|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
December 4, 2007 ../ 2007 FutureMusic Holiday Buyers GuideFutureMusic Suggests A Few Stocking StuffersAre you having trouble scoring the perfect gift for your musically inclined special someone? Well, let us come to the rescue with the 2007 FutureMusic Holiday Gift Guide. All the gift suggestions below have been test-driven by FutureMusic to ensure quality.
Earphones:Shure E530PTH. Shure revamped their lineup of high-end earphones last year after several upstarts took the spotlight away from the giant. The result is much improved comfort and a sonic signature that will satisfy even the most critical audiophile in your circle. Well, he'll probably find something to b*tch about... $499. More information on the Shure E530PTH.
iPod Dock:mStation. The mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower is a complete iPod sound system in a very attractive all-metal package. This floor-standing model is 43" tall and houses the five drivers in three vertical tubes. The down-firing 5.25" subwoofer is great for electronic music with surprising power and thump. mStation didn't skimp on the iPod docking options with adapters for almost every model ever made. The infrared remote is excellent and can control the Tower from long distances. If you have a friend that likes to listen to bass-heavy music, then the mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower is highly recommended. $300. More information on the mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower.
 
iPod Clock/Radio:XtremeMac Luna. XtremeMac's Luna iPod Alarm clock is a design-forward, feature-rich music system that will appeal to almost anyone on your Holiday list who owns an iPod, and, um, needs to actually wake up at a specified time. We've been testing the Luna for a couple of months and find that it offers a whole lot of stylish bang for the buck. The large, futuristic LCD screen is your window into tons of alarm and wake up options — we especially like how the volume can slowly fade up on your favorite iPod track — and sounds good enough for full-time bedroom sound system duties. $150. More information on the XtremeMac Luna.
Prank Gift:Annoy-A-Tron. We described this device as "pure, unadulterated, geek evil" in one of our Weekend Fun stories, and over the past year it has proved to be one of the most ROFL pranks in our studio. Hide the Annoy-A-Tron deep in a rack or underneath a keyboard controller and let the fun begin. $10. More information on the Annoy-A-Tron.
Portable Video Camera:Flip Video Ultra. This ultra compact video camera has gotten a surprising amount of use in our hands over the past couple of months. Initially unimpressed by the quality, we found that the convenience, price, Mac & PC compatibility, 60 minutes of recording time, and the simplicity of the device made up for any serious negatives. $149. More information on the Flip Video Ultra.
Digital Still Camera:Canon Rebel XTi. Do you know someone who's addicted to their point'n'shoot camera, but the pictures they make you sit through often come up wanting? Buy them Canon's Rebel XTi. The camera has excellent imaging quality, and a robust built-in flash that rarely over-exposes. And the great thing about the XTi is that you can go fully automatic or completely manual, allowing your loved one to wade into the warm waters of creativity without overwhelming their comfort zone. Canon's "L" series lenses and other peripherals mean that you'll have follow-up gifts for years to come. $600. More information on the Canon Rebel XTi.
Music Video Game:Guitar Hero III. The latest incarnation of the Guitar Hero franchise now has an innovative version for the Nintendo Wii system that makes use of the remote's speaker to notify you of missed notes or worse. $90. More information on Guitar Hero III Bundle.
Music Software:Logic 8 Express. So your little brother keeps telling you how he's "busting out the freshest beats" with GarageBand. Well, now here's a gift that will not only bring him down to reality, but also set him up for the future. With an Apple-ized interface, and a low price point, Logic 8 Express may be the best gift he'll get this year. $199. More information on Logic 8 Express.
Music Hardware:Access Virus TI. This powerful line of synths stumbled out of the starting gate, but has since recovered nicely. The creamy Virus sound coupled with the ability to look like a soft synth in your DAW, makes the virus a hardware no-brainer. $1250. More information on the Access Virus TI.
Soft Synth:Native Instruments FM8. Even if you're not a huge fan of FM synthesis, Native Instruments' FM8 will make you one. With one of the best soft synth interfaces to date, FM8 is intuitive, easy-to-use and extremely flexible. But what makes FM8 an absolute standout is the incredible sound quality. $339. More information on Native Instruments FM8.
Music-Oriented Book:Street Sketchbook. For the first time ever, readers get a peek into the colorful notebooks of some of the biggest graffiti names in the world, like Alexander Purdy, Banksy and Blu, revealing what goes on in their minds when they're not bombing trains, or sneaking fake Paris Hilton CDs into retail stores. $23. More information on the Street Sketchbook.
Magazine Subscription:Surface. Want to give a gift that keeps on giving all year long? Then score your buddy a subscription to Surface. This design-oriented mag has the ability to not only inspire, but also to educate. $30. More information on the Surface.
No Effort Gift:Beatport Gift Card. Nothing says "I put no effort or thought into your gift" like a gift card, but if you want to at least do something for the electronic music fan on your list, then the Beatport Gift card is definitely the way to go. $10. More information on the Beatport Gift Card.
Gift For Your Friendly, Neighborhood Rapper:XtremeMac MicroMemo. If any of your rapper friends has an iPod, then for $60 bucks, you can get them a gift that they will adore. The XtremeMac MicroMemo is a killer accessory that will enable your talented pal to record any of their rhymes the moment inspiration strikes. Don't believe us? Read our full XtremeMac MicroMemo review. $60. More information on the XtremeMac MicroMemo.
Gag Gift:Asahi's Beerbot. You can probably pour an entire 6 pack in about the same time it takes the Beerbot to pour a single brew, but that's really not the point. For the laziest Beer addict on your list, Asahi's Beerbot not only stores and refrigerates six cans of beer, it also retrieves and pours at the touch of a button (what? no remote?? —Ed.). It also has a programmable voice (male, female or custom) and comes with mugs and a floor diaper in case of a foam overflow. $800. More information on the Asahi's Beerbot.
>>> Back To Digihear?
Copyright © 2007 FutureMusic® All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
News Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|