9 great gift ideas for audiophiles, from wired headphones to turntables and MP3 players
The audiophile in your life probably already has some of the best headphones, but there are plenty of other gifts you can buy this Christmas. So much that it can be quite intimidating to know where to start.
That's where we are here to help. We've used our expert knowledge and experience to come up with great gift ideas for the audiophile in your life. A lot of audio equipment isn't cheap, but we've done our best to include items for a wide range of budgets so there's something for every situation.
To help you out, we've looked at everything from MP3 players to turntables – all with the focus on providing the best audio experience for the music addict in your life. Check out what we consider to be the perfect gifts for audiophiles below.
If you need some other inspiration, check out our guides to the best Christmas sales in the US and Boxing Day sales in the UK. We've also rounded up plenty of other holiday and Christmas gift ideas so you know what to buy.
Best gifts for turntables and Bluetooth speakers
Pro-Ject debut Carbon EVO
The best turntable
The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO isn't a cheap turntable, but it easily tops our look at the best turntables thanks to its great quality. It's the most refined available, offering a detailed listening experience and automatic speed control so you don't have to do much. It sounds fantastic, so even the pickiest audiophiles will be happy.
Best budget turntable
For the best budget turntable, consider the Audio-Technica Fully Automatic Turntable. It's still fully automatic, which is handy, the only difference being that it could sound a little clearer and more balanced than a more expensive alternative. It has an old-world feel and suits those who want a more traditional aesthetic, down to the lack of modern features. It is ideal for newcomers to the vinyl world who want to try something new.
Powerful Bluetooth speaker
For a more modern listening experience, try the Sonos Roam. It is not without reason that Sonos has a good reputation in the field of audio quality. This speaker is portable, so you can take it with you for up to 10 hours. It can be combined with other Sonos speakers so you can set up a multi-room setup, while there's support for everything you can think of, including Alexa and Google Assistant.
The best gifts for wired and over-ear headphones
1More earphones with three drivers
Hi-res sound on a budget
Audiophiles know that wired sound is simply better. The 1More Triple Driver in-ear earphones show that you don't even have to spend a lot to enjoy High-Resolution Audio and earphones tuned by a Grammy Award-winning sound engineer. Two balanced armatures and a separate dynamic driver deliver an incredibly accurate experience with fantastic clarity and deep bass when you need it.
Sennheiser IE 300 Pro in-ear
Wired listening at the highest level
Lightweight, comfortable to wear and offering balanced and stunningly detailed Hi-Res sound, the Sennheiser IE 300 Pro in-ear headphones are perfect for audiophiles. They provide amazing isolation from your surroundings, which is perfect for music production or simply taking advantage of every note in your favorite song. With a specialized rear volume and absorbent resonator chamber, clarity is much improved, making these quite exceptional for the right ear.
Sennheiser HD 660S2 wired headphones
Ideal over-ear cans
For those who prefer over-ear headphones, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is a delight. They provide high-fidelity sound with extra sub-bass, while still feeling natural and relaxing. Improved ventilation compared to others means minimal distortion, so you can hear both the lowest note and the kick of a bass drum. Thanks to the open design, they are also perfect for longer recording sessions.
Best MP3 player and radio gifts
FIIO M11S High Resolution MP3 Player
Superior to any phone
The FIIO M11S Hi-Res MP3 Player reminds audiophiles why your phone just isn't cut out for Hi-Res audio, no matter what features it offers. Here you get a dedicated listening experience with lossless DSD/MQA. There's also support for Tidal, with Android 10 handling whatever you want to do here. The sound is powerful, detailed and fantastic.
Classic MP3 experience
The Sony NW-A306 Walkman reminds us how good Sony was at making Walkmans cool and excellent. There's support for high-resolution audio here, along with the DSD format up to 11.2MHz and 360 Reality Audio – Sony's specialist feature that improves the soundstage of your music. Up to 36 hours of 44.1KHz FLAC playback between charges ensures this will be a permanent fixture for audiophiles.
Roberts Rambler DAB radio
Beautiful DAB radio
DAB radios remain quite useful while offering better sound than the dated FM format. The Roberts Rambler DAB radio looks as good as it sounds. The 70s style works well, while there are tactile buttons for interacting with it. The most important thing for audiophiles is that it offers good sound, with Bluetooth streaming being its particular preference alongside radio stations. It's a bit quiet, but a nice addition to your kitchen.
More holiday sales in the US
- Amazon: 70% off Kindle, TVs, tablets and clothing
- Apple: AirPods, Apple Watch and iPads from $79
- Adidas: 40% discount on running shoes and clothing
- Beauty: 51% discount on makeup, skin care and hair tools
- Best Buy: $800 off TVs, laptops and headphones
- Cheap TVs: Big screen 4K TVs starting at $269.99
- Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas and trees
- Del: Inspiron and XPS laptops starting at $260
- DreamCloud: 40% discount on all mattresses
- Family pajamas: Christmas Pajamas starting at $12.99
- Gaming: console bundles starting at $289.99
- Lenovo: 76% discount on laptops, desktops and printers
- Lowe's: up to $800 off major appliances
- Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
- Noordstrom: 40% discount on Nike, Levi's and UGG's
- Patagonia: sweaters starting at $64.99
- Samsung: $2,000 worth of TVs, phones and appliances
- Shopbop: 25% discount on the entire site with the code Holiday
- Goal: 40% discount on Christmas decorations, TVs and toys
- Toys: Disney, Barbie and Lego starting at $14.99
- Walmart: cheap TVs, air fryers, PS5 and toys
More Christmas sales in Britain
- Amazon: up to 65% off technology and gifts
- Adidas: up to 60% discount on outlet clothing, shoes, clothing
- AO: up to 40% discount on vacuum cleaners, appliances and technology
- Argos: up to 70% discount on toys, Christmas decorations and technology
- Boots: half-price gift sets, gift vouchers and fragrances
- B&V: cheap christmas trees, lights, decor, wreaths
- Car Phone Warehouse: 120GB data for £12 per month
- Curries: up to 40% discount on TVs, air fryers, laptops and more
- Cotswolds outside: up to 50% discount on Patagonia, Rab, North Face
- Debenhams: up to 70% discount on home, fashion, gift sets
- Disney: up to 60% discount on Christmas sweaters, toys, decorations
- Ecopper: up to 40% discount on laptops, desktops and components
- John Lewis: £300 off TVs, Apple and Christmas decorations
- Jessops: up to £1,000 off Sony, Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm
- O2: up to £600 off iPhone, Samsung and Google
- Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and appliances
- Shark: up to €100 discount on the best-selling vacuum cleaners
- Terribly: discounts on technology, appliances, furniture and beauty
- Vodafone: Six-month half-price SIM cards from £11.50