A great gift for the family, whether it’s your own or a special family on your list, is something for home entertainment. Audio is a big part of that, from soundbars to full-sized and portable speakers, streaming DACs, turntables, even furniture. We have some great home entertainment audio gift ideas for everyone on your list. Wondering about video? Stay tuned for our home entertainment video gift guide!
Top Picks (sponsored)
1. Yamaha True X Bar 90A Soundbar
In a sea of audio options for the living room, bedroom, or den, soundbars are an attractive proposition for many reasons. They are compact and usually chosen for their space-saving properties. But there are premium options like the Yamaha True X Bar 90A soundbar that pack big, immersive sound in a small package.
This soundbar has a bit more heft to it than you might expect with a soundbar, but that’s because it is built to perform. It features Yamaha’s exclusive YSP beam speaker technology, Dolby Atmos support, and AURO-3D, so you get the sense of having a height channel even though it’s just a single bar mounted under the TV.
Thanks to Yamaha’s YDA-141 amplifier and 12 precise DSP-controlled beam speakers mounted on top (six on each side), sound reflects from the ceiling. When you’re watching a movie or listening to music, sounds like raindrops falling from overhead really feel like they’re above you, notes from every instrument in the orchestra as though you’re in the stadium. You get clear and natural sound with no distortion.
I had the chance to demo this soundbar at Yamaha Canada’s head office in Scarborough, ON and I was blown away. I watched an opening scene from Blade Runner 2049 and every detail was sharp, pronounced, and dynamic. Whether it was airplanes flying overhead, explosions, or even bits of metal clanging against other surfaces, it was like it was happening all around me.
We switched to a Pink Floyd concert DVD and as they sang their hit song “Money” live, it was like I was sitting in the audience. The volume was cranked to 75 and there was no distortion, every note and guitar solo wonderfully reproduced.
The soundbar is encased in a sturdy, high rigid cabinet with large resin legs. It ships with the Symmetrical Flare Port subwoofer affording deep bass. If you want more, there are wireless rear speakers with built-in batteries you can add to the system later. Connectivity-wise, it comes with Yamaha’s MusicCast network system, is compatible with a variety of music services like Amazon Music HD and Spotify, and you can stream from Apple Music and through AirPlay 2. Link other MusicCast devices and you can play music throughout the home. Oh yah, you can even control it using the MusicCast app. You can pick it up for $3,299 with the sub or $3,799 with the rear speakers as well.
2. Bluesound Pulse Cinema Soundbar
Bluesound, available through Lenbrook Canada, is known for its breadth of audio products, and the Pulse Cinema soundbar is a perfect starting point or addition to other Bluesound products in the home. The Pulse Cinema is a 3.2.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar featuring 16 speaker drivers, up-firing speakers, and BluOS multi-room streaming, delivering expansive sound for 55-inch TVs and up. The 47-inch multi-room soundbar features 500W total system power and a driver array that includes a dedicated centre channel, dual 4” woofers, and dedicated up-firing speakers. The result is a 3D soundstage that enhances everything from movies and games to music and sports with more details and realism. Want something smaller? Look at the Pulse Cinema Mini, which measures just 33 inches and delivers 280W power, ideal for tighter set-ups, like condos, apartments, and bedrooms.
Both models support HDMI eARC, optical and analog inputs, and offer flexible placement options, including automatic DSP-powered orientation detection that eliminates the need for manual tuning when wall mounted. They also feature BluOS, Bluesound’s powerful multi-room audio platform that enables wireless surround sound, hi-res music streaming, and integration with smart home control systems like Control4 and Crestron. BluOS supports more than 20 streaming services, including Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Deezer, and playback of high-resolution formats up to 24-bit/192kHz. Connect and stream your digital music libraries, enjoy internet radio stations, or sync audio seamlessly across multiple rooms with other Bluesound or BluOS enabled products.
The BluOS Controller app, available on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, makes it simple to browse, control, and enjoy music from anywhere in the home. Of course, you can also pair either soundbar with other Bluesound speakers to create a larger surround system.
3. JBL Charge 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
It’s incredible that this small speaker is just $250 given the incredible and powerful sound you get. Available in five solid colours as well as camouflage through Erikson Consumer, JBL proprietary technology called AI Sound Boost analyzes your music in real time to provide “maximum acoustic performance with less distortion.” With 30W RMS output power for the woofer and 15W RMS for the tweeter, it supports lossless audio playback.
Get up to 24 hours of playtime per charge, and an extra four hours in a pinch using JBL Playtime Boost. Pair two Charge 6 speakers for stereo sound, perfect for positioning one at either side of the pool or on the deck.
You can also connect multiple JBL speakers with Auracast, including other models, to get more immersive sound throughout a larger area like a basement or backyard. The speaker is IP68 water and dust resistant and drop-proof. Want to know more about how it sounds? Read my review. But spoiler alert: you won’t be disappointed.
4. Norstone Oslo Furniture Cabinet for Vinyl
If there’s a vinyl enthusiast in your family, they might need a neat place to store all their albums. The Norstone Oslo, exclusively distributed in Canada by Gemsen, is a cabinet built for this purpose. There’s the Oslo 1200 and Oslo 800, both offered in Black/Walnut or White/Light Oak. It’s designed to showcase audio equipment and records and can accommodate an amplifier, a network player, or any other device essential to a hi-fi setup.
The top shelf is for displaying a turntable while the bottom section features storage for records with an innovative grip system that prevents vinyl records from slipping out, providing secure and practical organization.
The 1200 is bigger with three drawers and the 800 smaller with two, each capable of housing 80 vinyl records, enough for those with a huge collection. The 800 and 1200 sell for $699 and $999, respectively.
5. JBL BAR1000 MK2 Soundbar
The JBL Bar 1000MK2 soundbar employs a unique design JBL has integrated into previous generation soundbars with detachable wireless speakers on either side so you can use them as rears when you want a fully immersive, surround sound experience. It contains four up-firing speakers along with these wireless speakers, delivering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X height effects without the need for extra wires, or even extra speakers! Place the wireless speakers back onto the soundbar once you’re done and they’ll recharge. Neat!
You get 960W max output and it comes with a 10-inch subwoofer for thundering bass. With MultiBeam 3,0, you get cinema-like sound no matter where you’re sitting in the room. PureVoice 2.0 ensures dialogue is easily heard, automatically raises or optimizing voices based on ambient sound in the scene as well as the volume of the soundbar itself. SmartDetails, meanwhile, ensures you hear all the subtle sounds in the movie, TV show, or sporting event using JBL’s advanced sound enhancement technology.
In his review, John Thomson calls the JBL BAR 1000 MK2 a beautiful sounding soundbar that offers “outstanding performance in a compact package.” He loves the calibration tool that optimizes Dolby Atmos sound based on where the rear speakers are placed. Detaching and positioning the rear speakers is simple, though he reminds you to remember to power them on, as they sometimes don’t turn on automatically. The included remote is responsive, offering customizable controls for Dolby Atmos levels, rear speaker volume, and five bass settings. It’s available through Erikson Consumer for $1,699. Read John’s review for more.
Other Gift Ideas
Looking for more? Here are some additional gift ideas to add to your home audio set-up.
Marshall Kilburn III Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that will stand out with both modern and retro vibes? The Marshall Kilburn III is it. The speaker affords upwards of 50 hours of playtime per charge, which is more than double that of its predecessor. It comes with 360° True Stereophonic sound and, like others from the brand, was engineered to be turned up loud without compromising sound quality. Employing a classic aesthetic inspired by Marshall amps and rock’n’roll heritage, you get intricate details like tactile control knobs and a carrying strap lined with velvet that can be easily removed and reattached with guitar strap buttons. Use the controls to power the speaker on and off, play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust bass and treble. There’s also the signature M button for accessing presets. The IP54 dust and water-resistant speaker comes in Black and Brass or Cream through Erikson Consumer.
Marantz AV 20 Preamplifier
The Marantz AV 20 preamplifier deploys the Analog Devices SHARC dual-core DSP chipset coupled to 32-bit two-channel DACs with dedicated jitter reduction. The result is a digital platform that can decode and process high-resolution stereo and immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X Pro and AURO-3D. With Audyssey MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimization, Dirac Live Room Correction plus Dirac Live Bass Control are optionally available. Each of its seven HDMI inputs can support up to 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz video, while its high-resolution user interface makes setup and customization seamless. The discrete HDAM SA-3 preamplifier stage feeds up to 13.4 channels via RCA or XLR outputs, ensuring ample flexibility over system configurations. The AV 20 supports the latest HEOS whole-home multi-room platform, giving effortless access to streaming service content, all seamlessly integrated into one unified user experience. Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth all complement HEOS to simplify access to a range of streaming services, mobile devices, and use cases.
Victrola Harmony Bluetooth Turntable System with Shelf Speakers
First shown at CES 2025 earlier this year, the Victrola Harmony Bluetooth turntable system with shelf speakers is a full-size turntable system with matching stereo speakers. Employing a sleek mid-century design, it features a full-size, belt-driven turntable combined with matching stereo bookshelf speakers to enhance the audio experience out of the box. With a premium Audio-Technica ATN3600L moving magnet cartridge and Bluetooth input and output, it streams vinyl wirelessly to any Bluetooth speaker or pair of headphones. Built in Vinylstream Bluetooth output allows for wireless Bluetooth audio playback from a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other compatible device. The bookshelf speaker, meanwhile, includes a woofer, tweeter and bass port. It has an RCA output, headphone jack, and 3.5mm aux input for connecting to external speakers, headphones, and additional audio sources. A removable full-size dust cover keeps components safe from dust and scratches. Get it in Walnut, Natural, or Black through Erikson Consumer.
Audiolab 6000 MKII Series Entry-Level Amplifier
The Audiolab 6000A MKII integrates technology from the upmarket 7000A and 9000A amplifiers to deliver expanded performance and versatility at an affordable price. Externally, the 6000A MkII appears identical to the original model with the same chassis, same controls, and same central OLED display. Under the lid is a different story with numerous upgrades encompassing the DAC section, phono stage, transformer, and power supply circuitry. Around the back, an HDMI ARC input has been added. Connect both digital and analogue sources, and there’s wireless connectivity for portable devices, a phono stage for playing vinyl, and amplification for headphones as well as speakers. What makes the original 6000A a modern hi-fi classic is the way it combines all these elements in an affordable package that is consistently strong across every parameter. So, what’s the price? Drumroll please: it comes in silver or black for $1,599 and is available exclusively through Erikson Consumer.
Morel Biggie Portable Bluetooth Speaker
For someone who loves funky designs, the Morel Biggie portable Bluetooth speaker fits the bill but it’s actually anything but big: it measures a tiny 7 x 7 inches in size. It uses customized DSP technology to optimize sound quality and Morel’s signature dynamic EQ for sound balancing with zero distortion. Get up to 20 hours of battery life per charge, Bluetooth BLE 5.3 technology for a range up to 165 feet, and support for TWS pairing and multi-speaker connection through an app update. Available through Gemsen in nine finishes, it sells for $499.
McIntosh DS200 Streaming DAC
McIntosh’s DS200 has been designed for listeners who already have compatible power amplifiers and preamplifiers but are just missing the high-end streaming component to complete their audio systems. Compatible with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and Google Cast, it’s equipped with two Wi-Fi antennas and one Bluetooth antenna for stable wireless connections, as well as an Ethernet port for wired connections. It’s also compatible with Google Assistant, allowing voice control for managing the audio setup. Equipped with the latest-generation Quad Balanced eight-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), you get dynamic range and low distortion. It integrates seamlessly with the Roon music player, offering enhanced music experiences with rich metadata and certified streaming technology. In addition to streaming capabilities, the DS200 provides eight digital audio inputs, supporting high-resolution digital audio playback, including DSD512 and DXD up to 384kHz via USB, and 24-bit/192kHz via coax and optical inputs. The HDMI (ARC) input transforms TV and movie audio experiences, converting Dolby and DTS multi-channel formats into two-channel audio for playback. Get it for $6,000.
PSB PWM Sat On-Wall Speaker
The new PWM Sat On-Wall Speakers, available through Lenbrook Canada, comes in a satin black or white finish and integrates seamlessly into any room décor. Compact in size, it features PSB’s Synchrony-based driver technology with a 1” titanium dome tweeter and a 4” woven carbon fibre woofer. The two-piece locking bracket system support ensures secure and easy installation in horizontal, vertical, or ceiling orientations. The speaker system is fully expandable, can be used as an immersive Dolby Atmos system, and can be matched with other PWM series models with a consistent sound signature. It is available for $1,299/pr.
All sponsored top picks are recommended by the WiFi HiFi team. All views expressed are our own.