9 great gift ideas for audiophiles, from wired headphones to turntables and MP3 players

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.