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12 gifts for music nerds

Synthesizers, turntables and high-end headphones.

Nerds come in many forms. Some build stuff, some likevideo games, and others sweat the tiny details of audio fidelity or salivate over vintage drum machines. That latter group can be difficult to shop for if you’re not initiated in the ways of the music nerd. But don’t worry. Whether the obsessive audio freak in your life is more into making music or listening to it, we’ve got you covered. For those that love composing sweet beats, there’s the TR-09 – a pretty solid remake of the classic 909 drum machine that was essential to creating ‘80s and '90s house and techno. There are also pocket synths for musicians on the go, like thePocket Operator line from Teenage Engineering.

For those who get their kicks more from listening than creating, there are subscription services like VNYL that deliver fresh pressed records to your door. You’ll also need a solid turntable like Music Hall’s MMF-2.3 to listen to them on, of course. And, if your favorite audiophile also happens to be an iPhone owner there’s an obvious stocking stuffer: Belkin’s Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar. This brings back the headphone jack and lets you charge the phone at the same time!

For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don’t forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guidehub.