Gifts for Music Lovers

Koss first started making PortaPro headphones in 1984, and they're still some of the best headphones that (not much) money can buy, even if the design is a bit retro-looking. Designed for people with "refined musical acuity," the lightweight, comfortable PortaPros deliver deep bass and a wide frequency response (from 15-25,000 Hz), so you can get the most out of movies (or heavy metal) while your spouse sleeps. The fold-up design is well-suited for commuting, while the 4 foot-long cord is ideal for the living room.

Spotted: OMFGG, the first companion soundtrack to the hit CW series Gossip Girl. The 13-song compilation, which became available digitally last month, is now out on CD and features tracks from the Kills, the Virgins, the Teenagers, the Ting Tings, Phantom Planet, and other lonely indie-rock boys. You know you love this show, but we won't tell anyone. XOXO.

As far as we know, one of the greatest rap albums of all time, Doug E. Fresh's "Oh My God!" (1986, Reality Records) has not been reissued on CD. We still have the cassette at home, even though we no longer have a cassette player. But now, thanks to the Ion Tape2PC, a gadget that converts audio cassette recordings into MP3s and imports them directly into iTunes, we can listen to those songs again. The Tape2PC works with Macs and PCs, comes with easy-to-use software, and has a plug-and-play audio interface. We can't wait to get "All The Way To Heaven" and "Lovin' Every Minute Of It" onto our iPods.

New from Belkin: The GoStudio, a device that lets you record high-quality audio (16-bit, 44kHz WAV files) directly onto your iPod's hard drive. Designed for musicians, journalists, podcasters, and students recording lectures, the GoStudio has 2 built-in microphones as well as professional XLR and 1/4" audio jacks (for recording from external microphones or mixing boards). When you're done recording, you can put your files into iTunes, edit them, or upload them to your blog/website/Facebook page.

Love the iPod, hate the earbuds? Same here. Which is why we're seriously considering shelling out for these Shure SE110 earphones. CNET says they're "the most affordable entry point for high-endurance, high-fidelity earphones," and that they'll "withstand both audiophile scrutiny and physical abuse." The earphones block out background noise, and come with a foam and rubber "fit kit" so you can get the most comfortable fit. Best of all, they have a 2-year warranty, which means they might even outlive your MP3 player.

Transfer your vinyl collection to CD or MP3 with the Ion USB Turntable. Just plug it in to your computer (PC or Mac); the easy-to-use software will do the rest. The belt-drive turntable has two convenient start-stop buttons for multiple setup options, as well as anti-skating, 33 1/3 and 45 speeds (plus a 45 adapter), RCA and USB lines out, a 1/8" stereo input, pitch control, and a built-in pre-amplifier.

Inspired by old vinyl 7-inch records, these retro-looking "Digital Vinyl" CD-Rs from Verbatim are a fun way to save LP collections, burn personal music mixes, or make standout business presentations. They hold 80 minues of music, and sound great on home audio systems, car CD players, and portable CD players.

In this hysterically funny movie, John Cusack plays the owner of a struggling record store, with two wacky clerks, the hysterically funny rock snob Barry (Jack Black) and the more quietly opinionated underachiever Dick (Todd Luiso).