the ecoustics podcast

Recorded from the show floor at AXPONA 2026, this episode features Kendall Costello, Sales Operation Analyst at Loewe, and Amir Hejazi, Senior Engineer at Loewe, discussing the company’s latest TVs and headphone lineup. The conversation focuses on design priorities, key features, and how Loewe is positioning its products in a competitive premium market, with insight into how engineering and product strategy come together across both categories.

Guests:

Kendall Costello, Loewe Sales Operation Analyst
Amir Hejazi, Loewe Sr. Engineer
Chris Boylan, eCoustics Editor-at-Large
Brian Mitchell, eCoustics Founder & CEO

Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

#loewetelevision #luxurytv  #headfi #headphones #wirelessheadphones #ecoustics #hifi #luxuryaudio #axpona2026 #2026tvs

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Recorded from the show floor at AXPONA 2026, HiFi Bear unboxes the T10 Bespoke eCoustics Special Edition In-ear Computers, a custom release created for a show floor raffle. This episode focuses on the design, presentation, and what sets this limited edition apart, offering a first look at a unique collaboration built specifically for the event. Oh yeah, they sound great too.

Panel:
Hi-fi Bear - T10 Bespoke
Captain Kangaroo - eCoustics Producer


Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

#t10bespoke #inearcomputer #IEM #headfi #headphones #wirelessearbuds #ecoustics #hifi #bespoke #luxuryaudio #axpona2026




• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Recorded from the show floor at AXPONA 2026, Lenny Coco of Mobile Fidelity Distribution discusses why vinyl still holds relevance in a digital first world, and how it fits alongside modern streaming habits. The conversation avoids framing the formats as competitors and instead looks at how each serves a different role for listeners, with Coco offering his perspective as both an industry insider and music fan. In the end, the focus stays on what matters most: the connection to the music, regardless of how it is delivered.

Sponsor: Please check out the latest SVS subwoofers, speakers and more.

Panel:
Lenny CoCo - MOFI
Mitch Anderson, Co-Host & eCoustics Podcast Producer
Brian Mitchell, Co-Host & eCoustics Founder & CEO

Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

#axpona2026 #mofi #mobilefidelity #vinylcommunity #ecoustics #turntables #hifi

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Recorded from the show floor at AXPONA 2026, eCoustics Editor in-Chief Ian White shares a straightforward take on what he saw and heard across the show. This episode covers the systems and brands that delivered, including QUAD, ATC, DeVore Fidelity, Advance Paris, Focal, Michell, Unison Research, TEAC, Amphion, and Dynaudio, along with a look at rooms and products that were less convincing. It is an honest assessment of what worked in real listening conditions, what felt overpriced, and how the gap between performance and cost continues to shape the high-end audio market.

Sponsor: Please check out the latest SVS subwoofers, speakers and more at svsound.com.

Panel:

Ian White, eCoustics Editor-in-Chief
Mitch Anderson, Co-Host & eCoustics Podcast Producer
Brian Mitchell, Co-Host & eCoustics Founder & CEO

Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

#ecoustics #axpona2026

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Recorded from the show floor at AXPONA 2026, this episode brings together Kornelijus and Jamie O’Callaghan of the IAG Hi-Fi Division for a deep dive into the legacy and future of QUAD’s electrostatic loudspeakers, including the ESL 2912X. We break down what makes electrostatic panel speakers fundamentally different from traditional designs, why QUAD has remained committed to the technology for decades, and how the latest generation improves on transparency, dispersion, and real world usability. The conversation also explores how these iconic speakers fit into a modern hi-fi landscape increasingly dominated by compact and wireless solutions, and why QUAD continues to attract listeners who care more about realism than convenience.

Panel:
Jamie O'Callaghan, IAG Hi-Fi Division, Global Head of Sales & Marketing
Kornelijus, IAG Hi-Fi Division, Product Specialist
Mitch Anderson, Co-Host & eCoustics Podcast Producer
Brian Mitchell, Co-Host & eCoustics Founder & CEO

Related links:
https://www.ecoustics.com/products/quad-esl-2912x/
https://quad-hifi.co.uk

Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

#quad #axpona2026

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan Pries, owner of The Electric Kitsch record store in Bay City, Michigan and working musician (he wrote our podcast theme song!), for a clear eyed look at what it takes to survive and stay relevant through 14 years of industry shifts and the rise of Record Store Day. 

From the early days of RSD to today’s global frenzy, Jordan breaks down what has changed, what has not, and what customers rarely see, including the financial realities, supply chain headaches, and the role RSD plays in keeping the lights on. We also explore how running a shop intersects with life as a musician, shaping how music is valued on both sides of the counter, and whether Record Store Day still delivers for the independent stores it was built to support or just makes for one very long Saturday.

In the Episode:

• Jordan Pries (Arc of All), Owner of The Electric Kitsch
• Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All.
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #RSD2026 #RecordStoreDay #vinylcommunity #electrickitsch #podcast #ecoustics #blackcircleradio #sourceoflightandpower #blackcircleradio #solp #bcr #instavinyl #vinylcommunity #brickandmortar #smallbusiness #michiganbusiness #musicindustrynews




• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Recorded from the show floor at AXPONA 2026, the team from SVS breaks down their latest powered subwoofer, the SVS 3000 Micro R|Evolution, and why this compact design hits harder than it has any right to. We dig into the engineering behind the output, the tradeoffs of going small without sacrificing performance, and the bigger question hanging over it all is whether SVS is quietly undercutting its own lineup with each new release that raises the bar and resets expectations.

Guests: Gary Yacoubian & Nick Brown

Co-Hosted by: Mitch Anderson & Brian Mitchell

Credits:
• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://www.sourceoflightandpower.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting:

https://www.ecoustics.com

#svs3000revolution #svsspeakers #svssubs #audiophile #hifihappyhour #hifi #2026speakers #hometheater #lifestylesound #interiordesign #speakerdesign #audioindustry #ecoustics #musictech #AXPONA2026

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

If you’re lining up for Record Store Day 2026, this episode focuses on the one name that matters most: Zev Feldman, known as The Jazz Detective. Best known for his first-release live recordings of Bill Evans on Resonance and Elemental, Feldman has already delivered 14 Evans RSD titles, with a 15th arriving April 18.

For Record Store Day 2026, he goes further than ever with 11 new jazz releases (including the Evans) across Resonance, Elemental, and Time Traveler Recordings, the label he co founded to bring back rare and hard to find 1970s jazz albums from the Muse catalog. This is not filler for collectors. It is a serious expansion of what Record Store Day can deliver.


Join Eric Pye and Mitch Anderson as they break down the full slate, the continued demand for the Bill Evans RSD series, and the reality of tracking down and restoring lost recordings. At the center is Feldman’s latest discovery, a deep archive from legendary Chicago club owner Joe Segal, now driving an ongoing series of never before heard live albums, with five debuting for RSD 2026. If you care about jazz, vinyl, and making smart choices before the lines form, this conversation gives you a real advantage.

RESONANCE RECORDS

• Joe Henderson  – Consonance: Live at the Jazz Showcase  
3-LP set featuring saxophone titan Joe Henderson and his quartet with pianist Joanne Brackeen, bassist Steve Rodby and drummer Danny Spencer captured in February of 1978. Liners by John Koenig, reflections by Brackeen, Rodby and Spencer, but Joe Segal’s son Wayne.

• Ahmad Jamal – At The Jazz Showcase: Live in Chicago 
2-LP set featuring the iconic pianist with bassist John Heard and drummer Frank Gant on March 20-21, 1976. Newly curated liner notes by Jamal scholar Eugene Holley, Jr. with memories from Jamal’s daughter Sumayah and appreciations from pianists Joe Alterman and Fred Hersch.
• Yusef Lateef – Alight Upon The Lake: Live at the Jazz Showcase 
3-LP set featuring Lateef with pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Bob Cunningham and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath captured live in June of 1975. Liner notes by Lateef biographer Herb Boyd, plus interviews with Bennie Maupin, Wayne Segal and more.


• Mal Waldron – Stardust & Starlight: At The Jazz Showcase
2-LP set featuring Waldron with bassist Steve Rodby, drummer Wilbur “the Chief” Campbell, and saxophonist Sonny Stitt captured in August 1979. Newly curated liner notes by Howard Mandel, interviews with pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, bassist Steve Rodby, Wayne Segal and more.


TIME TRAVELER RECORDINGS 

• Terry Callier – At The Earl of Old Town
2-LP set featuring the influential singer/songwriter at just 22-years-old.  A compelling never-before-released 1967 solo performance, recorded by NEA Jazz Master Joe Segal. The package includes comprehensive liner notes by Callier’s longtime friend, Real Jazz Sirius/XM program director Mark Ruffin and comments by daughter Sunny Callier. 


• Roy Hargrove – BERN
Recorded at the International Jazzfestival Bern, Switzerland in May 2000, the album captures a vital, previously unissued Roy Hargrove date showcasing the then 30-year-old trumpeter/bandleader at the height of his powers. The package features extensive liner notes by noted jazz journalist/author Nate Chinen.

• Buster Williams – Pinnacle
Williams’ celebrated 1975 debut album will be reissued for the first time by Time Traveler Recordings’ Muse Master Edition Series. Package includes original 1975 notes by Elliot Meadow, new liners by noted journalist Mike Flynn and a rare period photo by Raymond Ross. 

ELEMENTAL RECORDS

• Michel Petrucciani – Kuumbwa (Europe only)
2-LP set capturing a fiery 1987 performance at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, California. The first Petrucciani release among the label’s many jazz treasures, the recording features the legendary pianist with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Eliot Zigmund. The thoughtfully annotated set includes reflections by pianist’s son Alexandre Petrucciani, drummer Eliot Zigmund, Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, journalist Thierry Pérémarti, and Kuumbwa Co-Founder Tim Jackson.

• Bill Evans at the BBC
2-LP set featuring spellbinding, intimate music from a 1965 performance showcasing the legendary pianist’s trio with bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Larry Bunker which aired on the British TV program Jazz 625, hosted by English trumpet player Humphrey Lyttelton. The comprehensive package includes notes by Evans scholar Marc Myers, appreciations by Jamie Cullum and James Pearson, and an interview with Israels who told Marc Myers, “Yes, we were damn near perfect at the BBC."

• Cecil Taylor Unit – Fragments, The Complete 1969 Salle Pleyel Concerts 
3-LP set featuring two explosive never-before released Cecil Taylor Unit performances featuring the avant-jazz pianist’s 1969 Unit with saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, saxophonist/flutist Sam Rivers and drummer Andrew Cyrille at their creative peak. The expansive package includes notes by Taylor biographer Philip Freeman, memories from drummer Andrew Cyrille and appreciations from Karen Borca, Matthew Shipp, Jack DeJohnette and more.

• Freddie King – Feeling Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsation Concerts
3-LP set featuring the blues legend Freddie King live before more than 50,000 fans in October 1975, the final full year of his life. Joining King are organist Alvin Hemphill, guitarist Ed Lively, pianist Lewis Stephens, bassist Benny Turner and drummer Calep Emphrey. The deluxe package features appreciations from his daughter, Wanda King, as well as ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, plus liner notes by author Cary Baker. The set documents an essential blues artist whose ferocious guitar tone, commanding singing, and genre-bridging vision helped reshape modern blues and rock.

hank you to our sponsor SVS for supporting this episode!

https://www.svsound.com

In the Episode:

• Zev Feldman, Elemental, Time Traveler, and Resonance Records
• Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
• Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All.
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #RSD2026 #RecordStoreDay #vinylcommunity #analogreissue #podcast #ecoustics #blackcircleradio #audioloveyyc #instavinyl #vinylcommunity #resonancerecords #elementalrecords #timetravelerrecordings #musicindustrynews

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Join Chord Electronics’ digital audio consultant Rob Watts as he dives deep into the challenges of reproducing lifelike sound from 16-bit/44.1kHz PCM. From his groundbreaking DAC designs—spanning $650 to $20,000—to why off-the-shelf chips can’t compete, Rob explains how his unique approach goes beyond conventional measurement-based audio engineering. He also previews Chord’s next flagship product, the Quartet M Scaler, which will build on the Hugo M Scaler, and shares his thoughts on DSD, the importance of cables, and hidden sonic factors like RF and power supply issues. Even 45 years after the CD’s debut, there’s still high-resolution audio left to uncover.

Sponsors: Thank you to our sponsors SVS & Shure

Panel:
Rob Watts, Digital Audio Consultant, Chord Electronics
Brian Mitchell, Host & eCoustics Founder

Credits:
Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://blackcircleradio.com

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Headphone, Home Theater and Music news by visiting: https://www.ecoustics.com

#ecoustics #dacs #chordelectronics #audioengineering #digitalaudio #musicstreaming #hifi #audiophile 

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com

Japan has become the world’s most in demand travel destination since the pandemic, but beyond cherry blossoms, bullet trains, Lawson runs, anime and those dangerously good 7-Eleven egg salad sandwiches, there’s a deeper pull that audiophiles can’t ignore.

In this episode of the eCoustics podcast, resident Japanophile Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc) and reluctant future convert Mitch Anderson (@blackcircleradio) go all in on Japan’s cultural gravity and its quiet takeover of audio: the pilgrimage to e-Earphone, late night jazz kissa listening rooms, Technics heritage, Three Blind Mice pressings, JICO styli, portable travel rigs, flying JAL, record hunting in back alleys, and why Japan still treats music as ritual instead of background noise. This isn’t tourism hype it’s immersion, listening culture, and what the rest of us may have forgotten.

Links for further information:
Japanese Jazz Kissa and the Art of the Piano Trio: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz Kissa Culture Goes Global: Exit to Vintage Street
Jazz City online store: Purchase Jazz Kissa magazines and books
Tokyo Jazz Joints website
@jazz_kissa on Instagram


Thank you to our sponsor SVS & Shure for supporting this episode!

https://www.svsound.com

https://www.shure.com

In the Episode:

• Eric Pye, Vintage Audio Columnist
• Mitch Anderson, Producer

Credits:

• Original intro music by The Arc of All.
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited.
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest Hi-Fi, Music, Home Theater, and Headphone news by visiting:
https://www.ecoustics.com

#hifi #audiophile #vintageaudio #jazzkissa #japanesejazz #vinylcommunity #consumerelectronics #podcast #jico #ecousticsd #blackcircleradio #audioloveyyc #instavinyl #vinylcommunity

• Original intro music by The Arc of All. https://sourceoflightandpower.bandcamp.com
• Voice Over Provided by Todd Harrell of SSP Unlimited. https://sspunlimited.com
• Production by Mitch Anderson, Black Circle Studios. https://mixcloud.com/blackcircleradio

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and product reviews on hi-fi, headphones, home theater, music and more. 

https://www.ecoustics.com