COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 152 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 152 Opening Salvo

Issue 152

Issue 152

All of us at Copper once again wish all of you happy holidays. The past two years have been tougher than anyone could have imagined, but this is a season of hope and renewal after all. Keeping the holiday spirit, however we choose to do so, is perhaps more important than ever. Here’s to a happier, brighter and better 2022.

Just a few days ago, Emiko Carlin, marketing director for audio show T.H.E. Show, announced a new offshoot organization, T.H.E. Group. It’s a membership-based program, and participants will get free passes to T.H.E. Show, access to studio tours, artist performances, an Audio University program, and events including wine tasting, supercar and racing experiences, and other activities. Carlin noted, “Music is for everyone, so hi-fi and audio are for everyone, and we want T.H.E. Group to be an ecosystem people can be part of who love all different genres of music, have different experiences in listening and lifestyle, and who share the same goal: keeping our industry moving forward!” For more information visit www.thegroup.life.

In this issue: In a first for Copper, or maybe anywhere we have a trifecta of contributing editors weighing in on the Beatles Get Back documentary: Tim Riley ("Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These"), Larry Jaffee ("Let It Be: Director Peter Jackson's Get Back Provides Much-Needed Context"), and Jay Jay French ("Get Back, Let It Be and the Boredom of Excellence"). Continuing what has become a Copper tradition, WL Woodward offers a holiday story and a poem, while The Mindful Melophile Don Kaplan deals with not-in-the-spirit shoppers. I cover Octave Records’ latest, Levelland by country-folk duo Bonnie and Taylor Sims. Russ Welton asks – do we really need video for audio streaming? Tom Methans considers the collector as minimalist. Rudy Radelic continues his series on Burt Bacharach with a look at some artists who had him covered. Tom Gibbs digs more deeply into the Gustard X16 and PS Audio Stellar GainCell DACs, and Roon.

Ken Kessler has some advice on buying reel-to-reel tape. Anne E. Johnson gives us the real story, not the movie version, on Antonio Salieri, and the career of soulful hitmakers Hall and Oates. Ray Chelstowski talks with Hollis Brown front man Michael Montali about In the Aftermath, their track-by-track homage to the Rolling Stones album. Andy Schaub serves up a lunch menu. John Seetoo continues his coverage of the Audio Engineering Society’s AES Fall 2021 virtual show. J.I. Agnew spins Part Two of his series, Around the World in 80 Lathes (of the record-cutting variety). B. Jan forges on ahead through South Dakota. Ken Sander has a few laughs at Dangerfield’s. We wrap up this holiday issue with seasonal advice, a fabled midrange, an adventure in sound, and a visit to Louie Lee’s.

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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#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

Issue 152

Issue 152

All of us at Copper once again wish all of you happy holidays. The past two years have been tougher than anyone could have imagined, but this is a season of hope and renewal after all. Keeping the holiday spirit, however we choose to do so, is perhaps more important than ever. Here’s to a happier, brighter and better 2022.

Just a few days ago, Emiko Carlin, marketing director for audio show T.H.E. Show, announced a new offshoot organization, T.H.E. Group. It’s a membership-based program, and participants will get free passes to T.H.E. Show, access to studio tours, artist performances, an Audio University program, and events including wine tasting, supercar and racing experiences, and other activities. Carlin noted, “Music is for everyone, so hi-fi and audio are for everyone, and we want T.H.E. Group to be an ecosystem people can be part of who love all different genres of music, have different experiences in listening and lifestyle, and who share the same goal: keeping our industry moving forward!” For more information visit www.thegroup.life.

In this issue: In a first for Copper, or maybe anywhere we have a trifecta of contributing editors weighing in on the Beatles Get Back documentary: Tim Riley ("Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These"), Larry Jaffee ("Let It Be: Director Peter Jackson's Get Back Provides Much-Needed Context"), and Jay Jay French ("Get Back, Let It Be and the Boredom of Excellence"). Continuing what has become a Copper tradition, WL Woodward offers a holiday story and a poem, while The Mindful Melophile Don Kaplan deals with not-in-the-spirit shoppers. I cover Octave Records’ latest, Levelland by country-folk duo Bonnie and Taylor Sims. Russ Welton asks – do we really need video for audio streaming? Tom Methans considers the collector as minimalist. Rudy Radelic continues his series on Burt Bacharach with a look at some artists who had him covered. Tom Gibbs digs more deeply into the Gustard X16 and PS Audio Stellar GainCell DACs, and Roon.

Ken Kessler has some advice on buying reel-to-reel tape. Anne E. Johnson gives us the real story, not the movie version, on Antonio Salieri, and the career of soulful hitmakers Hall and Oates. Ray Chelstowski talks with Hollis Brown front man Michael Montali about In the Aftermath, their track-by-track homage to the Rolling Stones album. Andy Schaub serves up a lunch menu. John Seetoo continues his coverage of the Audio Engineering Society’s AES Fall 2021 virtual show. J.I. Agnew spins Part Two of his series, Around the World in 80 Lathes (of the record-cutting variety). B. Jan forges on ahead through South Dakota. Ken Sander has a few laughs at Dangerfield’s. We wrap up this holiday issue with seasonal advice, a fabled midrange, an adventure in sound, and a visit to Louie Lee’s.

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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