So, the holiday season is in full swing and as we approach Christmas we wanted to take a look at some audio great gift ideas for your loved ones. These audio items make for the perfect gift for music listeners looking for great sound, which even audiophiles will appreciate. There are some other ways that an audio gift can make for some of the best gifts that you can get for your giftee. From wireless headphones to a great Bluetooth speaker providing high quality sound and possibly offering tremendous noise cancellation, such as found on the Apple AirPods.
If you are planning a holiday party, then having a Bluetooth speaker which you can pair your smartphone to via Bluetooth connectivity, will make a huge impact on your party. Your guests will love having your favorite holiday themed playlist of songs playback as they mingle about with other guests. The best Bluetooth speakers come with a built-in subwoofer to go along with their tweeters to give booming bass for those great bass needed jams. Gadgets like these such as the sound core motion boom and the Sony ULT Field 1 Wireless Speaker offers great durability and portability and they are great for both indoor and outdoor parties this holiday season. As different parts of America experience various weather forecasts, some people may choose to host their holiday party outside. You don’t want to miss out on a great Bluetooth speaker to enhance your party. You can even take it a step further if you want to DJ your party add a turntable which you can play vinyl records and connect it to the Bluetooth speaker for some amazing fun.
Music lover and podcast listeners will appreciate noise cancelling headphones from manufacturers like Sennheiser and the Bose Quiet Comfort lineup which will help them focus on their music, podcasts and even making clear phone calls. Wireless earbuds and over the ear Bluetooth headphones with either adaptive or set noise cancelling technology offer the functionality for travelers, or just sitting in a crowded room providing hi-fi sound which will come through your headphones clearly and without the outside distractions. Some of the best wireless headphones will give you an amazing listening experience, good battery life so you have everything you need to rock out to your favorite jams.
Let’s look at some last-minute gift ideas for audio enthusiasts you are looking to gift for or for yourself.
Audio Products
Bluetooth Audio Speakers
A great last-minute gift is a Bluetooth wireless speaker that is great for both indoor and outdoor use. You want that hi-fi sound that even audio engineers and audiophiles will love in a Bluetooth speaker.
Therefore, let’s look at the amazing Sony ULT Field 1 Wireless Ultra Portable Bluetooth Compact Speaker. Some of the wonderful features and specs contained in this Bluetooth speaker are as follows:
You can press the ULT button which is located on the speaker itself, or the Sony connect app which will give you control over the EQ settings amongst others. The app can be found in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The speakers offer one tap Bluetooth connect to an Android device. Basically, the ULT button which will have two bass boosting modes ULT 1 for a deep low-end bass and ULT 2 for even more booming bass. The X Balanced sound that these waterproof speakers provide a high efficiency tweeter which fills your listening area with crisp clear sound even in the midrange. This is efficient whether you are listening to the speakers indoors or outdoors.
The included passive radiators optimize the sound to enhance clear bass without distortion. With battery life rated at 12 hours of usage time and IPX67 waterproofing, this is not a speaker to pass up on. The USB-C Port allows for quick charging, and you get three hours of listening time from just a 10-minute charge. Connecting two ULT FIELD 1 speakers wirelessly for stereo party sound will boost the immersive listening experience for you and your holiday guests this season.
This amazing speaker is currently discounted for the holiday season, making it great even if you are shopping on a budget.
Headphones
Over the Ear
Many of the audiophiles and industry reviewers have fawned over the wonderful Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. With this pair of headphones, you will experience unrivaled sound quality and functionality. Exploring these headphones will show you some of the amazing features contained by the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Sony has added microphones to the headphones from the previous generation model and now contain 8 microphones for class leading noise cancellation and clear call quality. You don’t have to fret over traveling or using these headphones for a long vlog session as the battery life provides up to 30 hours of listening time with the carrying case. You can also quick charge the headphones (3 min charge for 3 hours of playback). Charging can be done to the headphones via a USB-C cable, which is included with the headphones. Multipoint connection which also present, allows you to connect to multiple devices at the same time and quickly switch back and forth between devices. There is an integrated processor V1 which unlocks the full potential of the HD Noise Canceling Processor “QN1”. There is clear and noise free handsfree calling which lets the headphones pick up or make phone calls, and the individual you are calling can attest to the quality of the sound during the call. There is also precise voice pickup technology coupled with an AI based algorithm will allow for calls to be clear even in noisy and crowded areas like a sports game, concert and in a packed coffee shop amongst other harsh listening environments. The soft fit leather material feels expensive and comfortable. It fits around the head with less strain on the head compared to other over the ear headphone competitors. The LDAC codec is baked into these headphones, LDAC transmits approximately three times more data than standard Bluetooth audio, for amazing Hi-Fi audio quality.
These headphones allow access to a voice assistant like Google, Alexa or Siri. Just say “OK Google” or “Alexa” to activate your preferred voice assistant. Your voice assistant can then set up and play playlists for you in your music app. In addition, with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound which is compatible with streaming services such a Deezer and Tidal give you immersive surround sound for a wonderful listening experience.
You can also add a DAC or Digital to Analog converter, if you want to listen to truly lossless music. Lossless music is available on many streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music to name a few. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones as they are commonly referred to are a must have set of wireless headphones with class leading noise cancellation, transparency mode, and clear and precise phone calls. These are also great for listening to music playing from an amp. So, if you happen to be a guitar player and want to listen to what you are playing in the highest quality just use these headphones.
Earbuds
Option #1
Looking for a great set of earbuds versus over the ear headphones? Our first option for last minute shopping of audio devices are the LG TONE Free HBS-FN5W True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds. This set of earbuds features some tremendous helpful specs and functionality. Featuring wonderful hi-fi Meridian sound and DSP or Digital Processing Sound, you get unbelievably tremendous surround sound that is clear and distortion free. The HSP or headphone spatial processing will give you that surround sound without the worry of crosstalk between channels which may cause disruption or a lower listening experience.
The EQ provides three other listening modes in addition to the basic meridian surround sound profile. These include bass boost for more powerful booming bass which sound great on rock and hip-hop songs, a treble boost for more clear and articulate dialogue or vocals and a natural setting which is great for all around music listening.
With battery life of up to 18 hours plus 6 hours of playback in the earbuds and an extra 12 hours in the charging case. This pair of earbuds will provide you with long-lasting all-day usage with this battery life. You can also wirelessly charge the earbuds by just placing the case on a charging mat. You can also fast charge these with the included USB-C cable and get 1 hour of listening time with just a 5-minute charge. Just place it into a USB-C rated charging brick or power bank and you will be ready to go.
With the non-toxic and hypoallergenic silicone ear tips which can easily be changed and switched based off the size you need, you can expect a comfortable and enjoyable listening experience. Remember you want to have a good seal with the ear tips in your ear canal, this will help with the noise isolation on these earbuds and also provide for better surround sound without disruption.
These earbuds are certified IPX4 water resistant, so don’t worry about braving the outdoor elements or using them during a workout as they are also sweat resistant.
Pair your smartphone to the earbuds and download the LG TONE Free companion app which lets you quickly check battery status, set presets, and make any adjustments you desire to the customizable equalizer. You can also use the app for find my earbuds functions (like the find my app on an iPhone) which gives you some more peace of mind in case you misplace the earbuds. The LG Tone app provides extra features which will enhance your overall listening experience to music, podcasts and audio books.
Option #2
Another great earbud option is the BeyerDynamic Verio 200 Open Ear True Wireless Earphones. These open ear earbuds are made with light materials and a great fit for all day usage without strain. These earbuds offer all day listening with Up to 8 hours battery life on a single charge, plus additional 27 hours with charging case. You can use a USB-C charging port for fast charging as well. There is Bluetooth 5.3 included so these earbuds have some of the latest and greatest connectivity to pair with your smartphone, tablet or PC. It also supports the following codecs: Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless and AAC which means that you will get hi-fi sound out of these earbuds. During phone calls ambient noise is detected and filtered out so that your voice heard clearly with the person you are on the phone call with. You can personalize your EQ settings amongst others with the Beyerdynamic App which can be found in the App store of your device.
As this new set of earbuds are currently discounted plus the BeyerDynamic warranty included you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to get your hands on these amazing earbuds.
Option #3
A great budget option for wireless headphones are the Deco Gear magnetic wireless sport earbuds. If you are on a budget but still looking for a good set of earbuds to listen to music, podcasts or audio books on, then this is the set for you. You can pair these headphones with your smartphone, tablet, PC or notebook and still be able to listen to your content from up to 15 meters. You get tremendous battery life with these earbuds as you can enjoy up to 6 hours of music playback and phone calls plus 180 hours in standby mode. There are three different sized silicone ear tips so these earbuds can fit any shape of ear. They are extremely comfortable and will reduce strain on your ears during usage.
Audio Gadgets
Shower Speaker
Ever wish you can have your favorite music playlist going while you are taking a shower? After all, we all sing in the shower at times and this is a great opportunity every day to enjoy listening to bluetooth music, podcasts as more. So we have to recommend the Xtreme Aqua-Glo LED Bluetooth Waterproof Shower Speaker. This is a cool gadget which is IPX4 splash resistant and has suction cups to attach to your shower wall making for a cool way to get your music incorporated into your shower or bath time. Imagine sitting back in a comfortable bath and having your favorite relaxing jams playing from this speaker while you relax and enjoy your bath. It makes for an enjoyable listening experience. There are also 5 LED colors that can be toggled between to add to the ambiance of your listening experience.
Final Thoughts
So, when it comes to last-minute audio gift ideas, as you can see there are a plethora to choose from. Whether you are looking for a bluetooth speaker, a great set of wireless headphones or earbuds, utilize the list of recommended items and get your hands on the product which fits your needs. As a fall back, if you are gifting an audio item to another individual and are unsure of exactly what they want, you can always purchase a gift card to a retailer, allowing your giftee to choose what they want.
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