It’s that time of year we’ve all grown to love and hate. The holidays mean company parties, out of town relatives, and raucous get-togethers with your homies. In an effort to find the perfect Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanza gift we’ve assembled a list of our favorite technologies with the music fan in mind. Here is our 2018 gift guide.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Speakers
Brand: TREBLAB
Model: HD77
MSRP: $79
This midsized speaker packs a powerful punch and a quality bang for your buck. The HD77 offers 360° crisp sound, powered by a 25W stereo, with DualBass technology. The battery has a long charge, giving listeners up to 12 hours of continuous play. It’s shockproof and waterproof, and comes with a carry strap & carabiner for outdoor adventures. You can also pair two HD77 speakers together for a surround sound setup.
Brand: Ultimate Ears
Model: MEGABOOM 3
MSRP: $199
A full sized speaker features powerful, immersive sound with a clean design and easy setup. Connecting to your smartphone is seamless and the MEGABOOM 3 is priced right with its distinct functions. The spatial 360° sound and cylinder design was made to deliver immersive, stereophonic audio that radiates evenly in all directions. The large subwoofer creates a solid bass line you can truly hear and feel.
Brand: COTODAMA
Model: Canvas Lyric Speaker
MSRP: $1700
For the audiophile expert who wants a visual experience, this is your must-have bucket list item. The Wi-Fi enabled speaker is next generation, at it shows song lyrics beautifully on an HD screen. This speaker visualizes lyrics as an art piece and delivers them uniquely based on the beat of the music. Consisting of two connected panels, the front displays lyrics and the rear contains two speakers, delivering stellar sound. Users connect a smartphone to the device, compatible with Spotify and other streaming services. Based in Japan, the Lyric Speaker has over 2 millions songs in its database and continues to update its archive.
Headphones
Brand: Jabra
Model: Elite Sport
MSRP: $200
These true wireless ear buds are a perfect choice for gym workouts or cruising along the boardwalk. Jabra gives Apple a run for its money with this newly released design. Features include a heart rate sensor embedded into the left earpiece, waterproof casing, a travel case that doubles as a charging station, with battery life exceeding 13 hours on a single charge. Compared to AirPods, these look stylish and comfortable.
Brand: Sennheiser
Model: HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless
MSRP: $149
Not everybody can afford a premium wireless noise-canceling headphone, which is where Sennheiser’s more budget-conscious HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless comes in. It’s not cheap, but it’s less than what you’ll pay for certain models from Sony and Bose for example. These over the ear style headphones are classy with a matte black finish and offer dynamic range of sound with a decent battery.
Brand: Beats by Dre
Model: Beats Studio3 Wireless
MSRP: $349
Everyone knows about these or has a friend who rocks them. The Beats Studio3 Wireless is the latest rendition. It has improved sound quality, noise canceling tech and improved battery life from its predecessor in the same sturdy design. Apple’s W1 chip makes pairing with Apple devices flawless. It performs well as a headset for making phone calls and stacks up decently against competing models sonically. Color options include matte black, blue, defiant black-red, white, red, and gray.
Turntables:
Brand: Audio-Technica
Model: AT-LP60
MSRP: $89
For entry-level vinyl fans this is a great starter belt driven unit. It features a built-in phono preamplifier, a user-replaceable stylus, with fully automatic operation. It plays 7” and 12” records with precision and energy. With easy operation and a great price point, it’s the ideal turntable for anyone looking to get into wax.
Brand: 1byone
Model: Belt Drive 3 Speed Portable Stereo
MSRP: $43
This snazzy looking briefcase style player has built in speakers and provides all the features you could ask for, plus a nostalgic look. Featuring a dynamic, balanced tone arm with soft damping control. The unit offers selectable 33 / 45 / 78 RPM speeds settings with a 45-RPM adapter included. It also has an RCA output and headphone jack line-in/line-out for various listening options. Did we mention its lightweight, easy to store and portable?
Brand: Victrola
Model: Modern Design 50-watt with Bluetooth speakers
MSRP: $70
For the hipster with an audiophile fix, this clean option is right down your alley. It is simplistic in design, but overpowering in performance. Dual stereo 50-watt speakers blast music from a 3-speed turntable. The built-in Bluetooth wirelessly streams your music from across the room, up to 33 feet in range. The player also has an RCA output jack for external speakers. Complete with a glossy finish, this is perfect for setting the tone for any party.
Michael Silver is a journalist and photographer based in Southern California. He covers music, sports, technology, and streetwear. Tips & pitches: [email protected]