If you want to both spoil the people in your life rotten and impress them in the process, a hi-fi gift this Christmas is one of the best ways to do that. Maybe your friend or family member already loves their hi-fi, or maybe they are complete novices! Either way, giving the gift of high fidelity music is guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s lips.
The world of hi-fi is vast and it’s often difficult to know where to turn -especially when you’re buying for someone else. So we at Audio Affair have out our heads together and come up with a definitive list that will make things a little bit easier for you. Everything on the list is a favourite of customers and critics alike, and praised for its complete user-friendliness. So have a browse and see how many ways there are to impress your tribe this Christmas.
Remember, all prices were correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.
1. Roberts Radio Stream 93i – £149
The gift of a digital radio – especially one which will act as a wireless streamer – is pretty damn perfect. The recipient will never have to supply their own music, so it’s a gift that requires no input form the other side. Simple but effective! The Roberts 93i is a very special example. It’s unbelievably simple to use, all-the-while packed to the brim with some clever and practical features. Internet Radio, DAB and FM/AM are all available, as well as Spotify Connect. But what sets it apart is the incredible sound quality, a detail that cinched it the What Hi Fi Awards ‘Radio of the Year’ title.
Why will they love it?
Hours upon hours, days upon days of hi-fidelity entertainment that can be moved from room to room with ease. It will be their favourite gift this year!
2. Ruark Audio R1 MkIII – £199
If you want something a little more compact than the Roberts, this elegant little radio may be the answer! The latest version of the award winning original R1 features a large OLED display and Bluetooth – amongst a few other snazzy features. It has absolutely everything you could want from a radio of its size, with DAB, future-proof DAB + and Bluetooth compatibility, for wireless streaming with any device with Bluetooth compatibility. It comes in three finishes – with occasional limited edition designs – which blend into any living space.
Why will they love it?
It sounds fantastic, it’s easy to use and it’s absolutely adorable! A DAB is a good bet if you’re stuck on which gift, and a Ruark R1 MKIII has serious appeal.
3. Wharfedale DS-1 Bluetooth Active – £149
Wharfedale have a particularly rich heritage in producing high end, high quality speakers decade after decade. And these little desktop speakers are the latest in a long line of innovation, Available in both black and white finishes, these speakers are wireless, with Bluetooth AtpX, Streaming via an AtpX enabled device to another AptX enabled device ensures lossless, CD quality streaming. Yep, Bluetooth’s tendency to compress is a thing of the past. Add this to a high quality DSP digital amplifier built in, you are left with extremely compact – yet extremely powerful – little speakers that sound as good wired as they do wireless. Perfect for the desktop and shelves alike.
Why will they love them?
They have multiple applications – the lucky recipient can use them pretty much wherever they wish. As desktop speakers for their PC/laptop, or anywhere else speakers may be required. They can even be used as a standalone speaker to stream to from their smartphones and tablets! Plus, they sound just as good as we have come to expect from Wharfdale.
4. Tivoli Model Three BT – £249
This new Tivoli Clock Radio is fast becoming one of our favourite new products. It’s packed with all the features you’d want from a digital radio, and its retro styling makes it very appealing to look at too. The range of colours means it will settle in nicely in any environment. The kitchen, the bedroom, the livingroom or the study, chose a finish that suits your friend’s personality and let them worry about where to put it.
Why will they love it?
It looks great, it sounds even better and its easy to use timer and alarm functions make it a pretty practical piece of kit too. We love Tivoli’s new series, and this characterful little radio is the most gift-worthy of the lot!
5. Pro-Ject Essential II – £285
If your friend has been dropping hints whenever you’ve been showing off your on LP collection, maybe now is the time to give them the push they need to get their own collection started! The Essential II is an award winning turbtable ideal for those looking to get into vinyl who want more than just a basic deck. It features an internal phono stage which will allow it to be plugged into any amp, which makes it perfect for a beginner (choosing a separate phonostage can be a little daunting!). It has a USB output too, which means vinyl can be recorded digitally. Great if your friend happens to be an avid streamer with a few LPs knocking around!
Why do we like it?
It’s fantastic value for money, and will please even the fussiest of hi-fi enthusiasts. Open the world of analogue up to someone you love and they will never forget it.
6. Focal XS Book Wireless 2.0 Active Bluetooth Speakers – £299
With the ability to stream from any Bluetooth enabled device, these smart and futuristic-looking speakers will be a fantastic match for any smartphone, with AptX technology enabling lossless, CD quality communication and playback, so any enabled smartphone will benefit from better streaming quality. And they can be used as regular speakers too! It’s pure Focal, in terms of audio – offering fantastic balance and detail. Lay on any surface, set up the stream and enjoy.
Why will they love them?
They are a great match for a desktop, but can be used pretty much anywhere they may fancy. They very small – about the size of a paper back book (we suspect that might have led to the name) so they will fit into their life snugly and neatly, all the while offering some of the best sound available from such a tiny pair of actives.
7. Revo SuperConnect – £249.95
Want to go beyond merely impressing them? The Revo Superconnect may be the way to go. This radio has everything. Completely wireless and featuring DAB, DAB+, FM with RDS, the SuperConnect also features internet radio, offering access to over 16,000 stations. Spotify is built-in too, so the possibilities are endless and plentiful. Constructed entirely from hi-grade components it has excellent staying power. Even its cabinet is solid American walnut!
Why will they love it?
It’s a fantastic, award winning radio which covers all bases. It sounds just as good as the pricetag suggests, and is extremely user-friendly too!
8. Geneva Model S Wireless DAB+ Speaker System – £329
Geneva know their all-in-one systems, with each product off their line topping the last in the best possible ways. The Model S features a built-in CD player, as well as functioning as a digital radio (with DAB+) and a wireless streamer, all the while looking like the hi-fi equivalent of a super model! If your recipient is currently minus the hi-fi basicsm the Model S is a fantatsic place to start. And considering it’s sonic superiority, it might not be a bad place to finish either!
Why will they love it?
The looks alone will be enough to impress – but when they hear how great it sounds they’ll fall in love. Beautiful and future-proof, there isn’t much else your loved-one will want after unwrapping on of these.
9. Ruark Audio MR1 Bluetooth Active – £299
Best known for their high end digital radios – Ruark have passed this knowledge and experience onto a lovely pair of speakers –– which sound just as good as they should (considering they’re Ruark’s babies). A pair of these feature: Bluetooth AptX, auto standby, a host of inputs for a plethora of devices, a loudness function, an LED display and even outputs for additional active subwoofer.
Why will they love them?
These little speakers are incredibly versatile. They pack enough of a punch that they could function beautifully as loudspeakers in their own right, and the output means a little extra oomph is a possibility.
10. Q Acoustics Media M4 Soundbar – £399
Widely regarded as one of the best on the market, the M4 soundbar recently scooped the What Hi Fi Award for ‘Best Soundbar’. What sets it apart from the rest? It’s ability to handle both AV and regular audio. In our opinion your average soundbar won’t handle music quite like a real hi-fi system could. The M4 is designed to handle both music and movies in equal (and excellent) measure. The inclusion of AptX is a pretty frank testimony to this fact – Q are serious about this being used as a streamer, as well as a traditional soundbar.
Why will they love it?
Everybody needs a soundbar in their life, and if your friend our family member is currently minus one, it’s time to change that. What makes soundbars great is they are compact by nature. Even the biggest of them will be easily immersed into a living space, offering the feeling of surround sound without the need for bulky cabinets and trailing wires.
Gifts aren’t easy – even if you know the person well there are a whole manner of variables to consider. So sometimes it’s good to have a back up list of ‘go to’ gifts if they haven’t adequately hinted at what they actually want this year. The above can be enjoyed by someone of any age and any gender, as long as they are music lovers (or even likers!) who can appreciate decent sound quality, they will love to receive any of the above.
We know we would!
Happy Christmas!