Audio Insider, an AXPONA Podcast

Lenny Florentine welcomes Bill Low, founder of AudioQuest, to the AXPONA Audio Insider podcast for a deep, thought-provoking conversation about music, emotion, and what truly makes us listen. Far beyond cables and components, Bill shares his philosophy that music is the world's most popular recreational drug — a force that changes brain chemistry, mood, and human connection. He explains how hi-fi...

Lenny Florentine sits down with Isaac Markowitz from REL Acoustics to talk subs, setup, and the new S Series. Isaac shares his path from music kid to sales leader, why REL focuses on speed, power, and beauty, and how high level analog filtering keeps timing intact. They dig into S 550, S 850, Carbon Special, and S 212, plus the cable tricks and high level connections that make integration easy for...

In this episode, Lenny Florentine sits down with Justin Weber, founder of Ampsandsound, to explore the craftsmanship and philosophy behind one of the most respected American tube amplifier companies. From Justin's early fascination with hi-fi and his journey from hobbyist to builder, to the creation of beautifully hand-wired amplifiers made entirely in Southern California. This conversation digs d...

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with Franz Ammann from Gotham Audio. Founded in New York City in 1958 and now based in Switzerland, Gotham Audio has built its reputation on precision, consistency, and signal purity. Franz shares the story behind Gotham's evolution from distributing Neumann microphones and EMT turntables to manufacturing its own doubl...

In this episode, Lenny Florentine is joined by Eric Smith from Fidelity Imports to explore one of the most exciting new names in streaming: Matrix Audio. Born from three high school audiophiles with a passion for great sound and great design, Matrix has grown into one of the most complete digital audio manufacturers in the world. They design everything in-house—from the hardware and software to th...

A new name in high-end audio has arrived — and it's anything but ordinary. In this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, host Lenny Florentine sits down once again with Jeff Coats from Harmonia Distribution to introduce Ø Audio, a bold Norwegian loudspeaker brand making its U.S. debut. Founded by Sveinung Mala and Jonathan Cook, Audio blends Scandinavian craftsmanship with raw sonic power,...

Analog lovers, you're going to enjoy this one. In this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, host Lenny Florentine sits down with Greg Beron of United Home Audio, the man keeping reel-to-reel tape alive in the modern hi-fi world. Greg shares how he went from being laughed at during the rise of digital audio to becoming one of the most respected builders of audiophile-grade tape decks. He ex...

In this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny sits down with Tom and Monica from Cymatix—a father-daughter team bringing groundbreaking speaker design to the hi-fi world. Tom shares his journey from building speakers in Poland over 40 years ago to creating some of the most ambitious compound planar drivers available today. Monica opens up about leaving a corporate career to embrace th...

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with Chris from Focal and Naim to talk about the evolution of hi-fi, from car audio beginnings to groundbreaking headphone technology and now to the all-new Diva Utopia and Diva Mezza Utopia wireless speakers. These models combine Focal's decades of loudspeaker innovation with Naim's legendary amplification, bringing t...

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with Jean-Loup from Devialet to explore how the French company blends cutting-edge technology with bold design. From the breakthrough ADH hybrid amplification and the original Expert amplifiers to the iconic Phantom speakers, Devialet has redefined what high-end audio can look and sound like. We also dive into their la...

This week on the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast Lenny Florentine sits down with Jeff Coates of Harmonia, the U.S. distributor for Fyne Audio. Jeff shares his journey into hi-fi, the story behind Fyne's creation, and what makes their IsoFlare driver and vintage-inspired loudspeakers so special. From speaker design breakthroughs to music that inspires, this conversation dives deep into passion, histor...

Step inside the story of SOTA Turntables with Christan as he shares his journey from a teenage stereo shop kid to owner of one of the most respected analog brands in hi-fi. We talk about how his background as a musician shaped his approach to design, why locally sourced materials and precision engineering matter, and the legacy of SOTA's suspended turntable philosophy dating back to 1979. Christan...

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny sits down with Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds, founder of one of the most important names in the audiophile world. From a small passion for records in the 1980s to running a company with its own record label, mastering facility, printing shop, and the world-renowned Quality Record Pressings (QRP) plant, Chad has built a complete vinyl ecos...

In this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with Joe from Tributaries and Clarus Cables—and doesn't hold back. From asking whether high-end cables are just snake oil to pressing for the real science behind the sound, this conversation isn't your typical soft-ball interview. Joe shares his incredible journey from managing a legendary Mac dealer in the '70s to lau...

AXPONA's Lenny Florentine sits down with Sheree and Val from Acora Acoustics to explore how their pioneering use of granite and marble cabinets transforms hi‑fi listening. From their 1998 launch of handcrafted granite speakers to the new MRC marble series starting at $8,000, they reveal how exotic stone and accuton ceramic drivers deliver unmatched clarity, dynamics, and consistency. Discover the...

On this episode of the Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with Dave Nauber of T + A to explore his journey from teenage hi‑fi enthusiast to industry leader, and to uncover what makes T + A's gear so uniquely captivating. Dave shares how a chance summer job working at a local audio shop led him through engineering studies, roles at Madrigal Audio Labs and Classé, and ultimately to sp...

This week on the Audio Insider Podcast, Steve from 16Wurkz discusses his groundbreaking subwoofer wall-mount system that transforms bass by addressing room acoustics in three dimensions. Steve explains how gravity grip rails and red cedar mounting boards work together to elevate your subwoofer at shoulder height or near the ceiling without harming your walls. You'll learn the simple tic-tac-toe pl...

On this episode of the Axpona Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny sits down with EveAnna Manley of Manley Labs, one of the most respected names in high-end American audio. EveAnna shares how she got started in the industry, how her first solo design—the Stingray—helped define the Manley sound, and why building powerful, honest-sounding tube gear in California remains at the heart of what they do. From 10...

In this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine is joined by Harley Lovegrove from Pearl Acoustics. Broadcasting from Belgium, Harley shares the fascinating story behind the Model One loudspeaker, a single-driver, crossover-free design built from solid French oak. It's a minimalist speaker with a massive following, known for its lifelike sound and handcrafted quality. Harley...

What does isolation actually do for your system? In this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny sits down with Dave from IsoAcoustics to break down the science and the emotion behind proper isolation. From speakers to turntables, Dave shares how their new Gaia NEO series unlocks detail, lowers noise floors, and brings out the space in your music like never before. We also talk about wh...

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with Rob Standley, the founder of Playback Distribution—a company that's rapidly become a driving force behind some of the most talked-about hi-fi brands today. Rob shares how growing up on a ranch in Montana led to a lifelong love of music, a deep dive into audio retail, and eventually launching Playback Distribution....

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with the OG JZ—not the rapper, but Jay Zidle from DALI Speakers. From his early days cutting speaker wire in Montreal to helping grow one of Denmark's biggest audio exports, Jay shares his journey into high-end hi-fi. Learn how DALI (Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries) became a global powerhouse with its groundbr...

On this episode of the Axpona Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny Florentine sits down with David Solomon from Qobuz to talk about why this high-res streaming platform is making serious waves in the audiophile world. From the origin of its name - yes, it's based on an ancient instrument played by shamans - to why it's the only major service that still uses human-curated playlists instead of AI. David sha...

On this episode of the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast, Lenny sits down with Peter Comeau, the legendary designer behind iconic speakers from Mission, Wharfedale, Leak, and more. With over 45 years in the industry, Peter shares his journey from hi-fi retail on London's Tottenham Court Road to shaping the sound of generations of loudspeakers. They dive deep into the stories behind the Linton, Super Li...

Andrew Jones joins us on the AXPONA Audio Insider Podcast for a deep dive into his legendary career in speaker design—from his early days at KEF to the debut of the all-new SourcePoint V10. We talk about his obsession with concentric drivers, the evolution from the 888 to the V10, and the emotional power of music that makes him—and his listeners—tear up during demos. He shares never-heard stories...