The HiFi Five Podcast

The HiFi Five Episode 43: Solid-State Versus Tube Amplifiers

Guests

David Berning -- Founder and Designer of The David Berning Company

John Curl -- Founder and Designer of Vendetta Research, Designer for Parasound and for Mark Levinson

Michael Fremer -- Founder and Editor of Tracking Angle and the Editor at Large of The Absolute Sound

Ralph Karsten -- Founder and Designer of Atma-Sphere

The HiFi Five Episode 42: Truths About Cables

Guests:

Matthew Bond -- Founder and Designer, Matthew Bond Audio; formerly Founder and Designer at Tara Labs

Galen Gareis -- Designer at Iconoclast Cables; formerly Principal Engineer at Belden Wire & Cable

Ralph Karsten -- Founder and Designer of Atma-Sphere tube and solid-state electronics

William Low -- Founder and Chief Designer of Audioquest

Eric Neff -- Reviewer for HiFi+ Magazine

This is the most candid and insightful discussion about cables every recorded!

Topics:

A $25 interconnect vs. a $250,000 one, a 10,000-to-1 price gap. Where does the extra money stop buying better sound?

Expectation bias is real. So how does someone who sells cables justify sighted listening over blind testing?

Can everything that matters sonically about a cable be measured objectively, or do the measurements miss things we can hear?

How much of the sound of a cable is attributable to the electrical characteristics of the two components the cable is connecting?

How should an audiophile go about selecting cables?

Where does diminishing returns set in on cables?

The "full loom": real engineering or just a way to sell you more cable?

What's the biggest myth audiophiles believe about cables?

This is the most actionable, answer-packed discussion about set-up issues and conundrums we all face ever recorded!

Guests:

Frank Doris -- Editor, Copper Magazine; Senior Associate Editor, Positive FeedbackPeter Noerbaek -- Founder and Designer, PBN Audio

Lee Scoggins -- Reviewer, Positive Feedback

Norman Varney -- Founder, A/V RoomService

Topics:

What are the most common setup mistakes audiophiles make?

Can measurements really tell you where to put your speakers and listening chair -or do you ultimately have to trust your ears?

What do you do when bass problems simply won’t go away? TubeTraps, subwoofer swarm, digital EQ or active bass?

Process for selecting cables.

What if your system sounds edgy and fatiguing around 4–5 kHz? How do you figure out what’s actually causing it?

Should your equipment rack be between the speakers—or along a side wall? Can its location actually change the sound?

Speakers spikes or no spikes? Component footers?

The HiFi Five Episode 40: Are HiFi Influencers Breaking the Rules?

This episode shines a bright line on many questionable practices in the industry, and proposes a remedy.

Guests:

Frank Doris -- Editor of Copper Magazine, Senior Associate Editor at Positive Feedback

Mike Powell -- OCD HiFi Guy and founder of the audio brand Verastarr and online dealer 11Stereo

Stu McCreary -- attorney and Senior Associate Editor and legal counsel for Positive-Feedback

David Robinson -- Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Positive Feedback

Topics:

Are some YouTube, magazine and influencer reviews really paid endorsements in disguise?

If a reviewer, YouTuber or influential audiophile gets free gear, an accommodation price or a huge discount, should you be told? What about the “ordinary hobbyist” who gets a sweetheart deal because a manufacturer expects him/her to talk about the product online?

When does a long-term “review loan” stop being a loan and become compensation? And what if the reviewer eventually sells the gear and keeps -- or shares -- the profit?

What are the Federal Trade Commission rules already requiring reviewers, influencers and audio companies disclose some of their business relationships?

Should the industry adopt the disclosure rule proposed by Ron in the episode?

The HiFi Five Episode 39: Is Vinyl All That?

Guests:

Jefferson Douglas -- CEO of Tubelandia Music

Mike Lavigne -- audiophile hobbyist

Amadeus Meitner -- Managing Director, EMM Labs and Meitner

Doug Schneider -- founder of SoundStage!

Topics:

Which is the best sounding format, and what does best sounding mean?

When great vinyl beats state-of-the-art digital, what are we really hearing -- the format, better mastering, or better gear?

If master tape is the ultimate reference, which gets closer: vinyl or digital?

If an LP was recorded, mixed or mastered digitally, what exactly do you gain by playing it on vinyl? Can mastering digital onto vinyl actually make it sound better?

Where does another $25,000 buy you more sonic improvement -- vinyl or digital?

Twenty years from now, will vinyl still be a reference-quality format -- or mainly a collectible experience while digital becomes the unquestioned reference?

The HiFi Five Episode 38: Buying Used Components and Repairs

Guests:

Morrison Agen -- Hardcore HiFi, a dealer and component repair and restoration business

Jay Caceres -- Jay’s Audio Lab, a dealer in used components

Peter Glenn -- Director of Quality Assurance at The Music Room, a dealer in used components

Jim Yager -- audiophile hobbyist

Topics:

Is buying used actually the smartest way to build a great high-end audio system?

What high-end components are safest to buy used -- and which are the biggest gamble?

What components are easiest to resell -- and which ones can you get stuck with?

Are used high-end audio prices getting ridiculous -- or are today’s prices actually justified?

How big does the used discount have to be before you’re willing to give up the security of a factory warranty?

What actually breaks more often: relatively new high-end components or vintage gear -- and are tubes or solid state easier to keep running?

How does Jay’s Audio Lab and The Music Room determine their buying prices and their selling prices?

The HiFi Five Episode 37: Southwest Audio Fest 2026 Show Report

Guests:

Chad Crawley -- audiophile hobbyist

Gary Gill -- founder and organizer of the Southwest Audio Fest and Capital Audio Fest

Matt Philpot -- YouTube channel Everyday Audiophile

Keith Rochelli -- audiophile hobbyist

Joey Veloso -- President of the DFW Audiophile Club

Topics:

Was Southwest Audio Fest better than last year—or did it take a step backward?

Which new components were the biggest surprises… and which failed to impress?

Favorite exhibits?

Best affordable systems?

Can you really judge a six-figure audio system by how it sounds in a hotel room?

Do the most expensive systems actually sound the best at an audio show?

What was the biggest piece of industry gossip or insider information we heard at SWAF?

In this The HiFi Five Special Episode Ron Resnick interviews Mr. Roger Hwang, the CEO of Crystal International Group Inc. and Crystal Claire Cosmetics Inc., who explains the many recent corporate and personnel developments at Audio Research Corporation and at Acora Acoustics.

The HiFi Five Episode 35: Dynaudio Withdrawal and Distributor Life Today

Guests:

Brian Ackerman -- Founder of Aaudio Imports

Bill Leebens -- CEO of Leebens Marketing and Management

Doug Schneider -- Founder of SoundStage!

Hiram Toro -- Founder of Supreme Acoustic Systems and of Decibel+

Topics:

Is this an isolated case, or the first major warning sign that the economics of importing high-end audio into North America have changed fundamentally?

What role did tariffs really play in Dynaudio’s decision to leave the U.S. market

Are U.S. distributors facing the toughest business environment they’ve seen in decades?

Who really pays the tariffs on imported high-end audio—the manufacturer, the importer, the dealer, or ultimately the consumer

How today can foreign imported brands compete against domestic brands?

In this Episode 34 the guests and Ron explain thirteen full system recommendations from $500 to $100,000! The HiFi Five supports budget and student audiophiles!

Guests:

Erin Hardison -- Erin’s Audio Corner

Danny Kaey -- Sonic Flare

Eric Neff - Reviewer for HiFi+ Magazine

Andrew Quint -- Senior Writer at The Absolute Sound

Additional Topics:

How should audiophiles divide their budget among speakers, amplifier, preamplifier, source components and cables?

Would you rather have outstanding speakers with modest electronics, or modest speakers with outstanding electronics? Why?

Should audiophiles select the loudspeaker first, and match an amplifier to the loudspeaker, or select the amplifier first and match a loudspeaker to the amplifier?

Which source experiences faster diminishing returns to improving sound quality, digital playback or vinyl playback?

The HiFi Five Episode 33: Axiss Lawsuit

Guests:

Chad Crawley -- audiophile hobbyist

Erin Hardison -- Erin's Audio Corner

Kerry Harvey -- commercial transactions attorney who has litigated dozens of cases and served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and audiophile hobbyist

Doug Schneider -- founder of SoundStage!

Steven Stone -- Senior Reviewer at The Absolute Sound

The Hi-Fi Five Episode 32: Getting Kids into Music and Audio

Guests:

May Anwar -- Scientist, college educator, co-founder of M101 Audio and the creator of “Passport to Sound”

Steve Lefkowicz -- Senior Associate Editor at Positive Feedback

Joe Pavel -- audiophile hobbyist parent

Max Pavel -- audiophile hobbyist kid

Topics:

• Are headphones and earbuds creating tomorrow’s audiophiles -- or replacing traditional stereo systems?

• Could video gaming ultimately do more to create music lovers than the hi-fi industry itself?

• Is streaming producing passionate music fans -- or impatient listeners who never slow down long enough to really listen?

• Is YouTube helping young people discover great music and sound -- or distracting them from both?

• If we could change one thing about the hobby to make it irresistible to younger listeners, what would it be?

THE HIFI FIVE Episode 31: High End Vienna 2026 Show Report

Learn what really happened at the show, best sounding exhibits, most exciting component debuts and industry discussions!

Guests:

Edgar Kramer -- Editor-in-Chief of SoundStage! Australia

Mikhail Kuzemchenko -- audiophile hobbyist

Carlo Lo Raso -- Editor-in-Chief of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

Greg Weaver -- The Audio Analyst on YouTube, Senior Editor at Positive Feedback

The first High End Vienna has come and gone, and opinions are already divided. Did Vienna actually improve on munich? On this episode of The HiFi Five, we ask:

Was moving the show from Munich a mistake -- or a major upgrade?

Why didn’t High End Society secure additional venue capacity instead of effectively encouraging satellite shows?

Favorite affordable and favorite cost no object systems.

Which mega-buck systems failed to impress?

Which affordable systems embarrassed components costing ten times as much?

What products created the most buzz?

The owners of MSB and veteran reviewers tackle some of the biggest -- and most divisive -- questions in digital audio:

Guests:

Daniel Francis -- Co-owner and Industrial Designer of MSB Technology

Jonathan Gullman -- Co-owner and CEO of MSB Technology

Doug Schneider -- Founder of SoundStage!

Steven Stone -- Senior Reviewer, The Absolute Sound

Topics:

Why are some experienced audiophiles still obsessed with “obsolete” DAC chips from the 1990s? Are vintage multi-bit designs hearing something modern DACs miss?

Non-oversampling and filterless DACs: More natural and analog -- or technically compromised nostalgia?

Can measurements really tell us what a DAC will sound like? Which specs matter, which are marketing, and how do you know the measurements themselves are trustworthy?

How should an audiophile’s digital budget be split between DAC and streamer?

USB, I²S, co-axial, XDMI, etc. do digital interfaces actually sound different? If the bits are the same, what exactly are listeners hearing?

If live music includes ambient noise, why are DAC companies obsessed with “blacker backgrounds” and vanishingly low noise floors? Does technical silence really sound more believable?

Where should the clock be located?

Have we nearly reached the end of meaningful DAC progress? Are today’s flagship DACs approaching the ceiling -- or are major breakthroughs still coming?

The HiFi Five Episode 29: Field Coil Loudspeakers

GUESTS

Frank Doris -- Editor of Copper Magazine, Senior Associate Editor at Positive Feedback

Rich Pinto -- Founder and Designer, Treehaus Audio

Peter Qvortrup -- Founder and Managing Director, Audio Note UK

Ken Songer -- Founder and Designer, Songer Audio

TOPICS

Why are field coil drivers something special sonically?

Permanent magnets and electromagnets both generate a magnetic field. Why does the sound coming off the cone sound different when it's moved by one type of magnet versus the other? What is the technical advantage of using an electromagnet?Are most field coil drivers fabricated in-house or bought off the shelf?

Does the type of power supply — tube or solid-state — affect the sound of the driver?

How does the sound change as you change the power supply voltage to the electromagnet? Why?

Is there any scenario where a permanent magnet driver is the better engineering choice than a field coil driver for a loudspeaker?

Are there any specific objective measurements which demonstrate the technical superiority of field coil drivers?

Can you imagine traditional loudspeakers manufacturers like Magico or Wilson moving to field coil drivers?

The HiFi Five Episode 28: Multi-Channel for Audiophiles

Guests:

Ulrike Schwarz — Grammy award-nominated co-founder of multi-channel recording firm Anderson Audio New York

Andrew Quint — Senior Writer at The Absolute Sound

Arian Jansen — founder and designer of Sonorus Audio

Danny Kaey — Sonic Flare, hifi reviewer

The HiFi Five Episode 27: AXPONA 2026 Show Report with Jeff Dorgay, Erin Hardison, Lee Scoggins and Dave Solomon

The HiFi Five Episode 26: How to Select a Loudspeaker and Room Placement

Shanon McKellar, audio and music reviewer for Analog Planet

Steven Norber, founder and designer of PranaFidelity dynamic driver loudspeakers, and Director of Audio Engineering of Von Schweikert Audio

Greg Roberts, founder and designer of Volti Audio horn loudspeakers

Florian Wiegand, founder and designer of Clarisys Audio ribbon loudspeakers, and proprietor of Audio Excess, a distributor and dealer in Switzerland

Episode 25: Measurements for Subjectivist Audiophiles

Ron Resnick (host/moderator): WhatsBestForum

Brent Butterworth: Wirecutter, Audio Unleased, Audio Journalist

Danny Kaey: EMM Labs, Sonic Flare, HiFi Reviewer

Ralph Karsten: Atma-Sphere

Episode 24: Component Selection and System Building

Ron Resnick (moderator): WhatsBestForum

Danny Kaey: EMM Labs, Sonic Flare, HiFi Reviewer

Doug Schneider: SoundStage

Peter Noerbaek: PBN Audio

Mike Lavigne: prominent audiophile hobbyist

Welcome to The HiFi Five -- a weekly news and roundtable discussion show about all things high-end audio.

This show is a candid, freewheeling, behind-the-scenes look at the high-end audio industry. We're going to give you insights, opinions and perspectives, while also discussing components, music, system-building and how to get the most out of your audio system.