Your dad doesn’t have to be an audiophile to appreciate a gift that is a speaker. He doesn’t have to be home theater buff to appreciate a soundbar. And he doesn’t have to technology wizard to appreciate a good pair of headphones. As long as you’re there to set it up for him and show him how it works, then he’ll love it. Here are some great audio and hi-fi gifts to get your dad for Father’s Day.
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
If you’re shopping for somebody who loves listening to high-fidelity music and they predominantly listen to music on their smartphone or laptop, the DragonFly Cobalt is one of the best portable DAC/headphone amplifiers you can buy.
Audeze LCD-1
Planar magnetic headphones are normally very expensive because they’re difficult to make and they sound really good. But thanks to some new-age technology and innovative manufacturing techniques, Audeze, one of the best-known makers of planar magnetic headphones, has made these normally expensive headphones way more affordable.
Schiit Audio Fulla 3
The Fulla 3 is an affordable, beautiful headphone amp and DAC. It’s a great little gadget to improve any desktop audio setup. It plugs directly into your laptop or desktop, and then you can use it as a DAC/amp with wired headphones or as a DAC/preamp for a nice pair of powered monitors.
Ortofon 2M Blue
The Ortofon 2M Blue is a moving magnet cartridge that fits most turntables. If you’re shopping for somebody who has an entry-level vinyl setup, this is the perfect upgrade.
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC
This is one of our favorite entry-level phono preamps. It’s a great upgrade or addition to most entry-level turntable systems.
Q Acoustics 3030i
Q Acoustics is a British audio company that makes some of favorite passive bookshelf speakers. The 3030i are the company’s newest offerings. They deliver the soundstage and power of floorstanding speakers, while still being bookshelf-sized.
Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700
These are arguably the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. Not only do they have impressive sound and powerful active noise-cancellation, but they deliver the most impressive call quality you can find in a pair of wireless headphones.
Audioengine A2+ Wireless
These tiny powered bookshelf speakers are great because of how versatile they are. You can connect them to your laptop or an entry-level turntable system, or, since they have built-in Bluetooth, you can stream music to them straight from your smartphone.
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
The Debut Carbon is Pro-Ject’s most popular turntable. It’s the upgrade from the company’s Essential line of turntables, offering some key features — such as a heavier platter, higher-quality feet and a motor that’s decoupled from the plinth — to reduce noise and distortion.
KEF LSX
The LSX is a wireless all-in-one speaker system very similar to KEF’s high-end LS50 Wireless, just in a smaller and more affordable package. The speakers come with a multitude of connectivity options. You can connect the speakers to your TV (via optical), your turntable (via RCA), your smartphone (via aux) or your computer (via USB). Or you can stream directly to them over Wi-Fi, through Tidal and Spotify apps, or over Bluetooth.
Apple AirPods Pro
If they have an iPhone, these are the best wireless earbuds you can buy them. They have powerful noise-canceling and transparency modes, and are Apple’s first wireless earbuds with an IPX4 rating, so you can workout with them and not worry about your sweat ruining them.
Sonos Amp
The Amp is a newer, more powerful and more versatile version of the now-antiquated Connect:Amp and great for anyone who has a mix of Sonos and non-Sonos speakers in their setup. It connects to your bookshelf or floorstanding speakers and essentially turns them into Sonos speakers. The Amp also has an HDMI ARC port, which allows you to connect those connected passive bookshelf speakers to your TV.
Cambridge Audio AXA35
This is one of the best budget integrated amplifiers you can buy (and one of the prettiest, too). It can connect a turntable and pair of passive bookshelf speaker thanks to its integrated moving magnet phono stage. It also has a headphone jack for private listening sessions.
Shure SE215
The Shure SE215 are simply one of the best pairs of wired in-ear headphones you can buy. They sound great, delivering excellent highs and midrange, and they’re comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time.
Sonos Arc
The Arc is Sonos’s newest flagship soundbar and its first to support Dolby Atmos. If they are both a Sonos enthusiast and a home theater buff, the Arc will make the ultimate Father’s Day present.
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