9 Gift Ideas for the Pop Culture-Obsessed Audiophile

Audiophiles are constantly on a journey to find the best over-ear headphones. Put an end to their search with these, from Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra line: The world-class noise cancelling features help block out any distractions, and Bose’s unique Immersive Audio offers sound so real that the wearer might be tempted to try to reach out and touch it. The headphones are also made with luxe materials that help provide an extra-comfortable fit, like a hug for their ears. Plus, they’re available in multiple stylish hues, including Sandstone (exclusively available on Bose.com).

Gift your musical theater-loving or pop diva-stanning friend this portable karaoke microphone, which will allow them to skip the karaoke bars and bring the singalong party straight to their living room hang or holiday party (or just alone in their apartment). The microphone connects to the karaoke app of the user’s choosing, so they can bust out their best whistle tone attempt at any time.

You can’t go wrong with the basic audiophile gift option: a good-quality turntable. This one from Angels Horn offers features like audio-grade wood to help reduce vibrations, an adjustable counterweight and anti-skating force to help prevent scratches on the vinyl’s surface, as well as wireless connectivity to allow the listener to pair other devices with the player’s speakers.

Gifting vintage concert merch (whether it’s a poster, ticket stub, or concert tee) is an ideal way to cement yourself as the coolest gift giver around. Any hardcore music fan or collector will appreciate unique items from past shows featuring their favorite artists, and it’s guaranteed to be unlike anything else they receive this season. Try sellers like Wolfgang’s (linked below), or search on Etsy or Sotheby’s (or in your local vintage shops) to find great options.

Any amateur music historian or vinyl lover will appreciate this TASCHEN art book, which compiles over 500 of the most iconic record covers from the 1950s to present day. The book is at once a fascinating historical record, with covers that represent art movements including Pop Art, postmodernism, and conceptual art, as well as a gorgeous art piece in itself that will look great on anyone’s coffee table.

Bose’s new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have features that will appeal to any audiophile. The world-class noise cancellation (which can be adjusted to the user’s liking) helps block out sound, while the Bose Immersive Audio feature helps the wearer feel transported into whatever they’re listening to. Plus, the soft umbrella-shaped ear tips help make them easy and comfortable to wear — even while on the go. Grab them in colors including Black, White Smoke, and the Bose.com-exclusive Moonstone Blue.

You can’t go wrong with a subscription to Audible, which will allow your recipient to listen to a huge selection of audiobooks as well as Audible-exclusive podcasts and audio series. Whether they’re diving into the latest juicy celebrity memoir or a best-selling new romance book, a subscription offers endless hours of entertainment easily available on their phone — and provides a great alternative to doomscrolling on social media.

A book on music history (and especially one written by a music celebrity) is a great option for a pop-culture obsessed audiophile. This one from Questlove, released last year, fits the bill perfectly. In the book, written with journalist Ben Greenman, he examines 50 years of American music (from 1971 to the present day), providing an informative history of the time period while also including his own personal stories.

The thing about vinyl collecting is that all those records start to take up a lot of space. If the vinyl lover in your life is running low on storage, consider gifting them a way to keep their collection organized and protected. That might mean a simple storage cube or a more sizeable furniture piece, like this one from Target. The retro design allows for ample space for records on the bottom, as well as room to store a turntable on top.