Best AV Gifts of 2019
Mixcder E9 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones: $80
Looking for noise-canceling wireless headphones your giftee can take along when s/he travels but discouraged by high prices? We recommend taking the Mixcder E9s for a test drive. Eighty bucks ($70 on Amazon) gets you a set of comfortable over-ear headphones that deliver satisfying sound and active noise cancellation that does a good job of suppressing the most egregious noise. All this for two to three times less than many comparably equipped name-brand headphones. Best part: The company has a 30-day return policy. (See page 5 for more headphone gift ideas).
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Satisfying sound
Effective noise canceling
Light weight and not overly bulky
Minus
Sound could be fuller
Some discomfort after an hour or so of listening
JBL One Series 104 Powered Reference Monitors: $129/pair
We know what you’re thinking: Let’s get real: there’s no way you’re going to get crisp, distinctive sound from a pair of powered minispeakers that cost $129 a pair. But we’re here to tell you that’s exactly what you get with JBL’s One Series 104 speakers. Reviewer Al Griffin was as surprised as anyone: “There was a striking sense of clarity to the sound, along with precise imaging that allowed me to easily sort out individual instruments in the mix.” Need a pair of kick-ass speakers for your desktop? Look no further.
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clean, dynamic sound
Compact form factor
Great value
Minus
Limited connection options
Sennheiser HD 569 Headphones: $149
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Lightweight yet rugged design
Smooth overall sound balance
Two-year warranty
Minus
Isolation from external noise could be better
Vizio 36-inch 2.1-Channel Soundbar System: $150
Vizio’s SB3621n-G8 soundbar has a solitary mission: Replace the awful speakers built into most TVs with an elegant, two-piece system that’s inexpensive and easy to set up. The low-profile subwoofer connects wirelessly to the soundbar so all you have to do is run an audio cable to the TV, select the appropriate input, and sink into the couch. For $150, you get the ability to stream music from your phone or tablet/laptop and a serious boost in sound quality, making the system ideal for a small bedroom or den. All in all, a great value and worthy candidate for your holiday shopping list.
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Decent sound for the price
Slim, wireless subwoofer
Bluetooth for music streaming
Minus
Confusing LED display
Lacks deep bass
Hard-to-read remote control
Riva Concert Wireless Smart Speaker: $179
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Audio playback from connected USB drive
Portable with optional external battery
Solid bass performance
Minus
Narrow soundstage at close range
Treble could be more transparent
Cleer Enduro 100: Wireless Headphones: $180
They don’t call these wireless ’phones Enduro 100 for nothing. In a stroke of genius, the engineers at Cleer have figured out how to extend battery life to upwards of 100 hours. In other words, you can listen wirelessly for a good week (or more) without having to worry about charging. And listen you will — the Enduro’s are comfortable to wear for long periods and produce smooth, detailed sound. All in all, a great value.
AT A GLANCE
Plus
Smooth, detailed sound
Solid construction
Light weight
Comfortable
Minus
Sound can be somewhat muted
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