A list of thoughtful and affordable stereo gift ideas for Father's Day or the Grad in your life.
1. The Complete Guide to High-End Audio by Robert Harley
Robert is a highly respected industry veteran whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for many years. As he states in the preface: “This book is for anyone who enjoys music. It is about enriching our lives through the joy of high-quality music reproduction in the home.” His passion for music is evident throughout the book as he discusses everything from how to become a better listener, how to get the best sound from your room and a detailed look at the components that make a good audio system. His knowledge has helped me grasp some of the concepts, products and technologies that makes home audio so enjoyable. The book is still in print and I highly recommend it.
5. Yamaha NS-AW570 Outdoor Speakers
All weather speakers with dual tweeters for wide sound dispersion. White finish and paintable.6. Harman Kardon HK 3490 Stereo Receiver
Harman Kardon is a legendary name in the stereo and home theater business. The Harman Kardon HK 3490 has most of the features I’d look for in a stereo receiver, plus a few extras: An input for the Harman Kardon Bridge II docking station for a compatible Apple iPod, or iPod Touch, and it is XM Satellite Radio Ready when used with an optional XM tuner. Priced at $499 the Harman Kardon HK 3490 stereo receiver offers great audio performance and plenty of useful features. Despite the lack of a learning or universal remote control, its sound quality makes it easy for me to recommend the HK 3490 for a main stereo system or as a bedroom, dorm room or second audio system. Read my full review of the Harman-Kardon HK 3490 receiver.
7. Paradigm Titan Monitor V.6 Bookshelf Speakers
I may be slightly biased, but my first reaction when listening to the Paradigm Titan V.6 Monitor Series speakers was Paradigm has produced another winner. I say slightly biased because I own Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v.2 tower speakers as one of my reference speaker systems. The Paradigm Titan Monitors have many of the sound characteristics I appreciate in my Paradigm Monitors, even though the Studio 100s are floorstanding towers and far more expensive than the Titans. This makes the Titan Monitors an outstanding value. Their full bass response, open midrange and detailed high frequency response are an impressive accomplishment for $298 apiece.








