Stephen Mejias

It was Monday night and I was flipping through the racks at Other Music, killing time before heading over to Great Jones Café where I’d meet Michael Lavorgna and John DeVore for wings, chili, and beer. I noticed a couple of dudes in loose clothes, slung back and stretched out across the A, B, and C sections of the vinyl racks, as if they owned the place, as if this was their couch. From what I could tell, they were musicians, stopping by the shop to drop off some CDs or LPs. Nearby, another dude was getting into with one of the guys behind the counter:

Click here to see a picture of Michael Fremer at Austin's SXSW conference, standing in front of a bright orange Chevy, while tossing an LP&#151attempting to catch an LP?&#151and spinning in circles.

What the?

I feel sick.

Today, Sennheiser announced that the HD 515 ($129.95), a classic circumaural design, is the company’s “Headphone of the Month” for March 2011.

Sennheiser’s “Headphone of the Month” is a monthly promotion designed to encourage music lovers to experience the authentic sound of Sennheiser.

Customers who purchase an HD 515 headphone from an authorized Sennheiser dealer during the month of March can receive a free pair of Sennheiser OMX 60 earbuds. During January’s 2011 Consumer Electronics Show, I stopped for a bit to listen to the HD 515; despite its size, I found the HD 515 to be very comfortable and easy on my head, while the sound was just as easy on my ears.

For more specs on the HD 515 and information on the promotion, visit the “Headphone of the Month” website.

Glenn Barr displays his "Vinyl Girl." Photo: 1xRUN.

1xRUN hopes to create a more vibrant art market by offering select work from established and emerging artists in limited-edition, exclusive print runs, at affordable prices. Signed and authenticated, these print releases are open for one week only.

The current run is a piece called “Vinyl Girl” by Glenn Barr, whose work includes the background styling for The Ren and Stimpy Show and Bjork’s “I Miss You” video. The 16” x 25” five-color silkscreen costs $60.

(Girls love vinyl, I am telling you.)

Boston Acoustics A Series loudspeakers&#151on the beach, which is where I'd like to be right now.

Is it just me or are we really experiencing the beginnings of a new stereo renaissance, a return to dedicated, high-quality, two-channel sound? Could it be that the home theater sector has become almost entirely commoditized so that little besides cost and availability are important to the consumer? In an age when craftsmanship and dedication have become clouded by convenience and fashion, hi-fi&#151good, old-fashioned, two-channel hi-fi&#151symbolizes the importance of quality experiences and a more meaningful life. But that’s just my opinion.

Erick Lichte knows what I like. He e-mailed me earlier today:

Check this out. This is what happens when you play ambient music over the LAPD scanner feed.

It is surprisingly beautiful. I would totally buy it on vinyl.

Thinksound believes in “clear sound with a clearer conscience.” To that extent, the company makes all of their products from wood and employs intelligent and responsible packaging design, utilizing recycled, bleach-free materials, with the now-familiar orange, green, and brown color scheme&#151if Whole Foods made headphones, they’d probably look like these.