Want to purchase one thing for the classical music lover in your life? Listed below are some tech strategies from our audio skilled Chris Haslam
For those who want extra inspiration for items try our finest present concepts for classical music lovers and our greatest music present concepts for youths
Greatest audio tools Christmas present concepts
Ultimate UX3000 headphones
Certainly one of my favorite headphones from the previous 12 months, the UX3000 from Ultimate boasts a whopping 35-hour battery life, Energetic Noise Cancellation (ANC) and strong sound high quality, all for lower than £120.
Energetic Noise Cancellation usually clouds the audio efficiency on decrease priced headphones, however the brand new driver design right here has been particularly tuned to deal with the added circuitry. You actually can inform the distinction, with background noise minimised, leaving simply the music to take pleasure in.
Try our finest noise-cancelling headphones and what to search for when selecting them
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
£599
Lovely, luxurious and a deal with to put on, these flagship headphones high my Christmas record. I used to be impressed by the cheaper Px7 (reviewed in November) however having frolicked with the improve it’s clear the place the cash has been spent.
The aluminium and high-quality Nappa leather-based trim appear and feel unquestionably premium, nevertheless it’s the high-resolution 24-bit DSP and carbon cone drive items that handle to drag an astonishing quantity of element from every thing I play via them.
Qobuz from £15
Whereas Spotify and Tidal are likely to dominate the music streaming headlines, hi-res specialist service Qobuz is nicely price a glance. In addition to 80 million tracks in its music library, it additionally has a digital file store the place you possibly can obtain and personal 24-bit variations of your favorite symphonies.
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The corporate is providing a three-month subscription present voucher for £38.97, which is a good way for somebody to become familiar with the platform, and it additionally sells good quaint (digital) file tokens from £15 to £150.
Purchase from qobuz.com
JBL Tune Flex Ghost
A remarkably good-value pair of true wi-fi headphones is available in a pocket-friendly case, has a mixed battery lifetime of 32 hours and advantages from good Energetic Noise Cancellation (ANC) know-how and larger-than-usual 12mm drivers.
You may select noise isolation silicone ideas (in three sizes) that sit snugly into the ear canal, or go for a extra open, Apple Airpod-style tip that rests simply outdoors the ear.
Purchase from JBL
Boombocs Studio
£130
I’m moderately smitten with this retro-styled multifunctional speaker from South London-based Boombocs. Accessible in 4 fashionable colors plus a garish pink, it has a 15-hour battery life for go-anywhere comfort, in addition to Spotify Join in-built, so that you don’t must depend on your smartphone for streaming.
That stated, you’re not at all obliged to stay with Spotify, because it has Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, hundreds of stations by way of web radio and a USB port, so that you shouldn’t be caught for one thing to play on Christmas morning.
Purchase from boombocs.com
Audio Technica Sound Burger
£199
This moveable, battery-powered mannequin is pure nostalgia for any baby of the Eighties. The most recent mannequin provides Bluetooth streaming, USB-C port for battery charging, RCA audio cable for connecting to an amp – useful while you’ve had sufficient of the tiny audio system – and a superbly acceptable (and replaceable) ATN3600L stylus, so it gained’t do any harm to your information. Sure, the 331/3 and 45rpm belt drive design is kitsch, nevertheless it’s enjoyable and could encourage extra folks to take pleasure in your file assortment.
Purchase from audio-technica.com
Professional-Ject Audio Vinyl NRS Field S3
£289
For the vinyl collector, this ingenious field of tips connects between your turntable and amplifier and makes use of superior digital sound processing to take away the crackle related to previous, well-loved information.
The sign from the turntable is digitised within the field to a hi-res 24-bit/96kHz digital format, earlier than a processor dampens the clicks for a cleaner sound. Professional-Ject calls it ‘de-crackling’ and claims it may well cut back the crackling quantity by as much as eight decibels.
Ruark Audio R2 Good Music System
A well timed improve to Ruark Audio’s basic radio, the all-new R2 provides one thing for each music listener, with DAB+, FM and Web radio tuners in-built in addition to help for main music streaming companies together with Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music over Wi-Fi.
There’s additionally Bluetooth 5 streaming, a USB-C charging port for topping up your gadget’s batteries, AUX output and a headphone socket. However most vital of all, it sounds pleasant, provides intuitive management and can sit superbly in any room of your private home.
iFi GO blu
A present for the travelling audiophile in your life, this matchbox-sized 26g moveable (ten hour battery life) DAC/headphone amp will considerably improve the sound from his or her smartphone. Plug in a favorite pair of headphones (3.5 and 4.4mm jacks) and hook up with a smartphone by way of the most recent hi-res succesful Bluetooth 5.1 connection – or plug in for hi-res streaming as much as 24-bit/96kHz if utilizing a conveyable music participant – and luxuriate in better expression, element and depth wherever you might be.
Harman Kardon Quotation Oasis DAB
£180
Simply essentially the most feature-packed bedside alarm clock radio I’ve come throughout, with fashionable however understated design, this provides built-in Bluetooth, AirPlay and Google Chromecast, can join over Wi-Fi for larger high quality music streaming, and boasts DAB and web radio. With all the same old alarm clock options, it has voice management and a big wi-fi charging pad on the highest to spice up any Qi-compatible smartphone battery, plus a USB socket for charging different gadgets as you snooze.
Professional-ject Juke Field S2
£499
Primarily based across the award-winning Professional-Ject Major E turntable, the not too long ago up to date Juke Field S2 crams in a built-in phono stage, Bluetooth receiver, pre-amp and 50W-per-channel energy amplifier, that means you solely want so as to add audio system and also you’ve acquired your self an entire hi-fi, centered, as all good programs ought to be, round taking part in vinyl. However concern not, this isn’t a jack of all trades, grasp of none kind of set-up, thanks in no small half to the brand new Decide-IT 25A cartridge, high quality tone arm and new Acryl-IT E platter.
Nothing Ear (1)
£99
Right here’s a recent, new and enjoyably completely different trying pair of true wi-fi earbuds from an organization backed by Tony Fadell, inventor of the iPod. For individuals who can’t afford Apple’s AirPods Professional, the Nothing Ear (1)s tick virtually all the identical bins for a fraction of the price, most notably Energetic Noise Cancellation, 5 hours of steady listening (34 hours in whole with the battery case), very good match, dependable connectivity and a powerful, satisfying efficiency.
Bang & Olufsen Emerge
£539
I’d be ecstatic to seek out something from Bang & Olufsen beneath the tree this 12 months, however I’ve developed a smooth spot for this fashionable fabric-clad anodised aluminium Wi-Fi-streaming speaker in gold or black that sits on a shelf identical to a hardback e-book. Audio streaming comes by way of the B&O app or Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Google Assistant, whereas the 120W amp, 4″ driver, 1.45″ mid-range driver and 0.6″ tweeter sound distinctive via a large 180-degree soundstage, that’s all of the extra spectacular given the speaker’s dimension.
Q Acoustic M20 HD
£399
All-in-one energetic audio system make sense for anybody eager to take pleasure in the advantages of stereo sound, however don’t have the room, or probably price range, for a whole hi-fi system. The M20 is a perfect resolution for a house workplace or smaller front room, consisting of a pair of compact wi-fi audio system every with 125mm mid/bass driver and 22mm tweeter, powered by a built-in 130 watt amplifier. Wi-fi streaming is by way of aptX HD Bluetooth moderately than Wi-Fi, however there’s additionally optical, RCA line-in, aux and USB connections to the rear for connecting a CD participant or turntable.
Apple HomePod Mini
£99
One thing not a lot larger than a cricket ball actually shouldn’t sound this spectacular, however the HomePod Mini’s downward-firing 360-degree full-range driver manages to be punchy, insightful and satisfying to take heed to. Ably assisted by Siri voice management – which might fortunately inform the distinction between Stravinsky and Shostakovich – when you’re an Apple Music subscriber and fancy some orbs of audio pleasure dotted round the home, it’s onerous to beat.
Grado Status SR60x
£110
Every pair of SR60x headphones is hand-built in Brooklyn, New York, which is sort of exceptional given the comparatively low value, tremendous sturdy construct and glorious open-backed sound high quality. All the hassle goes into the standard of the audio parts moderately than hi-tech wi-fi options. The result’s a pair of wired headphones which might be expressive and refined – excellent for the music fan who likes to discover a quiet place to indulge for some time.
Pioneer DJ CUE1 headphones
£59
Definitely, these headphones are designed with residence DJs in thoughts, however there’s lots to take pleasure in right here for music lovers in every single place. The textures are thick – not one for individuals who take pleasure in a extra refined strategy to listening. Often a little bit boomy, you are feeling such as you’re actually in the sound.
Plus, at £59, it reveals you can purchase headphones with actual sound high quality for a really affordable value today. Granted, the supplies do not feel vastly luxe, however that is to be anticipated on this value bracket. The dearer mannequin has wi-fi capabilities – and for £27 you will get an adjunct pack, which provides you new earpads and a further cable. The fundamental package deal will get you every thing you want although, however altering the color of the earpads may make for a pleasant present.
