COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 170 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 170 Opening Salvo

Digital in an Analog World

Digital in an Analog World

We are greatly saddened to report the passing of Chris Sommovigo on August 15, 2022, from a cardiac event. He was most recently associated with Black Cat Cables, and had done work for Kimber Kable, Stereolab and others, and worked in audio distribution, and publishing. He was highly regarded in the industry and I had only met him once, at a show a few years ago, yet we hit it off immediately. For more information, please read David W. Robinson’s heartfelt tribute in Positive Feedback.

In this issue: J.I. Agnew delves into an ultra-rare Japanese portable (!) record cutting lathe, and reports on the cessation of operations of HD Vinyl, with some thoughts on vinyl manufacturing. Larry Jaffee remembers getting hooked on CDs in the 1980s. Tom Methans encounters a high-end audio system – in clubland. Harris Fogel concludes his report on T.H.E. Show 2022, once again with lots of photos. B. Jan Montana continues his pilgrimage. John Seetoo interviews David W. Hewitt, a pioneer of remote recording. Andrew Daly has a conversation with rock journalist Elise Krentzel. Ken Kessler attends the best private members club ever.

Anne E. Johnson talk talk talks about the Psychedelic Furs, and appreciates the magnificent vocal music of Orlande de Lassus. Ken Sander floats over CES. Alón Sagee talks with synesthetic artist Melissa McCracken in a mind-opening interview. Rudy Radelic keeps driving through a lemons road rally. Adrian Wu ponders the sonic attributes of tape versus vinyl. I report on the Octave Records LP release of Zuill Bailey’s The Complete Bach Cello Suites. Ray Chelstowski talks with songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik about his new album, Claptrap. Russ Welton encounters a tough customer. Tom Gibbs has to move his audio system. We wrap up the issue with world music, pure distortion, unfortunate timing, and a nameless destination.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, 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, Andrew Daly, 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.

 – FD

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#227 Seth Lewis Gets in the Groove With Take a Look Around: a Tribute to the Meters by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Passport to Sound: May Anwar’s Audio Learning Experience for Young People by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Conjectures on Cosmic Consciousness by B. Jan Montana Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Big Takeover Turns 45 by Wayne Robins Feb 02, 2026 #227 Music and Chocolate: On the Sensory Connection by Joe Caplan Feb 02, 2026 #227 Singer/Songwriter Chris Berardo: Getting Wilder All the Time by Ray Chelstowski Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Earliest Stars of Country Music, Part One by Jeff Weiner Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Vinyl Beat Goes Down to Tijuana (By Way of Los Angeles), Part Two by Rudy Radelic Feb 02, 2026 #227 How to Play in a Rock Band, 20: On the Road With Blood, Sweat & Tears’ Guitarist Gabe Cummins by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Audio Specs and Measuring by Paul McGowan Feb 02, 2026 #227 Our Brain is Always Listening by Peter Trübner Feb 02, 2026 #227 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Listening Chair: Sleek Style and Sound From the Luxman L3 by Howard Kneller Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society Celebrates Its 32nd Anniversary, Honoring David and Sheryl Lee Wilson and Bernie Grundman by Harris Fogel Feb 02, 2026 #227 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 26: Half Full – Not Half Empty, Redux by Ken Kessler Feb 02, 2026 #227 That's What Puzzles Us... by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Record-Breaking by Peter Xeni Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Long and Winding Road by B. Jan Montana Feb 02, 2026 #226 JJ Murphy’s Sleep Paralysis is a Genre-Bending Musical Journey Through Jazz, Fusion and More by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Stewardship by Consent by B. Jan Montana Jan 05, 2026 #226 Food, Music, and Sensory Experience: An Interview With Professor Jonathan Zearfoss of the Culinary Institute of America by Joe Caplan Jan 05, 2026 #226 Studio Confidential: A Who’s Who of Recording Engineers Tell Their Stories by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Pilot Radio is Reborn, 50 Years Later: Talking With CEO Barak Epstein by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 The Vinyl Beat Goes Down to Tijuana (By Way of Los Angeles), Part One by Rudy Radelic Jan 05, 2026 #226 Capital Audiofest 2025: Must-See Stereo, Part Two by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel and Tyler Ramsey Collaborate on Their Acoustic Guitar Album, Celestun by Ray Chelstowski Jan 05, 2026 #226 The People Who Make Audio Happen: CanJam SoCal 2025, Part Two by Harris Fogel Jan 05, 2026 #226 How to Play in a Rock Band, 19: Touring Can Make You Crazy, Part One by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Linda Ronstadt Goes Bigger by Wayne Robins Jan 05, 2026 #226 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Active Room Correction and Digital Signal Processing by Paul McGowan Jan 05, 2026 #226 PS Audio in the News by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 25: Half-Full, Not Empty by Ken Kessler Jan 05, 2026 #226 Happy New Year! by Frank Doris Jan 05, 2026 #226 Turn It Down! by Peter Xeni Jan 05, 2026 #226 Ghost Riders by James Schrimpf Jan 05, 2026 #226 A Factory Tour of Audio Manufacturer German Physiks by Markus "Marsu" Manthey Jan 04, 2026 #225 Capital Audiofest 2025: Must-See Stereo, Part One by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Otis Taylor and the Electrics Delivers a Powerful Set of Hypnotic Modern Blues by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 A Christmas Miracle by B. Jan Montana Dec 01, 2025 #225 T.H.E. Show New York 2025, Part Two: Plenty to See, Hear, and Enjoy by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Underappreciated Artists, Part One: Martin Briley by Rich Isaacs Dec 01, 2025 #225 Rock and Roll is Here to Stay by Wayne Robins Dec 01, 2025 #225 A Lifetime of Holiday Record (and CD) Listening by Rudy Radelic Dec 01, 2025 #225 Little Feat: Not Saying Goodbye, Not Yet by Ray Chelstowski Dec 01, 2025 #225 How to Play in a Rock Band, Part 18: Dealing With Burnout by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 The People Who Make Audio Happen: CanJam SoCal 2025 by Harris Fogel Dec 01, 2025 #225 Chicago’s Sonic Sanctuaries: Four Hi‑Fi Listening Bars Channeling the Jazz‑Kissa Spirit by Olivier Meunier-Plante Dec 01, 2025

Digital in an Analog World

Digital in an Analog World

We are greatly saddened to report the passing of Chris Sommovigo on August 15, 2022, from a cardiac event. He was most recently associated with Black Cat Cables, and had done work for Kimber Kable, Stereolab and others, and worked in audio distribution, and publishing. He was highly regarded in the industry and I had only met him once, at a show a few years ago, yet we hit it off immediately. For more information, please read David W. Robinson’s heartfelt tribute in Positive Feedback.

In this issue: J.I. Agnew delves into an ultra-rare Japanese portable (!) record cutting lathe, and reports on the cessation of operations of HD Vinyl, with some thoughts on vinyl manufacturing. Larry Jaffee remembers getting hooked on CDs in the 1980s. Tom Methans encounters a high-end audio system – in clubland. Harris Fogel concludes his report on T.H.E. Show 2022, once again with lots of photos. B. Jan Montana continues his pilgrimage. John Seetoo interviews David W. Hewitt, a pioneer of remote recording. Andrew Daly has a conversation with rock journalist Elise Krentzel. Ken Kessler attends the best private members club ever.

Anne E. Johnson talk talk talks about the Psychedelic Furs, and appreciates the magnificent vocal music of Orlande de Lassus. Ken Sander floats over CES. Alón Sagee talks with synesthetic artist Melissa McCracken in a mind-opening interview. Rudy Radelic keeps driving through a lemons road rally. Adrian Wu ponders the sonic attributes of tape versus vinyl. I report on the Octave Records LP release of Zuill Bailey’s The Complete Bach Cello Suites. Ray Chelstowski talks with songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik about his new album, Claptrap. Russ Welton encounters a tough customer. Tom Gibbs has to move his audio system. We wrap up the issue with world music, pure distortion, unfortunate timing, and a nameless destination.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, 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, Andrew Daly, 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.

 – FD

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