Features
SoundStage! Talks Australia Video: From Australia to Japan to Learn About Yamaha’s "True Sound" Pursuit—Part 1
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 14 December 2023 14 December 2023
In this episode, editor Edgar Kramer is at Yamaha HQ where he was the first western journalist to experience the near-finished True Sound room. In this superb acoustic space, Edgar interviews key Yamaha personnel to get insights into the True Sound philosophy.
The SoundStage! Australia Products of the Year Awards 2023
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 06 December 2023 06 December 2023
Here we go folks. I’m sitting at my desk looking out at the Narrowneck escarpment – and yes, it’s blue – thinking about what this time of year means for this publication. To me, it literally feels like it was just last week I was compiling last year’s SoundStage! Australia Awards, and now I’m doing the exact same thing again for 2023’s selections. Amazing. Going back and surveying the extraordinary products we reviewed throughout the year, I am pleased with the breadth of categories we, as a dedicated SoundStage! Australia team of authors, smashed through in 2023.
SoundStage! Talks Australia Video: Gilad Tiefebrun on Jony Ive and the $60,000 Linn LP12-50 Anniversary Turntable
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 04 December 2023 04 December 2023
Linn's CEO, Gilad Tiefenbrun, talks to SoundStage! Australia's Editor Edgar Kramer about social media platform trials, how he connected to industrial design icon Jony Ive, and how the Sondek LP12-50 Anniversary Turntable came about.
Linn Launches Sondek LP12-50 Anniversary Turntable in Sydney
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 23 November 2023 23 November 2023
Last Tuesday evening, SoundStage! Australia attended a soirée, organised by Advance Audio Australia, at Rekōdo Restaurant and Vinyl Bar, to celebrate and officially launch the new AU$90,000 Linn Sondek LP12-50 in Sydney. The new turntable is a 50th Anniversary limited-run refinement of the company’s iconic deck and one certain to become a desired collector’s item.
Tokyo International Audio Show 2023 Coverage
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 13 November 2023 13 November 2023
Konnichiwa! I was landing in one of my very favourite cities in the world yet, despite all my previous visits to Japan, criminally, I had never attended this, from all reports, delightfully quirky and densely teeming show. Hitting the Tokyo International Forum early on the morning of the first day (Friday, as this is a three-day show), I was impressed by the anticipating throngs assembled. It was, after all, the Tokyo International Audio Show’s 40th Anniversary, so the sense of excitement was palpable. Further, I was struck by the Forum’s architectural grandeur, a complex edifice of metal and glass. I was off to a kakkoii start.
Standout Rooms at StereoNET’s Melbourne Hi-Fi & AV Show 2023
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 24 October 2023 24 October 2023
Like a foghorn blaring over Albert Park lake, StereoNET’s Hi-Fi & AV Show summoned audio and music lovers from around the country and delivered a bigger and super-varied audio feast at its traditional venue, Pullman Melbourne Albert Park.
SoundStage! Talks Australia Video: From Italy with Luxury: Livio Details the Sonus Faber Serafino G2 Loudspeaker
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 23 October 2023 23 October 2023
SoundStage! Australia’s editor in chief, Edgar Kramer, talks to Sonus Faber’s chief of design, Livio Cucuzza, about the Serafino G2 loudspeaker’s design, technology, and performance targets for the penultimate model in the company’s upmarket Homage series.
Photo Feature – Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show 2023
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 13 August 2023 13 August 2023
In what seems like a stronger-than-ever comeback, the extremely popular Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show is back again for 2023. While this writer did not attend this year, SoundStage! Australia was fortunate enough to have had reviewer Peter Katsoolis’ bovver boots firmly planted on the flamboyantly carpeted ground of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. He’s heroically submitted a pictorial summation of the weekend’s huge high-end audio fest.
Factory Tour – Göbel High End
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- Written by Jean-Marie Liere Jean-Marie Liere
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 22 June 2023 22 June 2023
On the occasion of their 20 years in business, and to inaugurate their brand new factory in a new industrial estate about 40 minutes outside Munich, Oliver Göbel invited members of the press, some of his best dealers and their clients to visit his new premises. And I was invited along on behalf of SoundStage! Australia by my good friend and Chief Editor Edgar Kramer.
Factory Tour – Gryphon Audio Designs
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 15 June 2023 15 June 2023
One of the many exciting things about High End Munich is its location. Yes, Munich is a vibing city, but there’s a double whammy there. For me, it’s also a handy gateway to the rest of Europe. Man, the mere thought of traveling, in little more than an hour, between countries which are remarkably different culturally, architecturally, gastronomically and societally is so, so foreign to Aussies. We’re flying six hours and either still over Perth or above the ocean in the middle of nowhere. What? Yeah. So, post-show, it’s become a regular escapade to jump on a trip or two to Europa-at-large. Sometimes, I’m just a wonder-eyed tourist. Other times, I’ll visit an audio manufacturer… and am equally wonder-eyed. In those instances, I don’t just rock-up, the journey is usually a pre-arranged affair months in advance. A company knows I’ll be in Munich and extends a welcoming hand. This year, I synched-up with eagle keeper and lion master Rune Skov, who extended his lean-machine inked arms to a 10-dude Aussie junket. We’re to experience the machinations in the Gryphon Audio Designs’ lair. Or should I say the lion’s den… or eagle’s nest… you know, wherever the Gryphon creatures live.
SoundStage! Australia’s 10 Favourite Exhibits at High End Munich 2023
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 04 June 2023 04 June 2023
High End Munich 2023 was, once again, a resounding success. In fact, beyond expectations. As always, the sheer mass of exhibits makes it difficult to showcase all that’s happening at this global flagship audio event. Kudos to SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and Senior Reviewer Jason Thorpe for their outstanding coverage. Herr Schneider tackled new products launched at HEM, providing finger-on-the-pulse updates made ‘live’ on the SoundStage! Global website within the show’s commencing few hours (see it here). Herr Thorpe tackled interest pieces and a variety of exotica while yours truly would compile my usual ‘10 Favourite Exhibits’ and noteworthy selections post-event. On the show’s last day, on Sunday afternoon, I travelled to Denmark at Gryphon Audio’s invitation while Jason skipped across to Italy to say g’day to Unison Research, Audia Flight and Gold Note. I’m back in ‘the Mountains’ now to bring you my picks of High End Munich 2023.
Finding Nirvana – Melbourne’s Newest High-End Audio Store
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 08 May 2023 08 May 2023
Did you know that a place of enlightenment is but a short drive away? Believe. Yes, ‘Bodh Gaya’ can be found in the heart of Melbourne. I’m talking about Nirvana Sound, where visitors will be elevated and inspired by the veritable treasures of high-end exotica. On my recent visit, I chatted to the good people at Nirvana Sound who, with their discerning taste, are responsible for bringing to market some of the world’s most luxuriously exciting audio products.
