Over the weeks leading up to Christmas, WiFi HiFi will be publishing a series of holiday tech gift guides, including items to suit everyone on your list. From gadgets and gizmos, to products for audio and videophiles, we have you covered.
Sonos Sub
If the person on your list already has a Sonos system, considering helping him upgrade with a new Sub to add to the mix. Now available in either white or black, the high-performance sub is designed not to be clunky, and to be aesthetically-appealing. It works seamlessly with Sonos speakers, and because it is wireless, it can be situated virtually anywhere within the home. $899. Sonos.com
Arcam rHead Headphone Amplifier
Arcam's first dedicated headphone amplifier, the rHead, (Erikson Consumer) is a pure Class A design, capable of delivering 2W into a 16Ω load, 1.1W into 32Ω, and 0.13W into 300Ω. It features multiple ultra-low-noise power supplies and fully direct-coupled signal path. The volume control is an analog resistive-ladder device like the one used on Arcam's A49 flagship integrated amplifier. This, says Arcam, eliminates tracking errors that can occur with conventional potentiometer-based volume controls. Also on the front of the cast aluminum case are 3.5mm and quarter-inch stereo headphone jacks, and on the back are switchable single-ended RCA and balanced XLR inputs. $900 Arcam.co.uk
Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones
Sennheiser's PXC 550 Wireless headphones can be used with the CapTune app (iOS, Android) for tuning the sound to your listening preference. Select from four presets for adjusting sound and one customizable Director mode that can be tailored using the app. With a 30-hour battery life, the headphones come with NoiseGard hybrid adaptive noise cancellation, earcup-mounted touch control panel, and voice prompt system for adjusting settings. Take the headphones off, and music or calls will automatically pause. There's NFC pairing for Bluetooth audio. $500 Sennheiser.ca
JBL Control X Wireless Speaker
The JBL Control X Wireless speaker (Erikson Consumer) is a compact, active Bluetooth stereo speaker that can be used individually, or connect up to four, either indoors or out. Key features include a High Definition Imaging (HDI) waveguide design with 1-inch (25mm) CMMD Lite tweeter; 5.25-inch (130mm) glass fibre reinforced poly cone; 30W Class-D digital amplification; and four-hour battery life. A patented Slipstream-tuned port serves as a handle, while providing deep bass response; and the rubberized interface features power, volume and playback controls, and battery status LEDs. Graphite, red, or white, $849/pr. Jbl.com
Arcam MusicBOOST Headphone Amp
The Arcam MusicBOOST headphone amp, DAC and battery pack combo (Erikson Consumer) was designed exclusively for iPhone 6. It includes a built-in high-quality Texas Instruments DAC and headphone amplifier from TI/Burr Brown, and can extract a digital audio signal from the iPhone's Lightning port. The player enhances sound quality for both music stored on your phone or while listening to streaming services such as Spotify or Tidal. The player accommodates FLAC and WAV files from third-party software, such as VOX. It fits over the phone as a sleeve. $249 Arcam.co.uk
Klipsch Music Crate
Available through Gentec International, this package includes a Pro-Ject turntable using an Ortofon cartridge and a pair of Reference R-15PM powered monitor speakers, as well as all necessary cables to connect the turntable and speakers. In addition to the turntable, the speakers can connect to a TV, computer or wireless device through phono pre-amp, Bluetooth wireless technology, digital optical, analog RCA and USB audio inputs. The speakers incorporate custom-designed, individual, ultra-low noise amplifiers that eliminate the need for an AV receiver; and a pre-amp sub output. Control playback using the IR remote. MSRP $1,100 Bestsound.ca
Onkyo HT-S3800 5.1 Channel Home Theatre System
If he's just getting into the home theatre world, the Onkyo HT-S3800 5.1 Channel Home Theater System is meant for the entry-level consumer. The compact, 5.1-channel HT-R395 receiver features 100 W/ch analog amplifiers with discrete output circuitry. There are four HDMI inputs and two composite inputs, and it supports 4K/60 Hz, 4:4:4 colour space, HDR, BT.2020, and HDCP 2.2 copy protection. Bluetooth is also included. The micro-speakers, meanwhile, can reproduce lossless multichannel formats such as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. There's also a 100W subwoofer. Additional features include stereo imaging performance with front L/R tone controls; two pairs of digital and analog audio inputs; FM/AM tuner; Onkyo's AccuEQ calibration suite; and a full-sized simple remote control. MSRP $700 Onkyo.ca
HiFiMan Supermini Portable Music Player
If you're looking for a relatively affordable portable music player for the audio lover on your list, there's the HifiMan Supermini (XLO International), which is only one-third of an inch deep, and has a single microSD card slot and OLED display. It supports playback of high-res PCM audio, to 192kHz/24 bits, as well as DSD 64. Rated battery life is 22 hours. The Supermini has single-ended and balanced headphone outputs, and actually ships with a set of balanced earphones. Thanks to the use of eight op-amps, the Supermini's headphone output can swing 4.2V peak-to-peak. Rated power is 320mW at 32Ω. HiFiMAN says the Supermini can drive many planar magnetic 'phones, such as HiFiMAN's Edition X and HE400S. $539 Hifiman.com
JBL Clip2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
If you're going to go small and on-the-go, audio purists will still want an audio brand with a stellar reputation. Clip the JBL Clip2 (Erikson Consumer) to your bag, clothing, bicycle, wherever you want to rock out, then play back your favourite tunes while on-the-go. Available in black, blue, red, grey, and teal, it offers longer battery life than its predecessor, the Clip+ (8-10 hours versus five), and a higher water-resistance rating at IPX7 versus IPX5 in the Clip+. That means it can be immersed in up to one metre of water, so there's no worry if you get caught in the rain, it falls in the snow, or takes a quick dip in the pool. Plus, you can wirelessly daisy chain multiple speakers for surround sound. $80. JBL.com
Braven BRV-1M Bluetooth Speaker
This Bluetooth speaker (Erikson Consumer) is waterproof (IPX7-rated), and thus able to operate on the beach or by the pool, and even in the sweltering heat. The impact-resistant housing can also withstand bumps and drops. Ideal for cyclists, bikers, snowboarders and hikers, it can be secured onto a surface with integrated tie-down bars and heavy-duty strap. There's also an Action Mount accessory that's compatible with GoPro and other popular sport mounting systems. Listen to music for up to 12 hours per charge, and even recharge your mobile devices through the speaker's 2,200mAh power bank. The built-in noise-cancelling mic means it can also function as a speakerphone for incoming calls. $150. Braven.com
PSB M4U-4 Earphones
As the in-ear version of the popular M4U-2 noise-cancelling headphones, the M4U-4 (Lenbrook) are great for use when you don't want to bring along a larger pair of headphones. They offer amazingly natural sound, says WiFi HiFi contributor David Susilo, and fully customizable earbuds for a superior fit and noise blocking. Read David's full review. $349 Psbspeakers.com
Moon by Simaudio Neo ACE All-in-One Music Player
This is way into splurge territory, but if there's someone deserving on your list, or maybe you're looking at treating yourself this year, consider this all-in-one player, which combines an integrated amp, high-resolution DAC, phono stage, and digital audio streamer in a single, standard-sized chassis. Check out Gordon Brockhouse's full review. $4,200 Simaudio.com
AudioQuest DragonFly Micro-DAC
AudioQuest invented the micro-DAC category back in 2012 when it introduced the original DragonFly. Though doubtlessly complex in execution, the product was simple in concept: plug the little component, which is about the size of a thumb drive, into a USB port on your PC or Mac, plug your headphones into the DragonFly, and enjoy significantly improved sound. The latest versions are the Black v1.5 and Red v1.0, which sell for $129 and $249, respectively, and offer an improved USB controller with lower power consumption and better signal-to-noise ratio among other advancements. Read Gordon Brockhouse's full review. Audioquest.com