15 Gift Ideas You’ll Want To Hear About if There Are Audiophiles on Your List

From portable record players and vinyl-of-the-month clubs to music-themed housewares and online classes taught by guitar gods, these 15 groovy gift ideas are guaranteed to hit the right note with any member of the rhythm nation and leave your favorite audiophile rockin’ around the Christmas tree.

1. A Turntable; From $65

These two compact record players with built-in speakers make the perfect gift for people still developing their vinyl habit (whose loved ones aren’t so sure the new hobby will stick), for those short on space like dorm dwellers, or for those who desire additional decks in other rooms or on the patio. Crosley’s adorable vintage suitcase design and wide variety of colors, fabrics (velvet, ostrich, tweed!), and patterns has made it the choice system for hipsters and hotel designers for years. But it isn’t just a pretty face: The belt-driven model plays three speeds and connects to stereo systems, phones, and wireless speakers.

The just-launched Victrola Revolution Go—the first portable, rechargeable, and Bluetooth-connected record player—is here to compete for those Christmas dollars, however. The cord-free concept, detachable guitar strap, and up to 12 hours of battery life means it can easily join its owner at tailgate parties and rooftop barbecues, on camping trips, out by the pool, or at the park. The Bluetooth speaker is housed in an anti-vibration chamber so it won’t skip beats, plus features Vinyl Stream tech, which connects it to wireless speakers. The removable lid even doubles as a vinyl stand for five LPs.

Buy Them: Crosley Cruiser Plus, Victrola Revolution Go

2. Bonaok Wireless Karaoke 3-in-1 Microphone; From $31

Treat aspiring Beastie Boys and Mariah Careys to a wireless Bluetooth-enabled karaoke microphone by BONAOK and turn it up to 11 after Christmas dinner is done. This three-in-one mic, speaker, and karaoke machine—it works in conjunction with a phone app—provides four hours of sing time and comes in a rainbow of colors, including rose gold.

Buy It: Amazon

3. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Headphones; $199

Whether it’s for travel, a morning subway commute, working in a café, or to drown out an annoying roommate’s obnoxious phone conversations, everyone needs a high-quality pair of noise-canceling headphones and these sleek over-ear cans from Bose are trusted workhorses. Available in black or silver, they’re Alexa-enabled, Bluetooth compatible, feature audio-only augmented reality tech, have a noise-rejecting dual mic, and offer three levels of noise cancelation.

Buy It: Amazon

4. MasterClass Annual Pass; From $15 Per Month

Albert Einstein famously warned, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” You can help aspiring pop stars, musicians, producers, and composers avoid that fate by signing them up for an annual membership to MasterClass. Each class includes approximately 20 videos and a workbook and can be watched on demand at the student’s desired pace. Hans Zimmer talks movie music. Questlove shows students how to curate the perfect playlist while Tom Morello and Carlos Santana give guitar lessons. Learn songwriting from Alicia Keys, Nas, and St. Vincent. Metallica, who is celebrating 40 years of kicking ass and climbing charts in 2021, has pro-tips on how to keep the band together. Other current professors include Christina Aguilera, Yo-Yo Ma, Reba McEntire, Usher, Danny Elfman, and more. And with an annual membership, your giftee won’t have to stop at music. The streaming platform boasts experts in fashion, interior design, business, cooking, sports, and other fascinating areas of study.

Subscribe: MasterClass

5. Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs; From $38

Know someone who wants to rock and roll all night and party every day? With the recent return of live music, that goal is more easily achieved. But just like in the before-times, attending a concert can take a toll on your hearing. Help them retain their ear for music with a shiny new set of noise-reducing earplugs that use attenuation filters to preserve sound quality. The hypoallergenic soft silicone sets, which come with two sizes of shells and a carrying case, won’t muffle music or voices like foam plugs do. Bonus: They’re also recommended for musicians themselves to wear at shows or practices and for motorcyclists.

Buy It: Amazon

6. Victrola Vintage Vinyl Record Storage Carrying Case; $39

Your giftee can carry their tunes in this retro storage case from Victrola. It holds up to 30 LPs depending on sleeve size; it also locks and has corner guards for extra protection. There’s basic black for metalheads and emo boys, a Union Jack option for punks and Britpop aficionados, a retro map for world music fans, and tie-dye for those who’d rather be twirling at a Grateful Dead show than anywhere else. It also looks great next to the aforementioned Crosley retro record player.

Buy It: Amazon

7. Knox Vinyl Record Cleaner Spin Kit; $50

As your mother likely reminded you time and time again, if you want nice things, you have to take good care of them. To ensure the beat goes on for your favorite meticulous music collector or DJ pal, grab Knox’s spinning kit that comes with a wash basin, drying rack, cleaning fluid, rollers, brushes, microfiber cloth, and a drying cloth. It scrubs fingerprints, dust, static, and dirt from both sides of all sizes of vinyl (45s, 10-inch, and 12-inch), helping improve the sound—and probably the vibe.

Buy It: Amazon

8. simesove Tabletop Vinyl Record Holder; $21

Form and function intersect in this simple yet striking walnut-and-iron block. Use it to display the current selection being spun, hold the next few albums on deck, protect records from being cracked, dropped on or unknowingly used as coasters, and keep your music area tidy. The stand can also support a tablet while someone is listening to Spotify or watching lyric videos on YouTube.

Buy It: Amazon

9. Turntable Cheese Board; $78

This whimsical serving board shaped like a record player is almost too gouda to be true—it can help music fans who are also foodies strike the right chord at their next dinner party. The turntable is a slate platter where cheese, cured meats, honeycomb, nuts, fruit, and crackers can live together in perfect harmony. The needle arm is an incognito wire slicer, too.

Buy It: UncommonGoods

10. The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney; $100

Paul McCartney examines his storied career from the early days in Liverpool and Beatlemania to his current stint as a solo act by dissecting 154 songs in The Lyrics: 1956 To The Present. He talks about his inspirations, literary influences, and his songwriting partners for iconic hits like “Yesterday” and “Love Me Do,” and shares hundreds of photos, handwritten notes, and paintings. If the audiophile on your list is a Beatles fan, this could be a terrific option.

Buy It: Amazon

11. Vnyl Music Club Subscription; From $20

A true music lover’s collection is never complete, so sign 'em up for VYNL’s monthly mailer to help them discover the next big thing. To guide the subscriber to something they’ll want to keep, they’re first asked to create a profile about their musical tastes, attach their personal Spotify, Soundcloud, and other social media accounts. Then, they pick a vibe from a list of hashtags. The team of record store curators takes all the data and matches it to new albums they believe they’ll enjoy, and records arrive on their doorstep shortly after. They might even get lucky and score colored vinyl or other member exclusives. Available in one-month (three records), three-month (nine LPs), or 12-month (36 records) options, this subscription offers plenty of flexibility.

Subscribe: Vnyl

12. MCKE Record Player Stand; $93

This mid-century modern-esque unit kills two "Byrds" with one stone. Vinyl collections have a habit of growing quickly (especially if someone was also gifted the VNYL club subscription). This stand's multiple cubbyholes hold around 150 records. The shelf above them could hold more, or could provide a home for several coffee-table books. It also happens to be an optimal spot to stash your record player. Grab it in white or brown wood finish.

Buy It: Amazon

13. Personalized Record Doormat; $35

They’ll think of you every time they wipe off their dancing shoes on this retro LP doormat. Designed by graphic artist Jim Holodak and made in New York, you can customize the 23-inch round with the name of your giftee's band, err, family name and a record title. Might we suggest “house music.”

Buy It: UncommonGoods

14. Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres by Kelefa Sanneh; $25

Grow someone’s other music library with this cerebral tome that dives deep into music history, the industry, and, of course, the sweet sounds that provide the soundtrack to our lives. Written by New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh, Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres dissects the last 50 years of popular music with a deep dive into the genres that dominated it—rock, R&B, country, punk, hip-hop, electronica/EDM, and pop.

Buy It: Amazon

15. ArtSugar Art; Prices vary

ArtSugar, an online contemporary art and décor dealer, donates proceeds from every purchase to charities such as City Harvest, ASPCA, and Girls Who Code. The inventory runs the gamut but music enthusiasts will particularly enjoy Louisa Powell’s framed charcoal portraits of icons including Kurt Cobain, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Alicia Keys, and Jimi Hendrix as well as Aliza Stone Howard’s take on Lana Del Rey or Julian Caridi’s poppy trombone. Prices vary by size.

Shop: ArtSugar

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