Copper


How to Play in a Rock Band, 4: Mental Preparation

Issue 211Frankly Speaking

If you’re about to go on stage, whether a 1,000-seat theater or the corner of the restaurant that you can barely fit into, you need to be mentally prepared. While...

The Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra Releases a Stun...

Issue 211Frankly Speaking

  Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra: Things Will Pass (Pacific Coast Jazz) This is one of the best records I’ve heard in a very long time. The music is wonderful, and...

Sing and Dance With Frank Sinatra on Impex Reco...

Issue 210Frankly Speaking

I have been extremely impressed with the reissues I’ve heard from Impex Records, including Patricia Barber’s Nightclub and more recently, Companion; the absolutely astonishing 1STEP Getz/Gilberto 45 RPM 2-LP release, and...

Sweet Caress, by Franco Ambrosetti and Strings:...

Issue 210Frankly Speaking

I’ll get right to the heart of it: this is one of the most gorgeous records I’ve ever heard, musically and sonically. It’s aptly titled: the music of Sweet Caress by...

How to Play in a Rock Band, 3: Gearing Up

Issue 210Frankly Speaking

In Part One and Part Two of this series, (Issue 208 and Issue 209), I noted the fact that I’ve played in rock bands for more than 50 years, and during that time, I’ve...

How to Play In a Rock Band 2: Why Would You Wan...

Issue 209Frankly Speaking

In Part One (Issue 208), I noted the fact that I’ve had more than 50 years of playing in rock bands, and during that time I’ve seen people make every...

How To Play in a Rock Band, Part One: Introduction

Issue 208Frankly Speaking

Along with being a writer, editor, and audio person, I’ve been a musician for 56 years. I’ve been playing in bands for almost all that time, beginning with a backyard...

Dare to be Different: The Story of WLIR-FM and ...

Issue 208Frankly Speaking

WLIR-FM (the LIR stands for Long Island Radio) made a revolutionary move when it switched from rock to a new wave format in 1982. By the late 1970s, radio rock...

Copper’s Alón Sagee: In Memoriam

Issue 208Frankly Speaking

I was stunned to learn of the passing of Alón Sagee on June 9, 2024 after a long illness. Alón was a Copper contributor, president of the San Francisco Audiophile...

Remembering Audio Retailing Legend Andrew Singer

Issue 206Frankly Speaking

The audio world has lost a giant with the passing of Andrew Singer at age 73. Andy was the founder of New York retailer Sound by Singer, a larger-than-life figure...

Impex Reissues the Bossa Nova Jazz Classic Getz...

Issue 205Frankly Speaking

Getz/Gilberto is one of the most well-known and well-loved jazz records of all time. Rightfully so: the 1964 Verve release by Stan Getz and João Gilberto is one of the...

Behind the Scenes at Florida International Audi...

Issue 205Frankly Speaking

How do you cover a show that you weren’t able to go to? There are a few options: contact the manufacturers who were there and find out what they were...

In Memory of Tony Cordesman

Issue 204Frankly Speaking

Tony Cordesman was a friend to me, and to so many in the industry. He wasn’t just one of the finest audio reviewers ever; I think he’s one of the...

Streamline HiFi’s Steve Morris: Bringing Audio ...

Issue 204Frankly Speaking

For many of us, our first exposure to hi-fi was via our parents’ music systems, more often than not one of those big consoles that had a tuner, turntable, speakers...

How I Fell In Love With Korean TV Soundtracks

Issue 204Frankly Speaking

I’d been in something of a musical rut. I’d listen to friends’ musical recommendations and halfheartedly poke around for new music on streaming services, but nothing was really doing it...

Billy Joel Exhibit Debuts at the Long Island Mu...

Issue 203Frankly Speaking

Billy Joel is one of Long Island’s greatest musical heroes, along with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Clive Davis, Perry Como, EPMD, Tony Bennett, and Mariah...

Creating a Musical World With the Slambovian Ci...

Issue 203Frankly Speaking

I first heard about the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, aka the Slambovians, a few years ago, from the guys and gal in the band I’m in. They were raving about...

Magnepan’s Jim Winey: In Memoriam

Issue 203Frankly Speaking

I heard the news on January 16 – Jim Winey, the founder of Magnepan, maker of Magneplanar loudspeakers, had passed away at age 89. As I’m sure so many in...

Rhino High Fidelity: A Vinyl Series to be Recko...

Issue 202Frankly Speaking

In 2023, record label Rhino launched its Rhino High Fidelity series, dedicated to releasing high-quality vinyl reissues of classic Warner Music album titles. As Rhino notes, all the album lacquers...

Stenheim Unveils a New Speaker at New York’s Fa...

Issue 202Frankly Speaking

I first became aware of Switzerland’s Stenheim loudspeakers at the 2019 New York Audio Show, where their Alumine Three loudspeakers impressed me, as much for their understated elegance and obvious...

Analogue Productions Reissues Genesis: Selling ...

Issue 202Frankly Speaking

In 1973 I was a freshman at the State University of New York at Albany. One night I was lying in bed in our dorm room, drifting off, when my...

High-End Audio Luminary Michael Fremer Produces...

Issue 201Frankly Speaking

Michael Fremer needs little introduction to Copper readers. He’s been a stalwart of the high-end audio industry for decades, and is currently the editor of The Tracking Angle and editor...

The Kinks: The Journey – Part 2: Wrapping Up a ...

Issue 201Frankly Speaking

I’ve never made a secret of the fact that I’m a Kinks fan. I’m in good company – they’re one of the most beloved and important bands to come out...

200 of Your Editor's All-Time Favorite Songs

Issue 200Frankly Speaking

For the 200th issue of Copper, here are 200 of my favorite songs. These aren’t all of my most-liked – that would take up a decent chunk of an iPod Classic’s hard...

Flaunt the Audio Imperfection

Issue 199Frankly Speaking

With a tip of the hat to China Crisis for inspiring the title. I think we can all agree that no audio system is perfect. Perhaps the biggest challenge in...

A Tract About Cataracts: Staving Off Retirement...

Issue 197Frankly Speaking

I’m no stranger to the optometrist. I’ve been nearsighted since I was in elementary school. My father thought I was a lousy athlete – well, I am – because I...

Frankie Goes to Hearing Aids: Staving Off Retir...

Issue 196Frankly Speaking

What’s an audio professional’s biggest fear? Losing their hearing. After all, we depend on it to make sonic evaluations, whether we’re an audiophile, equipment reviewer, front-of-house engineer, component designer or...

USound and MEMS: Making High-Quality Micro-Spea...

Issue 193Frankly Speaking

At Copper we’re always interested in new audio technologies. The growing presence of ultra-small MEMS speakers (MEMS stands for micro-electromechanical systems) is bringing new design and performance possibilities to devices...

A Chat About Audio Writing

Issue 191Frankly Speaking

The other week my friend Ed Burki contacted me and told me he’d caught some kind of bug and was bored sitting around the house, so he’d decided to try...

Remembering Copper’s Dan Schwartz: A Friendship...

Issue 189Frankly Speaking

I and his friends knew the day would come, but when it did, it was no less of a shock. Copper contributor, bassist extraordinaire and audiophile Dan Schwartz passed away...

The Kinks Begin a Retrospective Journey

Issue 189Frankly Speaking

I’m going to say this right up front: I consider the Kinks’ Ray Davies to be the greatest pop/rock songwriter of all time. Yep, I know I’m putting him at...

Impex Records Invites Me to Patricia Barber’s N...

Issue 188Frankly Speaking

I’ll admit, I was late to get hip to Patricia Barber. Sure, I was aware of her, as her 2021 album Clique! has become a deserved audiophile favorite for its...

Impressions of AXPONA 2023

Issue 187Frankly Speakingweb-2517

I’m calling this “Impressions of AXPONA 2023” rather than “AXPONA 2023 Show Report” because this time out, I didn’t get to walk the show floor much. I was based in...

Dave Rusan of Rusan Guitarworks: Builder of Pri...

Issue 185Frankly Speaking

Dave Rusan is the proprietor of Rusan Guitarworks of Bloomington, Minnesota. He built the iconic “Cloud” guitar for Prince and is also an audiophile. His clients include the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow,...

Dave Rusan of Rusan Guitarworks: Builder of Pri...

Issue 184Frankly Speaking

Dave Rusan is the proprietor of Rusan Guitarworks of Bloomington, Minnesota. He built the iconic “Cloud” guitar for Prince, does a brisk business in guitar repairs, and has many stories to tell....

Confessions of a Record Collector, Part Three

Issue 179Frankly Speaking

We record collectors are a compulsive bunch. I talked about some of the not-quite-rational lengths to which we will go in order to acquire vinyl in Issue 137 and Issue...

Even More Rock Album Mini-Reviews

Issue 178Frankly Speaking

In Issue 150 I listed my 150 desert island favorite rock albums, and followed up with a selection of reviews from that list in Issue 151 and Issue 166. I...

The Grand Opening of the Long Island Music and ...

Issue 177Frankly Speaking

Long Island has always been a fertile musical breeding ground, and after almost 20 years of seeking a home, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHoF) has...

Talking With Elliot Goldman of Bending Wave USA...

Issue 176Frankly Speaking

Elliot Goldman is a partner in Bending Wave USA, distributor of Göbel loudspeakers, Wadax digital electronics, CH Precision electronics and other ultra-high-end products. He’s been in audio retailing and distribution for decades....

Talking With Elliot Goldman of Bending Wave USA...

Issue 175Frankly Speaking

Elliot Goldman is a partner in Bending Wave USA, distributor of Göbel loudspeakers, Wadax digital electronics, CH Precision electronics and other ultra-high-end products. He’s been in audio retailing and distribution...

Talking With Dan Mackta of Qobuz

Issue 171Frankly Speaking

Streaming and downloading audio service Qobuz specializes in delivering high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Founded in 2007 in France, Qobuz launched in the US in February, 2019 and now...

Confessions of a Setup Man, Part 15: Avoiding B...

Issue 169Frankly Speaking

We’ve all experienced burnout in one form or another, exacerbated by living in the COVID-19 era. Merriam-Webster defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical and emotional strength or motivation usually as...

Talking With Larry Jaffee of Making Vinyl, Part...

Issue 168Frankly Speaking

Copper contributor Larry Jaffee is the co-founder of Making Vinyl, an industry organization dedicated to fostering cooperation among those in the record-manufacturing industry. Larry is also the author of Record Store Day: The...

Talking With Larry Jaffee of Making Vinyl, Part...

Issue 167Frankly Speaking

Copper contributor Larry Jaffee is the co-founder of Making Vinyl, an industry organization dedicated to fostering cooperation among those in the record-manufacturing industry. Larry is also the author of Record Store Day: The Most...

150 Favorite Rock Albums: More Mini-Reviews

Issue 166Frankly Speaking

In Issue 150 I listed my 150 desert island favorite rock albums, and offered a first batch of mini-reviews in Issue 151. I got a range of comments and e-mails, from complements to derision...

How AXPONA Got Its Groove Back, Part Three

Issue 164Frankly Speaking

Part One and Part Two of this report appeared in Issue 162 and Issue 163. Once again, I’ll note my usual show report qualifiers: it was impossible to cover everything even in three days,...

How AXPONA Got Its Groove Back, Part Two

Issue 163Frankly Speaking

Part One of this report appeared in Issue 162. To recap my usual caveats: it was impossible to cover everything even in three days. I never make definitive judgments about sound...

How AXPONA Got Its Groove Back, Part One

Issue 162Frankly Speaking

One man. More than 150 rooms and 200 exhibitors. 25 seminars. 22 hours. AXPONA 2022. There’s a reason why audio-show coverage is almost always incomplete: no one person can cover...

Copper and PS Audio's WL "Woody" Woodward: In M...

Issue 159Frankly Speaking

It was the kind of message you never want to get. On March 16, 2022, Paul McGowan informed me that Copper writer and PS Audio director of operations WL “Woody” Woodward had...

Confessions of a Setup Man, Part 14: The Reluct...

Issue 158Frankly Speaking

I don’t think I really have the temperament to be an audio product reviewer. That’s because I don’t like saying bad things about products or people. Even if they deserve...