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Table of Contents – Issue 212

Table of Contents – Issue 212

RIP Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead bassist and vocalist and one of the greatest musical titans who ever walked the Earth. Grateful Dead fans and millions of us offer boundless tribute to a true legend.

We mourn the loss of audio industry veteran Richard Colburn, most recently of Tone Imports. Richard was one of the most well-loved and respected people in the high-end world, a friend to so many of us, and the news of his loss sent shock waves through the industry. We will miss him greatly.

Folk Alliance International has announced its 2025 showcase lineup, to take place in Montreal, Canada, February 19 – 23, 2025. (Wayne Robins covered the 2024 conference here and here.) More than 175 artists will participate, including Ron Sexsmith, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Tania Elizabeth, Mama’s Broke, Kaïa Kater, Jorane, Basiat Bulat, Wesli, Connie Kaldor, and more. The Annual Folk Alliance International Conference is the largest gathering of folk musicians and music industry professionals in the world. ‍For more information, click here.

The Listening Chair With Howard Kneller has launched its website, thelisteningchair.net. Howard is a Copper contributor, as well as a veteran audio reviewer and writer. The website features show reports, video and print reviews, coverage of dealers and manufacturers, and other news and features.

In this issue: We have the first of a three-part interview with Jamie Howarth of Plangent Processes, which corrects for the minute speed variations in master tapes to provide sonic improvements. Wayne Robins reviews Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ Woodland album. Octave Records’ latest is Pennies From Heaven, a set of jazz classics and standards from singer/saxophonist Jeremy Mohney. I cover the recent Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention. To commemorate its 75th anniversary, McIntosh has released the LP McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 1: The Peter Erskine Quartet. Larry Jaffee talks about Lou Reed and Joey Ramone as rockers growing up Jewish.

B. Jan Montana discovers dandelion therapy. Ray Chelstowski talks with Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth co-founder, about his new album, Flow Critical Lucidity. The Vinyl Beat covers reissues from the Doobie Brothers, Miles Davis, Klark Kent, Ray Baretto, and more. I continue my series on playing in a rock band by asking: what do you want to play? Paul McGowan reminisces about 50 years of PS Audio and a new beginning in the 1970s. Tom Lane offers songs of love. From The Listening Chair focuses on cables. PS Audio earns positive reviews for the Stellar Strata MK2 and Aspen FR5 loudspeakers, and garners Editors’ Choice picks from The Absolute Sound. Ken Kessler encounters reel-to-reel high crimes and misdemeanors. The issue wraps up with a blanket statement, a RadioShack extravaganza, and a cactus cornucopia.



Click here for information on how to post comments in Copper.

Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, Tom Lane, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, 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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#227 Seth Lewis Gets in the Groove With Take a Look Around: a Tribute to the Meters by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Passport to Sound: May Anwar’s Audio Learning Experience for Young People by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Conjectures on Cosmic Consciousness by B. Jan Montana Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Big Takeover Turns 45 by Wayne Robins Feb 02, 2026 #227 Music and Chocolate: On the Sensory Connection by Joe Caplan Feb 02, 2026 #227 Singer/Songwriter Chris Berardo: Getting Wilder All the Time by Ray Chelstowski Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Earliest Stars of Country Music, Part One by Jeff Weiner Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Vinyl Beat Goes Down to Tijuana (By Way of Los Angeles), Part Two by Rudy Radelic Feb 02, 2026 #227 How to Play in a Rock Band, 20: On the Road With Blood, Sweat & Tears’ Guitarist Gabe Cummins by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Audio Specs and Measuring by Paul McGowan Feb 02, 2026 #227 Our Brain is Always Listening by Peter Trübner Feb 02, 2026 #227 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Listening Chair: Sleek Style and Sound From the Luxman L3 by Howard Kneller Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society Celebrates Its 32nd Anniversary, Honoring David and Sheryl Lee Wilson and Bernie Grundman by Harris Fogel Feb 02, 2026 #227 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 26: Half Full – Not Half Empty, Redux by Ken Kessler Feb 02, 2026 #227 That's What Puzzles Us... by Frank Doris Feb 02, 2026 #227 Record-Breaking by Peter Xeni Feb 02, 2026 #227 The Long and Winding Road by B. Jan Montana Feb 02, 2026 #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

Table of Contents – Issue 212

Table of Contents – Issue 212

RIP Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead bassist and vocalist and one of the greatest musical titans who ever walked the Earth. Grateful Dead fans and millions of us offer boundless tribute to a true legend.

We mourn the loss of audio industry veteran Richard Colburn, most recently of Tone Imports. Richard was one of the most well-loved and respected people in the high-end world, a friend to so many of us, and the news of his loss sent shock waves through the industry. We will miss him greatly.

Folk Alliance International has announced its 2025 showcase lineup, to take place in Montreal, Canada, February 19 – 23, 2025. (Wayne Robins covered the 2024 conference here and here.) More than 175 artists will participate, including Ron Sexsmith, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Tania Elizabeth, Mama’s Broke, Kaïa Kater, Jorane, Basiat Bulat, Wesli, Connie Kaldor, and more. The Annual Folk Alliance International Conference is the largest gathering of folk musicians and music industry professionals in the world. ‍For more information, click here.

The Listening Chair With Howard Kneller has launched its website, thelisteningchair.net. Howard is a Copper contributor, as well as a veteran audio reviewer and writer. The website features show reports, video and print reviews, coverage of dealers and manufacturers, and other news and features.

In this issue: We have the first of a three-part interview with Jamie Howarth of Plangent Processes, which corrects for the minute speed variations in master tapes to provide sonic improvements. Wayne Robins reviews Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ Woodland album. Octave Records’ latest is Pennies From Heaven, a set of jazz classics and standards from singer/saxophonist Jeremy Mohney. I cover the recent Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention. To commemorate its 75th anniversary, McIntosh has released the LP McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 1: The Peter Erskine Quartet. Larry Jaffee talks about Lou Reed and Joey Ramone as rockers growing up Jewish.

B. Jan Montana discovers dandelion therapy. Ray Chelstowski talks with Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth co-founder, about his new album, Flow Critical Lucidity. The Vinyl Beat covers reissues from the Doobie Brothers, Miles Davis, Klark Kent, Ray Baretto, and more. I continue my series on playing in a rock band by asking: what do you want to play? Paul McGowan reminisces about 50 years of PS Audio and a new beginning in the 1970s. Tom Lane offers songs of love. From The Listening Chair focuses on cables. PS Audio earns positive reviews for the Stellar Strata MK2 and Aspen FR5 loudspeakers, and garners Editors’ Choice picks from The Absolute Sound. Ken Kessler encounters reel-to-reel high crimes and misdemeanors. The issue wraps up with a blanket statement, a RadioShack extravaganza, and a cactus cornucopia.



Click here for information on how to post comments in Copper.

Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, Tom Lane, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, 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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