COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 146 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 146 Opening Salvo

The Write Thing

The Write Thing

“Writers write.” – Dave Kindred.
“Nuff said.” – Stan Lee.

Ken Kessler is back! He started with Copper Issue 2 and returns after a long absence with the beginning of a series on the open-reel tape revival.

We are proud to welcome two new contributors. David Snyder plays a leading role in the Atlanta Audio Club and Arizona Audio/Video Club and co-leads the Digital Audio Focus Group for the San Francisco Audiophile Society. David describes himself as a "network audiophile." He is excited about helping others to navigate this relatively new aspect of high-performance audio.

Steve Kindig recently concluded a 36-year career at electronics retailer Crutchfield. He wrote and edited articles and product descriptions for their catalogs and website. Steve has also been a DJ for more than 30 years at radio station WTJU in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he’s the host of an American folk program as well as a world music show.

In this issue: J.I. Agnew wraps up his interview with Martin Theophilus and the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording. I cover Octave Records’ latest release, Clandestine Amigo’s Things Worth Remembering. Tim Riley reviews a new disc of Leoš Janáček music by pianist Lars Vogt. Rudy Radelic begins a series on the music of Burt Bacharach. John Seetoo continues his in-depth look at Christian rock innovator Phil Keaggy. B. Jan Montana keeps riding to Sturgis. Ray Chelstowski interviews former Spirit band member-turned-lawyer Al Staehely about some rediscovered recordings.

Anne E. Johnson gives insight into the music of soul icon Isaac Hayes and 18th century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. Ken Kessler begins a series on getting back to his reel-to-reel roots. Tom Gibbs reviews Bob Dylan’s new Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16/1980-1985 set. Russ Welton concludes his interview with dazzling guitarist and film composer Michael Baugh. Ken Sander revisits the 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. David Snyder demystifies Roon. Steve Kindig gets into music from the Analog Africa label. We wrap up the issue with a groovy guy, a praiseworthy achievement, some questionable system upgrades, and a wizened tree.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, Larry Schenbeck, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, WL Woodward, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Harris Fogel, Robert Heiblim, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Stuart Marvin, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

 – FD

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#231 Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie Releases His Debut Album On Octave Records by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Underappreciated Artists, Part Two: City Boy by Rich Isaacs Jun 01, 2026 #231 Music and the Art of Creation: Talking With Saxophonist Rob Scheps by Joe Caplan Jun 01, 2026 #231 How to Play in a Rock Band, 24: Further Adventures at the 2026 Montauk Music Festival by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Courtney Barnett: Creature of Habit by Wayne Robins Jun 01, 2026 #231 Angine de Poitrine: Interstellar Guitar Rock Saviors Headed for Late-Night TV Pop Stardom? by Mark Lepage Jun 01, 2026 #231 My Impressions of AXPONA 2026, Part One by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 2026 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance: Another Aesthetic Feast by B. Jan Montana Jun 01, 2026 #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

The Write Thing

The Write Thing

“Writers write.” – Dave Kindred.
“Nuff said.” – Stan Lee.

Ken Kessler is back! He started with Copper Issue 2 and returns after a long absence with the beginning of a series on the open-reel tape revival.

We are proud to welcome two new contributors. David Snyder plays a leading role in the Atlanta Audio Club and Arizona Audio/Video Club and co-leads the Digital Audio Focus Group for the San Francisco Audiophile Society. David describes himself as a "network audiophile." He is excited about helping others to navigate this relatively new aspect of high-performance audio.

Steve Kindig recently concluded a 36-year career at electronics retailer Crutchfield. He wrote and edited articles and product descriptions for their catalogs and website. Steve has also been a DJ for more than 30 years at radio station WTJU in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he’s the host of an American folk program as well as a world music show.

In this issue: J.I. Agnew wraps up his interview with Martin Theophilus and the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording. I cover Octave Records’ latest release, Clandestine Amigo’s Things Worth Remembering. Tim Riley reviews a new disc of Leoš Janáček music by pianist Lars Vogt. Rudy Radelic begins a series on the music of Burt Bacharach. John Seetoo continues his in-depth look at Christian rock innovator Phil Keaggy. B. Jan Montana keeps riding to Sturgis. Ray Chelstowski interviews former Spirit band member-turned-lawyer Al Staehely about some rediscovered recordings.

Anne E. Johnson gives insight into the music of soul icon Isaac Hayes and 18th century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. Ken Kessler begins a series on getting back to his reel-to-reel roots. Tom Gibbs reviews Bob Dylan’s new Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16/1980-1985 set. Russ Welton concludes his interview with dazzling guitarist and film composer Michael Baugh. Ken Sander revisits the 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. David Snyder demystifies Roon. Steve Kindig gets into music from the Analog Africa label. We wrap up the issue with a groovy guy, a praiseworthy achievement, some questionable system upgrades, and a wizened tree.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, Larry Schenbeck, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, WL Woodward, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Harris Fogel, Robert Heiblim, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Stuart Marvin, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

 – FD

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