COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 203 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 203 Opening Salvo

Table of Contents – Issue 203

Table of Contents – Issue 203

Tony Cordesman was a great friend to those of us at PS Audio and to so many in the industry, and we deeply mourn his passing on January 29 at the age of 84. Anthony H. Cordesman’s “day job” was as a national security analyst, but his avocation was reviewing high-end audio gear, which he did brilliantly over a long career. I will have much more to say in a tribute to him in the next issue.

In this issue: I enter the musical world of the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, a band unlike any other. Paul McGowan considers the unmeasurable aspects of high-end audio. I remember the late Jim Winey of Magnepan, makers of Magneplanar loudspeakers. Wayne Robins talks about the girl genius of boygenius. Rudy Radelic goes hunting for vampire power, the energy used by our electronics. I cover two new releases from Octave Records: Live at Nocturne II by jazz group the Tom Amend Trio, and the folk-and-soul-meets-bluegrass of Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project. Harris Fogel wraps up his coverage of Capital Audiofest 2023. Roy Hall listens to Handel’s Messiah.

John Seetoo sits in on an immersive audio jazz recording session with trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti. I visit the new Billy Joel exhibit at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Ray Chelstowski talks with Terry Adams of NRBQ on the reissue of Terrible, an album that’s anything but. B. Jan Montana hangs out with the Top Dog. Howard Kneller sits in The Listening Chair with the VAC Statement 452iQ amplifier. We have a guest article from AAA Magazine and Ernst Müller on the symphonies of Jean Sibelius. PS Audio wins a 2023 Brutus Award – a good thing. As we wrap up the issue we’re all dolled up, listening to birds, and born to be wild.

 

 

Contributors to this issue:

Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Howard Kneller, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Ernst Müller, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, John Seetoo, Peter Xeni

 

Logo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’Amico

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – 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

Table of Contents – Issue 203

Table of Contents – Issue 203

Tony Cordesman was a great friend to those of us at PS Audio and to so many in the industry, and we deeply mourn his passing on January 29 at the age of 84. Anthony H. Cordesman’s “day job” was as a national security analyst, but his avocation was reviewing high-end audio gear, which he did brilliantly over a long career. I will have much more to say in a tribute to him in the next issue.

In this issue: I enter the musical world of the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, a band unlike any other. Paul McGowan considers the unmeasurable aspects of high-end audio. I remember the late Jim Winey of Magnepan, makers of Magneplanar loudspeakers. Wayne Robins talks about the girl genius of boygenius. Rudy Radelic goes hunting for vampire power, the energy used by our electronics. I cover two new releases from Octave Records: Live at Nocturne II by jazz group the Tom Amend Trio, and the folk-and-soul-meets-bluegrass of Sturtz: Live at Roots Music Project. Harris Fogel wraps up his coverage of Capital Audiofest 2023. Roy Hall listens to Handel’s Messiah.

John Seetoo sits in on an immersive audio jazz recording session with trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti. I visit the new Billy Joel exhibit at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Ray Chelstowski talks with Terry Adams of NRBQ on the reissue of Terrible, an album that’s anything but. B. Jan Montana hangs out with the Top Dog. Howard Kneller sits in The Listening Chair with the VAC Statement 452iQ amplifier. We have a guest article from AAA Magazine and Ernst Müller on the symphonies of Jean Sibelius. PS Audio wins a 2023 Brutus Award – a good thing. As we wrap up the issue we’re all dolled up, listening to birds, and born to be wild.

 

 

Contributors to this issue:

Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Howard Kneller, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Ernst Müller, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, John Seetoo, Peter Xeni

 

Logo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’Amico

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

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