Copper
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“CNC” Moving Magnet Cartridge Phono Stage Concl...
In issues 21 and 23, we featured a DIY phonostage by Jim Langley known as the “CNC” Phono. After losing our first round of printed circuit boards in the mail, we finally have...
Audio Myths
I’ve been involved with audio technology since the 1960s, and I’m still surprised—and a bit dismayed—to see the same myths repeated again and again. How “wire” functions is understood fully,...
In Praise of Domestic Tranquility
You’d think I had promoted Two Buck Chuck over Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Some of the lads looked disappointed, others just looked downcast. The ambience went flat like Sunday morning Champagne. ...
Vinyl: Vivid or Veiled?
You probably know that the vinyl LP is enjoying an incredible regeneration in interest. Not that it was ever dead in many of the circles that I encounter. Quite the contrary, in...
CES: Images Only
I’ve editorialized about CES in the past, starting way back in Copper #1. I’m still recovering from the dreaded CES Crud, and so as to avoid saying something intemperate–here are a few...
Science vs. Soul
When do the best measurements NOT yield the best musical involvement? I had originally wanted to write about how I chose my personal speakers, and how I voiced them, but...
ACK Attack is BACK!!
ACK Attack for serious listeners, part one – [You may want to refer to Jim’s original piece on the ACK Attack, in issue #12 of Copper—Ed.] Why you should be sour on a wide...
Revenge of Son of Forgotten Artists Strikes Back!
No fear of running out of great musicians who may or may not have slipped below your radar … or never been on it. This bunch brings us up to...
DPT: Three Critical Steps To Maximize Musical ...
It was about 7 years ago. I was voicing a system to his room for a Get Better Sound owner. Not sure if I had started calling these sessions RoomPlay yet. Anyway, he had...
Objective? Subjective? Who Cares? Part 2
Part 2: Testing 1, 2, 3. Forget the stories and debates about “objective testing,” or its failings, that you read about in consumer magazines or hear about on audio internet...
Subwoofery: The Finale
Electronic Adjustments Ok, now that we’ve accomplished the bassic (pun intended, sorry!) steps, we are on the home stretch. These final steps require personal choice/taste as well as some technical adjustments. In...
Understanding the Analog Obsession
“I don’t need no bike that don’t need me!” Harley Mike proclaimed. He was responding to a question asking why anyone would choose to ride a motorcycle that was so...
Do You Even DIY, Bro?
Darren Myers’ Make It Yourself articles, run in Copper issues 15, 16, and 17, are among the most popular articles we’ve ever run. Unfortunately, projects take time to develop: plotting, postulating, obtaining parts, documenting the project, building...
That Listening Thing
I’ve been thinking lately about close listening, and the way it tends to be categorized as an “audiophile thing.” It conjures up images of someone in a darkened room, sitting...
Subwoofery: The Basics
In Copper #18, we addressed the critical importance of getting the smoothest bass from our main (full-range speakers). This step is foundational for properly integrating our subs to the main speakers....
Objective? Subjective? Who Cares?
Part 1: Human Nature. We just don’t get no respect, us audio engineering types. After all, we were the kids who founded audio clubs, spent our free time at whatever...
Talking Direct
Back in my pre-teen youth, I had an undying love for the brand Technics. My uncle owned a Technics cassette deck , the local hi-fi store seemed to stock nothing...
Subwoofery: ...
The Listening Position: This series was implemented to assist music-loving audiophiles in gaining much more musical involvement with their systems that feature “full-range” loudspeakers. As such, it is not about...
Subwoofery: Smooth Operator?
Our last entry ended with this statement – “No matter how excellent the subs, no matter how much effort went into their placement, the results will never be satisfying if...
Wait A Minute!
We interrupt our regularly scheduled Subwoofery series for a Special Announcement! In the past couple of weeks, as I voiced several systems around the country and conducted set-up classes at my RoomPlay...
Amplified & Equalized
Having generated a few milli- or micro-volts by our humble little cartridge, we now have to equalize by applying the inverse of the RIAA curve that was applied when the...
Subwoofery: Trick or Treat?
Part 2 – “Fast” bass? Really??? … … Just when I think some errant audiophile terminology is finally extinct, it rears its ugly head again. I am still amazed when...
Who Are The Modern Audiophiles?
I recently read this piece on industry website Dealerscope Magazine, and felt that Gary Yacoubian very clearly stated the rite of passage that appears to be taking place. I’ve struggled in...
Points Of Pickup
The point of contact between the cartridge’s generator system and the actual moving vinyl record is of course the stylus, mounted on to the cantilever. The stylus has to cope...
London Calling
Ending this series with a description of the UK hi-fi scene circa 2016 will bore you to tears, so apologies in advance: globalization has seen to a great leveling, and...
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
I freely admit that I am a nerd. Aside from music and audio, I omnivorously absorb architecture, antiquarian books, cars, and all manner of mechanical devices. When traveling alone, I...
Son Of 10 More Forgotten Artists
Again with the self-indulgence: Of late, I’ve been listening to weird stuff like Tiny Tim, only to find 1) that his recordings were amazing, even in mono, and 2) that...
Fully Armed
Once we have established a firm base for our turntable, and have it revolving flutter- and wow-free, we need to add an arm and cartridge to decode all those tiny,...
The Boganyi Piano
Born into a musical family in 1974, Gergely Boganyi was raised to be a concert pianist, and began amassing awards at an early age. At 19, he won Chopin and...