Our pick of the best gifts for music lovers for Christmas 2026
Philips The Roller
Portable speakers usually choose between party tricks and hi-fi ambition. Philips’ The Roller wants both, then dresses them like an ’80s boombox. Its two 3.5in woofers, dedicated tweeters, active crossover, and passive radiators produce true stereo at up to 60W RMS, with an outdoor mode designed to keep music punchy beyond four walls. The IP67-rated body is comfortably carryable, too, so the kitchen disco can migrate outside. The battery lasts up to 24 hours, Bluetooth 6.0 supports multipoint listening, and Auracast can recruit more compatible speakers. Add animated lighting, and subtlety officially leaves the guest list. Magnificent festive overkill.
Port authority
Its USB-C port handles digital audio as well as charging, so a laptop can feed it tasty tracks directly. The substantial battery can readily rescue a fading phone between encores, too.
Cell by date
Its rechargeable battery comfortably outlasts any rave, and can be swapped out when it eventually wears out. Fancy that! A 15-minute charge is also good for a generous 3.5 hours of playback.
Appy Christmas
Philips’ handy accompanying app selects the display’s animations or wallpaper, updates firmware, activates outdoor mode, and sorts Auracast linking. Personalised RGB effects help ensure it’s not underdressed for the big day.
JBL Live 780NC
Long-haul listening without the long-haul price, JBL’s foldable over-ears promise 50 hours with active noise-cancelling, then manage to find four more from a five-minute charge. Six mics beaver away recalibrating the adaptive ANC, while LDAC carries hi-res wireless audio from compatible devices. Personi-Fi tuning adapts the presentation to their hearing, and multipoint keeps a phone and laptop sharing connectivity custody all day.
Apple AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case
Apple’s AirPods 5 hush without silicone tips, bringing volume swipes, five claimed hours with ANC, and up to 22 hours including the case. Adaptive Audio blends cancellation and transparency, while Personalised Spatial Audio supplies head-tracked immersion. The case charges via USB-C or wireless charging for those with a penchant for cord-cutting. Its Find My functionality helps reunite festive escapees, too.
Shokz OpenFit Air 2
For runners, roamers, and anyone who dislikes blocked ears, these lightweight buds perch without sealing the ear canal. Shokz’s dual-driver system gives bass substance, while physical pressure controls behave more reliably than swipes. They’re IP55 sweat-resistant, manage eight hours per charge and 36 with the case, and use Bluetooth 6.1. Comfort is the headline, while awareness stays intact.
EarFun Wave Pro X
EarFun attacks premium-headphone territory with two drivers per ear – a 40mm diamond-like-carbon unit for heft, and a 10mm tweeter for detail. Adaptive eight-microphone ANC handles interruption duty, with aptX Lossless, LDAC, USB audio, and analogue listening providing unusual flexibility. EarFun claims 90 hours without ANC, while physical buttons, multipoint pairing, and a fold-flat design keep its ambitions sensibly practical.
Marshall Emberton III Hendrix Edition
Purple, black, and gloriously psychedelic, this Hendrix-clad Emberton III celebrates 60 years of Marshall and Jimi making trouble together. Beneath the celestial artwork sit True Stereophonic 360-degree sound, IP67 resistance, and a 32-plus-hour battery. A 20-minute charge restores six hours, Bluetooth multipoint eases DJ handovers, and Dynamic Loudness keeps everything balanced as the volume moves up or down.
The Beatles Rubber Soul – Special Edition Super Deluxe: 5LP + 7in Single Box Set
Rubber Soul receives big-box archaeology – five heavyweight LPs, a 7in single, and an 88-page hardback book packed into one handsome slipcase. The haul spans a new half-speed stereo mix, 26 session recordings, original mono, and the Capitol US album, plus Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out. The ultimate gift for the vinyl-spinning, superfan in your life.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort keeps the pillowy fit and physical controls, then adds six-microphone QuietControl ANC and TrueSpatial processing. Immersion makes music feel more spacious, while Cinema mode centres dialogue for video. USB-C now carries lossless 24-bit/48kHz audio, and battery life is 24 hours, or 18 with immersion. The handy case and two cables make travelling uncomplicated for once, too.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
Newly reshaped shells make Sennheiser’s flagship buds even comfier, while 7mm TrueResponse drivers and aptX Adaptive support hi-res listening up to 24-bit/96kHz. Battery life hits 12 hours without ANC, or 40 hours total with the Qi wireless charging case. Reworked ANC tackles pesky noise, while calls gain bone-conduction assistance. With splash protection and user-replaceable batteries, there’s plenty to love here.
KEF LS Luxe
These sculptural active speakers are renowned designer Ross Lovegrove’s answer to the rectangle, but the beauty is not merely cabinet-deep. Each uses KEF’s 12th-generation 6.5in Uni-Q driver, with all manner of the company’s clever motion-sensing feedback tech to tackle distortion. HDMI eARC welcomes your TV, while wireless stereo placement keeps the room elegant. The (optional) S-Luxe completes the otherworldly aesthetic.
Cambridge Audio L/R S
Landing in six lovely hues, with stereo separation and no amp required, Cambridge Audio’s compact pair is made for desks, shelves, and vinyl-curious flats. A 3in woofer and 21mm aluminium tweeter inhabit each cabinet, with 100W total power and DynamEQ maintaining body at lower volumes. Bluetooth aptX HD, USB, optical, analogue, and subwoofer connections offer flexibility, but it’s the rich, warm, room-filling sound that’s the real star.
Roberts Revere 300
Roberts’ Revere 300 puts neglected discs back in rotation with a built-in CD player, then adds USB playback, DAB+/FM radio, and Bluetooth. Twin 3in drivers and rear-ported bass fill its hand-built wooden cabinet, while USB device charging brings modern practicality without fuss. A full-colour display and the included remote keep operation civilised – no phone, account, or monthly subscription required.
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