Following the successful B & W Zeppelin comes the Zeppelin Mini, a smaller, and more compact iPod music system. The Zeppelin Mini iPod music system is an oval-shaped player wrapped in black cloth with a shiny chrome top, quite different than the original dirigible-looking Zeppelin. The Zeppelin Mini has a few new features and its sound quality is sure to please music lovers. Read my full review of the new B & W Zeppelin Mini and compare it with the B & W Zeppelin. The Zeppelin Mini is $399 and available from Amazon.com, Apple stores and selected resellers.

My top pick gifts for the stereo or music lover in your life includes accessories, headphones, speakers, receivers, music discs, books and other great, affordable gift buying ideas. Time is running out, check out my top picks list.

It doesn't get much better than this. The Sonos system is an elegant, wireless multiroom music solution with an intuitive user interface that thinks the way you do. You can share your iTunes library stored on a computer or NAS (network attached storage) device, an almost unlimited selection of music, talk and other programs from Internet Radio, Rhapsody, Pandora Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, last.fm, Napster or any external audio source. If you're considering a multiroom system, stop thinking and go online to find out about how to get a Sonos Multiroom Audio System directly from Sonos, your nearest dealer, or compare prices. I reserve five star ratings for the best of the best, and if any product qualifies it is the Sonos Multiroom Audio System. Read my full review of the Sonos system.

Whether you're a casual or critical listener, rock or classical music aficionado, there is something for everyone to like in the KEF iQ30 bookshelf speakers. They're affordably priced, have a neutral sound quality with little coloration and are easy to listen to with all kinds of music. Read my full review of the KEF iQ30 speakers.

Who would have thought that vinyl records would ever make such a strong comeback? According to sales tracking by Nielsen Soundscan, sales of vinyl records jumped 35% this year, while sales of CDs slumped almost 20%. Vinyl owes its resurgence to mostly younger music fans and the iPod generation who are fascinated with the liner notes and graphics found in LPs. I'll bet they like analog sound as well. Retailers have recognized the trend and are adding records and turntables to their product mix. The New York Times has the whole story.

The sound quality of stereo speakers is highly dependent upon room placement and the design of the speaker. Bass, for example, will sound louder or softer if the speaker is placed closer to or farther away from a wall, especially if the speaker is ported or vented. Imaging and soundstage are affected by speaker separation and listener distance from the speaker. In short, to get the best performance from any pair of speakers, they must be placed in the right room location and every room is different. A little experimentation with speaker placement and listening to the results is all that's needed to get the best sound from your stereo speakers. To learn more, read my article about correct speaker placement.

A 2.1 channel system is a home theater with two stereo speakers and a subwoofer. Unlike a 5.1 channel system with two surround sound speakers and a center channel speaker, a 2.1 channel system eliminates the need for extra speakers and wires and is easier to install. What are the ups and downs of a 2.1 channel system and how good do they sound? Read my article to learn more about 2.1 channel systems and check out my full review of the Cambridge Audio Sonata 2.1 channel component system.

If you know someone with a computer and a home stereo system (and who doesn't?), the Apple Airport Express is a great gift idea. Airport Express wirelessly sends an iTunes music library from a PC or Mac computer to a home stereo system or powered speakers. It's simple to setup and use and an affordable gift idea for you or the music lover on your gift list. Read my full review of the Apple Airport Express.

As a tabletop radio/docking station, the Duo-i plus offers good full range audio performance for iPod/iPhone music and FM radio. It's easy to use, nicely styled and makes a great tabletop system for a bedroom, den, office or kitchen.

As a clock radio, the 'sleep timer' can lull you to sleep for up to 90 minutes and its twin alarms will gently awaken you to an alarm tone and/or iPhone or iPod tunes, AM/FM radio, or an MP3 player connected to one of the two AUX inputs. Grab up to 60 minutes of snooze time by touching the 360-degree snooze bar around the edge of the radio instead of fumbling for a 'Snooze' button.

The Duo-i is well-built with a quality look and feel and is available in a high gloss black or white finish. The radio can be customized with nine grille colors available for $14.99 on the Boston Acoustics website. Read my full review of the Boston Acoustics Duo-i plus and compare prices.

Best Buy: Black Friday hours - Open 5AM

Alpine CDE-100 50-watt x 4 Car Stereo: $99.99

Harmony 510 Advanced Universal Remote control: $39.99

iHome Alarm Clock with iPod Dock: $39.95

Apple iPod Nano 8GB player - Black: $149.99

Bose Earbud Headphones: $89.99

Motorola S9HD Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headphones: $49.99

Pioneer 50-watt x 4 Car Stereo with two 6.5" Speakers: $89.99

Kmart: Black Friday hours - Open at 6AM

iHome Portable iPod/MP3 Player Speaker system: $9.99

Philips 4-device Universal Remote Control: $9.99

Sony Earbud Headphones - Assorted Colors: $4.99

Wireless Gear Bluetooth Headset: $7.99

Radio Shack: Black Friday hours - Open at 5:30 AM

iLive 2.1 channel DVD/CD system with iPod Dock: $99.99

ION Profile Pro USB Turntable with Software: $79.99

ESPN GameDay Universal Remote Control: $9.99

Radio Shack NOAA Weather Cube Radio: $10.00

Sirius Radio Dock & Play Radio with Car Kit: $29.99

For the best gift ideas, check out my Top Pick Gift List for stereo and music lovers with links to compare prices.