SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast

This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Dominique Lingruen, vice president of sales for Linkplay Technology Inc., parent company of WiiM—a fast-growing hi-fi brand whose expanding lineup includes streamers, amplifiers, wireless speakers, subwoofers, and other products designed for the modern connected audio system.

Topics of conversation include Dominique’s personal history in hi-fi, WiiM’s meteoric rise, the importance of personalization, how the company is reaching a younger and more female audience, what happened with AirPlay, and—perhaps most importantly—the best recipe for banana pancakes.

Plus, what does WiiM even mean? Jorden finds out.

Sources:

WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Integrated Amplifier review by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1358-wiim-amp-ultra-streaming-integrated-amplifier

“The WiiM Amp Ultra—What’s Happened to Me?” by Jason Thorpe: https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/opinion-menu/1297-the-wiim-amp-ultra-whats-happened-to-me

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions
00:03:22 Manifesting Beckham
00:06:23 It’s pronounced “WiiM”
00:08:20 The pieces of the Linkplay puzzle
00:13:56 Taking a big bet
00:18:31 Appealing to different demographics
00:21:28 From hi-fi to home theater
00:24:32 What happened with AirPlay
00:28:30 The future
00:30:47 The headphone hook and the vinyl fad
00:35:39 My-fi?
00:40:14 What would a WiiM AVR look like?
00:41:23 Outro music: “Four Leaf Clover” by Louis Island

Host Jorden Guth welcomes Emotiva founder Dan Laufman back to the podcast for a conversation about where hi-fi is headed. From the retro-inspired Nostala line to the need for high-value, long-lasting audio gear, Laufman explains why making great sound more accessible is essential to the industry's future.

Sources:

“Dan Laufman on the Value of Emotiva”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/dan-laufman-on-the-value-of-emotiva/

Emotiva BasX TA2+ stereo receiver by Dennis Burger: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1393-emotiva-basx-ta2-stereo-receiver

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions and the origins of Nostala
00:04:34 Listening to the music or the speakers?
00:07:23 Who is this retro-revival supposed to appeal to?
00:10:14 Retro-inspired electronics, too?
00:12:45 Making sense of model names
00:19:42 These young audiophiles are a different breed
00:23:11 Audio isn’t like other electronics
00:30:13 Education is empowerment
00:33:51 The return of Emofest
00:35:21 The soundtrack to Dan’s life
00:37:39 Outro music: “After 2AM” by Ziggy

Host Jorden Guth is joined by Matt Simmonds, Vice President of Product Development at Lenbrook, for a behind-the-scenes look at how modern hi-fi products come to life. Simmonds discusses his family's history in audio, the origins of Bluesound, the importance of industrial design, and how companies weigh innovation, market trends, and emerging technologies like AI when deciding what products to build next.

Sources:

"Bluesound's High-Style Pulse Sub+ Subwoofer"—SoundStage! Talks (December 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2-ljBZQ4uE

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions and family traditions
00:06:34 Career-type decisions
00:10:19 Why Bluesound?
00:14:00 Design matters
00:20:53 Avoiding cannibalism
00:27:51 Polishing that crystal ball
00:33:51 AI versus the real world
00:43:04 Outro music: "Brother” by Montessori

This week, we pick up the ball from where the previous episode left off. Host Jorden Guth once again moderates a chat between podcast producer Dennis Burger and guest L. Paul Hales about the future of hi-fi and the place room correction has in that future. Topics include how one defines a good speaker, why kick drums can lose their oomph, why you wouldn’t EQ a piano, and a complete break-down of Paul’s five-point problem with room correction.

Sources:

“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/are-jl-audio-s-primacy-speakers-the-future-of-stereo/

“JL Audio’s Primacy Active Loudspeaker Systems: Charting a New Course Under Garmin” by Roger Kanno: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/blogging-on-audio/232-roger-kanno/1266-jl-audios-primacy-active-loudspeaker-systems-charting-a-new-course-under-garmin

“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?” (S5:E4): https://youtu.be/xdyxqp9kYvE?si=lZwAeCePVYoVOLl6

“Chest-Pounding Bass, Done Smarter 🔊 Theory’s Renegade Approach to LFE”: https://youtu.be/vtOgOT5hsu0?si=0J9qiAfDGGK-8XHR

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions
00:01:59 What makes a speaker good?
00:07:28 A thought experiment
00:15:54 Get that kick drum out of my ass 
00:25:07 Paul’s five-point problem with room correction
00:33:31 The question of burn-in
00:37:23 A band of speakers?
00:38:25 Outro music: "Goosefeet” by Javapysch

This week, host Jorden Guth moderates a conversation between podcast producer Dennis Burger and returning guest L. Paul Hales, founder and chief designer of California-based Pro Audio Technology. Together, they explore the future of hi-fi and the role room correction may play in shaping it. This is the first installment of a two-part discussion.

Sources:

“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?”: https://www.soundstage.life/e/are-jl-audio-s-primacy-speakers-the-future-of-stereo/

“JL Audio’s Primacy Active Loudspeaker Systems: Charting a New Course Under Garmin” by Roger Kanno: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/blogging-on-audio/232-roger-kanno/1266-jl-audios-primacy-active-loudspeaker-systems-charting-a-new-course-under-garmin

“Are JL Audio’s Primacy Speakers the Future of Stereo?” (S5:E4): https://youtu.be/xdyxqp9kYvE?si=lZwAeCePVYoVOLl6

“Chest-Pounding Bass, Done Smarter 🔊 Theory’s Renegade Approach to LFE”: https://youtu.be/vtOgOT5hsu0?si=0J9qiAfDGGK-8XHR

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions
00:09:59 Can bad rooms benefit from room correction?
00:16:43 Dennis enters the chat
00:23:15 The parable of the piano 
00:30:12 Direct vs. reverberant sound
00:36:14 Grimes theory of economic unfairness, but speakers instead of boots
00:40:59 Outro music: "Techné” by Art Against Agony