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 one around offering a detailed listen and an automatic speed control so there’s no need for you to do much. It sounds fantastic so even the pickiest of audiophiles will be delighted. 

Best budget turntable

For the best budget turntable, consider the Audio-Technica Full Automatic Turntable. It’s still fully automatic which is useful with the only difference being that it could sound a little crisper and more balanced than a pricier alternative. An old-school look, it suits those wanting a more traditional aesthetic right down to its lack of modern features. It’s ideal for newbies to the vinyl world who want to try something new.

Powerful Bluetooth speaker

For a more modern listening experience, try the Sonos Roam. Sonos has a great reputation for audio quality for good reason. This speaker is portable so you can take it around with you for up to 10 hours. It pairs up with other Sonos speakers so you can set up a multiroom arrangement, 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 demonstrate you don’t even have to spend much to enjoy hi-res audio and earphones tuned by a Grammy Award winning sound engineer. Two balanced armatures and a separate dynamic driver ensure an incredibly accurate experience with fantastic clarity and deep bass as needed.

High-end wired listening

Lightweight, comfy 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 environment which is perfect for music production or simply gaining the benefit from every note in your favorite song.With a specialized back volume and absorbing resonator chamber, clarity is far improved making these quite exceptional for the right ear.

Ideal Over-Ear cans

For those who prefer over-ear headphones, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 are a delight. They provide high-fidelity sound with extra sub bass while still feeling natural and relaxed. Improved ventilation compared to others means minimal distortion so you can hear the lowest note as well as the kick of a bass drum. An open-back design makes them perfect for extended recording sessions too.

Superior to any phone

The FIIO M11S Hi-Res MP3 player reminds audiophiles of why your phone just doesn’t cut it for hi-res audio, no matter what features it offers. Here, you get a dedicated listening experience with lossless DSD/MQA. There’s support for Tidal too with Android 10 ably capable of handling everything you want to do here. Sound is bold, detailed, and fantastic.

Classic MP3 experience

The Sony NW-A306 Walkman is a reminder of how great Sony was at making Walkmans cool and excellent. There’s support for hi-res audio here along with DSD format up to 11.2MHz and 360 Reality Audio – Sony’s specialist feature which enhances the soundstage of your music. Up to 36 hours of 44.1KHz FLAC playback between charges ensures this is going to be permanently attached to audiophiles.

Gorgeous DAB radio

DAB radios remain pretty useful while providing better sound than the dated FM format. The Roberts Rambler DAB Radio looks as good as it sounds. Its 1970s stylings work well while there are tactile knobs for interacting with it. Most importantly for audiophiles, it offers some good sound with Bluetooth streaming its particular penchant alongside radio stations. It’s a little quiet but a lovely addition to your kitchen.