No two music lovers’ tastes are exactly alike, but these holiday gift ideas for audiophiles are sure to please everyone from Beethoven fans to Bowie addicts.
1. SONY SRSXB3 PORTABLE WIRELESS SPEAKER WITH BLUETOOTH; $98
The Sony SRS-XB3 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with long battery life (up to 24 hours) and a water-resistant exterior, but its real selling point is its sound quality: Last spring, PC Magazine named it “one of the best-sounding portable Bluetooth speakers we’ve heard for less than $200.”
Find It: Amazon
2. MIXTAPE GLASSES—SET OF SIX; $50
The audio cassette design on this six-piece glassware set pays homage to retro mixtapes, and also offers a practical use for party hosts: Guests can write their names on the cups on the tapes’ blank labels with a wax pencil, allowing them to keep track of their beverage. Once they leave, the host can wipe the pencil markings off the cup with a dry towel.
Find It: Uncommon Goods
3.1MORE TRIPLE DRIVER IN-EAR HEADPHONES; $85
1MORE’s Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones are proof that high quality often comes in small packages. Tuned by Luca Bignardi, a Latin Grammy Award-winning sound engineer, they boast two balanced armatures and a separate dynamic driver for a sharp, crystal-clear listening experience. For comfort and convenience, the headphones also come with nine sets of different-sized ear tips and a sleek carrying case.
Find It: Amazon
4. RECORD CLOCK; $38
Philadelphia-based artist Jeff Davis gives old records a new life by converting them into wall clocks. Select a music type—rock, jazz, soul, or ‘80s—and he’ll use vintage vinyl from that genre to craft a timepiece.
Find It: Uncommon Goods
5. VINYLMNKY—SUBSCRIPTION; $30 PER MONTH
Vinyl records can be difficult to track down, so subscription service Vinylmnky does the hard work for your favorite music lover by sending them a monthly, pre-selected LP debut recorded by an emerging artist. They’ll also receive info about the album, along with an assortment of artist-curated goodies. Gift membership options include one-month, six-month, and 12-month subscriptions.
Find It: Vinylmnky
6. SEEDLING DESIGN YOUR HEADPHONES, STREET ART KIT; $30
Audophiles with an artistic bent can decorate these plain white headphones with graffiti-inspired designs using stencils, paints, and markers.
Find It: Amazon
7. GOOGLE CHROMECAST AUDIO; $25
Chromecast Audio is a tiny, Wi-Fi-enabled gadget that plugs into a speaker, allowing listeners to stream tunes from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop from anywhere in the house. It’s compatible with most major music services, including Pandora, Google Play Music, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Find It: Google
8. UE ROLL; $90
Perfect for their next poolside getaway: This small, wireless Bluetooth speaker has a waterproof shell that allows it to get wet for 30 minutes, or to be submerged in up to three feet of water. Adding to its versatility, it comes with an integrated bungee cord and an inflatable life preserver.
Find It: Amazon
9. MASON JAR SPEAKER & AMPLIFIER; $65
Mason jars aren’t just used for canning anymore. The trendy glass containers are endlessly versatile; here, they’re converted into mini-speakers/amplifiers that connect to a music player (including a smartphone), or an electronic instrument. The re-purposed jars are small enough to toss into a purse or bag, but loud enough to fill a room with sound.
Find It: Uncommon Goods
10. SATECHI ALUMINUM USB HEADPHONE STAND HOLDER; $35
Did you favorite audiophile recently splurge on a great set of headphones? Help them show off their gear (and store it neatly) with this sleek aluminum headphone stand holder. A rubberized grip holds the headset firmly in place, and a cable organizer tucked behind the stand’s arm keeps unruly cords at bay. And at the stand’s base, you’ll find three USB ports for data transfer, along with a 3.5mm port for plugging in headphones. The stand shown here is gray, but for a touch of glitz, you can also order it in gold, silver, or rose gold.
Find It: Amazon
11. CROSLEY C200 TURNTABLE; $197
A sound investment: Music lovers continue to prize vinyl albums for their superior sound quality. This retro-inspired turntable by Crosley Radio looks a lot like your dad’s old record player, but it packs a modern punch. The Crosley C200 can play classic 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records, and it also has a built-in switchable phono preamp, allowing your giftee to connect it directly to a computer or home stereo.
Find It: Amazon
December 16, 2016 – 4:00am