Nordost products are designed to allow you to enjoy your favorite performances as they were intended to be heard. All of us here are passionate about great music, and want to share our passion with you. Each one of us has our own style… We listen to a wide variety of artists and genres but, in a way, we appreciate them all. We thought that we would share a few of the songs on our own personal playlists with you each month. Some may be classics, some may be brand new, some may not even be to your tastes, but we hope that there is something here for everyone.
Here are some of the songs that we will have on rotation this October.
You can now listen to our monthly playlist here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ
My Girls My Girls – The Kills – God Games
Veto – SOHN – Tremors
The Long Road – Pearl Jam – Merkin Ball
Your Direction – Goose – Your Direction
Crooked Tree – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – Crooked Tree
Sweet Dreams – Marcin – Sweet Dreams
Paradis Perdus – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine
All Night Long (feat. Take 6) – Jacob Collier, Metropole Orkest, Jules Buckley, Take 6 – Djesse Vol. 1
You’re the Reflection of the Moon on the Water – Grant Hart – Hot Wax
Age of Consent – 2015 Remaster – New Order – Power Corruption and Lies
Nordost is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Hansen as the new Vice President of North American Sales, effective October 1, 2025.
Amy has been a vital part of the Nordost team for over 13 years and is uniquely qualified for a position of this scope. Throughout her tenure at Nordost, she has held a range of key positions within the company—from Order Entry Administrator to Purchasing Coordinator, Product Deviation Manager for global sales, and most recently, Regional Sales Manager. This progression has given her a comprehensive understanding of all facets of our operation, deep market insights, and a steadfast commitment to both retailer success and our long-term partnerships.
This leadership transition brings additional benefits. Our outgoing VP of North American Sales, Michael Taylor, will remain with Nordost in a new strategic position as OEM Sales Director. With 19 years at the company, Michael has played a central role in shaping Nordost’s sales strategy, growing a team of dedicated and informed sales representatives, and cultivating trusted relationships with our partners across North America. His experience will be an invaluable asset to Amy in the coming months.
“Passing the baton to Amy while staying onboard at Nordost is pretty amazing,” Michael said. “Unlike most companies that hire for this position externally, Nordost is taking a more thoughtful approach that ultimately benefits our dealer partners. Her experience in so many key departments gives her an unmatched perspective and the tools she needs to support our dealers’ continued success.”
In her new role, Amy will oversee Nordost’s North American Regional Sales Managers, implement and develop sales strategies, expand relationships within our exceptional dealer network, and manage sales programs tailored specifically to the North American market, all while upholding Nordost’s ongoing commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer success.
“Amy Hansen’s appointment as Vice President of North American Sales is a proud moment for Nordost and for me personally,” Nordost President, Paula Rotondo shared. “I have witnessed her journey through our company over the years. It’s clear that her deep understanding of our business, combined with her warmth and leadership acumen, will translate into success in this new role, and I’m excited to work with her in this new capacity.”
We are confident that Amy’s leadership will bring strong momentum to our sales efforts in North America. As she starts this new chapter, Amy shared her enthusiasm for what lies ahead:
“I am honored to step into this role at a company that has been my home since 2012. I’m excited to apply the experience I’ve gained here to drive continued growth in the North American market. I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep growing alongside such a dedicated team and am especially grateful to continue to work closely with our valued dealers and offer the exceptional support they’ve come to expect from my predecessor and friend, Michael.”
Please join us in congratulating Amy on this well-earned promotion.
Shortly after knocking on the front door of a quaint home-turned-into-hifi store in St Peters, Adelaide, Ben Adams, the owner of Hifi Guru, greeted me with a warm smile and a firm handshake.
Welcoming me with open arms, Ben swiftly showed me into one of his main listening rooms, proudly showcasing a Linn Klimax LP12, McIntosh, and Kharma Exquisite system. It was there we sat down for a chat, starting with reminiscing over our first meeting 19 years ago when Ben was working in a HiFi store in Melbourne, and then moving on to learn more about Ben and his current operation.
The driving force behind forming the Hifi Guru concept started in 2018. Having traveled Australia as a representative for a distributor, Ben was exposed to many retailers around the country. During his travels, he realized that, while South Australia had some level of audio representation, he believed his experience and knowledge would be a great asset to the hifi market of his home state. In particular, he felt that customers based in South Australia would benefit greatly from being able to audition high-end audio gear in their backyards, rather than having to travel to the west or east coasts of Australia.
This realization, coupled with a healthy dose of drive and entrepreneurial spirit, ultimately led Ben to take the leap and establish Hifi Guru. With a rich history in the audio world, including his first Nordost experience back when I met him 19 years ago at Carlton Audio Visual, Ben was up to the challenge of bringing hifi to Adelaide.
One of Ben’s deepest affinities for Nordost products stems from their ability to deliver positive experiences, rigorously backed by scientific principles. He’s a true believer in the philosophy of trusting one’s ears, then validating that experience with scientific understanding. For Ben, Nordost products excel because they “get out of the way of the music”, allowing the music to shine through.
The greatest source of pride for Ben in his business is the satisfaction of his customers. Their happiness is the ultimate testament to Hifi Guru’s mission. However, no business is without its hurdles. The sheer volume of product choices available today is a significant challenge. Ben’s ongoing task is to sift through the plethora of hifi products and identify the right solutions for his customers in a market that is oversaturated with options.
Looking to the future, Ben sees Hifi Guru as an ever-evolving entity. “The world is Hifi Guru’s oyster,” he says with a big smile, emphasizing the business’s adaptability. Hifi Guru’s development is entirely based on its customers’ interests; if they gravitate toward a particular aspect of audio, Hifi Guru learns and responds appropriately. There are no fixed end goals, only a continuous process of learning and adjusting to meet the customer’s needs.
We are thrilled to announce that Nordost’s QBASE Reference has been honored with the Mono & Stereo 2025 Editor’s Choice Award! In his in-depth review, Matej Isak explores how this flagship product redefines what a power distributor can do for a high-performance audio system. As he explains in his piece, power management is a uniquely complex and critical aspect of any high-end system, and the QB10 “doesn’t just deliver power–it elevates the entire system, allowing your components to perform at their absolute best.”
Matej describes the QBASE Reference as “unmistakably Nordost” applauding its ability to unravel “subtle intricacies and undeniable sonic benefits in spades.” With “unprecedented clarity and separation,” he notes that the QBASE Reference allows instruments and voices to emerge “with greater individuality and presence, each with its own distinct aura,” all while maintaining “a fluid, organic togetherness.”
This review also highlights how the QBASE Reference differentiates itself from its many competitors in the market. As he says, “Unlike many power distributors, whether entry-level or cost-no-object, the QBASE Reference rises above common limitations. It embodies a Zen-like balance, yet unleashes thunderous sonic energy with absolute authority when called upon — an equilibrium many aspire to, but few ever achieve.”
This review is more than just praise; it’s a testament to our commitment to pushing boundaries. As Matej writes, “The QBASE Reference represents Nordost’s relentless pursuit of innovation… a polyvalent, high-impact triumph. One that fully earns its place among the most significant products in today’s high-end audio landscape.”
Nordost products are designed to allow you to enjoy your favorite performances as they were intended to be heard. All of us here are passionate about great music, and want to share our passion with you. Each one of us has our own style… We listen to a wide variety of artists and genres but, in a way, we appreciate them all. We thought that we would share a few of the songs on our own personal playlists with you each month. Some may be classics, some may be brand new, some may not even be to your tastes, but we hope that there is something here for everyone.
Here are some of the songs that we will have on rotation this September.
You can now listen to our monthly playlist here: TIDAL | SPOTIFY | QOBUZ
Funeral – James Blake – Friends That Break Your Heart
There Is An End – The Greenhornes – Dual Mono
Where There Is Smoke – Dominique Fils-Aimé – Stay Tuned!
Paper Tiger – Dr. Lonnie Simth, David “Fathead” Newman – Bogaloo to Beck
Lorelei – Cocteau Twins – Treasure
La vipera – Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Nell’ ora blu
Money – Alex Skolnick Trio – Transformation
Fragile – Cassandra Wilson – Glamoured
Letter Home – moe. – Tin Cans and Car Tires (25th Anniversary Edition)
