Folks with a passion for audio are generally hard to buy for. Not because there are no options but because there are too many. A target-rich environment is only a good thing if all targets are equal and audio kit… isn’t created equal.
If you’re after a solid set of audio presents, you’ll find a stonking collection in Stuff‘s current print issue. If there’s nothing that’ll tickle an audiophile fancy there (and there is, we made sure of that) you’ll find a handful of other options right here. No matter what you pick, as long as your target doesn’t already have one, they’ll be pleased. And even if they do have one, another probably won’t hurt.
Sonos Ace
This might seem like a given when it comes to excellent audio gifts but you should really consider sticking a set of the Sonos Ace overs in someone’s stocking. Our original review was mostly impressed with what they could do across the board but the price tag was a concern. Was. Sonos’ debut effort has shifted from R13,000 to a mere R8,000, making these a far more attractive proposition than they were at launch. And they were pretty attractive back then. Excellent audio and noise cancelling, a comfortable design, and Sonos ecosystem interoperability make these shine almost as much as the receiver’s eyes when they see them under the wrapping paper. You’re… you’re buying these for yourself, aren’t you?
R8,000 | Buy it here
JLab Go Air Pop
A compact case, lightweight buds, and the option to buy them in something other than pink (they do stand out though, don’t they?) make Jlab’s Go Air Pop buds an excellent choice for anyone who needs a new set of in-ears. Unusually at this price point, the buds feature touch controls (for swapping between audio profiles as well as controlling your tunes) and they’ll also function independently or as a pair. Finally, there’s the battery. Expect a total of 32 hours from these, with each bud making eight hours on a full charge before needing to return to their case.
R700 | Buy it here
Fender Mustang Micro Guitar Amplifier
The thing about being a rock god is that folks only like it when you shred on stage. If you’re in your living room or the nearest restaurant, whipping out an amp and shredding a solo, no matter how epic, makes onlookers act like you’ve got audio leprosy. But you needn’t leave your axe at home. Just plug in Fender’s Mustang Micro and you’ll have an excellent amp at your command with twelve different amp models feeding dirty or clean sound directly through your chosen wired headphones. Being tethered to your guitar means you can’t do that round-the-body swing but you probably shouldn’t do that when you’re not surrounded by bandmates anyway.
R4,400 | Buy it here
Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone
Everybody wants to be a streamer in 2024. Even if they don’t, online gaming calls for excellent audio. Nobody wants to be the guy with the crappy mic who never knows which objective is being played. Shure’s MV6 microphone will cover both situations. That’s expected of any device with its own Popper Stopper (used to tame plosives). The MV6 is a cardioid mic, meaning it focuses on your voice and not the Cypress Hill you’ve got blaring in the background, while Auto Level Mode ensures that your commands are always crisp and clear. Whether they’re also logical is up to you. Or your team. The MOTIV Mix app gives you access to five audio channels to suit whichever task you’ve put Shure’s mic to.
R3,500 | Buy it here
JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones
Wireless Bluetooth over-ears with active noise cancelling used to be the domain of the relatively well-heeled but the tech has become… well, affordable. JLab’s deceptively named JBuds Lux ANC headphones are properly budget over-ears that feature three things — excellent battery life, audio out of keeping with the price tag, and active noise cancelling. And support for spatial audio. Okay, four things. Plus Google Find My integration. Fine, five things. Bluetooth Multipoint support? Six things. Also, hear-through. Seven.
R1,000 | Buy it here
