Christmas is coming – the time to dig deep and show those closest to you how much you mean to them. And you don’t get much closer than your dear old dad! What’s great about getting your dad a Christmas present (or two!) is it’s finally a chance to give him something back – and a hi-fi gift speaks volumes! But where to start?
To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a list of hi-fi gifts for Dads, perfect for Christmas (or indeed any time of year) and guaranteed to raise a smile. Whether he’s a hi-fi enthusiast or not, he’ll find a good use for any one of these 10 hi-fi Christmas gift ideas. And the best thing about a hi-fi gift? It keeps on giving! Any one of these awesome presents will work its way into your dad’s life, and everyone time he uses it he’ll think of you. And we can guarantee that they’ll get a lot of use!
So, without further ado, here are orhi-fi gift ideas for dads. He’ll love them! Remember, all prices were correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.
1. Grado SR325e Headphones – £299.95
What better place to start than with some of the most recent winners of the What Hi Fi Awards? Building on the success of their predecessor,the award-winning SR325i, the SR325e feature a vented diaphragm, aluminium air chamber and UHPLC copper voice coil wire and connecting cord. They’re packed to the brim with technology that makes the sound warm, full bodied and clean. And they’re bloody comfortable too!
Why do we like them?
They’re stunning headphones which have taken everything that was good about the SR325is and made it just that little bit better. And at under £300 they won’t break the bank either. Beautiful headphones to compliment his favourite music, at Christmas and beyond.
Why do they like them?
‘The musical, detailed sound of the Grados makes them a truly top buy…they’re top quality soundwise. And that’s what counts’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
2. Q Acoustics Media M4 Soundbar – £399
Next up, we have the Media M4. This a real critic pleaser which stands out for one simple, reason – while most soundbars are designed to enhance the audio of film and TV first and foremost when it comes to music, a little something has to give. This means that – 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. And the inclusion of AptX is a pretty frank testimony to this fact – Q are serious about this being used as a serious streamer. As gifts go, this is one that gives on a number of levels!
Why do we like it?
Its film and TV sound is mind-blowing, and music performance is just as mind-blowing. This would be a perfect solution for someone who wants the best of both worlds – hi-fi and home cinema – but don’t want to sacrifice too much space. And if you dad has a television, you won’t get much better!
Why do they like it?
‘Surfing the £400 price-point there are very few – if any – that can match the sound quality on offer from the M4. Highly Recommended […] A proper Hifi Soundbar.’ (AV Forums)
3. Ruark Audio MR1 Bluetooth Active Speakers (Pair) – £299
Ruark are best known for their hi-end (and top notch) digital radios which are repeatedly praised for the sound quality of their in-built speakers. They have passed this knowledge and experience onto a lovely pair of speakers – featuring their iconic contemporary-meets-retro styling – which sound fantatstic. These compact little speakers feature: Bluetooth AptX, auto standby, a host of inputs for a plethora of devices, a loudness function (to assist with high sound quality at low volume levels – great for some gentle background music), an LED display and even outputs for additional active subwoofer. There’s even a handy remote control, for when your dad is away from his desk, and operation is as easy as it could possibly be.
Why do we like 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. What’s more, you can use them pretty much anywhere! Although a cosy little study is our favourite place.
Why do they like them?
Overall they’re a very musical listen, portraying the full extension of every note from the low-end, all the way up through the treble, so you feel like you’re getting every bit of what a piece of music has to offer…we’re seriously impressed with the Ruark MR1s.’ (What Hi-Fi Magazine)
4. Audiolab M-DAC – £599
The M-DAC is a gift that is well-suited for a music lover of any age, particularly one who has just discovered the joy of digital music, but still prefers that old analogue sound! The M-DAC is designed to improve the sound of your digital sources, and does so brilliantly. It has won several awards, including a What Hi Fi Award (in 2014) and continues to impress critics around the world. A fantastic gift, particularly if you dad prefers his analogue sound – but his digital convenience!
Why do we like it?
Analogue sound plus that digital convenience we just mentioned – that’s the beauty of the DAC. It should be a staple of any hi-fi household, yet so many leave it to the wayside. It might not look like much, but it will bring so much joy. It’s particularly good for headphones listening!
Why do they like it?
‘The real talking point here is just how good this unit makes your music sound. Like a sportsman at the top of his game, this Audiolab makes the job in hand seem easy. There’s bags of detail, stirring dynamics and an exciting agility to the delivery.’ (What Hi-Fi Magazine)
5. 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. Has your dad mentioned getting a digital radio for the kitchen? Get him one in white. The bedroom? Black. The Livingroom? Cherry. Or whatever happens to suit the décor of that particular room – only you can know!
Why do we like 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. He’ll love it!
6. Lehmann Audio Traveller Headphone Amplifier – £399.95
The critically acclaimed Lehmann Audio Traveller is Lehmann’s first portable headphone amplifier, and when we first heard it we knew it had to join us as an exclusive. That’s right, it’s all our’s! You can’t get one of these anywhere else in the UK, so a Traveller as a gift is very special indeed. It’s tiny, it’s light and it’s ability to improve sound – from any device – is truly phenomenal. It makes sound clear, balanced and focused, with plenty of bite. There’s a reason we wanted them for ourselves – they give some very expensive competition a run for its money in terms of sound quality, and we suspect it will be at the forefront for some time to come.
Why do we like it?
This tiny little device far exceeds its price tag in terms of the quality it provides, and everyone lucky enough to hear one – even with a smartphone or portable mp3 player – agrees. Perfect for anyone who likes to listen to their music on the go – or when they’re hard at work at home.
Why do they like it?
‘Sound-wise the Traveller performs very well and is a clear step up from some of the less expensive portable headphone amps I’ve tried, with an ability to give the perception of there being much more going on in the music. The Traveller’s strong points are the drive it gives to music and the detail of a recording it manages to bring out.’ (HifiPig)
7. C4 Pocket Hi-Fi Pro Music Player – £449
The Colorfly is a real show stopper – and a perfect gift for anyone, particularly someone who is a little reluctant to get into the portable music player game. With a unique look (yes that’s real engraved wood!), easy to use functions (simply drag and drop, anyone could do it!) this is a player with a lot of character that really stands out from the crowd. But the best part is the sound: it offers the best possible sound reproduction that a portable player can offer, playing FLAC files and the like with ease and integrity. A fantastic little gift that will provide hours of entertainment.
Why do we like it?
It’s wonderfully unique and packed with character, and the sound really is fantastic. If your ad opens one of these of Christmas day he’ll be thanking you for years to come. Especially if he’s an audiophile!
Why do they like it?
Clear, detailed and simply captivating sound…in a field of one as an audiophile portable. It also achieves wonderful things in a fixed system. (Hi-Fi Choice Magazine)
8. Yamaha YSP-2500 Digital Sound Projector – £799
If your dad is an avid fan of both film and music, and you want to spend that little bit extra on him this year, the wonderful YSP-2500 may be worth a look. Widely regarded as one of the finest soundbars money can buy. It is encased in solid aluminium with a 162W total power output, boasting three HDMI outputs, a coaxial, an optical and an analogue, making it a very effective hub. It carries Yamaha’s very own Intellibeam, creating beams of sound which are then reflected off the walls of the room – and six different beam modes for optimum listening (thanks to adjustable speakers) as well as the ability to fully customise at the touch of your smart phone screen. Yes, there’s an app for that. It has every feature you can think of – including wireless streaming – and yet is very easy to set up and operate. Your dad will love it – and probably never use anything else again!
Why do we like it?
It’s our favourite soundbar yet. If someone were to buy this for us for Christmas, we’d be very happy indeed.
Why do they like it?
‘The YSP-2500’s expansive sound field, punch and scale are impressive, and it’s the most appealing solution for those that want cinema-style sound without going the full hog with a 5.1 system’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
9. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable – £325
If your dad has a tired old turntable that could use an upgrade, or if he is missing on altogether, you can’t get much better than a brand new turntable. Pro-Ject’s Debut Carbon is the second incarnation of its predecessor: the Debut. Its been turning the heads of critics and audiophiles alike ever since its… er… debut! This multi-award winner is no lightweight – it features a carbon tonearm, two Ortofon cartridge options and plenty of other exciting upgrades and improvements. There are six colour options too – so your gift will be a very personal one.
Why do we like it?
This turntable epitomises how accessible (read: affordable) hi-end vinyl playback is this day-and-age, and we believe that everyone deserves to hear their favourite music in its best possible form. Your dad doesn’t deserve any less. We’d recommend a supplementing your gift turntable a few vinyl LPs too, just in case!
Why do they like it?
‘With its full-size platter and smart-looking arm, the Debut in Carbon form does offer an uplift in performance in return for a modest price increase, and certainty gets quite striking results from the gutsy-sounding Ortofon 2M Red cartridge…a convincing package at this price point’ (Hi-Fi News Magazine)
10. Arcam miniBlink Bluetooth Receiver – £90
This may look like a budget option, but that’s far from the reality. If your dad has a full blown hi-fi system but no streamer, this is the most effective way of changing that. The miniBlink is a multiple award winner that has become a huge favourite of ours’… and everyone else! It’s hugely popular with pretty much everyone who lays their hands on it. This little device is a life-changer, and an excellent way of bringing a world of music into your dad’s life without spending too much.
Why do we like it?
It’s popular for a very good reason. It works – and it works well. It will transform your dad’s hi-fi system into a wireless system instantly, and is incredibly easy to control. It’s won plenty of awards -including What Hi-Fi’s Product of the Year 2014 – and we’re not at all surprised.
Why do they like it?
‘It’s impressive that Arcam have been able to squeeze such a sense of refinement and quality from a device like this. Like many of Arcam’s hi-fi separates, there’s a real sense of rhythm and fluidity to music.’ (What Hi-Fi? Magazine)
So there we have it, ten stunning items, all award winning and acclaimed in their field, that will make your dad a very happy man this Christmas Day. And if he’s not into hi-fi now… well, from the big day onwards he will be!
If nothing from that list takes your fancy, but you still have something hi-fi in mind, we have some awesome sales on for the following brands. Just click the logo and it will take you straight to the page.
Happy Christmas!
