Listen up! If you’re a fan of cranking, making, or just appreciating pleasant sounds in every genre, this list features everything from self-aware Bluetooth headphones to simple frames for your favorite vinyl to help make the listening and recording experiences that much better. So whether you’re a sonic samurai or a beat-thumping beginner, don’t hesitate to pick up any of the items on our list of great gift ideas for audiophiles – this stuff will be music to your ears.
Behringer HPS3000 Studio Headphones, ($20) – They’re light. They’re affordable. And, whether you’re rocking out to Metallica, or vibing out to Kenny Loggins, they sound fantastic. In fact, for the price, these critically-acclaimed cans can’t be beat by any technology that doesn’t come from inside a UFO.
iClever BTH20 Wireless Headphones, ($20) – With deep, undistorted bass, crisp, clear highs, and a Bluetooth connection stronger than Mariah Carey’s high C, these badass buds will keep your ears more on point than Mr. Spock’s.
Online Streaming Service Gift Cards – We’ve certainly come a long way from the days of Kazaa and LimeWire. Now, streaming music services can offer everything from the latest single and album releases to audio book options to all sorts of podcasts. Gift cards to services such as iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, Tidal and more are music to our ears.
Chromecast Audio, ($35) -Stream from the cloud directly to your speakers with ease! You can use your phone like a remote and, because they’re pretty affordable, you can buy multiple units for your home and stream the same song in one giant cacophonic chain from room to room.
Sou’Laes Audio: Vinyl Stabilizer, $75 – If you’re a discerning audiophile, you might contest that everything sounds better on vinyl. This stabilizer provides pressure to your favorite LPs so that they won’t wobble or warp while they’re on the spindle, and you can play them back with less error. If only album covers were as easy to correct…
Sonos One speaker, ($199) –Supporting audio services including (deep breath) Amazon, Pandora, Apple Music, Google Play Music, MLB Gameday Audio, iHeartRadio, Sirius XM and more, this modestly priced speaker also features built in Alexa voice controls, so you’ll have someone to talk to between late 90s pop binges.
Bowers & Wilkins PX Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones, ($400) – Ready for this? These wireless Bluetooth headphones actually pause your song when you lift one of them off of your ear. Rated for 22+ hours of battery life, you won’t be disappointed.
AudioQuest DragonFly DAC, ($100) – DAC stands for “digital analog converter, ” which is perfect for music lovers who can’t stand little pops of static or other imperfections during playback. The flash drive-sized device plugs into your computer and filters them out in real time, so your listening experience is more crisp than a tube of Pringles.
Album Frames, ($13) – Looking for a place to proudly display those treasured Manowar albums? These perfectly-sized glass and metal frames will keep them safe.
Audioengine A5+ speakers, ($400) – Compatible with any computer, and featuring custom Kevlar woofers and silk tweeters, these self-powered speakers feature a built-in amp so that all you have to do is plug them into your audio source and let your ears go to work.
Soundcast VG1 Waterproof Speaker, ($99) – This powerful portable speaker is perfect for taking comfort music on rough journeys, or whipping out to subject your friends to your latest freestyle rap recordings. Premium aluminum drivers are powered by high-quality amps to deliver a crisp, clean audio experience that will leave you drooling while you listen. (Lucky for you, it’s also waterproof!)
Hot New Albums – From The Prodigy to Rhianna to Eminem to The 1975, 2018 has been a year of epic album releases, with plenty more yet to come. Check out this list, which confirms new stuff is on the way from Slash, Cypress Hill, and more (including The Rick and Morty soundtrack)!
Matt Christensen is a freelance writer based in Cleveland, OH. Publications he's written for include Maxim, Men's Journal, Fatherly.com, Cosmopolitan, and more. John Stamos follows him on Instagram.
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