COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 209 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 209 Opening Salvo

Table of Contents – Issue 209

Table of Contents – Issue 209

“I see music as fluid architecture.” – Joni Mitchell

In this issue: Paul McGowan begins a series on the 50th anniversary of PS Audio. Octave Records releases one of its most inviting albums yet: Jazz Classics: 1950s by keyboardist Tom Amend. B. Jan Montana leverages karma for fun and profit. Jeff Weiner concludes his series on folk singers. I interview organizational sociologist Rene Wiedner on the survival of the vinyl industry. Wayne Robins reviews country/rock music phenomenon Zach Bryan. Rudy Radelic continues his series, The Vinyl Beat. Adrian Wu discovers four-track stereo reel-to-reel tapes. Harris Fogel continues his photo essay series on the people of NAMM 2024. AAA Magazine’s Ernst Müller takes a deep look at Mendelssohn’s “Italian” and “Scottish” symphonies on vinyl.

Rich Isaacs checks out more test records and demo discs. I continue my series on how to play in a rock band by asking: why? Ray Chelstowski reviews the John Lennon Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection box set, and talks with singer/songwriter JD Souther on the reissue of his classic You’re Only Lonely album. Ken Kessler gets back to his reel-to-reel roots with more thoughts about tape hygiene. PS Audio gets some rave reviews and comments for the new aspen FR5 loudspeaker, the aspen FR30, and other products. We conclude the issue with tin ears, an application error, a hearing test, and architectural textures.

Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Ken Kessler, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Ernst Müller, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, Jeff Weiner, James Whitworth, Adrian Wu, 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

More from Issue 209

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#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 #233 A Remarkable Discographic Legacy: The LP Recordings of the Basel Symphony Orchestra by Stephan Haberthür Aug 03, 2026 #233 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Importance of Loudspeakers by Paul McGowan Aug 03, 2026 #233 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room: A Conversation with Norman Varney of AV RoomService by Gilles Laferrière Aug 03, 2026 #233 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Aug 03, 2026 #233 Audio Jewelry by Peter Xeni Aug 03, 2026 #233 Enrich Your Life by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Searcher by James Schrimpf Aug 03, 2026 #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

Table of Contents – Issue 209

Table of Contents – Issue 209

“I see music as fluid architecture.” – Joni Mitchell

In this issue: Paul McGowan begins a series on the 50th anniversary of PS Audio. Octave Records releases one of its most inviting albums yet: Jazz Classics: 1950s by keyboardist Tom Amend. B. Jan Montana leverages karma for fun and profit. Jeff Weiner concludes his series on folk singers. I interview organizational sociologist Rene Wiedner on the survival of the vinyl industry. Wayne Robins reviews country/rock music phenomenon Zach Bryan. Rudy Radelic continues his series, The Vinyl Beat. Adrian Wu discovers four-track stereo reel-to-reel tapes. Harris Fogel continues his photo essay series on the people of NAMM 2024. AAA Magazine’s Ernst Müller takes a deep look at Mendelssohn’s “Italian” and “Scottish” symphonies on vinyl.

Rich Isaacs checks out more test records and demo discs. I continue my series on how to play in a rock band by asking: why? Ray Chelstowski reviews the John Lennon Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection box set, and talks with singer/songwriter JD Souther on the reissue of his classic You’re Only Lonely album. Ken Kessler gets back to his reel-to-reel roots with more thoughts about tape hygiene. PS Audio gets some rave reviews and comments for the new aspen FR5 loudspeaker, the aspen FR30, and other products. We conclude the issue with tin ears, an application error, a hearing test, and architectural textures.

Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Ken Kessler, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Ernst Müller, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, Jeff Weiner, James Whitworth, Adrian Wu, 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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