iDB’s Holiday Gift Guide: music lovers

Holiday shopping in today’s tech-driven world can be a daunting task, but never fear, iDB is here to help! Using our extensive product knowledge, we’ve put together a series of holiday gift guides with great gift ideas for a wide variety of ages, tastes, budgets and more. Today’s guide focuses on music lovers.

Jamstik 7 Smart Guitar

The Jamstik 7 is a travel-size MIDI guitar that will revolutionize how you learn to play and produce music. It easily connects to your phone, tablet or computer, and the built-in sensors detect the placement of your fingers, giving you instant feedback. And because the Jamstik is a MIDI controller, you can pair it with a plethora of apps and make it sound like almost any instrument you can think of.

Buy for $200

Korg microKEY2 49-Key Keyboard

Whether they know how to play the piano, or have an interest in learning, the Korg microKEY2 makes for a great gift. It comes in a handful of key configurations, but we are pointing to the 49-key setup for its balance of scale and portability. I like that the keyboard has built-in mod and pitch wheels, one-touch octave up and down, and that it easily connects to Mac and iOS devices.

Buy for $135

Artiphon MIDI Controller

Give the gift of music. It’s such a cliche saying, but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a product more deserving of it than the Instrument 1 from Artiphon. It looks like a portable guitar, but it’s so much more than that. Hook it up to any iOS or Mac device, and you have a guitar, bass, violin, drum—you name it. Features include 2 stereo speakers, a headphone jack and up to 6 hour battery life.

Buy for $420

Blue Yeti USB Microphone

Want to lay down the vocals for a track, or perhaps start a podcast? You’re going to need a microphone. And I don’t know of one that offers more bang-for-your-buck than the Yeti from Blue. It has 3 condenser capsules that can record in almost any situation, onboard gain control and mute, and since it’s connected and powered via USB, it’s very plug-and-play friendly.

Buy for $100

Edifier S350DB Speaker System

Every music lover needs a solid 2.1 system, and the one I really like right now is the S350DB from Edifier. Whether you’re hooking it up to a record player or a computer, the S350DB looks great and sounds even better. Features include built-in Bluetooth for streaming, tons of input options, a thumping 8-inch subwoofer and a wireless remote. Plus Edifier includes a 2-year warranty.

Buy for $300

ROLI Beatmaker Kit

For the person that would like to experiment with making music, but doesn’t know where to start, or for the pro that wants a more portable setup, there’s the ROLI Beatmaker Kit. With the Lightpad M + Loop Block bundle, you can create entire soundtracks. The Kit comes with a plethora of software, and the optional Melodics subscription service, which offers 30 courses and 400 lessons to explore.

Buy for $300

Marshall Major II Bluetooth Headphones

Of course you could get them a pair of Beats or Bose headphones, but I really like these from Marshall. The company is an absolute legend in the speaker/amplifier game and I really like the blend of modern and vintage in this iconic design. These headphones are also comfortable to wear for long periods, fold for easy storage, offer up to 30 hours of playback, and sound good to boot.

Buy for $80

LifeProof Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

These days I tend to shy away from recommending Bluetooth speakers as gifts, but I did it in our adventure-seeker guide and I’m doing it here. The Aquaphonics AQ9 from LifeProof is drop-proof, dirt-proof, snow-proof and water-proof, it has a compact design and up to 16-hours of playback. If they really love music, give them a gift that will allow them to listen to it almost anywhere.

Buy for $55

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator

Don’t let its size or barebones-look fool you, this pocket synthesizer is capable of creating an entire song. Features include a 16-step sequencer, pattern chaining, drum machine and a wide variety of sound choices. It’s perfect for amateurs who like to tinker, or pros on-the-go. I especially like this bundle because it comes with batteries and a silicon case to make it look like a more finished device.

Buy for $89

Do you have a favorite music-related item that would make a great gift? Let us know down in the comments below!

Also be sure to check out our other gift guides: