Copper Magazine · Issue 151 · A free PS Audio publication
Issue 151 Opening Salvo

Issue 151

Issue 151

Happy holidays, everyone. We at Copper wish all of you the very best. The past couple of seasons have obviously been tough on everyone, but we also have plenty to be thankful for.

Show us your vintage, and maybe not-so-vintage gear! In the more than two years of doing Copper’s Audio Anthropology column, I’ve been surprised at how little photographic documentation exists for many audio components. If you have interesting gear and would like to share it with us, please send photos to frank@psaudio.com.

In this issue: Tom Methans pays tribute to the great Stephen Sondheim. Wayne Robins reviews Adele’s new 30 album. Anne E. Johnson finds great music from soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom and respects the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. J.I. Agnew begins a new series, Around the World in 80 Lathes, of the record-cutting variety, that is. Harris Fogel has a lot more photos from Capital Audiofest 2021. Unusual record covers? Rich Isaacs has them, well, covered. I ask: just what makes music good or bad, and offer some mini-reviews, for better or worse. Ken Kessler has another installment in his reel-to-reel tape series. Ray Chelstowski covers Eric Clapton’s new album, done during the lockdown.

John Seetoo begins his coverage of the AES (Audio Engineering Society) Fall 2021 virtual show. WL Woodward asks: is rock and roll missing in action? Ivan Berger considers the knob with the misleading name. (It’s the Loudness control.) Andy Schaub revisits audiophile heaven. Rudy Radelic continues his deep dive into the music of Burt Bacharach. Russ Welton offers part two of his look at getting an ideal blend between speakers and subwoofers. B. Jan Montana continues his epic journey. Jack Flory goes to shop class. We round out the issue with some music therapy, easy listening, a Magic Brain, and an artistic nightingale.

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, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, WL Woodward, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Harris Fogel, Robert Heiblim, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Alón Sagee, Andy Schaub, 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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Favorites From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Cam Martin Oct 05, 2026 #235 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create, Part Two by Joe Caplan Oct 05, 2026 #235 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part Two by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Grammy-Winning Producer, Songwriter, and Guitarist John Leventhal Goes Instrumental With National Drift by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room—to Founding an Accidental Audio Company by Gilles Laferrière Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Vinyl Beat’s Size Matters Edition by Rudy Radelic Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Sublime Complexities of Nature by B. Jan Montana Oct 05, 2026 #235 How to Play In a Rock Band, 28: Growing Older and Dealing With It by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Young Rascals: From Bar Band to Stardom by Wayne Robins Oct 05, 2026 #235 Duncan Sheik: In Memoriam by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Listening Chair: The Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones by Howard Kneller Oct 05, 2026 #235 Checking Out Some NOLA Loudspeakers – and Some Thoughts About Audio Writing by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum: Music from a Time Capsule by Sebastian Polcyn Oct 05, 2026 #235 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Making the Most Critical Choice by Paul McGowan Oct 05, 2026 #235 Evolutionary Growth by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Speed Racer by Peter Xeni Oct 05, 2026 #235 Happy Halloween! by James Schrimpf Oct 05, 2026 #234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026 #234 Rags for Solo Piano and a Dog: David Chesky's Ragtime Music for the Modern Age by Frankly Speaking Sep 07, 2026 #234 HIGH END 2026, Vienna: Here to Stay by Carsten Barnbeck Sep 07, 2026 #234 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Two Main Types of Loudpeakers – Box and Panel by Paul McGowan Sep 07, 2026 #234 Letting it Slide by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Sep 07, 2026 #234 Long Playing by Peter Xeni Sep 07, 2026 #234 La Mer by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #233 A Report From The Total Hi-Fi Experience Show SoCal 2026 by B. Jan Montana Aug 03, 2026 #233 Bluegrass Meets Country, Folk, Jazz and More in All That We Carried by The Squid City Slingers by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 Corey Glover and One Tribe Nation: A Variegated Musical Collective by Ray Chelstowski Aug 03, 2026 #233 Excursions with Clive: The Late Clive Davis, A Personal History by Wayne Robins Aug 03, 2026 #233 AI, Art, and Music: A Conversation With Synthography Art by Joe Caplan Aug 03, 2026 #233 New American Symphonies: A Rediscovered Gem and a Vital Contemporary Work by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Vinyl Beat: Genesis, the Dave Clark Five, Antonio Carlos Jobim and More by Rudy Radelic Aug 03, 2026 #233 How to Play in a Rock Band, 26: When It's Time to Record Your Music by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 More From T.H.E. Show 2026, and the People Who Made it Happen by Harris Fogel Aug 03, 2026 #233 Underappreciated Artists, Part Three: Icehouse by Rich Isaacs Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Surprisingly Rich and Varied Music of Somalia by Steve Kindig Aug 03, 2026

Issue 151

Issue 151

Happy holidays, everyone. We at Copper wish all of you the very best. The past couple of seasons have obviously been tough on everyone, but we also have plenty to be thankful for.

Show us your vintage, and maybe not-so-vintage gear! In the more than two years of doing Copper’s Audio Anthropology column, I’ve been surprised at how little photographic documentation exists for many audio components. If you have interesting gear and would like to share it with us, please send photos to frank@psaudio.com.

In this issue: Tom Methans pays tribute to the great Stephen Sondheim. Wayne Robins reviews Adele’s new 30 album. Anne E. Johnson finds great music from soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom and respects the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. J.I. Agnew begins a new series, Around the World in 80 Lathes, of the record-cutting variety, that is. Harris Fogel has a lot more photos from Capital Audiofest 2021. Unusual record covers? Rich Isaacs has them, well, covered. I ask: just what makes music good or bad, and offer some mini-reviews, for better or worse. Ken Kessler has another installment in his reel-to-reel tape series. Ray Chelstowski covers Eric Clapton’s new album, done during the lockdown.

John Seetoo begins his coverage of the AES (Audio Engineering Society) Fall 2021 virtual show. WL Woodward asks: is rock and roll missing in action? Ivan Berger considers the knob with the misleading name. (It’s the Loudness control.) Andy Schaub revisits audiophile heaven. Rudy Radelic continues his deep dive into the music of Burt Bacharach. Russ Welton offers part two of his look at getting an ideal blend between speakers and subwoofers. B. Jan Montana continues his epic journey. Jack Flory goes to shop class. We round out the issue with some music therapy, easy listening, a Magic Brain, and an artistic nightingale.

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, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, WL Woodward, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Harris Fogel, Robert Heiblim, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Alón Sagee, Andy Schaub, 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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