Audiophiles and music lovers are quite picky about their equipment and it can be tricky to get them the perfect gift. This is a must because only the best audio quality is required for these people. Otherwise, their audio experience won’t be as fulfilling as expected. Here are some excellent gift ideas that are sure to put a smile on their faces.
Bluetooth Receiver
Hardcore audiophiles often invest in amps, speakers, and vinyl turntables to get that amazing retro sound that only vinyl provides. If you are looking for a gift for someone with an audio system like this a Bluetooth receiver will be a great addition.
Having a beautiful sound system setup for vinyl is amazing and it will provide many hours of entertainment. There does come a time when you just want to listen to a song you have on Spotify or Apple Music though. Being able to stream from a mobile phone to the audio system is great when you do have that need.
A Bluetooth receiver plugs into the audio system and pairs to the mobile device. You will be able to stream music, podcasts, audio of Youtube videos as well as Netflix straight to the audio system. Bluetooth audio receivers are relatively inexpensive and small. They can remain hidden behind an amplifier on the shelf.
Headphones
This can be a tricky one as the avid audiophile will have a preferred brand and model they like. For up and coming and aspiring audiophiles there are many good choices, however.
The best to do for a hardcore audiophile is ask them what headphones will be a good gift for them If you are buying a gift for an up-and-coming or aspiring audiophile you can opt for higher-end Sony or Audio Technica headphones. Both of these brands deliver great performance compared to the price.
Look for over-ear headphones that can be used with Bluetooth, but have a 3,5mm line-in plug as well. This way they can use the headphones paired to their mobile device or plug directly into their home HiFi system when relaxing at home. A bonus is if the headphones also have a built-in microphone for taking calls over Bluetooth. It is also handy if the headphones can activate voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant.
Speakers
Speakers are always a great idea. New speakers can be the start of an audiophile’s sound system, and expansion to a new room, or replacements for older speakers. Look out for good quality small to medium-sized speakers. The advantage of small speakers is that they take up less space in a room than floor-standing units.
Shelf speakers can be mounted on a small stand or placed on a counter or bookshelf as the name implies. They don’t sacrifice much in sound quality compared to floor-standing units but are much more compact and less pricey than large speakers.
Speakers should be matched to your audio system and room size. Keep in mind that bookshelf speakers might also need room behind them for airflow if the design needs that. Putting a speaker on a dedicated stand will also help with performance.
Programmable LED Lights
Color changing and programmable LED lights are a great gift for an avid audiophile. This is not directly related to audio equipment or sound systems, but for that very reason, it might be the safe choice. Audiophiles usually have a very specific taste and specifications for their audio equipment. It is risky buying new equipment for them if you don’t know what they want.
Buying something that will enhance their experience when listening to music and is not directly related to the sound system is a safe bet. Programmable color LED lights for their favorite room are a good choice. These lights are controlled from an app and both brightness, as well as hue, can be controlled. For instance, they can be set to bright white light for working and then be changed to warm soft light for listening to music at a later stage.
A Comfy Chair
Again a safe choice not directly related to the audio system. As with the programmable LED lights, this gift is targeted at making listening to music a more enjoyable experience overall.
Get a comfortable chair for them to relax in and listen to their favorite music. Also, make sure the design and style of the chair match the style of the room as well as the design of their audio system. You can opt for a classic chair design if their room and audio system are based on classic styling. If their audio system and the room are more modern or futuristic then you could match that with the chair design.
A Beautiful Rug
This is a weird choice for your gift to an audiophile, but it will make sense in a moment. The room that the audio system is in has a massive influence on the quality of sound.
If you put a very expensive and high-quality wifi system in the wrong room, the sound quality will be poor. Sound bouncing randomly off hard surfaces will make for a bad audio experience.
The way to improve a room’s acoustic qualities is to add sound absorption. You can add a large soft couch. Thick curtains will also help. You can also buy acoustic panels to hang on walls to absorb some sound bouncing from the walls.
This is where the rug comes in. If the room has a hard floor like tiles or a wooden floor the sound will also be bounced from the floor. Buying a large, beautiful, and soft rug as a gift will help with the quality of sound in that room. It does not only look beautiful but enhances the acoustic properties of the room.
A Piece of Art
Although a large canvas on the wall might act as a bit of an acoustic panel, this is not the main reason for gifting a piece of art. The art is to make the whole experience in the room more enjoyable.
Choose a piece of art that suits the mood of the room and the music taste of the owner. If the audiophile you are gifting it to loves classical music, maybe a beautiful painting of an ocean scene will be a good match. Listening to classical music while looking at the painting will enhance the overall experience.
When shopping for an avid audiophile make sure you know the room they use to listen to music and remember that the gift does not have to be directly related to the audio system.