CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

Sure, you could ask a tiny Arctic being to make all your Christmas presents out of wood… but don’t you think they’re busy enough? And whether you’re after ideas for loved ones or compiling your own wishlist, you might find that, when it comes to tech-based products, consulting the annual Stuff Gift Guide yields better results. Well, have you ever seen an elf use a soldering iron? 

SHURE AONIC 50 GEN 2

We were fans of the first-gen Aonic 50s, and now Shure is back with a new version including spatial audio, improved active noise-cancellation and a much-improved 45hrs of battery life. There’s also wide codec support including high-quality LDAC, SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive… and if you do like cables from time to time, there’s still a headphone port. The spatial audio settings have some presets to try out, while there are custom EQ settings in the ShurePlus Play app that will let you fine-tune every aspect of the sound. Oh, and the app will save settings to the headphones themselves so you can get the same experience with different source devices. £349 / shure.com

ROLAND E-X10

An inspiring starter keyboard for those beginning their musical journey, or simply a solid backup for veterans, the E-X10 is acompact yet capable number loaded with quality acoustic piano sounds. Touch-sensitive keys mimic the actions of its analogue cousins, while an aux input and the option for battery power throw some additional flexibility into the mix. £179 / roland.com

SOUNDMAGIC P60BT

Long renowned for producing some of the best bang-for-buck headphones, Soundmagic has earned a real cult following. The P60BT over-ears continue the tradition, with great ANC and 40mm drivers. £130 / soundmagic headphones.com

FENDER WORK MAT STATION

One for dedicated guitar tinkerers, Fender’s tidy neopreneanti-slip mat, coupled with apadded neck cradle, provides asafe and easy way to tweak and repair beloved instruments in comfort and safety. Go for the tweed option. £67 / fender.com

DIGIT MUSIC CMPSR

The Cmpsr is perfect for someone whose home studio already has it all. Compatible with all MIDI software and hardware, it’s a simple plug-and-play device that offers a unique and fun way to create and interact with created beats. The secret sauce lies in its gamer-style joystick, which has velocity-sensitive powers to let users manipulate tracks like a magical tune wizard. £299 / digitmusic.co.uk

SONY WF-1000XM5

Sony’s latest iteration of its award-winning buds are some of the best wireless in-ears money can currently buy. With exceptional sound, top-notch noise-cancellation and the brand’s best ever call quality, they promise the world and deliver. £259/sony.co.uk

MUSIC LOVER

They’ve got a carefully curated festive playlist, and all they really want for Christmas is something from this bunch

WIIM PRO PLUS

The Pro Plus will turn any stereo into astreaming machine, gracing whatever you connect it to with the power of AirPlay 2and Chromecast, along with Wi-Fi streaming for all major services like Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music. £149 / amazon.co.uk

QOBUZ

Diehard audio purists who value absolute quality above all else (but also want the convenience of streaming) might want to pass over the usual Tidal recommendation for Qobuz –a service that’s dedicated to offering the best sound possible. £12.99/m / qobuz.com

Q ACOUSTICS 5010

The 5010 bookshelf speakers are ideal for those looking for a serious upgrade without having to install a load of hefty gear that takes over the whole room. Producing big, accomplished sound despite their compact size, and available in a range of tasty finishes including rosewood and black, they’ll handle anything from music to movies with surprising grace and power. £499 (pair) / qacoustics.co.uk

RUARK RS1 SUBWOOFER

Know somebody who owns a pair of Ruark’s excellent MR1 speakers? Well, they’re guaranteed to love this 100W powered sub, which is designed to match them. It will take up a lot of space under the tree, though. £349 / ruarkaudio.com

SHARP CP-LS100 SUMOBOX

The SumoBox’s design might not win any awards, but its no-frills naturewillwinyou over all the same. Big but portable, it’s as happy firing out tunes over Bluetooth as it is taking TRS/XLR cable inputs from synths and mics. £399 / currys.co.uk

IFI UNO

Not many DACs are small enough to fit into a Christmas stocking, but iFi’sUSB-powered Uno fits a lot of tune-polishing power into ateeny chassis. Connect it to a PC, plug in speakers or headphones and you’ve got a ticket to hi-res hi-fi joy. £79 / ifi-audio.com

TECH NOMAD

If you can actually find a postal address for your favourite connected globetrotter, here’s what should make their day

FOCUSRITE VOCASTER ONE

Creative types who plan to record their travels won’t want to take up precious bag space with an entire studio setup, but this compact audio interface captures studio-quality sound from any connected mic. £99 / focusrite.com

WITHINGS SCANWATCH 2

There’s no point wearing apower-hungry smartwatch if you don’t know when you’re next going to encounter a plug socket, but the hybrid ScanWatch 2 offers a fine compromise. Ditching a full OLED screen for an analogue/digital combo, it covers all the fitness, body temperature, sleep-tracking and phone notification bases, while lasting up to 30 days between charges. £320 / withings.com

LOGITECH CASA

Travelling the world doesn’t mean you’re always on holiday. This all-in-one remote working solutionturnsany flat surface into aproductivity zone, combining alaptop stand with awireless keyboard and alarge trackpad. £180 / logitech.com

JABRA ELITE 8 ACTIVE

Touted as the toughest earbuds in the world, the ANC-toting Elite 8 Actives are built to handle practically anything. IP68 durability is a nice start, but it’s the MIL-STD-810H rating for extreme thermals, shocks and drops that makes them ideal for intrepid types. £200/jabra.co.uk

INSTA360 GO 3

The Go 3 is a cute little waterproof 2.7K action cam that packs amighty punch despite its size. Small and light enough to be clipped onto your clothes and forgotten about, the basic package comes with various attachments plus the all-important Action Pod, which bestows it with a mini flip-up display for framing and vlogging. With one of these you’ll never miss asecond of adventure. £380 / insta360.com

CASETIFY ULTRA BOUNCE CASE

It might look a bit unwieldy, but this case aims to offer ultimate peace of mind when you’re far from home. It’s been tested to withstand drops at all angles, thanks to some seriously beefy corner bumpers. from £85 / casetify.com

BELLROY COOLER CADDY

Traditional coolers get the job done, but the last thing you’ll want to cart around on apicnic in the Balinese mountains is a big box. Bellroy’s insulated cooler caddy will keep lunch cool, and its lightweight form makes for an easy stroll home. £55 / bellroy.com

HORIZN STUDIOS H5 RE

Travel geeks will be no strangers to Horizn Studios’ quality luggage, with durable construction and oh-so-smooth wheels. The H5 RE has all this and more, thanks to its 97% recycled polycarbonate hard shell. £345 / horiznstudios.co.uk

ANKER PRIME 27,650MAH POWER BANK (250W)

This hefty power brick is the only one you’ll ever need, thanks to acavernous 27,650mAh capacity (enough to charge an iPhone 14 around 4.5 times) and 250W multi-device fast-charging. Two USB-C ports and a single USB-A cover all bases, and it’s nippy enough to boost a 16in M2 Pro MacBook Pro to 50% in just 28 minutes. £180 / anker.com