The HiFi Five Podcast

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...

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 Absolut...

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 replacin...

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...

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 obses...

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 electr...

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 ri...

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-sc...

Welcome to The HiFi Five -- a weekly news and roundtable discussion show about all things high-end audio! Featuring: Ron Resnick (moderator) - WhatsBestForum; audio reviewer Our other chairs will feature co-hosts and one-time guests and recurring guests. This show is a candid, freewheeling, behind-the-scenes look at the high-end audio industry.  We're going to give you insight, opinions and p...

This is a Special Episode in which we respond to Robert Harley's editorial, "Magazine Ethics," in the April 2026 issue of The Absolute Sound. Welcome to The HiFi Five -- a weekly news and roundtable discussion show about all things high-end audio! Featuring: Jay Caceres - Jay's Audio Lab; pre-owned dealer; audio reviewer  Elliot Goldman - Bending Wave USA; high-end audio distri...

Welcome to The HiFi Five -- a weekly news and roundtable discussion show about all things high-end audio! Featuring: Jay Caceres - Jay's Audio Lab; pre-owned dealer; audio reviewer  Elliot Goldman - Bending Wave USA; high-end audio distributor and retailer Danny Kaey - EMMLabs Advisor Sonic Flare; audio and music reviewer R on Resnick (moderator) - WhatsBestForum; audio reviewer Our fifth cha...

What has been your experience on the show so far?  Where would you like us to take the show from here? How does the Florida Audio show compare to other shows in the U.S. or Canada? Is it true that Stereophile boycotted the Florida Audio show? Do dealers do a disservice to their customers by telling customers that every new version of a component, every upgrade, every update will get them closer to...

This week saw the announcement of the industry's first seven figure component — the Borresen M8 at $1,200,000.  Is the race for eye-popping MSRPs good or bad for the industry?  Why do manufacturers hire a distributor, instead of managing a network of dealers directly? How difficult is it to find qualified retailers for high-end brands in the USA? Can high-end products be properly represented...

What aspect of vinyl playback do you believe is most misunderstood, and how do different turntable designs try to address it? Do different turntable drive systems have a consistent sonic signature?  Do most direct drive turntables sound similar?  Do most belt drive turntables sound similar? What is most important to the sound of the system:  the turntable, the tonearm or the phono cartridge? How i...

Which is the most technologically impressive audio manufacturer factory you have ever visited? Is there any way to bridge the subjectivist audio/measurements objectivist divide? Do you personally believe that everything we hear can be measured? How can any advertiser supported magazine or review site or YT channel maintain editorial independence and honesty?  Doesn’t advertising become influence e...

How have the scientific studies of hearing and audio at Bell Labs and at Harman impacted your work in audio? Why has the industry not insisted that reviewers, manufacturers, influencers and marketers to publish their ear hearing measurements as evidence of credibility for their audio pronouncements? Are there inherent sonic advantages to:  dipole planar speakers, horn speakers, dynamic driver spea...

Welcome to The HiFi Five -- a weekly news and roundtable discussion show about all things high-end audio! Featuring: Jay Caceres - Jay's Audio Lab; pre-owned dealer; audio reviewer Elliot Goldman - Bending Wave USA; high-end audio distributor and retailer Danny Kaey - EMMLabs Advisor Sonic Flare; audio and music reviewer Ron Resnick (moderator) - WhatsBestForum; audio reviewer  Our fifth chai...

In Episode 14 we discuss: If you had to judge a very expensive, high-end stereo system using only one song what track do you choose and why? Why should any audiophile listen to YouTube Influencers? How should influencers deal with the conflicts of interest between what they tell their audiences and what they sell? What brands and components do you not sell but which you like a lot and think sound...

In Episode 13 we discuss: When is high pricing actually too much? Is $151,000 for speaker cables just absurd?  How can the absolute sound and Stereophile remain truthful while still making money? Should the magazines help whitewash and cover up component defects? Is the traditional Harry Pearson-style comparative review dead? What is a review today?  Are today's reviews any different than a l...

In Episode 12 we discuss: — What was the moment you fell in love with high-end audio? — What was the first system you were wowed by? Elliot tells Harry Pearson stories! — What is your most memorable system of all time? — What audio component would you like to get in the coming year? — Horn loudspeakers? — Audio related New Year’s resolutions?

In Episode 11 we discuss: — How did audio get so combative? Is it typical internet keyboard warrioring, or are audiophiles exceptionally s#itty? — In the same seat in the concert hall we all hear substantially the same thing.  So why do our stereos end up sounding so different? Danny, Elliot and Jay say it is just personal  preferences or lack of listening education. Ron explains his hypothesis ab...

In Episode 10 we discuss: — How do manufacturers/distributor/dealers get non-audiophile wealthy people to buy expensive systems? We discuss introducing new people into the hobby, Maier Shadi of The Audio Salon and Joe Cali’s Gryphon LA showroom  — Which cable in the audio system makes the biggest sonic difference, and why? Jay discusses the main AC distribution cable, and Danny, Elliot and Ron vot...