Why You Can Trust CNET Best audio gifts for Father's Day
From portable wireless speakers to sound bars to turntables, these are the best audio gifts for Dad in 2019
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If your dad is hard to buy for, then it's hard to go wrong with the gift of audio. From Bluetooth speakers to turntables to AV receivers, there's bound to be something he'll like. These are the best audio gifts this Father's Day.
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Pocketable Bluetooth speakers don't usually sound all that great, but the UE Wonderboom is the exception. For its size, the affordable and durable UE Wonderboom is one of the fullest-sounding mini Bluetooth speakers you can buy.
The waterproof Bose SoundLink Micro is a pocket-size Bluetooth speaker that is able to play louder and produce richer and fuller sound than competing micro wireless speakers. It may be pricier than other models, but its build and sound quality more than justify the difference.
Smart speakers offer the best of both worlds: voice assistance and, in the best cases, great sound quality. The JBL Link 300 offers a big, weighty sound, and the Google voice assistant lets your dad check the weather report or queue up his favorite song.
The Sonos One is the first speaker to have both Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant built into it, This is a Wi-Fi speaker that also includes Apple AirPlay 2 support.
As with earlier Sonos speakers, you can add other Sonos units to create a multiroom audio system -- or a stereo pair.
It's worth noting that there are two generations of this speaker, but the differences are slight and you can save money by getting the Gen 1 version.
If your dad has a bunch of vinyl sitting around, why not give him something to play them on? The Pro-Ject Primary offers easy setup and excellent performance for under $250.
If the TV is the heart of the home, then an AV receiver is the brains. The Onkyo TX-NR585 is our favorite receiver at the price and includes both great sound and a host of killer functions, such as Atmos and music streaming.
If you really want to spoil Dad this year, you could get him a Dolby Atmos sound bar like the Vizio SB36512-F6. This sound bar offers an added height dimension to the latest movies and really helps get you into the story, plus it sounds great!
See also
- Our favorite gifts for Father's Day
- 14 great gifts under $50
- Gifts for Dad under $100
- Best Father's Day gifts under $250
- For the dads who enjoy their booze
- Best TVs and streaming boxes for Father's Day
- Laptop and PC gifts for dads
- Best phones to gift your dad for Father's Day
- Best headphones for dads from $50 to $350
- Best audio gifts for Father's Day
- Best Father's Day gifts to combat dad bod
- Father's Day gaming gifts for the badass dad
- Best Father’s Day gifts for every kind of foodie dad
- The Cheapskate's top Father's Day gift picks
- Father's Day gift ideas for your car-loving dad