COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 173 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 173 Opening Salvo

Club 19

Club 19

We are saddened by the loss of Loretta Lynn (90), one of the most iconic and groundbreaking country music artists of all time. Immortalized in the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter, Lynn worked her way from hardship to becoming the most awarded female country artist ever, with 24 number 1 singles and 11 number 1 albums. RIP to a true legend.

I recently became a member of Club 19. That, and a couple of other curveballs have meant that I haven’t been writing as much as usual lately. But I’ll be swinging for the fences again soon.

In this issue: John Seetoo continues his interview with the masterful mastering engineer Piper Payne. Harris Fogel wraps up his NAMM 2022 coverage. B. Jan Montana delves further into his journey. I cover Octave Records’ new speaker setup book and disc, The Audiophile’s Guide: The Loudspeaker, with an interview with PS Audio’s own Paul McGowan. Dan Schwartz remembers instrument maker Rick Turner. Ken Sander evaluates the Best of CES. Russ Welton strives for a good phantom center channel. Ken Kessler visits AudioJumble and sees evidence of a reel-to-reel revival. Rich Isaacs has another installment of Complete Recovery, unusual takes on cover songs.

J.I. Agnew digs into Lyrec record cutting lathes. Ted Shafran offers Part Two of his desert island classical discs series. Tom Methans considers rock and roll merchandising. The Mindful Melophile Don Kaplan has a scary tale about Dracula. Andrew Daly has some long-term perspective on Neil Young’s Ditch Trilogy. Rudy Radelic continues his 50th Anniversary series of A&M Records with a look at some jazz releases. Ray Chelstowski talks with Jim Kerr of Simple Minds. Larry Jaffee says the music of the 1980s is unfairly maligned. Anne E. Johnson covers the careers of psychedelic rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield and jazz guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny. The issue concludes with clean sound, a geometric progression, good prospecting, and unlikely beauty.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Harris Fogel, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy

Please be aware that Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

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#232 What came first: Art or Music? A Conversation With Artist Jose Acosta by Joe Caplan Jul 06, 2026 #232 Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story: An Insightful Book About a Guitar Icon by Ray Chelstowski Jul 06, 2026 #232 Creed Over Camaraderie? by B. Jan Montana Jul 06, 2026 #232 Chronicles of a Sound Pilgrim at the 2026 Montreal Audiofest by Hugues Morin Jul 06, 2026 #232 The Vinyl Beat: Summer Grooves by Rudy Radelic Jul 06, 2026 #232 Hibbing Hillbilly Dylan's Acoustic Rock by Wayne Robins Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quad Quads and Plasmatronics Tweeters: An Extraordinary System Comes to Life by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 In Praise of Live Music, Once Again by Ted Shafran Jul 06, 2026 #232 Allnic Audio’s L-9000 Preamplifier: Design and Engineering Innovation by Howard Kneller Jul 06, 2026 #232 “Best Of” Lists and Rage Bait: Enough Already by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quick Takes: Bud Shank, Paulo Almeida, Jakob Dreyer, Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 My Impressions of AXPONA 2026, Part 2 by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 How to Play in a Rock Band, 25: Encounters With Famous Musicians, Part Three by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Budgets, and Systems From Small to Outrageous by Paul McGowan Jul 06, 2026 #232 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Jul 06, 2026 #232 Hand It Over by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Difference of Opinion by Peter Xeni Jul 06, 2026 #232 Wabi-sabi Tree by James Schrimpf Jul 06, 2026 #231 Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie Releases His Debut Album On Octave Records by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Underappreciated Artists, Part Two: City Boy by Rich Isaacs Jun 01, 2026 #231 Music and the Art of Creation: Talking With Saxophonist Rob Scheps by Joe Caplan Jun 01, 2026 #231 How to Play in a Rock Band, 24: Further Adventures at the 2026 Montauk Music Festival by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Courtney Barnett: Creature of Habit by Wayne Robins Jun 01, 2026 #231 Angine de Poitrine: Interstellar Guitar Rock Saviors Headed for Late-Night TV Pop Stardom? by Mark Lepage Jun 01, 2026 #231 My Impressions of AXPONA 2026, Part One by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 2026 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance: Another Aesthetic Feast by B. Jan Montana Jun 01, 2026 #231 Country Music Icon Jo Dee Messina’s Bridges: A New Beginning by Ray Chelstowski Jun 01, 2026 #231 The Luxury Dispatch Hosts a Video Podcast With Ken Kessler by Ken Kessler Jun 01, 2026 #231 The Vinyl Beat: Tracking in the Motor City by Rudy Radelic Jun 01, 2026 #231 Lots of Fun With DSP: The Ferrum Audio WANDLA DAC and Its Tube Mode by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 From The Audiophile's Guide: Digital Source Components and Streaming Audio by Paul McGowan Jun 01, 2026 #231 Onkyo’s Monster M-510 power amplifier by The Staff at Just Audio Jun 01, 2026 #231 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Jun 01, 2026 #231 Naming Convention by Peter Xeni Jun 01, 2026 #231 Les Invisibles by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Wildlife Scene by James Schrimpf Jun 01, 2026 #230 Camaraderie by B. Jan Montana May 04, 2026 #230 AXPONA 2026: A Family Gathering by Paul McGowan May 04, 2026 #230 Pianist Ryan Benthall Explores Jazz Realms and Far Beyond With Divine Sky by Frank Doris May 04, 2026 #230 The Vinyl Beat in AXPONA-Land by Rudy Radelic May 04, 2026 #230 Teddy Thompson’s Musical Growth Deepens With Never Be the Same by Ray Chelstowski May 04, 2026 #230 More Fun in the Sun: Florida Audio Expo, Part Two by Frank Doris May 04, 2026 #230 CanJam NYC 2026 Show Report: Heady Sound, Part Two by Frank Doris and Harris Fogel May 04, 2026 #230 Sonic Youth On Murray Street by Wayne Robins May 04, 2026 #230 Graffeo Coffee: A Symphony of Sensory Experience by Joe Caplan May 04, 2026 #230 The Saul Authority: The Story of Hi-Fi Pioneer Saul Marantz by Olivier Meunier-Plante May 04, 2026 #230 How to Play in a Rock Band, 23: Encounters With Famous Musicians, Part Two by Frank Doris May 04, 2026

Club 19

Club 19

We are saddened by the loss of Loretta Lynn (90), one of the most iconic and groundbreaking country music artists of all time. Immortalized in the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter, Lynn worked her way from hardship to becoming the most awarded female country artist ever, with 24 number 1 singles and 11 number 1 albums. RIP to a true legend.

I recently became a member of Club 19. That, and a couple of other curveballs have meant that I haven’t been writing as much as usual lately. But I’ll be swinging for the fences again soon.

In this issue: John Seetoo continues his interview with the masterful mastering engineer Piper Payne. Harris Fogel wraps up his NAMM 2022 coverage. B. Jan Montana delves further into his journey. I cover Octave Records’ new speaker setup book and disc, The Audiophile’s Guide: The Loudspeaker, with an interview with PS Audio’s own Paul McGowan. Dan Schwartz remembers instrument maker Rick Turner. Ken Sander evaluates the Best of CES. Russ Welton strives for a good phantom center channel. Ken Kessler visits AudioJumble and sees evidence of a reel-to-reel revival. Rich Isaacs has another installment of Complete Recovery, unusual takes on cover songs.

J.I. Agnew digs into Lyrec record cutting lathes. Ted Shafran offers Part Two of his desert island classical discs series. Tom Methans considers rock and roll merchandising. The Mindful Melophile Don Kaplan has a scary tale about Dracula. Andrew Daly has some long-term perspective on Neil Young’s Ditch Trilogy. Rudy Radelic continues his 50th Anniversary series of A&M Records with a look at some jazz releases. Ray Chelstowski talks with Jim Kerr of Simple Minds. Larry Jaffee says the music of the 1980s is unfairly maligned. Anne E. Johnson covers the careers of psychedelic rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield and jazz guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny. The issue concludes with clean sound, a geometric progression, good prospecting, and unlikely beauty.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Harris Fogel, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy

Please be aware that Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

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