With a dizzying number of weird gadgets, deluxe edition LPs and fancy headphones on the market, it can be hard to nail down a killer gift for the music fan in your life
With a dizzying number of  weird gadgets, deluxe edition LPs and fancy headphones on the market, it can be hard to nail down a killer gift for the music fan in your life. So we did the heavy lifting, narrowing down the 45 best items you’ll want to surprise a loved one ”“ or add to a wish list of your own.
Rambling, overlong, disjointed, essential: These six discs (plus essays and rare photos) are a must for any serious Dylan fan. $120
Teenage Engineering OP-1 Portable Synthesizer | Photo Courtesy Teenage Engineering
This synthesizer, sampler and sequencer hooks up to your computer, it’s ready to play right out of the box, has pro-level features ”“ and is really fun to use. $849
The U-Turn Orbit Basic turntable | Photo courtesy
U-Turn Audio
No, you don’t need to buy your turntable at Urban Outfitters. The sleek Orbit delivers warm, rich sound at a budget price ”“ and just looks awesome. $179
Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story by Rick Bragg
Jerry Lee Lewis’ story has been told endlessly in books and on film. But this new biography is the Killer in his own words: Author Rick Bragg wrote it after two years of interviews with Jerry Lee. $17
Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin by David Ritz
Ritz wasn’t satisfied with his ghostwritten autobiography of Aretha, so he wrote this new bio, a remarkably complex portrait of her music and her tumultuous life. $30
Devialet 120 Music System (left)
This gorgeous integrated amp, digital-to-analog converter and wireless music streamer is perfect for the audiophile who’s finally ready to kiss those vintage stereo components goodbye. $6,495
Deezer Elite for Sonos Play:1 (right)
Now audiophiles can see what the fuss is with music streaming: Sonos, the best system for playing music in every room of your house, gets even better with HD service Deezer. Deezer: $19.99/month; Sonos: $199 each
Classe Audio Sigma AMP2 by Bowers and Wilkins (top)
This two-channel, 2×200-watt amp uses a digital processor to reduce distortion and noise, giving its output the lush, warm sound more like a vintage tube model. But it’s even better, thanks to digital inputs like USB and Ethernet that can make the most of the new hi-res streaming audio services. $3,500
At only 24 centimeters tall, the egg-shaped, AirPlay-compatible TD-M1s can fill any space with an open, rich sound that mimics live music. Throw in a built-in digital audio converter and it’s official: Size doesn’t matter. $1,300/pair
HERO4 Black / Music | Photo courtesy Go Pro
With GoPro’s music mounts, you can now attach the best point-of-view camera around to your guitar, drums or mic stand. And since there’s also a waterproof casing (sold separately), beer thrown from the crowd is no problem. $500
Shure SE846 Sound-Isolating Earphones
Even some high-end in-ears lack great, visceral bass, but not these Shures, which offer perfect clarity, plus what feels like a giant subwoofer inside your head. $999
Powerbeats2 Wireless In-Ear Headphones
The world’s most recognizable headphone brand aims to transform your workout with wireless, sweat-resistant sports earbuds, designed with help from Lebron James. $200
Normal Custom 3D-Printed Earphones
Fear not, all you with imperfect-shaped ears: You’re not destined to be stuck with tumbling buds forever. NYC-based Normal uses a 3D printer to produce custom ‘phones that precisely fit the shape of your earhole. All they need is photos of your ears (via an app) and 48 hours. $199
Master & Dynamic MH40Â
Old-school materials give the MH40s throwback appeal: They’re cloaked in heavy-grain leather and have forged aluminum ear cups with hard-wearing stainless steel fittings. But their leak-free sound is modern: 45mm drivers feature thumping bass and deep mids, a sound more akin to the flashy street-style gear worn all across the NBA. $399
Blue Mo-Fi Headphones
Thanks to a built-in amp, these cans have huge, crystal-clear sound to go with a futuristic look. And the plush ear cups and padded head strap make them surprisingly comfortable. $350
Fifty years ago, Faithfull turned the world on with “As Tears Go By” (and soon after, she’d turn Mick Jagger on, too). This gorgeous coffee-table book captures a pop icon from the Swinging Sixties to today. $65
Artist Dana Veraldi ”“ known for T-shirts with portraits of hipster icons ”“ created this ultimate baller accessory. $35
Jimmy Page put together these overstuffed reissues of the first five Zep albums, which include rarities discs, handsome photo booklets and a whole lotta vinyl. $140 each
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, CSNY 1974
CSNY’s 1974 tour is largely known for the behind-the-scenes drama ”“Â cocaine was everywhere, and Neil Young traveled on his own bus, rarely seeing his bandmates offstage. But this three-CD/one-DVD box set proves the run deserves to be remembered for its music, too. The Stills-versus-Young guitar duel on “Revolution Blues” is one highlight among many. $39
Grateful Dead, Spring 1990
Spring 1990 collects six shows from what archive producer David Lemieux calls the Dead’s “last tour that was consistently great.” Add in ticket stubs, a program and a 60-page book and you’ve got the perfect gift for Jerry Garcia fans ”“Â particularly those with plenty of extra shelf space. Digital: $119; Physical: $199
This elegantly designed wireless music player is perfect for people who never know what to listen to: Spin the outer rim, and it skips to the next song, drawing from streaming services and learning your tastes. $399
With his debut children’s book, Gus & Me, Keith Richards tells the story of his jazz musician grandfather in a format that his own grandchildren will be able to enjoy. Richards’ daughter, Theodora Dupree, drew the whimsical illustrations. $10
Young’s second memoir in as many years uses his love of classic cars as a clever framing device to tell his life story. Perfect if you want the lowdown on the making of After the Gold Rush (or the LincVolt). $32
The Haight: Love, Rock and Revolution| Picture courtesy Insight Editions
The Haight: Love, Rock and Revolution by Jim Marshall and Joel Selvin
Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Grace Slick are just a few of the players in this collection of the late, great Jim Marshall’s photographs, which bear witness to San Francisco’s psychedelic heyday. $50
My Rules by Glen E. Friedman
Photographer Glen E. Friedman captured a few golden ages: Dogtown and Z-Boys era L.A. skaters, early hardcore punk and 1980s NYC hip-hop. Â This Monster coffee-table book collects his greatest hits. $55
Still Moving by Danny Clinch
Clinch’s name might not be familiar, but his photographs of artists like Bob Dylan, Tupac Shakur and Jay-Z are instantly recognizable. Still Moving places 200 of his best shots alongside brief anecdotes and foreword by Bruce Springsteen. $50
What better way to display your rock biographies than with these sleek bookends, made from the same material as Fender’s guitars. $50
Moog Theremini | Photo courtesy Moog Music
Perhaps no vintage synth-y instrument is cooler than the theremin, which makes sounds when you wave your hands at it.  This reimagining is much easier to use than the original ”“ thanks to pitch controls, you won’t play a bum note. $319
Wolfgang’s Vault Concert Posters
Wolfgang’s Vault has become the go-to spot for Sixties and Seventies rock memorabilia. Skip the coffee mugs and go for a reproduction of a psychedelic-era concert poster. From $38
Photo Prints From Rock Paper Photo
For $1,000, anyone can now buy a print of this iconic Hendrix shot (right); Rock Paper Photo has others for far less. From $89
Deer Dana Graphic Tees (left two)
Deer Dana shirts prominently feature large-scale, hand-printed illustrations of hipster icons like Lil Wayne and Lou Holtz. The Larry David tee is perfect for parties but terrible if you’re trying to avoid stop-and-chats. $60
Junk Food T-Shirts (right three)
We like that old Guns N’ Roses T-shirt too, but if you’re looking for other options, this small company has put new life into the vintage rock shirt game. $36
The Beatles, In Mono Vinyl Box Set
The Fab Four’s music as it was meant to be heard: remastered from the original tapes and pressed onto 180-gram vinyl for the ultimate audiophile experience. $375
Bruce Springsteen, The Album Collection Vol. 1, 1973-1984
This set features newly mastered versions of every Bruce LP up through Born in the U.S.A. ”“ significant because the audio on all but Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town had never been upgraded. CD: $74; Vinyl: $269
Sleater-Kinney, Start Together
A punk-rock hailstorm in a box: all seven Sleater-Kinney LPs on colored vinyl, just in time for the band’s reunion. $125
The original burner bible celebrates four decades with this jumbo-size history. We probably don’t need to tell you this, but: Tommy Chong wrote the intro. $45
This 40th-anniversary box set includes rare photos, an Elton-curated covers album and the Live at Hammersmith 1973 DVD. $80
Fresh eTech All-Terrain Sound | Picture courtesy FRESHeTECH
Marshall Stanmore Wireless Speaker
Massive sound from a Bluetooth speaker that looks like a vintage Marshall amp. For those about to rock, the Stanmore salutes you. $400
Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth Speaker
Audio leader B&W’s first portable Bluetooth speaker features a battery that can last up to 18 hours on a single charge and clean, rich low-end to pump up your next picnic. $350
Fresh eTech All-Terrain Sound
Finally, a compact Bluetooth speaker you don’t have to baby. Despite its small size (you’ll barely notice it carabiner-clipped to a backpack) the All-Terrain boasts weather, water and dust resistant seals and a rubberized bumper that withstands drops. Its play-time is an impressive twelve hours, too. $85
OK, it’s more than $3000. But the Nikon D810 DSLR (an upgrade of the company’s D800E) sports image quality that you previously would have needed a $10,000Â medium-format camera to achieve. If you are a serious amateur looking to take a pro-level step up, this is the move. Pair it with the killer AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm lens and you won’t need another setup for years to come. $3,299
Pop Chart Lab specializes in funny, complex posters you can stare at for hours. They range from “A Diagrammatical Dissertation on Opening Lines of Notable Novels” to “The Charted Connections of Rock!,” a remarkably detailed summary of the connections between more than 700 artists and 500 bands. From $10
Collector’s Edition showcases nearly 200 strikingly designed records, novels and secret religious documents. The book is as handsome as the objects it celebrates, and Björk, Radiohead and the Vatican Archives all make appearances. $5
