Audio gift ideas for Father's Day
It's not easy picking out a gift for Dad, but you'll definitely find some ideas in this roundup of CNET's favorite audio gear. From headphones to Bluetooth speakers, turntables, accessories and more, there's something in here for everyone.
Skullcandy Grind Wireless
Give your dad the gift of wireless audio with the new Grind on-ear headphones by Skullcandy.
For under $100, the Grind Wireless is offered in six colors and it performed well in our sound test despite Bluetooth's inherent audio limitations.
Chromecast Audio
While Bluetooth is undoubtedly convenient, it also sounds like hell. If you have a budding audiophile in your family, a Chromecast Audio or two is all they'll need to bring their existing stereo into the 21st century.
Bose SoundTouch 10
A bathroom radio on steroids, the Bose SoundTouch 10 offers excellent sound for the money and a great feature set. Easy to use and also easy on the eye.
Bose SoundSport In-Ear Headphones
Whether your dad is the active type or not, there's no arguing with the benefits of getting outside for a little exercise. It's something we can all use, and the same goes for the Bose SoundSport In-Ear Headphones.
They feature a weather- and sweat-resistant design for improved durability and splash-resistance, so you don't have to worry about them breaking midway through a run, and the drivers offer well-balanced sound with punchy bass performance.
UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker
Let's face it: sometimes people get sucked into bright, pretty colors and tend to ignore the quality of the product behind it. In the case of the UE Roll Bluetooth speaker, you get the best of both worlds: a unique, waterproof design that can float with the inflatable life preserver and impressively "big" sound to boot. This is a must-buy for dads who like to lounge by the pool.
JBL Pulse 2 Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Pulse 2 Bluetooth speaker is a fun way to add some color to your dad's listening experience. Watch them trip out (safely) as the wireless speaker presents a very cool interactive light show with its build-in LEDs.
And did we mention it sounds great playing music, too? With big improvements to the quality over the last model, this one offers better bass and holds together better at high volumes.
Pioneer SP-SB23W
Whether it's for powering intense gaming sessions or listening to Pandora playlists over Bluetooth, the Pioneer SP-SB23W is arguably the best sound bar you can get for the money.
Sony MDR10RBT Wireless Headphones
With so many wireless headphone options these days, it can be hard to find a pair that fits the bill for price and performance. If you're feeling overwhelmed shopping for a wireless set, let your search end with the Sony MDR10RBT over-ears.
It's a very good wireless headphone with Bluetooth connectivity that's comfortable to wear and costs significantly less than the Beats Studio Wireless.
Fluance Fi50 Bluetooth Speaker
Take your dad back in time with a boom box, round 2. But this is a lot different than the ones he might've seen jamming down the street in the past -- the Fluance Fi50 is a 13.4-pound beast that has an LED display, a 40-watt amplifier, and delivers insane tunes thanks to an equalizer that lets you adjust bass and treble via the touch controls on top of the speaker.
Focal Sphear Earbuds
Not everyone is into the big, flashy over-ear headphones that seem to dominate the market. If subtlety is the ticket, then get your dad a pair of the Focal Sphear earbuds.
Thanks to their supreme comfort, you can wear them for long stretches at a time without experiencing listening fatigue, and they happen to work well with a variety of music genres.
Audeze Sine Headphones
If you're shopping for a discerning audiophile, you can't get much better than the Audeze Sine planar magnetic headphones.
This one's optimized for portable use so your dad can use it with a mobile device without leaking sound, and Audeze makes two versions: one with a traditional miniplug and another that adds an Apple Lightning connector instead -- it's one of those headphones that sounds so good it'll make you want to go back and listen to your music collection to hear the little details that lesser headphones don't reveal.
Audioengine A2+
Computer speakers. They still make those? If your dad is still using earbuds or worse, the speakers in his laptop, the Audioengine A2+ is a great deal for the money. Just plug the speakers into a spare USB port and the sound will be unlike any PC speaker he's heard before.
Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise-canceling Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort 25 is the king of noise-canceling headphones and it's absolutely essential if your dad is a frequent traveler or just wants to block ambient noises from the outside world.
U-Turn Orbit Basic Turntable
If your dad kept his old stash of vinyl records, it's time to upgrade his hi-fi gear with the U-Turn Orbit Basic turntable.
With its dead-simple setup, top-notch parts and a budget-friendly price tag to match, you can easily breathe new life into old records without spending a lot of cash.