Crystal Cable is proud to share a new in-depth feature by Jason Thorpe, published on SoundStage! Global, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at International Audio Holding and its brands Siltech, Crystal Cable, and Sphinx Audio Engineering.

In this extensive blog, Jason reflects on years of listening experience with Crystal Cable and Siltech products before visiting International Audio Holding’s headquarters in Elst, the Netherlands. What began as a cable-focused exploration quickly revealed a much broader story, one of deep R&D, meticulous craftsmanship, and ambitious loudspeaker development under the Sphinx Audio Engineering name.

Importantly, Jason places his recent experiences in a longer historical context. While the Sphinx Element loudspeakers clearly exceeded expectations, he notes that Crystal Cable’s loudspeaker heritage had already set the stage years earlier:

“The Element 5s blew my skirt way the heck up, looking and sounding better than speakers from a cable company had any right to. That said, I was impressed by Crystal Cable’s Arabesque speaker when I reviewed it back in 2009, so I guess I shouldn’t have been quite so surprised.”

That earlier milestone even welcomed him upon arrival in Elst, where SoundStage! Product of the Year trophies are displayed in the lobby, including one awarded for the Crystal Cable Arabesque speaker. Looking back, Jason reflects:

“The Crystal Cable and Siltech products I’ve reviewed have impressed me greatly, but the Arabesque speaker I evaluated 15 years ago should have prepared me for those surprises.”

From witnessing the hand-built cable production process to personally assembling a set of Siltech interconnects, Jason highlights the precision, structure, and calm dedication on the workshop floor. His visit also included detailed technical discussions with the engineering team, shedding light on proprietary metallurgy, conductor design, and advanced research methods that go far beyond conventional cable manufacturing.

A major highlight of the article is Jason’s extended listening sessions with the Sphinx Element 3 and Element 5 loudspeakers. First encountered at High End Munich 2025, the speakers left a lasting impression when auditioned again in IAH’s dedicated listening room. As Jason writes, the Element speakers combine elegance, ease of drive, and emotional impact in a way few would expect:

“The Element 5 speakers were smooth, defined, and rich… evocative and detailed, while also sounding utterly free of stress.”

The blog concludes with a look toward the future, as Sphinx continues to expand its loudspeaker line and develop electronics, supported by fundamental research into how reproduced sound relates to the original musical signal.

Our sincere thanks to Jason Thorpe and SoundStage! Global for this thoughtful, wide-ranging feature and for capturing the philosophy, people, and passion behind International Audio Holding.