The audio world has lost another legend with the passing of Max Townshend at 78. Born in Perth, Australia, he was the head of UK-based Townshend Audio and designer of a wide range of high-end products, including cables, the Seismic series of isolation products, the Allegri preamplifiers, plus loudspeakers and other creations. I had the pleasure of speaking with him one last time about a year ago in conjunction with an article he wrote for Copper Issue 124, “The ‘Sound’ of Speaker Cables: An Analysis,” and as always he was generous with his knowledge, unflinching in his beliefs, and a blast to talk to. RIP to one of the industry’s true titans.
In this issue: Wayne Robins finds the Neil Young Archives to be a very deep resource. I cover Octave Records latest musical sampler, Audiophile Masters, Vol. III. Russ Welton asks: how loud will your speakers go? Don Kaplan chronicles his quest to find his Goldilocks audio system. B. Jan Montana becomes more enlightened on his journey to Sturgis. Ken Sander goes on tour with Wishbone Ash. Jack Flory ponders the power of Ohm’s law. Ray Chelstowski talks with folk-pop artist Eddie Berman about his exceptional new album, Broken English. Don Lindich tells us what CES 2022 was like. Ken Kessler comes clean with reel-to-reel tape hygiene.
I talk with Gordon Stanley of the Spreckels Organ Society about one of the world’s most remarkable musical instruments. J.I. Agnew digs deeper into the world of record-cutting lathes. Andy Schaub has some audiophile plans for the new year. Rudy Radelic checks out a SweetVinyl record-noise reduction system. Anne E. Johnson enlightens us on the music of classical artist Carl Maria von Weber, and Motown pioneer Mary Wells. Tom Gibbs shows off audio demo tracks. John Seetoo pays another virtual visit to AES Fall 2021 and the psychology of hearing, and a listen to some heavyweight producers. Our A/V department caps off the issue with shrink wrap misadventures, a jittery audiophile, space-age audio, and green transportation.
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:
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– FD
