COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 161 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 161 Opening Salvo

On With the Show

On With the Show

AXPONA, Audio Expo North America, is happening as you are reading this and we’ll be reporting on it in upcoming issues.

A drug that reverses hearing loss? I haven’t dug deeply into it yet, but for now, this article in SciTechDaily about biotech company Frequency Therapeutics certainly caught my attention. The regenerative treatment is said to stimulate the growth of hair cells in the inner ear – the cells that enable us to hear.

In this issue: Rich Isaacs went to a lot of concerts in 1977. Tom Gibbs reviews some outstanding high-res music downloads. Larry Jaffee attends the Fest for Beatles Fans. Ken Kessler gets re-educated about reel-to-reel tape. Tom Methans considers the current and future state of vacuum-tube availability. Ray Chelstowski discovers Bonnie Pointer’s lost-and-found Like a Picasso album. J.I. Agnew takes a close look at record-cutting lathe cutter heads. B. Jan Montana looks for the right tools for the journey. Jay Jay French finds happiness in a surprisingly modest audio system. Don Kaplan, The Mindful Melophile, enjoys more singing, talking and dancing.

John Seetoo reviews Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey’s book on recording the Beatles. Anne E. Johnson covers the careers of progressive rock giants Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and the President of Jazz, saxophonist Lester Young. Russ Welton talks speaker setup with Audio Advice’s Scott Newnam. Rudy Radelic continues his survey of A&M Records. Andrew Daly interviews singer/songwriter Chris Haddox, who proves that perseverance pays off. Our A/V department flies with the Pilot, has a wardrobe malfunction, takes a reality check, and grazes in the grass.

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

More from Issue 161

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#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 #225 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Controlling Bass Frequencies Through Membrane Absorbers (and How to Build Your Own) by Paul McGowan Dec 01, 2025 #225 Your Editor’s Tips for Attending Audio Shows by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 PS Audio in the News by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 24 by Ken Kessler Dec 01, 2025 #225 Holiday Music by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Puppy Prognostication by Peter Xeni Dec 01, 2025 #225 How to Post Comments on Copper by Frank Doris Dec 01, 2025 #225 Living Color by Rudy Radelic Dec 01, 2025 #224 T.H.E. Show New York 2025, Part One: A New Beginning by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025 #224 Fool’s Leap of Faith is the Extraordinary Octave Records Debut from Singer/Songwriter Tyler Burba and Visit by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025 #224 The Beatles’ “Aeolian Cadences.” What? by Wayne Robins Nov 03, 2025 #224 Persona Non Grata by B. Jan Montana Nov 03, 2025 #224 Talking With Recording Engineer Barry Diament of Soundkeeper Recordings, Part Two by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025 #224 B Sides, B Movies, and Beware of Zombies by Rudy Radelic Nov 03, 2025 #224 The Burn-In Chronicles: 1,000 Hours to Sonic Salvation by Olivier Meunier-Plante Nov 03, 2025 #224 A Conversation With Mat Weisfeld of VPI Industries by Joe Caplan Nov 03, 2025 #224 Blues-Rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd Celebrates 30 Years of Ledbetter Heights by Ray Chelstowski Nov 03, 2025 #224 Playing in a Rock Band, 17: When Good Gigs Go Bad, Part Two by Frank Doris Nov 03, 2025

On With the Show

On With the Show

AXPONA, Audio Expo North America, is happening as you are reading this and we’ll be reporting on it in upcoming issues.

A drug that reverses hearing loss? I haven’t dug deeply into it yet, but for now, this article in SciTechDaily about biotech company Frequency Therapeutics certainly caught my attention. The regenerative treatment is said to stimulate the growth of hair cells in the inner ear – the cells that enable us to hear.

In this issue: Rich Isaacs went to a lot of concerts in 1977. Tom Gibbs reviews some outstanding high-res music downloads. Larry Jaffee attends the Fest for Beatles Fans. Ken Kessler gets re-educated about reel-to-reel tape. Tom Methans considers the current and future state of vacuum-tube availability. Ray Chelstowski discovers Bonnie Pointer’s lost-and-found Like a Picasso album. J.I. Agnew takes a close look at record-cutting lathe cutter heads. B. Jan Montana looks for the right tools for the journey. Jay Jay French finds happiness in a surprisingly modest audio system. Don Kaplan, The Mindful Melophile, enjoys more singing, talking and dancing.

John Seetoo reviews Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey’s book on recording the Beatles. Anne E. Johnson covers the careers of progressive rock giants Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and the President of Jazz, saxophonist Lester Young. Russ Welton talks speaker setup with Audio Advice’s Scott Newnam. Rudy Radelic continues his survey of A&M Records. Andrew Daly interviews singer/songwriter Chris Haddox, who proves that perseverance pays off. Our A/V department flies with the Pilot, has a wardrobe malfunction, takes a reality check, and grazes in the grass.

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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