It may seem a bit intimidating or difficult to buy the perfect present for a music lover – after all, they have their own individual tastes and preferences in music, as in anything else, which can make finding just the right gift pretty tricky.
But it can actually be really easy – and really fun – if you just have a helpful guide.
So that’s what I’ve put together here – a guide to the best gifts for music lovers in 2023, with a wide range of recommendations for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, anniversary and wedding gifts and a lot more, all ranging from super-affordable to pretty premium and organized in a simple and useful way.
If you’re in a hurry and just want the quick picks, here are some recommendations at different price levels – but if you can, please read on, because I think this article will be as fun to read as it is helpful, and I know it’s filled with gifts that will be loved and appreciated by any music lover!
Best Presents for Music Lovers:
Super-Cheap
- Ace Music Notebook Leather Hardcover Songwriting Journal
- Ludwig van Beethoven’s 5th Symphony T-Shirt
- Infinity Collection Treble Clef Music Bracelet
Affordable
- Deco 79 Traditional Metal Music Notes Wall Hanging
- Spontuneous – The Song Game – Sing It or Shout It – Talent NOT Required
- Sennheiser HD250BT Headphones
Mid-Range
- Otamatone Deluxe Electonic Musical Instrument Synthesizer
- JBL Flip Powered Bluetooth Portable Waterproof Speaker
- Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Mahogany Acoustic Guitar
Premium
- Rega Planar 1 P1 Audiophile Belt Drive Turntable
- AS Teman Handpan Steel Hand Drum with Soft Bag & Mallets
- Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Multi-Room Smart Speaker
Best Wedding Gifts for Music Lovers
- Ambesonne Musical Tree Bedspread
- Alesis Recital Pro – 88 Key Digital Piano Keyboard
- C & M Heart Music Stemless Wine Glass (set of 4)
How Can You Find the Best Present for Music Lovers?
One thing I hear quite a bit when people are asking for gift ideas is that they aren’t sure what kind of music the person listens to, and so have no idea how to proceed. And yeah, if you want to purchase them music, or certain other presents, this can be an issue.
That’s why I think the best music gifts aren’t always tied to a specific kind of music. If you know, for instance, that they love Dua Lipa, or Ed Sheeran, or Beethoven, does that even really help? Do they already have the latest album, or the definitive recording of the Moonlight Sonata, or are they just streaming everything anyway?
If you really want to get music for the music lover in your life, I would recommend just getting them an Amazon Physical Gift Card or Amazon Virtual (online) Gift Voucher – a much more personal and caring gift than people seem to think, and one that allows them to really get exactly what they want.
But I think that there are a lot of other fantastic ideas, some of them super affordable and others more premium, including things for their home, games, shirts, musical instruments, speakers, headphones, weird gadgets and a lot more.
In fact, I’ve come up with a lot of different ideas, some of which might seem just right for a specific person and many of which would appeal to pretty much any music lover. I’ve broken the list into six sections, which include:
- General Gifts – Jewelry, bags, books, Bluetooth bottles, Govee Glides and other strange and wonderful ideas
- Musical Gifts for the Home – a musical note for the bedroom, kitchen, even the bathroom
- Music T-Shirts – silly, pretty or a bit of both
- Music Games – fun music-themed games to play with family and friends
- Musical Instruments – beautiful, affordable instruments that are fun and easy to play
- Speakers, Headphones and Record Players – from cheap to premium, the best quality and best sounding gear
You can click on any of the above lines and it will take you right to that part of the gift guide, or you can just read all the way through.
Either way, though, his is a long article, with tons of great gift ideas, so let’s jump right in, shall we?
The Best Presents for Music Lovers: A 2023 Speakergy Special Gift Guide
Best Gifts for Music Lovers – General Gifts
- Customize Your Home Aesthetics: Design your...
- Unique RGBIC: Each edge has different light...
- Visualize Your Songs: 6 kinds of Music Sync...
- Rich Animated Effects: Select from animated...
- Smart App & Voice Controls: Experience...
Absolutely brilliant, equal parts pretty, fascinating and fun, and one of the best gifts I can think of for any music lover, the Govee Glide Hexa panels are a set of arrangeable electronic wall hanging panels that play a lovely light show in sync with your music. A surprising and delightful gift for any music lover.
Orba by Artiphon Portable Synth, Looper, and MIDI controller
- Make music anywhere with Orba by Artiphon, a...
- Loop Drum, Bass, Chord, and Lead parts to...
- Use Tilt, Shake, Bump, and other gestures to...
- Play through the built-in speaker or use the...
- Pair wirelessly to the Orba App to customize...
Otamatone Deluxe Electonic Musical Instrument Synthesizer
- STAY SAFE AT HOME while having fun with your...
- BEST SELLING - One of Japan's BEST Selling...
- FUN & EASY TO PLAY - Simply press and slide...
- TURN IT UP - Connect to headphones, amps, and...
- PACKAGE INCLUDES: 1 x Otamatone Deluxe, 1 x...
I mention both of these later on, in the musical instruments section, but they are both so weird and wonderful that I had to list them twice!
- Day at The Festival Music Jigsaw Puzzle (1000 Pieces)
- Ravensburger The Music Room 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
- Galison Mixtapes 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
3 beautiful and challenging jigsaw puzzles that should appeal to a wide range of tastes, not to mention providing hours of fun frustration.
Skillademia Course To Uplevel Music Skills
Is your dear music lover a keen learner or could use a little push to upgrade their music skills? Skillademia offers courses on how to master the latest audio & music tools – great both for professional or just hobby-level music fanatics.
Zoom Ultimate Karaoke Party Pack
It may be a bit cliche, or so 1990s, but still there are very few games or activities as wildly fun as karaoke – plus, you can find out just how good (or bad) the music lover on your list’s singing voice really is!
- 🎤 Perfect Package – Be the karaoke king...
- 🎤 Connect, Select, Sing – Any way you...
- 🎤 Karaoke For Kids – Your child will...
- 🎤 Move It Move It – Love to karaoke...
- 🎤 Everlasting Life – Our Karaoke machine...
A more expensive option, but a really high quality machine that works easily and perfectly and sounds beautiful – a wonderful premium gift for anybody, and the perfect wedding present for a music loving couple.
- Infinity Collection Treble Clef Music Bracelet
- Simple Sterling Silver Musical Note Pendant
- Silver and Cubic Zirconia Circular Musical Note Pendant
- Gelvtic Crystal Heart & Headphones Musical Necklace
Four of my favorite pieces of musical jewelry, ranging from sweetly simple to a nice boho complexity, and all very high quality and beautifully finished.
Asobu Wireless Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Speaker Lid
- SPEAKER BOTTLE - Our Wireless Bottle is the...
- BLUETOOTH COMPATIBLE – The speaker cap is...
- WATER RESISTANCE – The lid can be washed...
- LARGE AND INSULATED – At 17 ounce you can...
- DOUBLE WALLED – Made with double wall...
Ridiculously unnecessary or ridiculously brilliant? There’s no need to decide, but the Asobu is definitely one of the most clever and unexpected gifts you could possibly get for a music aficionado, as well as a surprisingly nice sounding speaker.
The wonderful people at CafePress make really nice quality eco-friendly natural cotton tote bags, and these are three of my favorites, with great musica themes.
Ace Music Notebook Leather Hardcover Songwriting Journal
- PERFECT GIFT - Perfect gift for your loved...
- EXTRAS - Pen holder, elastic band, bookmark...
- PREMIUM FAUX LEATHER NOTEBOOK - High quality...
- MUSIC STAFF AND LINED SHEETS - Lined...
A beautiful premium gift for a very low price, this clever Ace leather journal has normal ruled paper on one side and musical staffs on the other – perfect for the songwriter on your list!
Best Gifts for Music Lovers – For the Home
Here you’ll find beautiful, fun and/or useful stuff for bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens, as well as music-themed wall art and fun, high quality glasses, cups and mugs. This section is also a great resource if you are looking for that perfect wedding present for a music-loving couple.
Musical Gifts for the Bathroom
Kohler Moxie Bluetooth Showerhead
- Shower Head with Shower Speaker: Single...
- Bluetooth Speaker: IPX7-rated waterproof...
- Portable Speaker with Long Lasting Battery:...
- Shower Head for Any Shower: A quality...
- ASME and DOE Shower Heads: Kohler shower...
A ridiculous idea, or pure genius? Yes, both! The Kohler Moxie wireless showerhead/speaker combination sounds amazingly good, and it is equally amazing just how much fun it is to have high quality music when you’re showering. For the karaoke fans among us, Kohler also makes the Moxie Bluetooth Handheld Showerhead. Both are tuned by Harman Kardon, for superb sound, and of course made by Kohler, for superb, well, everything else.
Ambesonne Colorful Musical Notes Shower Curtain
- Measurements - 69” wide x 70” long. No...
- Made from - High quality %100 polyester...
- Easy to use - Machine washable and dries...
- Adds great perspective - Bold graphics...
- Designer artwork - Not a common usual shower...
And while your gift givees are singing in the rain, they can do some sight reading with this lovely, colorful shower curtain from the delightful people at Ambesonne, who also make the more monochromatic but equally pleasing Black and White Musical Notes Shower Curtain. You also might want to check out the strikingly bold Canvbay Music Shower Curtain and the decidedly masculine Fashion Man Bathroom Set.
Musical Gifts for the Kitchen
Ambesonne Musical Tree with Birds Tablecloth
- Your purchase will help victims of recent...
- 52 Inches wide x 70 Inches long - Highly...
- Machine washable - Cold cycle. Easy to clean....
- Made from - High quality 100% polyester woven...
- Creates - A wonderful and luxurious setting...
We come right back to Ambersonne and their beautifully designed and made products for a touch of music in the kitchen. The colorful Musical Tree tablecloth is definitely my own favorite, although the black and white Musical Clef design is also popular, as is the bold Musical Plasma tablecloth – though the latter may be a bit too much at dinner?
ZzWwR Chic Music Piano Keyboard Note Pattern Cloth Napkins
- [Generously Sized]-- 4 luncheon napkins per...
- [Soft&Strong]-- ZzWwR stylish printed napkins...
- [Classic Stitching]-- Merrowed Edge, finished...
- [Reusable&Washable]-- Perfectly reusable...
- [Multi Purpose Utilization]-- ZzWwR's...
I can’t make heads nor tails from their brand name, but I do love their cloth napkins, and think the black and white musical notes and keyboard theme would look great on any of the tablecloths above – although if you choose the Musical Plasma tablecloth keep in mind that ZzWwR also makes napkins in a nice mushroom motif.
Musical Gifts for the Bedroom
Erosebridal Music Notation Bed Sheets King Sized Deep Pocket
- King-size item includes 1 fitted sheet...
- Soft Fabric - Our bedding sheets and...
- Easy to Use - The fitted sheet in sheet set...
- Other Products of the Same Pattern - Our...
- Note - The sheets and pillow cases are...
I think I could be happy recommending Ambesonne products for every single one of my home picks, but I should give other companies some love as well, and I have to say that I love the look of these clean and classy Erosebridal musical notation sheets. That said, if the music lover you’re buying for is a bit on the wild side, Ambesonne does make a Guitar Sheet Set that’s as cool as.
Ambesonne Musical Tree Bedspread, Quilted 3 Piece Coverlet Set
- Your purchase will help victims of recent...
- 1 King Bedspread 104" X 88" + 2 Shams 36" X...
- Made from - Double brushed high density soft...
- Heavyweight - Won't fall off bed easily. Can...
- Machine washable - Cold cycle, Dryer safe....
And yes, thank you very much, right back to my favorite company for their Musical Tree bedspread and pillow sham set that is soft, warm, nicely made and powerfully beautiful. I love this one as a wedding present, but I think anybody would really appreciate it.
Hippie Music Groovy Guitar Piano Keyboard Comforter Set
Speaking of wild sides, the Castle Fairy hippie music comforter is so wild, so colorful and so much fun that I can’t imagine anybody not falling in love with it. If this is a wedding present, and both bride and groom like it, you should keep this fun couple in your life as long as possible!
Musical Glasses, Cups and Mugs
I won’t comment on each and every one of these choices, but have done my best to find wine glasses, cocktail glasses, shot glasses, coffee cups and mugs that are well made and a bit of style. Some are graceful and elegant, some more clever and funny, but I think that music lovers are sure to appreciate any of them.
I will say, though, since it seems to be one of my themes today, that the C&M wine glass set would make a wonderful inexpensive wedding present.
- MIP Music Notes Heart Wine Glass
- C & M Heart Music Stemless Wine Glass (set of 4)
- Music Is My Forte Stemless Wine Glass
- Music Symbol shot glasses (set of 4)
- ThisWear Black and White Treble Clef Mug (set of 2)
- Spoontiques Bold Colorful Music Travel Mug
- Yoelike 30oz Music Notes Tumbler with Lid and Straw
- Without Music Life Would B Flat Coffee Mug
Wall Hangings and Art for the Music Lover
- Nice Decoration: the music art wall decor has...
- Firm and Wearable: the music wall art is made...
- Striking Size: this music note sign measures...
- Artistic and Tasteful: you will receive 1...
- Easy to Install: there is a small hole on...
Quite inexpensive yet elegant and beautifully made, this small black metal wall hanging would look great almost anywhere, and is another great idea for a wedding present, or for a new couple’s housewarming.
Deco 79 Traditional Metal Music Notes Wall Hanging
- TRADITIONAL THEME: A classic and timeless...
- MADE OF IRON: Musical notes wall decor is...
- BLACK METAL FINISH: The design comes with a...
- MUSICAL NOTES ASYMMETRICAL WALL DECOR: Our...
- CONVENIENTLY SIZED: This item measures 49L x...
At just over 4 feet long, and with a bold and yet gracefully curving flow, this is an impressive piece with a truly premium fit and finish.
NAN Wind Modern Music Canvas Art Posters
- Music Notes Canvas Poster Hanging Size:...
- Easy for installation: Our canvas wall art...
- Gallery wrapped and stretched with wooden...
- Music Wall Art a perfect wall decorations...
- Musical canvas painting is packed in cartons...
Particularly well made and attractive stretched canvas wall hangings that would work beautifully in any modern or minimalist decor.
Dermijer Colorful Musical Theme Wall Hanging Tapestry
- MATERIAL: 100% Brand new and high quality...
- FEATURES: Musical Note Tapestry are made of...
- WASHING & SIZE: Machine washable - Cold -...
- MULTIPURPOSE: Musical Note Tapestry Can be...
- You don't have to worry about the after-sales...
Fantastically bold and a bit wild, this Dermijer musical wall tapestry is almost psychedelic and definitely tons of fun. It is also beautifully made, with excellent printing and strong, saturated colors, and would make quite an impression in any space.
Art for the Music Lover
Deco 79 Eclectic Polystone Jazz Band Musician Sculpture
- ECLECTIC THEME: Express your personality with...
- MADE OF POLYSTONE: Crafted from polystone...
- BROWN CERAMIC FINISH: Features a brown finish...
- FEATURES MUSICIAN SCULPTURE: Features 4 jazz...
- 4 PIECES LARGE SIZE: This item measures 4L x...
These super high quality polystone sculptures have amazing energy and life, and are whimsical and deeply touching in equal measures – one of my favorite gift ideas, and sure to be a big hit!
Deco 79 Modern Polystone Musician Sculpture, Set of 4
- MODERN THEME: Features a modern style...
- MADE WITH POLYSTONE: These sculptures are...
- BROWN AND GOLD MATTE FINISH: This item...
- FEATURES MUSICIAN SCULPTURE: This sculpture...
- 4 PIECES SMALL SIZE: Jazz musician sculptures...
Another superb sculpture set from Deco 79, this jazz combo, for all of its abstraction, somehow really captures the qualities of ensemble music making, and is, above all else, a beautiful artwork that anybody would be proud to add to their room.
Best Gifts for Music Lovers – Shirts and Socks
There are an endless number of music Ts, and it’s incredibly dangerous territory – imagine not knowing the music lover on your list is a closet hardcore punk fan and you get them a Britney Spears T-Shirt! Or vice-versa, I suppose…
No, let’s not go there. Instead I’m going to include just a handful of cute, pretty and clever shirts that I believe any music lover would love.
And some socks, because everybody needs socks…
- Musical Dandelion T-Shirt
- Ludwig van Beethoven’s 5th Symphony T-Shirt
- Heart Shape Musical Notes T-Shirt
- Hippy Headphones T-Shirt
- Feline Music Critics T-Shirt
- What Part Of Music Don’t You Understand? T-Shirt
- K. Bell Music Notes Socks
- Happypop Piano Socks
Best Gifts for Music Lovers – Games
For family, friends, wild karaoke parties or a quiet night of solitaire, gifts that combine the fun of games with the joy of music are a fantastic idea, and you’ll be thought of every time they play – you might even get invited to more parties!
Heros of Rock ‘n Roll Playing Cards
- All Hero Deck Premium Playing Cards are:
- ~ Poker Sized
- ~ Casino Quality
- ~ Original Artwork
- ~ Made in USA
Classical Composers Playing Cards
- Surmani, Karen Farnum (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/01/2013 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music...
You can find playing cards for any and every kind of music, of course, but these two seem especially cool to me. If you really want to go crazy, get the Classical cards for the rocker in your life and vice-versa!
Spontuneous – The Song Game – Sing It or Shout It – Talent NOT Required
- HOW TO PLAY: If you've ever heard a word...
- WHOLE FAMILY FUN: Spontuneous is fun for the...
- FUN FOR ANY SEASON: Spontuneous fits...
- TALENT NOT REQUIRED: Feel shy or awkward...
- UNPLUG & INTERACT: Spontuneous is a fantastic...
A ridiculous and ridiculously fun board game for parties or family, Spontuneous always turns into a bit of a singing riot.
Music Gifts USA Musical Dominoes
- Classic dominoes with a clever twist -...
- In this classic game of skill, the pips are...
A simple, thoughtful gift for hours of polite, quiet play – kind of the exact opposite of Spontuneous, but for some people just as fun.
- BRING FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOGETHER WITH THIS...
- EASY TO PLAY AND A GREAT CHRISTMAS GAME FOR...
- BRING OUT THE CHRISTMAS CAROLER IN YOU |...
- MADE IN THE USA USING MATERIALS OF THE...
- ENTERTAINING, EDUCATIONAL, AND FUN | Anton...
A feel-good game that really brings people together, and the perfect gift for Valentines or Arbor Day.
Best Gifts for Music Lovers: Musical Instruments
Whether the music lover in your life is a musician or not, there are quite a few musical instruments which are so intuitive and so easy to play that people can’t help themselves but to pick them up and start making sounds – pretty music? Well, maybe, maybe not, but a ton of fun.
Otamatone Deluxe Electonic Musical Instrument Synthesizer
- STAY SAFE AT HOME while having fun with your...
- BEST SELLING - One of Japan's BEST Selling...
- FUN & EASY TO PLAY - Simply press and slide...
- TURN IT UP - Connect to headphones, amps, and...
- PACKAGE INCLUDES: 1 x Otamatone Deluxe, 1 x...
What exactly is an otamatone? Nobody really knows, but everybody just instinctively knows how to play one, and they make weird, lovely and intriguing musical sounds that people just can’t resist.
Unokki Mahogany Kalimba Thumb Piano
- FINEST MATERIALS: The Kalimba thumb piano is...
- ALL-INCLUSIVE SET: This Kalimba thumb piano...
- MUSIC ON THE GO: The 17-key thumb piano is a...
- EASY TO LEARN: Discover the joy of music with...
- A GIFT OF SYMPHONY: The 17-key Thumb Piano,...
Part therapeutic fidget, part inspiring musical instrument, the Unokki kalimba is super-cheap, and yet is very well built of mahogany and has a beautifully rich and complex sound which anybody can make.
Orba by Artiphon Portable Synth, Looper, and MIDI controller
- Make music anywhere with Orba by Artiphon, a...
- Loop Drum, Bass, Chord, and Lead parts to...
- Use Tilt, Shake, Bump, and other gestures to...
- Play through the built-in speaker or use the...
- Pair wirelessly to the Orba App to customize...
The Orba is one of the most interesting gadgets I’ve come across in a long time – an incredibly intuitive interface lets you move, shake and bump the little guy to make all kinds of interesting sounds, and the built in tech lets you loop, layer and process those sounds, hear them on a nice internal speaker or headphones, record them and even stream them wirelessly to a phone, PC or anything else – absolute genius!
Meinl Percussion Djembe with Mahogany Wood 10-Inch Rope Tuned Natural Head
- LEARN TO PLAY IN MINUTES: strike the center...
- WHY IT MATTERS: a lot of fun musical...
- ZOOM IN: the shell is hand made out of a...
- DRIVING THE SOUND: you can get a lot of...
- OF NOTE: the djembe comes tuned and ready to...
There are about a gazillion djembe drums on the market, and most are, honestly, a bit uninspiring, and really miss the sound and the spirit of this most universally appealing of drums. The Meini, however, with its traditional tuning and goat skin head, is the least expensive djembe I’ve ever found that really gets it, and makes a brilliant gift for any music lover.
Remo DJ-6112-32 Apex Djembe Drum – Green Kinte, 12″
- Body made of abs synthetics
- Skyndeep head
- Tuning key tension
- Lightweight, colour: green kinte kloth
- "contour" lugs
As great as the Meini is, Remo djembe drums are on a whole different level, with a sound quality and overall beauty and appeal that make them some of the most incredible of all percussion instruments – expensive, but a truly joyous lifetime gift.
Four Uncles Steel Tongue Drum Handpan with Bag & Music Book
- 【Excellent Craftsmanship】Our steel tongue...
- 【Wonderful Tuning】This Steel tongue drum...
- 【Best for Beginner】You can play steel...
- 【Wide Usage】Our steel drum are suitable...
- 【Music Set Included】This music instrument...
Just as the Meini above is the least expensive djembe I could possibly recommend, the Four Uncles steel tongue drum is the cheapest handpan I would consider buying, and is so far beyond anything else at this low price level in terms of sound and craftsmanship. An amazing gift that is, considering what you get, amazingly inexpensive.
AS Teman Handpan Steel Hand Drum with Soft Bag & Mallets
- ★【Nitrogen steel Material& process】This...
- ★【Universe Series - Black Hole...
- ★【10 Notes Design】The instrument is...
- ★【Easy to Carry & cleaning】ASTEMAN give...
- ★【Widely Use】Great for mediation,...
And again, just like we see with the Meini and Remo djembes, the AS Teman handpan is a very different experience than even the excellent Four Uncles, and is easily one of the most beautiful and beautiful sounding instruments of any kind I’ve ever come across. A superb instrument and a lavishly premium gift for any music lover.
Yamaha YPT260 61-Key Portable Keyboard with Power Adapter
- Includes the YPT 260 61 key portable keyboard...
- 400 voices, 130 auto accompaniment styles...
- Note: This item does not advertise a USB...
- Yamaha Education Suite with 9 step lesson...
- Record and playback using the recording...
With about a gazillion built-in instruments and other sounds, rhythms and effects, the Yamaha 260 is a complex and powerful musical instrument, yet absolutely anybody can play it immediately with no lessons or instructions. Your gift givee can just sit and noodle for a few minutes or go into serious music-making, but either way they’ll have so much fun!
Alesis Recital Pro – 88 Key Digital Piano Keyboard with Hammer Action Weighted Keys, 2x20W
- A Digital Piano That’s Tailored to You -...
- Premium Sounds - 12 voices (Incl. Acoustic...
- All The Right Connections - ¼” sustain...
- Play the Keyboard Wherever You Go - Power via...
- Powerful Educational Features - Standard,...
An amazingly high quality digital piano for a relatively low price, the Alesis sounds and feels like a real piano, and is a luxurious premium addition to any music lover’s home. One of the best and most impressive gifts I can think of for a true music lover, and a thoughtful, generous and very impressive wedding present.
Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Mahogany Acoustic Guitar
- One right-handed Fender CD-60S Dreadnought...
- Dreadnought Body: This guitar’s dreadnought...
- Premium Materials: The combination of a...
- Rock Steady Tuners: Chrome die-cast tuners...
- 2-Year Limited Warranty: Fender guitars are...
For a budget guitar, good for a total beginner but equally suitable for advanced players, you can certainly spend a bit less – the Tiger Acoustic Full Size Sunburst Guitar, for example, is as good as i’ve found for under a hundred dollars – but you can also spend a bit more and get the superb sound and top-tier craftsmanship of the brilliant Fender Dreadnought.
Best Gifts for Music Lovers: Audio Gear
The last section in our 2023 buyer’s guide for best presents for music lovers is the one closest to our hearts here at Speakergy – audio gear! In fact, I can’t believe I was able to wait this long…
There are literally thousands and thousands of great speakers, headphones and turntables you could choose from, and sometimes it feels like I’ve listened to and tried every single one of them. Nowhere near, of course, but I am at least able to considerably narrow the field, and here I want to offer a dozen of my very best gift ideas for the music lover in your life.
Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Multi-Room Smart Speaker
- Blue sound's flagship all-in-one, multi-room...
- Top-performing drivers deliver a powerful...
- Blue sound's innovative direct digital amp...
- Leading-class dual band Wi-Fi ensures zero...
- Stream directly from Apple devices with...
Of all the premium wireless smart speakers on the market today – and believe me, there are a lot of them – the Bluesound is my very favorite, with truly beautiful audiophile sound quality and the very best tech. Expensive, yes, but the perfect premium gift for any music lover – and the ultimate wedding present!
Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
- BLUETOOTH WIRELESS - Popular classic...
- STUDIO SOUND QUALITY - Naturally fine tuned...
- OPTICAL AND COAXIAL INPUTS - Digital inputs...
- REMOTE CONTROL - Adjust the volume and toggle...
- 2 YEAR WARRANTY - Quality components in solid...
I especially like and recommend these Edifier R1280DB speakers not just because they sound absolutely beautiful, and are fantastic for all kinds of music, but also because they are so incredibly versatile – with built in amplifiers and all kinds of inputs – wired and wireless, digital and analog – they will easily work with any phone, PC, stereo system or any other gear or gadget.
JBL Flip Powered Bluetooth Portable Waterproof Speaker
- Eco-friendly packaging JBL is committed to a...
- IP67 waterproof and dustproof To the pool. To...
- 13 Hours of Playtime Don’t sweat the small...
- Bold design Bold audio meets bold design....
- Crank up the fun with PartyBoost PartyBoost...
All of the JBL wireless speakers are just great – incredibly tough, well made and waterproof, easy to use with any phone, PC or other gadget, and with a big and enormously fun sound. In fact, I could just as easily recommend the super-affordable JBL Go 3 or the super-premium JBL Boombox 2, but the Flip 6 is the best value overall, and one of the best and most popular portable wireless speakers you can get.
- Headphones with advanced wireless technology...
- Superior audio quality with AAC, AptX codec...
- 25-hours of battery life and long-lasting...
- Smart Control App enables a personalized...
They are still relatively new on the market, but these cheap Sennheiser wireless headphones are making a big splash – they really capture that famous Senn sound perfectly – open and accurate, sweetly musical and fun, and perfect for all kinds of music – and they have amazing tech, with audiophile-level wireless and great battery life. A thoughtful and useful gift that any music lover will adore.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
- Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual...
- Next-level music with Edge-AI, co-developed...
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick...
- The WH1000XM4 Touch Sensor controls to pause...
- Speak-to-chat technology automatically...
The Sony 1000XM4 are as expensive as the Sennheiser are affordable, but are widely considered to be the best, most musical and beautiful sounding premium wireless headphones on the market today – with beautifully musical sound, the very best noise cancelling and superb material and build quality. A truly special gift for the music lover in your life – unless, of course, they’re an Apple person, who will hate the Sonys and must have instead the equally wondrous Apple AirPods Max.
Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless In-Ear Earbuds
- Note : If the size of the earbud tips does...
- Skullcandy Supreme Sound - Relax, workout or...
- Hours of Power - The Indy Evo holds a total...
- Never lost with Tile - With Tile tech,...
- Leave your phone in your pocket - you spend...
The perfect choice for younger music lovers, the Skullcandy Indy Evo have fantastic sound, with lots of powerful bass, real dynamic energy, and clarity and sweet musicality galore, as well as excellent battery life, great wireless and a tough, durable build. Most importantly, though, they’re cool – really, these days not even Beats have this kind of street cred!
Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player
- THREE SPEED BELT-DRIVEN TURNTABLE - This...
- TAKE YOUR TUNES ANYWHERE - Housed in a...
- EXPANDED CONNECTION OPTIONS - Stream...
- NO STEREO SYSTEM OR EXTRA EQUIPMENT REQUIRED....
- ALL THE CONTROLS YOU NEED - Features an Input...
I’m a huge fan of pretty much all of the super-affordable record players Victrola offers, and this Vintage suitcase player is one of my favorites. Despite its size, and its very low price, the Vintage has really rich, full and musical sound, is built surprisingly well and works great. Plus, it’s a suitcase! Well, not a real suitcase, but it sure looks like one. An absolute treasure for a younger music lover, a lovely and thoughtful gift for an older person and, well, pretty great for anybody inbetween too.
I’d also like to mention the Victrola Nostalgic All-in-One Record Player, which is a bit more expensive but has a radio, CD player, cassette deck and record player, a beautiful old-fashioned wooden cabinet and even better sound, and can make a really special musical wedding present for the right couple.
Fluance RT80 Belt Drive Audiophile Turntable
- PURE ANALOG LISTENING EXPERIENCE - Premium...
- HIGH PERFORMANCE CARTRIDGE - The Audio...
- SUPERIOR RECORD TRACKING - Enjoy perfect...
- WOOD PLINTH - The beautiful cabinet is...
- CAPTIVATING SIGNAL CLARITY - Incorporating a...
A pure analog old-school turntable, that has no speakers of its own and must be connected to a stereo or powered speakers, the Fluance RT80 is known as one of the best values in high-end audio – ok, at only around 200 bucks, including a brilliant Audio-Technica cartridge and needle, this may not be high-end audio, but it sure sounds like it.
Rega Planar 1 P1 Audiophile Belt Drive Turntable
- The Rega Planar 1 turntable features a brand...
- Every single aspect of the Planar 1 has been...
- Re-designed brass main bearing, offering...
- Brand new, 23mm, higher mass, phenolic...
- Thermoset, gloss laminated plinth with vastly...
While the Fluance above can definitely be considered an audiophile turntable, the Rega Planar P1, which includes the superb Rega Carbon cartridge, is widely considered the best sounding affordable (well, somewhat affordable) turntable available today – really next-level sound that would please and delight even the discriminating hi fi fanatic. The least expensive table currently made by the legendary company, the Rega P1 is still a pretty expensive piece, but beautiful in every way.
And to close this complete buyer’s guide for the best music lovers gifts, I am going to mention a very important accessory for anybody who plays records – an inexpensive and very thoughtful gift that will make records sound better and last longer – a good record cleaner.
In fact I will include two great products here – the very best cheap record cleaning kit on the market and a premium, ultra-effective record cleaner for the serious record collector or audiophile
Big Fudge Professional Series Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit
- WHY BIG FUDGE? There are numerous products...
- ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION: Clean dust, dirt and...
- XTRA LARGE CLEANING FLUID - The included 50ml...
- STYLUS CLEANER: Cleaning the stylus needle...
- AT HOME OR ON THE GO: Keep your record...
The Big Fudge is incredibly effective and very easy to use, and also comes with a gentle brush for cleaning the stylus. In a deluxe carrying case, this makes a wonderful, and wonderfully inexpensive, present – and, most importantly, it has by far the best brand name!
Vinyl Doctor Vacuum Record Cleaning Machine
- With just a few turns of the wrist this...
- A clean LPs let’s you enjoy crystal clear...
- Record Doctor features the same powerful...
- New edition Record Doctor V includes an...
- Over 10,000 sold. Kit includes record turner,...
The next step up, offering a much deeper, more complete and longer lasting cleaning, the Vinyl Doctor can even dramatically improve the sound of a brand new record! Definitely more expensive, this is nonetheless an amazing value, and a must for serious record collectors.