So what do you buy for the audiophile that has everything? We’ve rounded up a selection of Christmas gift ideas for music lovers that’ll have them rocking around the Christmas tree.
Flexson VinylPlay
Not many people know that it’s possible to hook a turntable up to a Sonos system and have vinyl playing in every room of your house. Well you can. But you can’t use any old turntable; it needs to have a phono stage to provide the necessary power in the absence of a proper amp. Flexson’s VinylPlay has just that built in, plus an analogue-to-digital converter and all the cables required to plumb it into a multi-room system or a pair of powered speakers, so you can be up and running on Christmas morning. Just add records.
Price: 450€ (available on Amazon)
The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs by Greil Marcus
Unlike all previous versions of rock ’n’ roll history, this book omits almost every iconic performer and ignores the storied events and turning points that everyone knows. Instead, in a daring stroke, Greil Marcus selects ten songs recorded between 1956 and 2008, then proceeds to dramatize how each embodies rock ’n’ roll as a thing in itself. In Marcus’s hands these songs tell the story of the music, which is, at bottom, the story of the desire for freedom in all its unruly and liberating glory. Marcus braids together past and present, holding up to the light the ways that these striking songs fall through time and circumstance, gaining momentum and meaning, astonishing us by upending our presumptions and prejudices. This book, by a founder of contemporary rock criticism—and its most gifted and incisive practitioner—is destined to become an enduring classic.
Price: 25€ (available on Amazon)
Arcam MiniBlink
The mini Blink is a simple, pocket sized (and rather attractive) Bluetooth receiver designed to allow absolutely any Hi-Fi system to receive music from a Smartphone, Tablet, PC or Mac computer. The mini Blink uses the renowned aptX™ transmission system meaning a crystal clear sound with quick and simple pairing of devices. A mini-USB power socket, 3.5mm audio output jack and pairing button are all that is needed to get the mini Blink streaming music to any audio system with a ‘line level’ input. The mini Blink’s audio circuitry is engineered by Arcam to ensure real audiophile sound quality. The mini Blink even comes with a PSU and all required cables! This will make Here Comes Santa Claus literally bounce around the house on Christmas morning.
Price: 90€ (available on Amazon)
The Art of McCartney
The Art Of McCartney is a very special project celebrating the songs of Sir Paul McCartney. It features songs such as Maybe I’m Amazed, My, Love, The Long And Winding Road, When I’m 64, Let It Be, Helter Skelter, Eleanor Rigby, Live And Let Die and many more recorded by some of the world’s greatest artists backed by McCartney’s long time band. The caliber of artists showing their respect to Paul’s songwriting genius is staggering with Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, The Cure, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, Brian Wilson, Alice Cooper, Dr John, Yusuf, Barry Gibb, Jamie Cullum, Kiss, Chrissie Hynde, ELO legend and Beatles producer Jeff Lynne and many more recording McCartney classics exclusively for this album.
Price: 15€-189€ (available on http://theartofmccartney.com/)
ArtVinyl
What a great little Christmas gift solution for the orderly and ever-faithful music fan; these neat little frames are both a storage solution and a great way to display your favourite record, these frames allow easy access to their 12in contents so you can show off your impeccable taste and keep the place nice and tidy.
Price: 50€ (available from artvinyl.com)
Get On Up
Universal’s Get On Up is the story of James Brown through troubled childhood, a prison stint and into his music career. Starring Chadwick Boseman—who played Jackie Robinson in last year’s 42—as Brown, with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer as his mother and aunt respectively, the movie is stacked with acting talent. It’s also directed by Tate Taylor, of The Help fame. And in terms of music we can relax because Mick Jagger is one of its producers.
Price: 17€ (available on Amazon)
B&O BeoPlay A2
This has got to win the prize on this list for a sleek and chic stylish little contraption to play your music on. While many Bluetooth speakers are beige anonyboxes, you can always rely on Bang & Olufsen to put the effort in. The A2 has a hint of World War 2 field radio about it, it has that neat little leather strap for a bit of haute couture addition and its aptX Bluetooth is bang up to date, giving you top-notch streaming quality. It’s our chic and cheerful winner on the Christmas wish list.
Price: 325€ (Available on Amazon or directly from Creation 5 – send us an email)
Kate Koeppel Design Record Dividers
Keeping your vinyl organised is part of the joy of owning it in the first place. Alphabetising your records has never been less nerdy or uncool. Let’s make geek into chic with these Kate Koeppel Record Dividers; available for 7” and 12” collections and a choice of typefaces; get sorted this Christmas, literally.
Price: 150€ (available on katekoeppel.com)
Sony MDR-EX650AP
Little in-ear headphones were on the back burner for a while there since the Dr. Dre Beats came along and swiped them off the shelves. However…these little beauties are back with a vengeance; the Sony MDR-EX650AP (crazy long name though) have an excellent sound quality for the price, AND come with a remote and microphone to boot. They have more to offer than the price tag suggests which is always a winner in our book.
Price: 60€ (available on Amazon)
Personalised Favourite Song Soundwaves Print
This is a perfect gift for the die hard fan who has all the memorabilia and every album going. Think of their favourite song and have it personalised. A framed soundwave version of their top tune hung on their wall this Christmas, the perfect gift for the muso with everything! This wins the personal touch gift award.
Price: 33€ (available on notonthehighstreet.com – house of Yve).
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