The HiFi Five Podcast

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 distributor and retailer
Danny Kaey - EMMLabs Advisor Sonic Flare; audio and music reviewer
Ron Resnick (moderator) - WhatsBestForum; audio reviewer
Our fifth chair will host 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 perspectives, while also discussing component categories and music.

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 chair will host 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 perspectives, while also discussing component categories and music.

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 the sonic Holy Grail?
Is streaming audiophile quality?
Which do you prefer, Tidal, Qobuz or other?

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 by non-traditional home dealers?
What role do print and on-line review magazines play today in building a brand?  How do you spend your marketing dollars?
What are the attributes of a good distributor?
Under what circumstances may a distributor sell direct to a consumer?
What really sells high-end products:  sonic qualities, aesthetics, quick delivery, price, the trade-in deal?

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 important is speed accuracy (maintaining exactly 33.33) versus speed stability (speed doesn’t vary)?
When listeners describe a turntable as having better “timing” or “flow,” what do you think they are actually hearing?
Should a manufacturer who uses a traditional distributor/dealer model terminate a distributor who sells directly to a consumer? 
What your favorite type of cartridge? Moving coil? Optical?
What set-up variable do you think audiophiles underestimate the most in vinyl playback?
For the same tonearm design why would somebody use a longer arm -- 14" or 12" over the 9" version?
Turntables were invented over 100 years ago. After 100 years of development is there anything that can still be improved on a turntable?