Stephen Mejias

Liner notes to Slo Grown, featuring Jon Iverson and some other guys.

And, yes, while hanging with Jon and Corrina, we did find time to listen to some music. Here I am, sitting in the sweet spot, in awe of the views (sonic and visual). I don’t think I’ve heard a more thrilling system. Jon’s got the sound optimized for size and impact, with incredibly focused, larger than life images set within a massive soundstage. Transients were startlingly fast and clean. And while I’m not usually too fond of subwoofers, the sound here was completely seamless, the subs adding texture and punch while never intruding upon the musical flow.

On this night, I stayed up very late working on “Recommended Components” for the upcoming April 2010 issue. Having spent the entire day all alone, I was able to get a great number of listings compiled. No, I did not freak myself out by thinking about the ghosts of the cabin’s previous inhabitants.

After a storm, the sun would come out and throw an enormous spotlight on the ocean, setting everything ablaze with ever-changing colors and shapes. Words like "glorious," "heavenly," and "miraculous" kept coming to mind.

I was in California last week, spending time with Jon Iverson and working on our “Recommended Components” feature for the April 2010 issue. Jon and Corrina made me feel very much at home, made me feel like a king, made me feel very spoiled and very fortunate. California made me feel very connected to the earth, surrounded me with beauty, reminded me that the most wonderful moments in life are made more beautiful when you’ve got someone to share them with.

Though many of the highway’s trails were closed due to floods and mudslides, Jon and I found one that took us right down to the ocean. Partington">http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_partingtoncove.html">Partington Cove was furious, relentless, and beautiful. No subwoofer can recreate that massive sound made by the waves as they crashed into the land.

Over the summer, Jon built a little, cozy shed in the valley behind his home. We took the trail down there one afternoon and got some work in.