Sound Advice: Holiday Gift Guide 2021

Charging and power

Anker PowerCore Fusion Power Delivery: This wall charger has a built-in battery so it can charge your devices even when it is not plugged in to an outlet. A USB-C connection is included for fast charging of compatible devices. $49.99; anker.com

Earphones and headphones

ZVOX AV52 headphones: ZVOX is reducing the price of its new and improved AV52 headphones by a whopping $140 with the code SALE52. The combination of active noise reduction and AccuVoice makes them perfect for flying and watching programming with dialogue. $59 (reduced from $199); zvox.com

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch: A recent price reduction brings the cost of these fine British earphones under $100. They use a larger driver than most earphones to create fantastic sound effortlessly. $89; cambridgeaudio.com

Grado SR60x headphones: Grado’s wired, open-back headphones are where high-end sound quality sound quality begins. $99; gradolabs.com

Technics EAH-AZ60 earphones: A luxury product from one of the finest and most exclusive hi-fi brands, these earphones provide stunning sound with adjustable active noise reduction and a wide array of features and adjustments through a dedicated app. $229; technics.com

Hifiman Deva headphones: These planar magnetic headphones provide some of the best sound you have likely ever heard, and include a miniature Bluetooth amplifier so they can be used wired or wirelessly. $299; hifiman.com

JLAB Go Air Pop earphones: True wireless earphones for under $20, available in five colors. $20; jlab.com

Bluetooth and wireless speakers

Soundcore Flare series: There are several models of the Flare Bluetooth speakers and all are winners, creating pure, clean sound with good bass and combining it with an LED light show that is pleasing and fun. The Flare Mini for $39.99 is a particular standout. $39-$99; soundcore.com

Q Acoustics Q Active 200 wireless speakers: These high-end, high-tech speakers are reduced by $500 for the holidays from their usual $1,999 price. They combine the no-compromise sound of a component system with the convenience and flexibility of wireless. $1,499; qacoustics.com

Hi-fi

Technics OTTAVA-f SC-C70MK2: This small all-in-one sound system with CD player is a technological tour de force, providing big, highly accurate sound that seems like it is coming from a high-end component system with large speakers. $999; technics.com

LP Gear The Vessel A3SE cartridge: By far the best phono cartridge available for under $100, the Vessel A3SE sounds much more expensive than it is and is easy to upgrade by changing the stylus. It also comes in premounted versions for $148 that make it extremely easy to mount on compatible turntables. $99; lpgear.com

Airmotiv T-Zero speakers: Exotic technology and unbelievably good sound for under $400 sets these small tower speakers apart. $399; emotiva.com

Mobile Fidelity StudioDeck turntable: This made-in-the-USA turntable has an impeccable pedigree and impeccable performance. Perfect for the vinyl fan who has been very good this year. $1,399; mofielectronics.com

Spin-Clean Record Washer: This brilliantly designed record washer provides a deep clean that rivals that of expensive vacuum record cleaning machines. $79; spin-clean.com

Television

ZVOX AV157 SuperVoice TV Speaker: One of my most popular recommendations in 2020, nothing else on the market makes it easier to understand television dialogue. $129, reduced from $299 for the holidays by using the code SALE157 at zvox.com

Nebula Solar Portable Projector: Nebula’s portable, battery-powered 1080p HDR projector allows you to take the show on the road almost anywhere. LED light source means no lamps to replace, and it includes WiFi and Android TV so you can stream from sources like Hulu and Disney+. It has an HDMI input for use with a disc player and a built-in speaker that can produce respectable volume levels. If you buy one (and you will be glad you did) I recommend the $179 JWSIT 120-inch indoor-outdoor screen to go with it. $599; seenebula.com

Panasonic DP-UB820K 4K Blu-ray player: Trust me, if you have a lot of movies on DVD or Blu-ray you need this player! The remarkable, state-of-the-art video processing makes your discs look better than you ever could have imagined, with DVD looking like Blu-ray, Blu-ray looking like 4K Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray looking absolutely stunning. $499; shop.panasonic.com

Kitchen and cooking

BBQ Dragon: The BBQ Dragon is sure to be appreciated by anyone who cooks with charcoal, such as users of Kamado grills (including the Big Green Egg) and Weber kettles grills. It directs a high volume of low-velocity air to the coals to raise temperatures quickly or maintain high temperatures in difficult conditions. $39; bbqdragon.com

Galanz ToastWave: The innovative ToastWave combines a microwave with an air fryer, toaster oven and convection oven. $399; galanz.com

MEATER wireless thermometer: This popular wireless thermometer comes in multiple configurations, ensuring there is a perfect one for any need. $99 and up; meater.com

Pelican Elite 20QT cooler: Compared to the more expensive Yeti competitor this cooler has a superior latching system, better insulation performance, is available in a variety of color combinations, includes a lifetime warranty and is made in the USA. $149; pelican.com

Thermopop: An excellent instant-read thermometer that is reliable and looks great, too, with many different colors available. $35; thermoworks.com

Photography and videomaking

SJCAM SJ4000: Get your feet wet with an action camera with this proven performer. Surprisingly good 1080p video and lots if included accessories make it a great buy. There are many counterfeits on the market so get one direct from the manufacturer or from authorized dealer bhphotovideo.com. $59; sjcam.com

Olympus Tough TG-6: The king of tough cameras, the TG-6 is built to take abuse in the snow, sun or sea. $399; getolympus.com

LUMIX FZ1000M2 camera: This is a fantastic travel camera, with a large 1-inch sensor and an extremely large zoom range that maximizes creative opportunities. As expected from Panasonic, both still photographs and video (up to 4K) are top-notch. $799; shop.panasonic.com

Epson Perfection V600 Scanner: A perennial favorite, V600 can scan slides as well as scan and separate multiple photographs placed on the scanner glass, making it ideal for archiving your photo collection. $229; epson.com

Smart home

Panasonic HomeHawk Window: This innovative camera system mounts to the window and monitors what is going on outside. It is triggered by human activity, not passing cars, and does not require a subscription. $149; shop.panasonic.com

Wyze Cam v3: This highly regarded budget home security camera is your entry into the ever-expanding Wyze system. It can operate subscription-free, but full-featured monitoring plans are available as well. $36; wyze.com

Eufy RoboVac 11S Max: The 11S Max is an excellent RoboVac that most anyone can afford. $199; eufylife.com

Other useful items

Austere III Series Clean & Protect: Beautifully packaged, this premium quality spray cleaner and soft cloth is safe for all your devices from TV screens to smartphones. $30; austere.com

Vibes High Fidelity Ear Plugs: Vibes earplugs preserve sound quality while lowering the volume. They should be considered a must at loud rock concerts and can be used when operating power equipment, too. $24; discovervibes.com.

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