2014 Gift Guide: Audio Products

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Music is the universal language and now with more ways than ever to access and enjoy it, is one of the most enduring and appreciated gifts that one can give. Here’s our gift guide for audio products

Sony NWZ-AI7SLV 64GB Hi-Res Walkman Digital Music Player

While the MP3 market may pretty much be facing its twilight, there are still many of us who like dedicated music players. For the busy audiophile, Sony’s compact walkman has the ability to play back High Res audio files in various formats which bring more sound data than MP3 or even CD quality audio.

Ultra compact and easy to carry, this latest iteration of the iconic Walkman also sounds divine and can help one rock out whether they are using headphones or connected to a home audio system. This is the audiophile's music player.

Sony MDR-1A Headphones

To truly enjoy high resolution audio, you need to consider using headphones that can handle the extra bandwidth. 

I find Sony’s latest MDR-1A high-resolution set to be amazing when paired with the above Walkman player as well as on its own connected to various audio sources. These headphones fit great and are super comfortable and come with a nice travel pack. They also come with tangle free cables that can be used with your smartphone.

Ultimate Ears Boom 360’ Bluetooth Speakers 

Amazing on their own, these powerful 360’ water resistant speakers come in various colours and can serve as speaker phones. Pair two of them together via an app and you get unprecedented stereo sound that can easily fill up a space with music.

I use my UE Boom speakers as headrest speakers for my basic home theatre set-up and combine them with a video projector for an immersive and super clear surround-sound experience to accompany my favourite movies. The UE Boom speakers are also my constant travel companions because they’re so versatile.

Tivoli Audio Model One Bluetooth Table Radio  

The idea of a tabletop AM/FM radio might seem a bit old fashioned but Tivoli Audio is renowned for making solidly built and great sounding radios that will last a long time. The Tivoli Audio Model One brings super clear radio plus the ability to serve as a bluetooth speaker for all your tablets and smartphones.

Available in a number of wood finishes and colours, the Tivoli Audio Model One looks great wherever you put it and without the need for wires or a dock, can accommodate any device you choose to use.