We’re up to Day 4 of Tech Guide’s 2021 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas we want to help you find the right gift for your family and friends in this busy shopping period.
It’s Day 4 and we’re talking about one of the most popular tech category – headphones, earphones and speakers which will be on everyone’s shopping list.
Here are Tech Guide’s 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas:
Day 4: Headphones/speakers
DAY 5: Gaming
DAY 6: Tablets/e-readers
DAY 7: Drones/Gadgets
DAY 8: Smart/IoT devices
DAY 9: In-car gadgets
DAY 10: TVs/Blu-Ray/4K
DAY 11: Appliances
DAY 12: Computers
DAY 4: Headphones/Speakers
BOSE QC45 HEADPHONES – $499
The new Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones have been a long time coming – but it was definitely worth the wait. The QC45s have improved noise cancellation and now have even longer battery life.
The previous model – the QC35 – were the signature Bose headphones for anyone who travelled frequently and wanted to enjoy superior audio.
On our travels over the years, it wasn’t uncommon to see several passengers wearing them.
But the Bose QC45 are now here – and they are miles better.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
SENNHEISER CX PLUS TRUE WIRELESS – $259.95
If you’re looking for a pair of value earphones which offer impressive audio quality, active noise cancellation and a reputable audio brand – then look no further than Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless earphones.
Priced at $259.95, then you Sennheiser earphones give you both quality and comfort.
Under the hood a Sennheiser is German engineered true response transducer – this is an acoustic system that brings superior technology to every day listening.
This bespoke acoustic system was initially developed for Sennheiser’s premium earphones and gives you High fidelity sound with detailed treble, plus crisp mids and solid bass.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
AIRPODS (3RD GEN) – $279
Apple’s new 3rd generation AirPods look different and sound different – and in both instances that’s a great thing.
The stems on the new AirPods are 33 per cent shorter and incorporate a force sensor so you can take even more control of your music.
The AirPods are among the most popular wireless earphones in the world and this 3rd generation version makes them even more attractive.
Design wise, apart from the shorter stems, they also have a slightly different shape and are angled to rest inside your ear securely without having to jam them into your ear canal.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
JABRA ELITE 7 PRO – $299
The new Jabra Elite 7 Pro earphones are a real surprise with an even smaller form factor, great audio quality and excellent voice calls.
Priced at $299, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro earphones have a long and impressive list of features that make this a value buy.
The first thing that will get your attention is how small the earbuds are.
They are actually 16 per cent smaller than the popular Jabra Elite 75t – and in earphones that’s a big deal.
Have a smaller size, they rest more inside your ear than out. We found them to be really light and comfortable to wear.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
SONY WF1000XM4 EARPHONES – $399
Sony’s new WF1000XM4 Truly Wireless headphones continue the company’s legacy of producing stunning audio products with improved quality and premium noise cancellation.
The new wireless headphones have had a complete redesign and are noticeably smaller (actually 10 per cent smaller) than the previous model.
Even the charging case has been reduced in size. It is actually 40 per cent smaller than the previous case.
Naturally the earphones have an IPX4 water resistance rating that can handle splashes and sweat so you don’t need to worry if you’re in the gym or caught in the rain.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW
JBL CHARGE 5 – $229.95
If you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker with excellent sound and that can go anywhere and handle the conditions then look no further than the JBL Charge 5.
Priced at $229.95 (we’ve seen it for $199.95), the JBL Charge 5 is a great all-round package – it sounds good, it looks goods, it has good build quality and it has an IP67 rating which makes it waterproof and dustproof.
So whether you’re chilling at home or outside in your yard, beside the pool, at the beach or on a camping trip, the JBL Charge 5 will do the job and do it well.
And not only that, it can also charge your other devices as well.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
ECHO BUDS – $169, $199 (with wireless charging case)
The Echo Buds offer quality sound and pack in Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in a compact and lightweight earbud which has an IPX4 rating making it water and sweat resistant.
The buds have a nozzle design so it fits comfortably and reduces ear pressure so you can wear them for hours.
Under the hood is a high-performance driver for crisp, balanced sound along with decent bass response.
APPLE HOMEPOD MINI – $149
Now you can add a bit of colour to your life after Apple released the HomePod Mini in brand new colours yellow, orange and blue to match your decor and style while still delivering high quality audio.
Priced at $149, the HomePod Mini packs in a big sound for a speaker of its size and uses computational audio to provide an impressive acoustic experience.
And because of its shape it delivers a rich 360-degree audio, so it sounds good from every angle.
If you have multiple HomePod Mini speakers, it’s possible to set them up throughout your house and either play a different song in every room or pair them all together for one big audio experience.
READ TECH GUIDE’S HOMEPOD MINI REVIEW
BOWERS & WILKINS PI7 – $599.95
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 true wireless earphones were not the first true wireless earphones released – there were many that came before it – but these are the best we’ve heard.
While the wire-free earphones category was exploding, every audio company was rushing models to market.
But not Bowers & Wilkins.
It wasn’t going to release a product of this kind until it could offer their iconic sound quality in this form factor without compromising the audio quality that its customers have come to expect from the brand.
And that’s exactly what Bowers & Wilkins has achieved with the PI7 True Wireless in-ear headphones.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
BLUEANT X4 BLUETOOTH SPEAKER – $299
BlueAnt turned plenty of heads when it released the X5 party speaker, but it has grabbed our attention once again with its latest X4 which might be smaller but still packs quite a punch.
The Australian company says the X4, priced at $299, is pound-for-pound the best speaker it has created.
The X4 has 50W of power and is the latest in the X Series of portable speakers and is built to be the life of the party at your next picnic, barbecue, at the beach, by the pool and its equally at home indoors as well.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REPORT HERE
NURATRUE EARPHONES – $299
There are lots of choices when it comes to wireless earphones that you hope sound good but new NuraTrue earphones can actually examine your ears and personalise the sound just for you.
We all hear sound differently so wireless earphones are not really a one size first all type of product.
Sure there are earphones that sound good to many people but what about earphones that can adapt to how you hear music and make the sound even better.
That’s exactly what you get from Nurasound’s latest product – the NuraTrue wireless earphones.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
JBL LIVE PRO+ TRUE WIRELESS EARPHONES – $249.95
When people are looking for wireless earphones they want both quality and value and the JBL Live Pro+ True Wireless earphones, which have just been released, offer just that.
JBL already has a strong reputation when it comes to producing great sound quality so our expectations were quite when we go got our hands on the JBL Live Pro+ earphones.
Priced at $249.95, the JBL Live Pro+ did not disappoint.
There’s a notion in this popular category that you have to spend $500 and stick with a particular brand to get something decent.
JBL has proven that’s definitely not the case.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
SONOS ROAM – $299
The new Sonos Roam go-anywhere speaker is the missing piece of the Sonos portfolio – a rugged speaker that can connect anywhere via Bluetooth and then take its place back on your network with your other Sonos speakers when you’re home.
And it’s built to go anywhere thanks to the IP67 rating which seals it from dust and makes it fully waterproof.
The appropriately named Roam is also small enough to take anywhere. It’s just 16.8cm tall and weighs a mere 0.43kg.
It is made of durable material and can take your everyday knocks and scrapes.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW
LG TONE FREE FN7 – $229
There is no shortage of wireless earphones but how many of them include UV Nano Self Cleaning technology which can kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria? Only one and it’s the new LG
This time out the LG Tone Free FN7 packs in Active Noise Cancellation so you can get rid of germs and also the ambient sound around you.
Created in partnership with Meridian, the earphones have 6mm driver units on board and have been tuned to offer impressive clarity and thumping bass.
Onboard is Meridian’s Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) which creates a pleasing soundscape that will make you forget the sound is coming from a small pair of earphones.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
BELKIN SOUNDFORM MOVE PLUS EARBUDS – $89.95 AUD
A must-have for the tech-lover in your life, this bundle is a daily essential that they will be thankful for! It offers high-quality sound for your music, podcasts and phone calls with the SOUNDFORM Move Plus True Wireless Earbuds.
Listen for longer with fast wireless charging capabilities of the included 10W Wireless Charging Pad.
Available from Big W
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REPORT HERE
LASER PORTABLE ICE BUCKET SPEAKER – $59.95
The Laser ultra-portable Ice Bucket speaker is a great option for indoor and outdoor entertainment in the festive season!
A perfect addition to any party. The rechargeable battery powers the LED lights that react to the Bluetooth connected music.
Bring it along to the next BBQ, picnic or event to keep your drinks cold, and music loud. The speaker base and bucket detach for easy cleaning.
Available from Big W.
HUAWEI FREEBUDS 4i – $159
If you’re looking for a pair of wire-free active noise cancelling earphones the new Huawei FreeBuds 4i provide both quality and value.
Priced at just $159, the Huawei FreeBuds 4i offer tremendous bang for your buck.
Available in black or white, the Huawei FreeBuds 4i have ergonomically-designed earbuds which sit at an angle that provide a comfortable and secure air-tight fit in your ears.
Each pair of FreeBuds 41 also come with three different sized ear tips so you can achieve the perfect fit.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW
EFM AUSTIN 25W BLUETOOTH SPEAKER – $279.95
Being able to hear your music in good quality wherever you go is possible with the new rugged and waterproof EFM Austin Bluetooth 25W speaker.
With an IPX7 rating there is no limit where you can take it.
The product gets its name from the Texas city known as the live music capital of the world and the speaker delivers with impressive and crisp audio and a nice level of bass.
The cylindrical Austin speaker has a fabric covering over the speaker grills and hard plastic caps which will protect the device if it’s accidentally dropped.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
EPOS ADAPT 660 – $640
The ultimate audio solution for the hybrid worker, the EPOS ADAPT 660 is the perfect headset to help you stay productive from anywhere.
ADAPT 660 helps users stay on task by blocking out distractions through its active noise-cancelling and EPOS AI technology to enhance microphone performance. Even better, you can stay on top of your to-do list with Alexa.
Built for your workdays, the ADAPT 660 has a reliable 30 hours of battery life, multi-point connectivity to switch between devices, and a dedicated Microsoft Teams button so you can jump straight into your next meeting.
BOWERS & WILKINS ZEPPELIN SPEAKER – $1,199
Bowers & Wilkins has unveiled the new Zeppelin – a complete stereo system in one – which offers better sound, has a new design and is smarter than ever.
The new Zeppelin has been reimagined for the streaming age.
It’s smarter and more flexible while still offering high resolution audio that is as crisp and dynamic as ever.
The unique shape and style of Zeppelin has remained one constant over the last 15 years but, like every other Bowen & Wilkins product, its design is defined by acoustics.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REPORT HERE
SKULLCANDY DIME EARPHONES – $69.95
Hey brother, can you lend me a Dime? That’s the name of the new super affordable Skullcandy wire-free earphones that offer an impressive sound and come with a tiny charging case and a tiny price.
Priced at just $69.95, the Skullcandy Dime earphones offer plenty of bang for your buck.
Skullcandy has produced some impressive headphones and earphones and its latest product – the Dime earphones – continue the tradition of providing quality and value.
READ TECH GUIDE’S COMPLETE REVIEW HERE
DENON HOME SPEAKERS – From $399
When you think of Denon you immediately think of quality audio and the brand has delivered that once again with its Home range of smart wireless speakers.
The Denon Home 150, 250 and 350 are an impressive family of speakers that are designed to appeal to a wide cross-section of customers.
These speakers can be connected by your home’s wi-fi or directly to your device via Bluetooth.
The speakers also have an Ethernet port to connect directly to your home’s broadband with a cable.
The superb onboard acoustics have been developed to offer impressive detail and bold audio authority and is the result of 110 years of the company’s sound innovation.
