There has never been a better time to be a vinyl record listener; consumers continue to purchase new and used records at a historic pace and the format has not been this popular in over 30 years. Physical media holds genuine value for a new generation of music listeners who value the concept of “ownership” at a time when eighty-five percent of the market is dominated by streaming. Listening to vinyl has become so popular again that manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the demand for hardware and accessories.
With the holidays and Black Friday Edition of Record Store Day around the corner, it makes sense to start considering the best gifts for the vinyl record lover in your life. We have selected some of our favorite products of the past 12 months that will really make a positive impact on your record listening experience.
Muarah MT-3 Turntable
Muarah Audio are analog specialists driven by a reverence for the vinyl playback experience. Striking industrial design and fanatical engineering are the foundation of every Muarah product including their latest turntable, the MT-3. The MT-3 includes technologies distilled from Muarah’s high-end models and in a first for the brand, it features a new aluminum-carbon fiber tonearm designed and manufactured in-house by Muarah.
Outlaw Stereo Receiver
The Outlaw Audio RR2160MKII Stereo Receiver ($999) delivers clean, powerful, and accurate two-channel performance with classic styling. For vinyl enthusiasts, it features a high-end phono preamp designed to work with Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges, four pure analog audio line level inputs, Burr Brown DAC, and analog bass management.
Audioengine A5+ Powered Speakers
Upgrade your vinyl collection with the Audioengine A5+ Classic, delivering pure, authentic sound with every spin. With a premium built-in amplifier and analog audio input, highlighting every subtle nuance and rich, warm tone of your records, creating an unparalleled listening experience. Experience vinyl as it was meant to be heard.
IsoAcoustics OREA Series Isolators for Turntables
The IsoAcoustics OREA series effectively isolates turntables from vibrations, enhancing detail and clarity in your vinyl playback. By reducing unwanted resonance, the OREA supports a purer sound experience, allowing the subtle nuances of your records to shine through for a superior listening experience. Perfect for audiophiles seeking sonic precision.
AudioQuest Silver Anti-Static Record Brush
Keep vinyl LPs free from annoying static, microscopic dust, and harmful debris with AudioQuest’s Silver Anti-Static Record Brush. This brush features 1,086,000 conductive carbon fibers and an uncoated metal finger grip that has been carefully positioned for ease of use and efficacy, ensuring a proper electrical connection to the user’s hand. Simple and effective, AQ’s Silver Anti-Static Record Brush is an essential record-cleaning tool for all vinyl lovers.
“The Bugatti of Audio” (The Absolute Sound) Award
Ayon’s S-10 II XS is a Network Music Player / Streamer / DAC / Preamp featuring a Pure Class A triode vacuum tube output stage for single ended & balanced operation. It sets a new sound performance standard at any price for listening to music via TIDAL, Qobuz, DSD and Roon.
$6,995 $5,995 at Ayon Audio
Bluesound HUB — Bring the Sound of Vinyl to Your Multi-room Audio System
Why choose streaming or any other format over the other? With Bluesound, not only can you access all your favorite music streaming services, but you can also connect the HUB to your multi-room music system and stream the sound of vinyl to Bluesound speakers and stereo components around the home. Its built-in MM phono stage preamp delivers audiophile-grade sound quality with a wide bandwidth and ultra-low noise. HDMI eARC and Digital Coax/Optical inputs are also included allowing you to stream analogue and digital sources simultaneously to different Bluesound Players.
Booze & Vinyl
André Darlington’s 2nd book in the Booze & Vinyl series pairs the perfect cocktail with iconic albums from the 1950s through today. It’s a perfect coffee table book, a guide for mixing drinks and a great way to rediscover your vinyl record collection.
$26 $16.39 at Amazon
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Disclosure: The products listed above are approved by our Editors, but may be requested by our sponsors. When links to buy are provided, we’ll direct you to the lowest price at time of publication. In doing so, eCoustics may earn a small commission from the associated retailer if purchased.
