COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 230 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 230 Table of Contents

Table of Contents – Issue 230

“People learn things from art.” – Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer

In this issue: It’s the season for audio shows, and this issue we have reports on the recent Florida Audio Expo, CanJam NYC, and AXPONA events – and Ken Kessler fuels his love of all things reel-to-reel at the UK’s Audiojumble. Plus, Paul McGowan reminds us of why audio shows like AXPONA are family gatherings. And, we will have more coverage of AXPONA in the next issue – it was a really big show, with a lot to see: 237 exhibit rooms!

Octave Records latest, Divine Sky by pianist Ryan Benthall, goes beyond jazz into variegated musical territory. B. Jan Montana reflects on the rewards of camaraderie. Joe Caplan talks with a co-owner of San Francisco’s Graffeo Coffee on the relationship between music and his favorite brew.

Rich Isaacs has a cautionary tale. PMA Magazine offers an article on the history of Saul Marantz and the company that carried his name. Ray Chelstowski talks about musical growth with singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson about his new album, Never Be the Same. Wayne Robins reflects on Sonic Youth, and life, and the band’s landmark Murray Street album. Frank Doris has more encounters with famous musicians. From The Listening Chair revisits an audio oddity. PS Audio gets a positive review of the PMG Signature Preamplifier. We conclude the issue with a rat race, text messaging, and being on the rocks.

******

Contributors to This Issue:
Joe Caplan, Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Just Audio, Ken Kessler, Paul McGowan, Olivier Meunier-Plante, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, 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 230

Camaraderie
Camaraderie
B. Jan Montana
AXPONA 2026: A Family Gathering
AXPONA 2026: A Family Gathering
Paul McGowan
Pianist Ryan Benthall Explores Jazz Realms and Far Beyond With Divine Sky
Pianist Ryan Benthall Explores Jazz Realms and Far Beyond With Divine Sky
Frank Doris
The Vinyl Beat in AXPONA-Land
The Vinyl Beat in AXPONA-Land
Rudy Radelic
Teddy Thompson’s Musical Growth Deepens With Never Be the Same
Teddy Thompson’s Musical Growth Deepens With Never Be the Same
Ray Chelstowski
More Fun in the Sun: Florida Audio Expo, Part Two
More Fun in the Sun: Florida Audio Expo, Part Two
Frank Doris
View All Articles in Issue 230

Search Copper Magazine

#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 #230 An Outlier in the Rack: A Vintage BIC Beam Box by The Staff at Just Audio May 04, 2026 #230 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff May 04, 2026 #230 A Cautionary Tale by Rich Isaacs May 04, 2026 #230 Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 33 (Revised): Ken Kessler Reports On the 2026 (British) AudioJumble by Ken Kessler May 04, 2026 #230 Text Messaging by Frank Doris May 04, 2026 #230 The Audiophile Rat Race by Peter Xeni May 04, 2026 #230 On the Rocks by Rich Isaacs May 04, 2026 #229 The Earliest Stars of Country Music, Part Three by Jeff Weiner Apr 06, 2026 #229 The Healing Power of Music and Sound at the Omega Institute by Joe Caplan Apr 06, 2026 #229 CanJam NYC 2026 Show Report: Heady Sound, Part One by Frank Doris Apr 06, 2026 #229 Florida Audio Expo 2026: Warming Up to High-End Audio, Part One by Frank Doris Apr 06, 2026 #229 Quick Takes: Anne Bisson, Sam Morrison, The Velvet Underground, and the Stooges by Frank Doris Apr 06, 2026 #229 The Vinyl Beat: New Arrivals, and Old Audio Show Demo Scores to Settle by Rudy Radelic Apr 06, 2026 #229 Harvard Gets a High-End Audio Education by Frank Doris Apr 06, 2026 #229 No Country for Old Knees by B. Jan Montana Apr 06, 2026 #229 How To Play in A Rock Band, 22: Encounters With Famous Musicians, Part 1 by Frank Doris Apr 06, 2026 #229 The Soulful Grooves of Guinea-Bissau by Steve Kindig Apr 06, 2026 #229 Four-Hand Piano Performance at Its Finest by Stephan Haberthür Apr 06, 2026 #229 The People Who Make Audio Happen: Supreme Acoustics Systems’ Las Vegas Grand Opening by Harris Fogel Apr 06, 2026 #229 Blue Öyster Cult: Tyranny and Expectations by Wayne Robins Apr 06, 2026 #229 Guitarist Rick Vito’s Cinematic New Album, Slidemaster by Ray Chelstowski Apr 06, 2026 #229 Measurements and Observational Listening by Paul McGowan Apr 06, 2026 #229 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Apr 06, 2026 #229 Back to My Reel-to-Reel Roots, Part 28: The Cassette Strikes Back by Ken Kessler Apr 06, 2026 #229 Are You Receiving Me? by Frank Doris Apr 06, 2026 #229 Hospitality by Peter Xeni Apr 06, 2026 #229 Cantina Gateway by James Schrimpf Apr 06, 2026

Table of Contents – Issue 230

“People learn things from art.” – Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer

In this issue: It’s the season for audio shows, and this issue we have reports on the recent Florida Audio Expo, CanJam NYC, and AXPONA events – and Ken Kessler fuels his love of all things reel-to-reel at the UK’s Audiojumble. Plus, Paul McGowan reminds us of why audio shows like AXPONA are family gatherings. And, we will have more coverage of AXPONA in the next issue – it was a really big show, with a lot to see: 237 exhibit rooms!

Octave Records latest, Divine Sky by pianist Ryan Benthall, goes beyond jazz into variegated musical territory. B. Jan Montana reflects on the rewards of camaraderie. Joe Caplan talks with a co-owner of San Francisco’s Graffeo Coffee on the relationship between music and his favorite brew.

Rich Isaacs has a cautionary tale. PMA Magazine offers an article on the history of Saul Marantz and the company that carried his name. Ray Chelstowski talks about musical growth with singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson about his new album, Never Be the Same. Wayne Robins reflects on Sonic Youth, and life, and the band’s landmark Murray Street album. Frank Doris has more encounters with famous musicians. From The Listening Chair revisits an audio oddity. PS Audio gets a positive review of the PMG Signature Preamplifier. We conclude the issue with a rat race, text messaging, and being on the rocks.

******

Contributors to This Issue:
Joe Caplan, Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Just Audio, Ken Kessler, Paul McGowan, Olivier Meunier-Plante, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, 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

0 comments

Leave a comment

0 Comments

Your avatar

Loading comments...

🗑️ Delete Comment

Enter moderator password to delete this comment:

✏️ Edit Comment

Enter your email to verify ownership: