Copper Magazine · Issue 186 · A free PS Audio publication
Issue 186 Opening Salvo

Table of Contents – Issue 186

Table of Contents – Issue 186

As noted in the last issue, Copper’s gone to a new web platform. Though there’s still a bit of a learning curve, we’ve worked out a lot of the kinks (in my case, while listening to the new The Journey, Part 1 collection by the Kinks). For example, hyperlinks now appear in blue, you can now click on the images in the Table of Contents page to get to the articles, and the Download PDF button works, although the navigation and formatting need tweaking. (Click on the Download PDF button, then right-click inside the PDF when it appears, and click on Save As to get an HTML page on your desktop.) We continue to work hard on making this and other aspects of Copper as good as they can be.

In this issue: I cover Octave Records’ latest, the jazz-flavored Bishop’s Lair by the Tom Amend Octet. Rudy Radelic continues his series on CTI Records with a listen to the label’s prominent keyboard players. As part of our article exchange program with Germany’s FIDELITY magazine, we present a tour of Wilson Audio. Adrian Wu has more confessions of a tube collector. Andrew Daly interviews Australian guitar alchemist Luke Stamenkovich. Tom Methans has something to say about today’s concert ticket pricing. Jeff Weiner takes another tour through Arizona's' Musical Instrument Museum. 

Anne E. Johnson explores the chamber music of Gioachino Rossini, and digs jazz bass master Christian McBride. Howard Kneller gets comfortable in The Listening Chair with the xDuoo TA-30 headphone amp/DAC. Our Mindful Melophile Don Kaplan enjoys more music for solo and duo artists. Steven Bryan Bieler has tips for stereo buying for audio newbies, while J.I. Agnew conducts an audio crime scene investigation. Tom Gibbs attempts to improve SACD playback with an inexpensive device. The issue concludes with a meeting of the minds, singin’ in the studio, and parallel lines.

Staff Writers:
J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Harris Fogel, 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, Steve Kindig, Ted Shafran, 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.

More from Issue 186

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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

Table of Contents – Issue 186

Table of Contents – Issue 186

As noted in the last issue, Copper’s gone to a new web platform. Though there’s still a bit of a learning curve, we’ve worked out a lot of the kinks (in my case, while listening to the new The Journey, Part 1 collection by the Kinks). For example, hyperlinks now appear in blue, you can now click on the images in the Table of Contents page to get to the articles, and the Download PDF button works, although the navigation and formatting need tweaking. (Click on the Download PDF button, then right-click inside the PDF when it appears, and click on Save As to get an HTML page on your desktop.) We continue to work hard on making this and other aspects of Copper as good as they can be.

In this issue: I cover Octave Records’ latest, the jazz-flavored Bishop’s Lair by the Tom Amend Octet. Rudy Radelic continues his series on CTI Records with a listen to the label’s prominent keyboard players. As part of our article exchange program with Germany’s FIDELITY magazine, we present a tour of Wilson Audio. Adrian Wu has more confessions of a tube collector. Andrew Daly interviews Australian guitar alchemist Luke Stamenkovich. Tom Methans has something to say about today’s concert ticket pricing. Jeff Weiner takes another tour through Arizona's' Musical Instrument Museum. 

Anne E. Johnson explores the chamber music of Gioachino Rossini, and digs jazz bass master Christian McBride. Howard Kneller gets comfortable in The Listening Chair with the xDuoo TA-30 headphone amp/DAC. Our Mindful Melophile Don Kaplan enjoys more music for solo and duo artists. Steven Bryan Bieler has tips for stereo buying for audio newbies, while J.I. Agnew conducts an audio crime scene investigation. Tom Gibbs attempts to improve SACD playback with an inexpensive device. The issue concludes with a meeting of the minds, singin’ in the studio, and parallel lines.

Staff Writers:
J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Harris Fogel, 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, Steve Kindig, Ted Shafran, 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.

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