COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 215 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 215 Opening Salvo

Table of Contents – Issue 215

Table of Contents – Issue 215

Audio show season is upon us, kicking off in the US with Florida Audio Expo, which takes place February 21 – 23 at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon. It’s the first time for me and I’m stoked to report on the show, now in a bigger venue, and get away from the Northeast winter!

CanJam NYC (New York), and the Bristol Hi-Fi Show in the UK will take place on the same weekend. Next will come Sound Society Denmark (March 1 – 2, Copenhagen), Southwest Audio Fest (March 21 – 23, Dallas, Texas), Audio Show Deluxe (March 22 – 23, Whittlebury Park, UK), Oslo Hi-Fi Show (March 22  23), Montreal Audiofest (March 28 – 30), Shanghai International Audio & Video Show (April 11 – 13), AXPONA Audio Expo North America (April 11 – 13, Schaumburg, IL), Northern International Audio & Visual Show (April 25 – 27, Penang, Malaysia), T.H.E. Lone Star Audiofest (May 2 – 4, Round Rock, Texas), and HIGH-END Munich (May 15 – 18)…and that’s just in the first half of 2025 and may not be an all-inclusive list.

In this issue: B. Jan Montana tells a love story. Octave Records expands its portfolio of jazz music with pianist Tom Amend’s Jazz Classics: 1960s. DALI Speakers holds an informative showcase event. Making Vinyl’s Larry Jaffee offers a vinyl industry update. Jeff Weiner concludes his series on the (sort of) roots of rock and roll. Wayne Robins goes back in time with an interview with pop music legend Lesley Gore. PS Audio’s own Paul McGowan offers an excerpt from his upcoming book series, The Audiophile’s Guide, with an installment on digital audio. We start a new photo essay series from Harris Fogel: The People Who Make Audio Happen.

Ray Chelstowski talks with singer/songwriter Paul Thorn about his new album, Just a Vapor. I continue my series on how to play in a rock band with advice on playing on bigger stages. Rudy Radelic and The Vinyl Beat cover reissues and releases from Max Abrams, the Jazz Crusaders, Donald Byrd, Andreas Vollenweider, and more. Our publishing partner FIDELITY magazine visits Vienna’s Finest Audio Show. Copper Classics features Ken Kessler checking out reel-to-reel tapes and machines. From The Listening Chair looks at the Bluesound NODE ICON. PS Audio earns accolades for the Aspen FR30 loudspeaker, Stellar Strata MK2 integrated amp, and other products. The issue wraps up with high fi, a visit to that old audio gang of mine, and lyrical architecture.


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

Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, B. Jan Montana, Paul McGowan, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, Jeff Weiner, Peter Xeni

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

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Post-publication Nitpicker:
Rich Isaacs

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 215

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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 215

Table of Contents – Issue 215

Audio show season is upon us, kicking off in the US with Florida Audio Expo, which takes place February 21 – 23 at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon. It’s the first time for me and I’m stoked to report on the show, now in a bigger venue, and get away from the Northeast winter!

CanJam NYC (New York), and the Bristol Hi-Fi Show in the UK will take place on the same weekend. Next will come Sound Society Denmark (March 1 – 2, Copenhagen), Southwest Audio Fest (March 21 – 23, Dallas, Texas), Audio Show Deluxe (March 22 – 23, Whittlebury Park, UK), Oslo Hi-Fi Show (March 22  23), Montreal Audiofest (March 28 – 30), Shanghai International Audio & Video Show (April 11 – 13), AXPONA Audio Expo North America (April 11 – 13, Schaumburg, IL), Northern International Audio & Visual Show (April 25 – 27, Penang, Malaysia), T.H.E. Lone Star Audiofest (May 2 – 4, Round Rock, Texas), and HIGH-END Munich (May 15 – 18)…and that’s just in the first half of 2025 and may not be an all-inclusive list.

In this issue: B. Jan Montana tells a love story. Octave Records expands its portfolio of jazz music with pianist Tom Amend’s Jazz Classics: 1960s. DALI Speakers holds an informative showcase event. Making Vinyl’s Larry Jaffee offers a vinyl industry update. Jeff Weiner concludes his series on the (sort of) roots of rock and roll. Wayne Robins goes back in time with an interview with pop music legend Lesley Gore. PS Audio’s own Paul McGowan offers an excerpt from his upcoming book series, The Audiophile’s Guide, with an installment on digital audio. We start a new photo essay series from Harris Fogel: The People Who Make Audio Happen.

Ray Chelstowski talks with singer/songwriter Paul Thorn about his new album, Just a Vapor. I continue my series on how to play in a rock band with advice on playing on bigger stages. Rudy Radelic and The Vinyl Beat cover reissues and releases from Max Abrams, the Jazz Crusaders, Donald Byrd, Andreas Vollenweider, and more. Our publishing partner FIDELITY magazine visits Vienna’s Finest Audio Show. Copper Classics features Ken Kessler checking out reel-to-reel tapes and machines. From The Listening Chair looks at the Bluesound NODE ICON. PS Audio earns accolades for the Aspen FR30 loudspeaker, Stellar Strata MK2 integrated amp, and other products. The issue wraps up with high fi, a visit to that old audio gang of mine, and lyrical architecture.


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

Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, B. Jan Montana, Paul McGowan, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, Jeff Weiner, Peter Xeni

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

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Post-publication Nitpicker:
Rich Isaacs

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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