The best gifts for music lovers and audiophiles

If you need to buy a gift for someone who plays a musical instrument and may want to start recording their skills, then look no further than the EVO Start Recording Bundle by Audient. Comprising: an EVO 4 audio interface, SR1 condenser microphone, SR2000 studio headphones, a microphone spider and an XLR connection cable, this kit is everything they'll need to start a musical journey from their bedroom (bedroom not included).

In our tests, it was achingly simple to set up and there are a number of full-proof features which will help with making sure recordings sound as good as they can. Top of this list is the very useful Smartgain mode. This can be found on the EVO 4 and it levels out all mics, ridding recordings of distortion. The software included, Audient ARC, is intuitive too and direct recording to a computer also means that this is ideal for streamers and podcasters, too.

Ah, Technics. A brand that never fails when it comes to audio goodness. Our pick of its crop this year are the sublime Technics EAH-A800 headphones. These headphones offer some of the best noise cancelling we have heard (or haven’t heard), an audio quality that is up there with the very best and have a charge that lasts 50-something hours. They are great for the forgetful, too, as a quick 15-minute charge will give you 10 hours’ playback. Oh, and we haven’t mentioned the comfort! Wear these even for the longest of times and there is no discomfort whatsoever.

The new-and-improved Ruark R2 has been given a retro-modern design refresh which makes the device slimmer so it can be placed anywhere in the home. While this one is a must for those who haven’t got a DAB radio, it also offers FM, and Internet radio tuners, as well as support for major streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. The R2 also features the latest-gen Bluetooth 5 receiver, a USB-C charge port, switchable AUX output, and headphone output.

We have always been big fans of Grado’s open-back headphone experience, which is why we were very excited to get our ears on the audio company’s improved Bluetooth headphones. The Grado GW100x wireless headphones do not disappoint, with 46-hour battery life from a two-hour charge, redesigned fourth generation X Drivers and a great look. These are open back, so those around the listener will hear music but leakage has been improved, as has sound.

Nothing is a tech brand that seemed to come out of nowhere, but went from strength to strength last year, creating a buzz with its Nothing Ear (1) earphones. If you want to give a gift for someone who listens to lots of music on the move, then we recommend the Nothing Ear (Stick) true wireless earbuds. They're designed to be extremely comfortable and weigh only 4.4g. They offer up 29 hours of listening time and have custom 12.6 mm dynamic drivers for a top peformance.

A portable DAC isn’t the most mainstream of audio choices but for those who are curious the Chord Mojo 2 is an absolute delight to use. Pair it with a decent pair of wired headphones and your music streamer of choice and what you have is an audio system that will lift the quality of your listening experience no end. There simply isn’t a better portable DAC around for the price and the small size of the thing.

When it comes to over-ear headphones, there are so many decent pairs to choose from right now. One of the most surprising - and best sounding - we've tested are the SIVGA Robin over ears. Surprising, because we weren't that familiar with the brand but the quality on show here is exceptional, making SIVGA a real hidden gem in the audio market.

Let's start with build quality: the wood-shell design is made from rosewood and looks beautiful. This is complemented with the leather of the ear pads and the strap. Then there's the sound quality: this is way beyond the £150 / $150 price point, mainly down to SIVGA fitting a 50mm drivers into each ear cup. It may not be high-res audio, but the quality on show here is simply incredible.

Sennheiser may have drastically changed the design of its top-range Momentums but these are gorgeous headphones which look fantastic. They're also some of the most comfortable over-ears around and have some jaw-dropping ANC tech inside. Couple this with a superb 60-hour battery life and these are a great buy and a fantastic gift. We'd especially recommend these if you're buying a present for someone who needs top quality audio or often listens to music while they travel – the noise-cancelling is ideal for drowning out train, plane and automobile sounds.

It can be tricky knowing which record to buy for an audiophile. Far better, then, to leave it with the experts at Vinyl Me, Please. Every month they ship a carefully selected, lovingly pressed and exquisitely packaged LP to their subscribers, with coloured vinyl, exclusive artwork or custom lyric books included to further sweeten an already tooth-achingly sweet deal. Choose from 3, 6 or 12-month subscriptions and then sit back to await your favourite audiophile’s tears of gratitude. It’s worth checking if they ship to your country but if they do, then sign up now!

There's so much competition when it comes to true wireless earbuds these days, but if you're thinking of buying a pair of buds for someone who really loves their music then we recommend the Bose QuietComfort 2. These buds offer a small and comfortable design and great sound. However, it's the noise-cancelling tech that really shines here, drowning out all annoying sounds so the focus is only on the music. They're not cheap, but they'd be a major treat for the music lover in your life.

You may well know this book from when it was first released but now it has been given a huge update, to take in the likes of EDM and re-jig some of the earlier chapters. There is so much new information in this book, that even if you have read the original release cover to cover you will find something new. Last Night A DJ Saved My Life really is the definitive read on all things dance music, from those who have been deep in the industry for years.

If you want to sing when you are winning then get someone an Apple Music subscription. While it is hard to differentiate the myriad music streamers right now, we think Apple has got a great USP with its Apple Music 1 radio show - Zane Lowe’s show is a must listen - and the brand-new Apple Music Sing. This is Apple showing off its karaoke side, with a feature that allows users to sing along to their favourite songs with adjustable vocals and real-time lyrics.