Gifts for music lovers in Australia

Listener or player

Most music lovers either listen or play. For a listener, buy better sound. For a player, buy the thing that gets them playing more. The Australian list leans to listeners, with two kalimbas for someone who wants to start playing.

For a listener

The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is an easy first turntable, but it needs powered speakers or a stereo. Check what they have before you buy it.

Radio is the other Australian answer. Sangean's DAB+ portable has forty presets and a lock switch for a grandparent who wants the same station every morning; DAB+ coverage is mostly in capital cities, so regional listeners will lean on FM. The pocket radio has two dials and runs on batteries in the garden or shed.

For a summer of beach days and barbecues, the Bose SoundLink Flex handles sand, drops and a dunk in the pool. The Marshall Emberton III is better looking and better on a shelf.

For a player

A kalimba is the easiest first instrument we know. The Bondi Bliss comes with a case and tuning hammer, and the Rainbow has guide stickers so tunes come quickly. Metal tines are hard on thumbs for the first few days, and both drift out of tune over time.

Kalimbas also suit people who would never pick up a guitar: there are no chords to learn, the notes are fixed, and a beginner can play by ear. That makes them a fair gift for a teen, a parent or a grandparent alike.

Headphones and timing

For a long-haul flyer, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra has the strongest noise cancelling here. For home recording, wired ATH-M50x studio headphones. For someone who forgets to charge, the Marshall Major V runs over 100 hours.

Australian prices for the big brands run well above US ones, so check the local shop rather than converting. Order early in December, and send the Apple Gift Card by email if you leave it late.

Questions people ask

What do you get a music lover who has everything?

Look for the maintenance gear and small tools they never buy for themselves. A vinyl collector rarely owns a proper record cleaning machine. A guitarist always needs more picks and a spare tuner. A regular concert-goer may not have proper earplugs. For a listener with a good setup, a gift card toward streaming or new music lets them pick.

Is a turntable a good gift for a beginner?

Yes, if you also check what they will plug it into. An entry-level model like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X has a built-in preamp but no speakers, so it needs powered speakers or a stereo. If they have neither, add powered speakers with a phono input, or choose an all-in-one player with speakers built in.

What is a good first instrument to give an adult?

A soprano ukulele or a 17-key kalimba. Both are cheap enough that it does not matter if they stall, and both let a beginner play a simple tune within days. Add a clip-on tuner to a ukulele, since new strings drift out of tune often for the first week, and the kit rarely includes one.

What are good stocking stuffers for a guitarist?

A pack of picks, a clip-on tuner, a capo that fits their guitar, or a notebook for lyrics and chord ideas. Picks get lost all the time, so they are always used. Check the capo type: acoustic, electric and classical necks differ, and a capo for the wrong neck will not sit properly.