These are 2025’s best gifts for the music lover who knows everything

STORIES

Can’t tell a cowbell from a decibel? Win at holiday gifting anyway.

On the hard-to-shop-for holiday pyramid, there’s a gift recipient right at the top. “Treble” is a part of their everyday vocabulary. They call things “flat,” or even worse, “pitchy.” They may or may not be a walking, talking Pitchfork archive.

They are music lovers. And you love them—you just don’t always know what to get them.
Luckily, you have us, the other music lovers in your life, to help you bridge the gap.

This guide is filled with gift ideas for the musically obsessed, from retro speakers with the latest sound control tech to noise-cancelling headphones with hyper-real sound. If they’ll geek over it, it’s on this list.

Hi-Fi that goes anywhere: JBL Authentics 500

You’ve heard them say it a million times, but you’re not 100% sure what it means.

High Fidelity, or Hi-Fi, for short, is just sound that’s really close to the way it was originally recorded—clear, detailed, and accurate, without distortion or muddiness.

Our JBL Authentics 500 serves up Hi-Fi in spades. Its virtual Dolby Atmos® creates an ultra-detailed musical experience that’ll make them feel like they’re hearing their music live.

They’ll appreciate built-in Wi-Fi that lets them leave the room or take a call without their music being interrupted (we can’t have that) and a throwback leather-like enclosure that looks straight out of Almost Famous.

Warmth that feels like a sonic hug: JBL Spinner BT

Warm sound feels rich, full, and natural. Think of it like sitting by a cozy campfire vs. staring at a fluorescent light.

The JBL Spinner BT brings that same warmth to records, letting every groove play with the detail and depth vinyl is famous for. Its tonearm keeps the sound clear and free of distortion. And with Bluetooth 5.2, you can stream that analog warmth wirelessly to speakers or headphones—no cables, no compromise.

Lossless audio to really lose it over: JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX

Lossless audio means the audio file keeps every detail of the original recording, note for note, unlike MP3s or other compressed formats. How is that different from Hi-Fi? Lossless is the file. Hi-Fi is the feeling. Lossless gives you all the data. Hi-Fi playback makes it come alive.

So for the friend who wants their music to sound like an MTV Unplugged session, the JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX is a no-brainer. These headphones combine lossless audio support with Hi-Fi playback, so every track hits with full detail and emotion. Add in features like JBL Spatial 360 sound, and they’ll feel like they’re standing right in the middle of the music.

Bonus rec: The Tour Pro 3 is another fantastic gift option for anyone who wants to hear the entire width and depth of their playlist (in music lover lingo, that’s called soundstage). Like the JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX, it also comes with the Smart Charging Case™—a 1.45” touchscreen hub that lets you adjust EQ, toggle noise cancelling, check battery levels, or even take calls without ever pulling out your phone. On a flight, you can also use the Smart Charging Case™ as an audio transmitter to wirelessly connect to the in-flight system and enjoy immersive sound while you're in the air.

Dynamics that hit different: JBL Bar 1300XMK2

Dynamics are the shifts between soft and loud, subtle and explosive—the kind of contrast that makes a ballad give you chills or a bass drop shake the walls. That’s where the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 shines.

This soundbar’s 11.1.4-channel system with Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X captures the quiet nuance of an acoustic set and the full-force impact of a live arena track. The 12-inch wireless subwoofer adds depth that you feel as much as hear, while six up-firing drivers and MultiBeam™ 3.0 spread the sound wide, so crescendos surround you from every angle. Even vocals stay sharp and clear thanks to PureVoice 2.0—so lyrics land just as hard as the beat.

Translation: They will be sat.

The encore

All of these gifts have one thing in common: They don’t just play music; they make you feel it. For the music lover who already has everything, they each deliver dimensions of sound that will definitely surprise and (gasp) impress them.

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