Copper

It’s a Malbec world out there. Once upon a time, it was a Merlot world—and then came the movie Sideways, based on Rex Pickett’s novel of the same name. Sideways detailed the misadventures of...

The Two Most Important People in the World

Let’s call my audio-show buddy Gavin. I first met him in the elevator at the 2017 Los Angeles Audio Show, and we chatted for ages in the foyer. Then I...

The Two Most Important People in the World

Issue 45AND INDIE FOR ALL

Let’s call my audio-show buddy Gavin. I first met him in the elevator at the 2017 Los Angeles Audio Show, and we chatted for ages in the foyer. Then I...

Leopold and his Fiction

With eyes like big brown marbles and his dyed blond hair slicked back, Daniel James Leopold looks like a man whose songs would teeter at the edge of madness. And...

Leopold and his Fiction

With eyes like big brown marbles and his dyed blond hair slicked back, Daniel James Leopold looks like a man whose songs would teeter at the edge of madness. And...

Summer Holiday

“We’ve come to report a car accident”said Ivor. The policeman became animated and said, “Vieni, vieni (come, come) theese-away.” He led us through some corridors and into a courtyard. He...

Summer Holiday

Issue 45MUSIC'AL NOTES

“We’ve come to report a car accident”said Ivor. The policeman became animated and said, “Vieni, vieni (come, come) theese-away.” He led us through some corridors and into a courtyard. He...

The Great 1967 Psychedelic Album of the Year Sh...

Part 1 The Contenders I recently sent away for, and received, the 50th anniversary edition of the Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, from now on referred to as TSMR, for the sake of...

The Great 1967 Psychedelic Album of the Year Sh...

Issue 45TWISTED SYSTEMS

Part 1 The Contenders I recently sent away for, and received, the 50th anniversary edition of the Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, from now on referred to as TSMR, for the sake of...

Like a Circle in a Spiral

On a piano keyboard, most of us know that all the white notes are identified by the letters A–G, while the black notes are the sharps and flats … written...

Like a Circle in a Spiral

Issue 45QUIBBLES AND BITS

On a piano keyboard, most of us know that all the white notes are identified by the letters A–G, while the black notes are the sharps and flats … written...

Why Doesn’t My System Sound Better? (Or: A Neur...

By any objective measure, it sounds incredible. But you know how people like us are: obsessive to a degree that’s way past the point of fault. Maybe I’m romanticizing how...

Why Doesn’t My System Sound Better? (Or: A Neur...

Issue 45MUSIC AUDIO AND OTHER ILLNESSES

By any objective measure, it sounds incredible. But you know how people like us are: obsessive to a degree that’s way past the point of fault. Maybe I’m romanticizing how...

Close Encounters

Issue 45PARTING SHOT

Materials Science

I’ve danced around this subject before, with my discussions of tone and wood. Back a million years ago in my college days, I majored in mechanical engineering, focusing on internal combustion engines and...

Materials Science

Issue 45VINTAGE WHINE

I’ve danced around this subject before, with my discussions of tone and wood. Back a million years ago in my college days, I majored in mechanical engineering, focusing on internal combustion engines and...

Diminished Capacity

Issue 43SOMETHING OLD / SOMETHING NEW

Fall Has Fallen....

...and it can't get up! Welcome to Copper #45! The year ticks away, and we are presented/threatened with the horrors of endless repetitions of Burl Ives' "Holly Jolly Christmas"...Well, be of good...

Fall Has Fallen....

Issue 45Opening Salvo

...and it can't get up! Welcome to Copper #45! The year ticks away, and we are presented/threatened with the horrors of endless repetitions of Burl Ives' "Holly Jolly Christmas"...Well, be of good...

Trick or Treat!

Welcome to Copper #44! I hope you were able to attend the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. It was a big, bold show, and spirits were upbeat. I wandered around a bit, and was only able...

Trick or Treat!

Issue 44Opening Salvo

Welcome to Copper #44! I hope you were able to attend the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. It was a big, bold show, and spirits were upbeat. I wandered around a bit, and was only able...

Issue 44

Dangerous Work

If 2016 was Snakebit, in terms of the number of musicians who died—what should we call 2017? Sure, last year saw incredible losses in the music world: David Bowie, Prince, Glenn...

Dangerous Work

Issue 44THE AUDIO CYNIC

If 2016 was Snakebit, in terms of the number of musicians who died—what should we call 2017? Sure, last year saw incredible losses in the music world: David Bowie, Prince, Glenn...

LCD Soundsystem

American Dream is arguably James Murphy’s best album yet. It had to be: complete, expansive and from the heart. After touring for This Is Happening, LCD Soundsystem had the blow-out show to end all blow-outs in...

LCD Soundsystem

American Dream is arguably James Murphy’s best album yet. It had to be: complete, expansive and from the heart. After touring for This Is Happening, LCD Soundsystem had the blow-out show to end all blow-outs in...

Mashrou’ Leila

The name of this Lebanese band, Mashrou’ Leila, means “The Night Project.” Their sound is a blend of Arab pop and western electronica. But what really matters is what they are...

Mashrou’ Leila

Issue 43AND INDIE FOR ALL

The name of this Lebanese band, Mashrou’ Leila, means “The Night Project.” Their sound is a blend of Arab pop and western electronica. But what really matters is what they are...

Tone Control (or lack of it)

I’ve previously mourned the death of tone in modern audio gear, and written about wood in audio gear. As far as I’m concerned, we’re talking about two sides of the same coin. There was...

Tone Control (or lack of it)

Issue 43VINTAGE WHINE

I’ve previously mourned the death of tone in modern audio gear, and written about wood in audio gear. As far as I’m concerned, we’re talking about two sides of the same coin. There was...

Plus Ça Change….

The full expression is of course, plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. If your French is as bad as mine, that may be meaningless—but it translates literally (more or...

Plus Ça Change….

Issue 43THE AUDIO CYNIC

The full expression is of course, plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. If your French is as bad as mine, that may be meaningless—but it translates literally (more or...

Classe' Closes; Focal CEO Passes Away

As mentioned back in Copper #40, changes were afoot at Classe’, part of the B&W Group. It has since become clear that Classe’ will be shut down, effective this weekend. While this may...

Classe' Closes; Focal CEO Passes Away

Issue 43INDUSTRY NEWS

As mentioned back in Copper #40, changes were afoot at Classe’, part of the B&W Group. It has since become clear that Classe’ will be shut down, effective this weekend. While this may...

The Most Remarkable Man

I’ve discussed a few of the heavyweight characters I encountered in my initial years as a player. But I didn’t yet talk about the man whose influence on me is...

The Most Remarkable Man

Issue 43

I’ve discussed a few of the heavyweight characters I encountered in my initial years as a player. But I didn’t yet talk about the man whose influence on me is...

The Agony of the Leaves

I’d never heard the phrase “the agony of the leaves” until I landed a project for a specialty tea manufacturer (there’s the clue, in case you haven’t heard it either)....

The Agony of the Leaves

Issue 44SOMETHING OLD / SOMETHING NEW

I’d never heard the phrase “the agony of the leaves” until I landed a project for a specialty tea manufacturer (there’s the clue, in case you haven’t heard it either)....

AKG Closes in Vienna; Cavalli Audio Closes

As reported in Copper #42, Harman laid off 650 employees in its Pro Audio divisions. Since Harman’s purchase by Samsung last year, the company has undergone a series of contractions and consolidations, which many...

AKG Closes in Vienna; Cavalli Audio Closes

Issue 44INDUSTRY NEWS

As reported in Copper #42, Harman laid off 650 employees in its Pro Audio divisions. Since Harman’s purchase by Samsung last year, the company has undergone a series of contractions and consolidations, which many...

The Great 78 Project

There was a time, in the first half of the 20th century, when several-minute segments of music were served up on giant black platters. This was the era of the 78s,...

The Great 78 Project

There was a time, in the first half of the 20th century, when several-minute segments of music were served up on giant black platters. This was the era of the 78s,...

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017

RMAF this year was back to full size, with the memories of tents and blocked-off rooms behind us. The show seemed particularly busy Friday morning, as you can see from...

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017

Issue 44AND INDIE FOR ALL

RMAF this year was back to full size, with the memories of tents and blocked-off rooms behind us. The show seemed particularly busy Friday morning, as you can see from...

Satchmo

The Roaring 20’s changed life in America in radical ways. The 18th Amendment passed on January 16, 1919, and prohibited “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors ” within the...

Satchmo

Issue 44MUSIC TO MY EARS

The Roaring 20’s changed life in America in radical ways. The 18th Amendment passed on January 16, 1919, and prohibited “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors ” within the...

Celisse Henderson

Sometimes indie songwriters also write theater pieces. Much rarer are those whose talents are so wide-ranging that they perform in Broadway shows and hit TV sitcoms. Celisse Henderson is in...

Celisse Henderson

Sometimes indie songwriters also write theater pieces. Much rarer are those whose talents are so wide-ranging that they perform in Broadway shows and hit TV sitcoms. Celisse Henderson is in...

Stereo at Sixty

We’ve heard a lot about anniversaries in 2017, with it being the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper, the Summer of Love, the Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, and much more. One anniversary that’s received...

Stereo at Sixty

Issue 44VINTAGE WHINE

We’ve heard a lot about anniversaries in 2017, with it being the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper, the Summer of Love, the Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, and much more. One anniversary that’s received...

Wilmore!

“Where is Roy Hall? Roy Hall? Stand up.” My heart sank. A lifetime ago I worked for the now defunct department store called Abraham & Straus. As manager of the...

Wilmore!

Issue 44MUSIC'AL NOTES

“Where is Roy Hall? Roy Hall? Stand up.” My heart sank. A lifetime ago I worked for the now defunct department store called Abraham & Straus. As manager of the...

Cables? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Cables!

In the world of high end audio there is probably no subject as controversial then the retail cost of high end cables vs. what they really bring to system. While...

Cables? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Cables!

Issue 44TWISTED SYSTEMS

In the world of high end audio there is probably no subject as controversial then the retail cost of high end cables vs. what they really bring to system. While...

Brothers In Arms

While I’ve been contemplating my next piece, I’ve been thinking about my last one, and about the man who introduced me to audio, my father. I would be very much...

Brothers In Arms

Issue 44MUSIC AUDIO AND OTHER ILLNESSES

While I’ve been contemplating my next piece, I’ve been thinking about my last one, and about the man who introduced me to audio, my father. I would be very much...

Confessions of a Beleaguered Music Fan

While most Copper readers are fans of different types of audiophile gear, the one love that I would lay odds that is universal for all of us is the love of music. While...

Confessions of a Beleaguered Music Fan

Issue 43QUIBBLES AND BITS

While most Copper readers are fans of different types of audiophile gear, the one love that I would lay odds that is universal for all of us is the love of music. While...

Of Mirrors, and Combs

Mirror, mirror, on the wall… Here’s a quick challenge for you. When you look at something in a mirror, why is the image always reversed left-to-right, and never top-to-bottom? Think...

Of Mirrors, and Combs

Mirror, mirror, on the wall… Here’s a quick challenge for you. When you look at something in a mirror, why is the image always reversed left-to-right, and never top-to-bottom? Think...

Classic Album Sundays

The heart of Classic Album Sundays is built around a deep love for music, involving listening to entire albums on vinyl and on an amazing hi-fi. We feature vinyl for the warmth...

Classic Album Sundays

Issue 44QUIBBLES AND BITS

The heart of Classic Album Sundays is built around a deep love for music, involving listening to entire albums on vinyl and on an amazing hi-fi. We feature vinyl for the warmth...

Analogic

A wise man once said “the most difficult thing that there is to do in the world, is to separate a man from his suffering”. Had I heard that earlier...

Analogic

Issue 43FEATUREDweb-2517

A wise man once said “the most difficult thing that there is to do in the world, is to separate a man from his suffering”. Had I heard that earlier...

Lord of the Ring

Sir Georg Solti was one of the preeminent conductors of the latter half of the 20th Century. Many conductors are polarizing figures, particularly among the musicians over whom they hold...

Lord of the Ring

Sir Georg Solti was one of the preeminent conductors of the latter half of the 20th Century. Many conductors are polarizing figures, particularly among the musicians over whom they hold...

RMAF Preview

In a year that’s seen some ups and downs in the show world—a new show in LA, and longtime reliable venue THE Show cancelled, at least for this year—it’s good...

RMAF Preview

In a year that’s seen some ups and downs in the show world—a new show in LA, and longtime reliable venue THE Show cancelled, at least for this year—it’s good...

Digital vs. Analog, Ad Nauseum

“What If Digital Had Never Happened?” writes Steve Guttenberg in the October 2017 issue of Stereophile. It’s a thoughtful, well-written piece. I just wonder why the audiophile community needs another piece glorifying analog...

Digital vs. Analog, Ad Nauseum

“What If Digital Had Never Happened?” writes Steve Guttenberg in the October 2017 issue of Stereophile. It’s a thoughtful, well-written piece. I just wonder why the audiophile community needs another piece glorifying analog...

Revenge, Audio Style

I hope you all had a great summer. I missed you! This first story in my second season of writing for Copper is about… revenge. It is also about audio....

Revenge, Audio Style

Issue 43TWISTED SYSTEMS

I hope you all had a great summer. I missed you! This first story in my second season of writing for Copper is about… revenge. It is also about audio....

Issue 43

Confidence

Tainted Judgment

Hi-Fis, Cars, and Planes

Through the years my idea of listening to a stereo has evolved, to where I’m now at the point where I expect to be totally transported and blown away by a sound...

Hi-Fis, Cars, and Planes