: A Player's Guide To Coltrane's Harmony for ALL Instrumentalists" by Walt Weiskopf & Ramon Ricker: https://amzn.to/3S6rT7M
“Björk: Sonic Symbolism”: https://pod.link/bjork
"Europe Tour 2022: Arriving in Vicenza and Visiting Sonus Faber" by Jeff Fritz: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/opinion-menu/1136-europe-tour-2022-arriving-in-vicenza-and-visiting-sonus-faber
"Europe Tour 2022: Sonus Faber Speaker Production and Design Lab" by Jeff Fritz: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/opinion-menu/1137-europe-tour-2022-sonus-faber-speaker-production-and-design-lab
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Oct 11, 2022
A Statler & Waldorf Approach - Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos | CanJam SoCal + Headphone Giveaway | Reel-to-Reel Tapes
In this week’s first segment (7:24 to 22:07), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger discuss a new piece by Andrew Heinzman about why he thinks surround sound, Dolby Atmos, and headphone virtualization don’t work for music. There’s some agreement. There’s some disagreement. There might even be some nuance. Who knows?
Next (23:00 to 35:56) they dig deep into SoundStage! Global’s coverage of CanJam SoCal 2022. What were the highlights of the show for Brent? And which products did Dennis wish he could hear for himself?
Wrapping things up this week, (36:38 to 46:25), they riff on some recent coverage of a new reel-to-reel tape machine by Metaxas & Sins that looks like it was designed by and for Tony Stark. If this is the future of high-end audio, count us in!
Sources:
"Why Surround Sound Doesn’t Make Sense for Music" by Andrew Heinzman: https://www.reviewgeek.com/129509/why-surround-sound-doesnt-make-sense-for-music/
"Jesse Ray Ernster & Bob Clearmountain on Mixing: 'We…
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Sep 23, 2022
Look at My Curves - Sonarworks SoundID SR | AirPods Pro 2G Noise Canceling | JBL’s L75ms Integrated Music System
In this week’s first segment (3:20 to 24:00), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger have a conversation about a proposed new headphone tuning standard from Sonarworks called SoundID SR. What does it do and why does it exist? And does it reveal any flaws in the Harman Curve?
Next up (24:34 to 38:36) they react to the reporting on the announcement and release of Apple’s new second-generation AirPods Pro earphones, specifically the claim that these things block “two times as much noise.” Or is it “two times more noise”? And what do either of those things even mean? (Hint: they don’t mean the same thing.)
In the third segment (39:11 to 49:30), they dig deep into Gordon Brockhouse’s exciting new review of the JBL L75ms Integrated Music System for SoundStage! Simplifi. This all-in-one music player combines forward-thinking connectivity and crossover design with retro-yet-timeless styling, all wrapped in a gorgeous walnut cabinet, and Brent and Dennis are here for it.
S…
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Sep 16, 2022
The Ka-CHUNK Sound - ”Creem” Magazine | 8-Track Tapes | ”AudioXpress” on Room Acoustics | MidJourney
In this week’s first segment (3:33 to 14:28), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger start by celebrating the return of Creem magazine and discussing a new article about the resurrection of 8-track tapes thanks to Sacred Bones Records.
Next up (15:26 to 37:09) they dig into the August issue of AudioXpress, which is dedicated to acoustics and acoustical treatments. Unsurprisingly, Brent and Dennis have opinions about how the high-end audio industry covers room acoustics, including the fact that the most thorough and conclusive research on this subject has largely been ignored.
And for something completely different (38:06 to 51:00), they discuss a recent SoundStage! Access article by Dennis about Midjourney, a text-to-image neural network that might give some insights into public perception of the audiophile hobby.
Sources:
“Sacred Bones Resurrects the Objectively Greatest Audio Format: The 8-Track” by Grace Scott: https://www.creem.com/fresh-creem/sacred-bones-records-sacr…
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Sep 1, 2022
The Race Is On! - Strata-gee.com on Consumer Trends | Stereophile’s 60th | 2022-2023 EISA Awards
In this week’s first segment (2:54 to 13:57), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger opine about a new report from Strata-gee.com about consumer trends in difficult economic times, and speculate about what all of this may mean for hi-fi, especially given how luxury-focused our hobby has become.
Next up (14:27 to 28:28) they springboard off an article about the 60th anniversary of Stereophile to discuss how that publication changed the way we read and write about audio, how the industry has changed since the magazine launched, as well as how much it has changed since John Atkinson became editor in the late 1980s.
Finally (29:09 to 47:43), they dig into SoundStage! Hi-Fi’s coverage of the 2022-2023 EISA Awards. What are these awards, how are they selected, who votes on them, and which of the awards resonates most with Brent and Dennis?
Sources:
“Data Suggests Inflation-Impacted High-Income Consumers are ‘Trading Down’” by Ted Green: https://www.strata-gee.com/data-sugg…
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Aug 18, 2022
Episode 14: The Credible Hulk - KEF LS60 Speaker System | The Absolute Sound on Measurements | Copper on Headphones
In this week’s first segment (3:00 to 15:04), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger get the ball rolling by agreeing that Gordon Brockhouse’s review of the KEF LS60 Wireless active speaker system is probably the most important speaker review of 2022, and you should definitely read it.
They follow that with a discussion (16:05 to 38:05) about a new blog post from The Absolute Sound’s Tom Martin that effectively presents bad measurements as proof that measurements are bad.
Finally (38:54 to 51:20), they dig into part two of Copper Magazine’s coverage of the AES Europe Spring 2022 convention, specifically a paper titled “Survey of User Perspectives on Headphone Technology.” There are some interesting revelations here. Will they influence the way Brent reviews headphones? And what do these data tell us about where, when, and how people are using headphones? The results might surprise you.
Sources:
"KEF LS60 Wireless Active Speaker System” review by Gordon Brockhouse:…
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Jul 29, 2022
Episode 13: MoFi-pocalypse - Mobile Fidelity Digital Debacle | Monitor Audio Studio 20 | iFi Audio Zen One Signature
In this week’s first segment (02:48 to 15:52), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger share their varied opinions on “MoFi-gate,” the biggest scandal in the analog audiophile world right now. It turns out that Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab—long lauded for their all-analog production process—actually creates their lacquer masters from 4X DSD files these days, not directly from the master tapes. Will this be the end of this revered audiophile company? Is the outrage justified? Brent and Dennis have thoughts.
Next up (16:24 to 28:15), they dig back through the Stereophile archives to discuss a review of the Monitor Audio Studio 20 loudspeaker written by Robert Harley in 1991, complete with measurements by John Atkinson. Monitor Audio is a brand beloved by Brent and Dennis alike, so this throwback review gives them both the opportunity to reflect on just how much has changed in the world of loudspeaker design in the past 30 years.
Finally (28:50 to 39:20), they dig into James Ha…
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Jul 22, 2022
Episode 12: The ’Free Bird’ of Hi-Fi - Audio Group Denmark and RF | Pitt & Giblin and ”Future-Fi” | Selective Product Reviews
In this week’s first segment (3:24 to 24:13), hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger once again discuss the issue of RF interference, this time with regard to electronics, not speakers. A new product by Audio Group Denmark purports to deliver three levels of protection against noise sneaking in on your gear’s unused inputs. Is there anything to it?
Next up (24:44 to 36:46), they geek out over a really wild new speaker from Pitt & Giblin, which looks like a steampunk analog audiophile dream, but is powered by the latest in active class-D technology. That leads right into a sort of philosophical musing by John Darko of Darko Audio about a category he’s dubbed “Future-Fi.”
Finally (37:18 to 51:10), they dig into a piece by SoundStage! editorial overlord Jeff Fritz about why audio journalists review some brands and not others. This gives Brent and Dennis the opportunity to discuss their somewhat different philosophies about what to review and why, and how PR and brand recogn…
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Jul 5, 2022
Episode 11: Maybe This is Satire - McIntosh LB200 Light Box | Vintage Hi-Fi | ChiFi Earphones
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/c…
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Jun 19, 2022
Episode 10: Double-U Tee Eff - $29,150 Headphone Stack | Measurements Good and Bad | ”Resolving” PS Audio
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…
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Jun 4, 2022
Episode 9: The Actual Sausage-Making - How We Listen | More on Munich’s High End 2022 | KEF LS60 Wireless Speaker System
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 Frit…
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May 26, 2022
Episode 8: Sitting In a Sweat Box - Bankrupt Onkyo | KEF LS60 Wireless | SoundStage! at Munich’s High End
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 Ban…
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May 7, 2022
Episode 7: Somewhat Marginal in Functionality - Bose Layoffs | Headphone Consistency | Hearing Health
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…
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Apr 20, 2022
Episode 6: You Could Be Beyoncé - Stenheim & Paradigm | Live-Music Reference | Montreal Audiofest 2022
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.soundstageh…
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Apr 8, 2022
Episode 5: Dancing About Architecture - Graffiti Jazz | Dirac’s Auto Target Curve | Cutting-Edge Class-D
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-…
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Mar 25, 2022
Episode 4: Cryogenically Frozen Kitty Litter - RF Filter | Wilson Lōkē Sub | DACs | Blind-Test Problems
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.p…
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Mar 9, 2022
Episode 3: Like Marriages and War - Measurements | Headphone Sound | Sound United | Florida Audio Expo
In this episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger dig deep into the former's most recent editorial on SoundStage! Solo: "Why You Shouldn't Always Rely on Measurements." They also give their take on the recent news that medical equipment manufacturer Masimo has purchased Sound United—parent company of Denon, Polk, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, Classé, Definitive Technology, and Boston Acoustics—for a billion bucks.
Finally, Brent and Dennis take a virtual stroll through SoundStage! Global's coverage of the 2022 Florida Audio Expo and talk about the products they most wish they could have auditioned for themselves.
Sources:
"Why You Shouldn't Always Rely on Measurements" by Brent Butterworth: https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/325-why-you-shouldnt-always-rely-on-measurements
"Thoughts on Reviewing" by Jim Austin: https://www.stereophile.com/content/thoughts-reviewing
"Segmentation of Listeners Based on Their Preferred H…
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Feb 22, 2022
Episode2: Stop Me If I Get Unhinged - A Dangerous Myth | NFTs | Danny Richie & Reviewer Corruption
In this episode of the SoundStage Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger dig into The Most Dangerous Myth in Audio and open up the reader mailbag to find a link to an alternative point of view from The Absolute Sound. That leads right into a discussion of a recent Audioholics piece about NFTs, the art market, and the future of hi-fi.
Lastly, they dig deep into a recent video from Danny Richie of GR-Research about corruption in the audiophile press and how YouTube reviewers aren't quite savvy enough to review his gear.
Sources:
"The Most Dangerous Myth in Audio" by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/feature-articles/1174-the-most-dangerous-myth-in-audio
"Philosophical Notes: Secrets You Need to Know to Be an Audiophile, p.1" by Tom Martin: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/philosophical-notes-secrets-you-need-to-know-to-be-an-audiophile-p-1
"Measuring Sensory Memory: Magnetoencephalography Habituation and Psychophysics" by Zhong…
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Feb 10, 2022
Episode 1: Kerfuffle Coming Up! - Headphones vs. Speakers | Cheap Speakers | Less-than-Perfect $45K Amps
In this inaugural episode of the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger dig into fan mail, relitigate the great “headphones vs. speakers” debate, and discuss why they’re hopping on the podcasting bandwagon at this juncture.
They also riff on a recent video from The Audiophiliac himself, Steve Guttenberg, about why you shouldn’t spend a ton of dough on your first pair of speakers. The two also pontificate about a hot new Kickstarter campaign for the Heavys, the first modern wireless headphones aimed squarely at metalheads, and speculate about why no manufacturer is making cans specifically for the underserved Yacht Rock community.
Lastly, they dig into a new article by SoundStage! editor-in-chief Jeff Fritz titled “Stereophile and D'Agostino: Is It Really a Progression?” Is there really any excuse for a $45K/pair monoblock amplifier to measure anything less than perfectly? And what do those measurements mean, really? Unsurprisingly, Brent…
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