The Speaker Cables That Made Me Feel Things</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> A revelation in openness and soundstaging!

There’s a pair of speaker cables we recently reviewed that had me feeling things, and honestly, I truly hated to see them shipped off. The details that appeared from the Nordost Frey 2 speaker cables</a > enthralled me with recordings I've heard 1000 times before. They are incredibly engaging and truthful cables that have the ability to portray a soundstage so wide that will have you checking to make sure your speakers haven't moved five feet further apart!

Have you ever had a moment like that with your system? Reply and tell us.We read every single one.

HiFi IQ: What’s a Soundstage, Really?</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> It’s not about the stage—it’s about the illusion of space and depth in your music.</span >

What Is Soundstage in Audio?

A good soundstage makes it feel like instruments are coming from different spots in the room—even when you’re just listening in stereo. With proper soundstaging, you can pinpoint instruments in their own space, defining their width, depth, and distance.

In a live classical recording of the performance pictured here, you should get a sense of how far the stage is and where each section of music is coming from. Cellos are to the left, for example. A well-designed system creates this 3D effect, making some tracks feel “live” while others sound flat.

What Affects Soundstage?

You don’t need to spend a fortune to improve your soundstage! Here are key factors that influence it:

• Speaker Placement - Adjusting speaker distance can dramatically change perceived depth and width.
• Room Acoustics - Proper positioning and treatment reduce sound reflections and improve clarity.
• Recording Quality - Well-mixed tracks create a natural stereo image and better depth perception.

Now Playing: What We're Listening To</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> Music that’s been echoing through our listening rooms.

Artist: Jennifer Warnes

Track: The Ballad of the Runaway Horse

Why We Love It:

One of the most hauntingly real vocal recordings we’ve heard. The upright bass is so textured, it sounds like it’s being played right in the room. A perfect system test—and a perfect Sunday listen.

Best with: A quiet room, warm lights, and no distractions.

Listen to this playlist on Qobuz.</a >

? Got a track we should hear? Hit reply and share what’s in your rotation—we might feature it next week.

Industry Updates</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> The latest products, events, news & more.

New Gear

Focal Bathys MG: </a >Focal is adding a headphone to their already incredible lineup, in the Focal Bathys MG​. We are currently taking pre-orders, and these are expected to begin shipping at the end of May/June.

Harbeth XD2: </a >The legendary and steadfast Harbeth has released the XD2 series as an update to the beloved XD series of their famous designs. These are available to order now and are expected to start shipping late April/May, depending on the model and availability. Check out the Harbeth XD2 here!

The Musical Fidelity M8x DAC</a > will sit between the M6x DAC</a > and the NU-Vista DAC</a > in Musical Fidelity's DAC lineup. We are currently taking preorders for this DAC, and it's expected to start shipping at the end of May.

Nordost</a >​ has added a new power chord to their Leif lineup. The popular White Lightning series has added power to the lineup, including standard and C7/figure 8 connections! This means you can now make an entire loom of Nordost White Lightning Cables!</a >

Events

Southwest Audio Fest</a > - Last week in Dallas, our very own Nick and Jerry were onsite for the experience. While they had time to check out the show, they were also doing onsite gear appraisals and talking with customers we sometimes only see in person at shows! In the middle of all the excitement and chaos, we had a raffle for a free Chord Anni!

? Congratulations to Beverly P. on winning the incredible Chord Anni Desktop Amp!

Cambridge Audio</a > - A brand partner of ours who makes some of our favorite components, particularly Streamer/DACS, recently added the EXN100</a > to the lineup. It improves on the incredible CXNV2 and CXN100</a > with a few nice features, including HDMI ARC so you can utilize your two-channel system with your television more seamlessly and with a better signal.

Exclusive deal on the Chord Anni</a > - TMR has an incredible deal at the moment with the Chord Anni. Normally they retail at $2,100, but you can grab one while we still have them available for just $1,099!. These are made to pair with the Chord Qutest or Chord Huei, but you can connect any source via RCA. This piece is outstanding for headphones and has more than enough power to drive the most difficult headphones out there with ease. From incredibly easy to drive planar magnetics like the Audeze LCD series to the notoriously tough to drive Sennheisser HD800s, these will bring all the detail and soundstage right to your ears and help take the room out of the equation.

Sundance Film Festival</a > - For all you Colorado natives out there like us, get ready to host the Sundance Film Festival. Sundance Film has signed a deal securing Boulder, Colorado, as the festival's new home for the next 10 years, starting in 2027. Long held in Park City, Utah, the decision follows a competitive bidding process, with cities like Louisville, Santa Fe, Cincinnati, and even Atlanta vying for the honor.

Fresh Arrivals: This Weeks Top 5</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> Our favorite certified pre-owned gear we saw this week.

The Cary Audio Design SLP-05 Tube Preamp</a >

This tube preamp is all about warmth, clarity, and musicality. With an external power supply, fully balanced design, and 6SN7 tubes, it brings out every nuance in your music with effortless precision. One of the finest tube preamps out there.

The Wilson Audio Sasha Floorstanding Speakers</a >

A true masterpiece in high-end speaker design. It delivers stunning detail, lifelike dynamics, and deep, well-controlled bass. With pinpoint imaging and a massive soundstage, it creates an incredibly immersive listening experience. Check out other listings from Wilson here.

Sonus Faber Sonetto I Bookshelf Speakers</a >

Small but mighty, it brings Italian craftsmanship and beautifully natural sound into any space. With hand-crafted cabinets, silk dome tweeters, and refined midrange drivers, they deliver an intimate and emotionally engaging listening experience.

Dan D'Agostino Progression Stereo Integrated Amp</a >

Combining striking design with powerful, refined performance, it is built with precision engineering. It delivers dynamic, effortless sound that brings out every detail in your music. A true statement piece for any high-end system.

The Vandersteen M7-HPA Monoblocks</a >

These are simply outstanding monos with redefining speed, control, and transparency. Designed with zero feedback and a fully balanced circuit, they deliver effortless musicality with deep, natural bass and crystal-clear highs.

? Discover all of the newest certified pre-owned items in Fresh Arrivals. With over 30 pieces of HiFi gear added every day, make sure to frequently check back to see what's new. Explore Fresh Arrivals here.

Listener Spotlight: Scott M. from Leicester, NC</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;">

Scott upgraded his speakers last month to the outstanding Sonus Faber Lumina V Floorstanding Speakers.</a > With high-power handling and fast transient response, it produces a natural, generous, and emotional sound for an immersive listening experience. But don't take our word for it.

See what Wayne had to say:

"I wish there were more hours in the day to just keep listening to every single album I've ever loved, because these speakers make me want to do exactly that."

? Want your system or story featured? Hit reply or send us a photo—your gear deserves a little spotlight.

The Gearhead</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> The art of making cables with VIABLUE.

Discover the power of premium sound with VIABLUE cables! In our latest blog, we explore how these high-end cables elevate audio performance with superior materials and durability. From soundstage and detail to energy and balance, VIABLUE cables bring it all to the table. If you’re looking to breathe new life into your system, VIABLUE will help you do that.

? Read the full article here</a >.

Want to read more stories, tips, and guides? Explore our full Gearhead Blog</a >.

Behind the Bench</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;"> The headphone amp that changes the way you listen.

This week, our test bench team spent way too long talking about the HeadAmp Blue Hawaii SE Tube Electrostatic Headphone Amp</a > that came through. This is an absolutely stunning piece of gear and offers an incredible way to listen to your music. If you have never experienced electrostatic headphones</a >, it is already an incredibly detailed and revealing way to listen. The HeadAmp Blue Hawaii makes sure you hear every last drop of information your music has to offer and does so with an intoxicating, smooth delivery.

It is incredibly well built, detailed, smooth, and ready to floor you with soundstage and detail. The Blue Hawaii is not something we see often on the used market. It seems that most people keep them. This will pair nicely with any electrostatic headphones from STAX, to HIFiman, or Dan Clark. However, I highly recommend taking the Audeze CRBN.

? Got a favorite piece of gear with personality? Hit reply—we want to hear about it.

We Want to Hear From You</h2 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #b5823c;">

We want to hear from you and your experiences. Got a track we should listen to? A photo of your setup? A piece of gear you’ll never forget? An amazing story that just needs to be told?

?Hit reply— we read every message, and we might feature yours in a future newsletter.

P.S. Ever name your amplifiers? Asking for a friend.