The Audio desk
Audio Gift Ideas: Headphones, Speakers & Soundbars
Find the best audio gift ideas—wireless headphones, portable Bluetooth speakers, smart soundbars, and thoughtful audio accessories. Explore curated picks for audiophiles, music lovers, and everyone in between, or use our Gift Finder for personalized audio gift suggestions.
From the editors
The audio gift problem: every person has a pair of headphones they already don't love, and replacing them feels like admitting defeat. So the best audio gifts aren't headphone replacements — they're additions. A portable Bluetooth speaker for the backyard. A soundbar for the TV they never got around to upgrading. A little speaker for the kitchen that makes cooking podcasts sound like actual voices instead of tiny phone audio.
When we do recommend headphones, we're specific about the use case. AirPods Pro for an iPhone commuter. Sony's XM5 for anyone who flies often. A cheaper pair of earbuds for someone who loses them annually. Most "best headphone" lists skip the part where the best headphone depends entirely on where and why you listen.
One more thing: skip wired premium headphones as gifts unless you know for certain they have a DAC and want them. For most people, "wireless" is a feature, not a compromise.
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$$JBL Clip 4
I keep a JBL Clip clipped to the outside of my shower caddy, and it's been there for over a year.
$$$JBL Flip 6
There's a JBL Flip in every friend group. It's the speaker someone pulls out at the barbecue, the beach house, the tailgate.
$$$$Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
My TV's built-in speakers were fine until I heard what a soundbar could do. The first movie I watched through the Sonos Beam Gen 2 made me…
$$$Bose SoundLink Micro
I have a friend who clips a tiny speaker to his backpack on every hike. I used to think that was annoying until I realized how nice it was…
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