Consider this your hand-picked lineup of accessories, gadgets, and thoughtful little somethings for the person in your life who can’t resist great sounds.
There are always exceptions, but for the most part? Everyone loves music. Some are hardcore audiophiles, others casual enjoyers, but either way, sound is an inextricable and amazing part of most people’s lives. So you can’t go wrong gifting that special someone with tunes and accessories that’ll make their listening experience a blast. Whether they’re analog lovers or logged onto their music streaming service 24/7, here’s a list of things to add to their Christmas stockings.
READ ALSO: For The Bookworm: A Very-Specific Holiday Gift Guide
All That Analog Goodness
Yes, analog never quite died: people are still searching for a sense of ownership that comes with physical media, not to mention the unique experience of playing them; seasoned veterans and newbies alike are sure to love these choices.
CDs
Start with your medium of choice. You’ll need to do some digging to find out what kind of analog format your giftee wants to build on or collect. CDs are a modern choice, and not as pricey as other formats. They’re also a little more accessible, since most people either have a CD player already lying around or installed in their cars. Lots of Manila’s analog music stores still sell CDs too, including new releases from popular artists. Find them in places like Plaka Express, Backspacer Records, and Ted Ellis.
Vinyls
Vinyls, however, are a great choice if you’d prefer a gift with some extra oomph: they’re pricier, but come in bigger packages complete with those sweet, sweet liner notes and other extras. They’re also quite easy to find thanks to the vinyl boom—we wrote an article detailing different places around the Metro that offer an impressive roster of records from beloved oldies to contemporary indies. Nothing says “I love you” more than splurging on that particular vinyl of an artist your giftee loves (bonus points if it’s generally hard to come by).
As for vinyl turntables, there are plenty of options available at various price points. Beginners might appreciate something with fewer bells and whistles, especially if they’re not diehard audiophiles. In this case, anything from Audio Technica’s basic range of belt-drive turntables will work great: start with the AT-LP60X if your giftee just wants to connect through a phono preamp or wire. However, if they prefer an additional wireless option, the AT-LP60XBT-USB features Bluetooth connectivity.
Pick any machine really, and the trusted Japanese brand hardly disappoints. Both players can play at 33-⅓ RPM and 45 RPM, and come with an adaptor for playing 45 RPM vinyls. The needle or stylus can also be replaced in case they’d prefer to upgrade somewhere along the way.
Of course, if you want to give a really grand gift to the audiophile in your life, a direct drive turnable like the Audio Technica AT-LP5X is the ideal, premium option that offers better build quality and sound.
Cassettes
Cassettes are, yeah, a little more obscure, but people who want to pretend they’re listening to a Sony Walkman in the 1980s will definitely appreciate them. Not many places sell them, but you can do a pointed search on Shopee or Lazada, and some music shops like Backspacer Records and United Cassettes Philippines have sizable collections.
While you’re at it, include a cassette player too (which United Cassettes also drops every once in a while, though you can find some nice ones at good price points in Shopee, Lazada, and secondhand marketplaces as well). Swee Lee Music Co. Philippines sells an adorable NINM Lab IT’S REAL Bluetooth Speaker with Cassette Player Combo that combines the best of both digital and analog.
Speakers
If your giftee is relying on a music player that’s only wired (for that high fidelity sound, of course), a great set of speakers is a must. But hey, even listeners who prefer their Bluetooth would give you a big hug if you offered something with nice specs.
People will have their preferences, some choosing connectivity and convenience over customization and high-fidelity. Different speakers will also produce different sound profiles, some more well-rounded than others, so there’s really no “best” one out there. Either way, getting the right ones for a Christmas gift is mostly about finding models that either offer top-tier features or a little bit of everything.
Adrenaline junkies who are always on the go might appreciate portable Bluetooth speakers that are sturdy, capable of taking in some water (for pool parties and other water-heavy outdoor activities), and still able to deliver solid beats. The JBL Clip 5 gets the job done (and can even be paired with other JBL Clip 5 speakers for a booming party), as does the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4.
If you want to gift speakers that are bang-for-the-buck versatile, especially if you’re giving them to analog newbies, we highly recommend the Edifier R1280DB bookshelf speakers.
The R1280DB is not only easy to find (sold in quite a few appliance stores and music shops like The Listening Room in SM Megamall), but it also packs everything you need for a good time through a warm, smooth sound with a natural treble and midrange that works well with most music genres. Switch from Bluetooth mode for digital streaming to line mode, with wires, you can connect to your CD or vinyl player of choice. The best part? It already comes with a built-in 42W stereo amplifier, which fits snugly and stylishly at the sides for a clean-looking setup. Oh, and it has a variation that comes in a gorgeous wood-like finish for those who want to elevate their space—what more can you ask for under the Christmas tree?
Headphones Or Earbuds
Who doesn’t like a nice set of headphones or earbuds for that private, portable music listening experience? They’re ubiquitous, but the right pair is what changes the game (though again it boils down to sound profile preference). For Bluetooth headphones and earphones, strive to get a pair with adjustable EQ settings (usually through an app), long battery life, and a neutral sound profile.
The brand Soundcore has been killing it with high-quality Bluetooth headphones for great prices. The Soundcore Space One is a good place to start, offering more than 30 hours of playtime and some impressive active noise cancellation, as well as a handy app for sound profile personalization. People entrenched in the Apple ecosystem will, of course, want the Airpods Max and Airpods Pro 3, both of which are intuitive crowd-pleasers.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 earbuds (which you can purchase from distributors on e-commerce platforms) also offer premium sound and noise cancellation in a nice package for those who don’t want to be tied down to an ecosystem.
Though if it’s high-fidelity, stable, accurate sound you’re looking for, you won’t really find that in Bluetooth devices. Wired is the way to go (if your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, you can always get an adapter with a built-in amplifier). In this case, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO X are not only acclaimed open-backed studio headphones for critical listening, but also incredibly comfortable ones perfect for long listening sessions. For close-backed headphones, you can’t go wrong with the Audio Technica ATH-M50x, equally renowned for the bang-for-the-buck studio quality that’s made it a darling among music industry professionals, audiophiles, and everyone in between.
Merchandise Of Their Favorite Artists
What’s just as good as listening to your favorite artists? Showing off just how much you adore them. It’s a no-brainer gift for the music lover in your life. Many artists sell official merchandise through their dedicated online shops, if you don’t mind waiting a while for international shipping, though stores like Swee Lee Music Co. Philippines also sell eye-catching merch of music icons as well.
Streaming Service Subscription
Keep it simple: a subscription for your giftee’s go-to music streaming service, paid for by you? Well, no complaints there. Pair it with any of the gifts above, and you’ve got a pretty memorable present. While Spotify Philippines doesn’t offer gift cards, you can always log in using your giftees account and pay. Apple Philippines, however, does offer customizable digital gift cards in varying amounts that your giftee can use for subscription services like Apple Music.
