Copper


Frankly speaking


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 Speaking

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...

The Spreckels Organ: A Historic Musical Treasur...

Issue 155Frankly Speaking

In Part One (Issue 154) we looked at the history and the technology behind the remarkable Spreckels Organ, the world’s largest pipe organ in an outdoor venue. It was built...

The Spreckels Organ: A Historic Musical Treasur...

Issue 154Frankly Speaking

The Spreckels Organ is a remarkable musical instrument: it is the world’s largest pipe organ in an outdoor venue. It was built in 1914 in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, commissioned by...

Who Decides What’s Good or Bad? And, Some Mini-...

Issue 151Frankly Speaking

In the process of putting together a list of 150 favorite albums for Issue 150, the thought struck me yet again: what determines whether music is good or bad, anyway? I think...

From Rock to Schlock: 150 Desert Island Albums

Issue 150Frankly Speaking

Most “desert island” record articles make the assumption that you can only take a handful of discs with you that you can’t live without. Well, since the concept of being...

Jazz Lives: Saxophonist Frank Catalano Ascends

Issue 150Frankly Speaking

Last summer I had the honor of playing on a bill with tenor saxophonist Frank Catalano and his quartet, at the Port Palooza festival in Port Jefferson, New York. I’d...

Confessions of a Setup Man, Part 13: Engineerin...

Issue 148FRANKLY SPEAKING

I’m not a degreed engineer. True, I understand and can write about complex concepts. In fact, I’ve edited and rewritten articles by engineers, some of whom are way better at...

Twisted Business: Jay Jay French’s Lessons Lear...

Issue 146FRANKLY SPEAKING

Jay Jay French was the lead guitarist and is the business maven behind Twisted Sister, one of the world’s most successful rock bands with more than 20 million records sold....

Seeking Clarity About Transparency

Issue 143FRANKLY SPEAKING

Back in the 1980s or maybe earlier, “transparency” became the buzzword in high-end audio. Harry Pearson of The Absolute Sound was a big proponent of the term, and soon many reviewers and sycophants jumped...

Confessions of a Record Collector, Part One

Issue 137FRANKLY SPEAKING

I wonder if a lot of Copper readers are record collectors. Well, I suppose that’s like asking if dogs like bones. Record collecting can be fun or frustrating, cheap or expensive. Finding...

Copper Listens to Copper: Stockfisch Records’ D...

Issue 135FRANKLY SPEAKING

Stockfisch Records is an audiophile label established in Germany in 1974 by owner/producer/engineer/Günter Pauler. The label has been releasing recordings on vinyl, DSD, SACD, Blu-ray and other formats and their artist...

Cliff Chenfeld: From Razor & Tie to Kidz Bop an...

Issue 136FRANKLY SPEAKING

We are proud to have Cliff Chenfeld as a Copper contributor. You may not know that along with Craig Balsam, he was the co-founder of indie label/music publishing company Razor...

Art Dudley: A Tribute

Issue 141FRANKLY SPEAKING

On July 11, 2021 at Brown’s Brewing Company in Troy, New York, a memorial event was held to celebrate the life of Art Dudley, who passed away on April 14,...