Audio Chronicle's 2025 Musician's Holiday Buyer's Guide
We tested, compared, and curated — the only six music gear deals worth your attention this holiday season.
This holiday season, musicians and audio enthusiasts have a real chance to upgrade their rigs without compromise. 2025’s holiday lineup brings meaningful savings on gear that genuinely earns its place in a professional setup, including one standout piece that’s redefining what “affordable monitoring” can be.
Our team sifted through hundreds of seasonal offers to highlight six essentials that make smart, feel good gifts this year. Each one was chosen for its ability to improve sound quality, streamline a setup, and hold up to long term use, so you can give something that will still be getting used long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Whether you’re shopping for someone learning the ropes or surprising a loved one who already "has it all", these holiday picks unlock professional results at consumer friendly prices. And if you’ve been looking for the perfect reason to help someone take monitoring seriously, this season’s top recommendation makes that decision easier than ever.
1. Soundbrenner Wave In-Ear Monitors — The Best Holiday Deal of 2025
The Must-Have Monitoring Upgrade
Price: $93 (down from $179)
If you are shopping for a musician or audio lover who relies on accurate, portable monitoring, the Soundbrenner Wave is the easiest win. At $93 this holiday season, it is one of the most giftable pro audio deals out there, especially for anyone who has been talking about taking their sound more seriously.
Wave’s 10mm dynamic drivers deliver a full 20Hz–20kHz response with a neutral, uncolored character. That honest playback helps them judge tone, balance, and dynamics with confidence. Its 36dB of passive isolation creates a dependable seal whether they are on a loud stage or working in a less-than-ideal room. Each set comes with six pairs of ear tips (silicone and foam), a detachable braided 2 pin cable, a 3.5mm to 1/4’’ adapter, and a hard case for travel, so it feels like a complete, ready to use gift right out of the box.
Why It Takes the #1 Spot
Neutral reference sound: Hear your mix as it truly is — no boosted lows, scooped mids, or artificial sparkle.
Reliable build quality: Detachable 2-pin cable, gold-plated connectors, and thoughtful materials designed for daily use.
Comfort that holds up: At just 26g with an ergonomic, low-profile fit, Wave stays comfortable through long rehearsals or editing sessions.
Easy compatibility: Works with any standard 3.5mm output — mixers, interfaces, keyboards, headphone amps, and mobile devices with an adapter.
Independent reviewers often point to the Wave as a small anomaly in the IEM world — a monitor that delivers the clarity, balance, and isolation typically associated with models far above its price bracket. Whether you’re dialing in a vocal on stage, mixing in an untreated bedroom studio, or just trying to hear your instrument without distraction, Wave offers consistency that’s hard to match at any budget.
Perfect for: Live performers refining their monitor mix, producers working in imperfect acoustic spaces, musicians needing accurate references on the go, or anyone who wants to hear their playing with real precision.
The Runner-Ups: Still Great, Just Not Quite Wave-Level
2. ADAM Audio T5V Studio Monitors
Mixing Reference: Where Monitoring Really Happens
Price: $240/single
If the Wave IEMs are the portable monitoring solution, the ADAM Audio T5V serves as the mixing foundation. These 5-inch nearfield monitors have become the gold standard for home studios that refuse to compromise on accuracy.
The T5V combines ADAM's 5-inch polypropylene woofer with their legendary U-ART ribbon tweeter (used in their flagship monitors) to deliver a frequency range of 45Hz-25kHz with exceptional clarity and detail. The 70W Class D amplification provides clean, powerful output without audible distortion. What sets them apart is their ability to produce mixes that translate across different playback systems — stereos, earbuds, cars, clubs.
What Makes Them Special:
U-ART ribbon tweeter: Extended high-frequency response that traditional dome tweeters simply can't achieve
Precision waveguide: Creates an accurate stereo image with a wide sweet spot for more forgiving positioning
DSP-controlled crossover: Ensures seamless integration between woofer and tweeter for coherent sound
Room correction: Built-in DSP allows adjustment for your specific room acoustics
The T5V excel at the task monitors exist to perform: telling you the truth about your mix. Harsh frequencies that other monitors hide become obvious. Muddy bass that other monitors exaggerate becomes clear. This ruthless accuracy is exactly what you want when mixing.
Perfect for: Home studio producers serious about mixing quality, mix engineers working in smaller spaces, content creators who need accurate playback for music and dialogue.
3. Arturia KeyLab 61 MkII MIDI Controller
Production Control: Hands-On Workflow That Matters
Price: $599
The KeyLab 61 MkII transforms your DAW from a visual workspace into a tactile instrument. This isn't just a keyboard with knobs — it's a complete production hub designed by musicians for musicians.
With 61 semi-weighted keys featuring aftertouch, the KeyLab delivers expressive performance that budget controllers can't touch. The keyboard action balances piano-style weight with synth-style responsiveness, making it equally comfortable for chord voicings and fast melodic runs. Sixteen RGB performance pads in a 4×4 grid provide intuitive finger-drumming and clip triggering.
The difference between using a MIDI controller and a quality keyboard is the difference between having a tool and having an instrument. The KeyLab's dedicated transport controls and LCD screen mean you work faster, make better decisions, and stay in the creative flow without constantly reaching for your mouse.
Perfect for: Studio producers who want tactile control, composers working with virtual instruments, live performers who need reliable MIDI control.
4. Shure SM7B Dynamic Microphone
Vocal Recording: The Microphone That Works Everywhere
Price: $439
The Shure SM7B has been used on countless professional records — from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to modern podcasts and YouTube content. It's the microphone that sounds great in almost any situation.
Unlike condenser microphones that pick up every room reflection and ambient noise, the SM7B's dynamic design focuses on what's directly in front of it. This makes it exceptional for home studios operating in less-than-ideal acoustic environments. The cardioid pickup pattern effectively rejects off-axis sound, and the built-in pop filter reduces plosives without external accessories.
The SM7B does require a decent preamp with plenty of gain, but modern audio interfaces deliver that with ease. If you want a complete vocal chain with integrated preamp, the new SM7dB exists — but the original SM7B remains the industry standard.
Perfect for: Vocalists recording at home, podcasters who need broadcast quality, anyone recording in less-than-perfect acoustic environments.
5. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) Audio Interface
Recording Gateway: Where Your Sound Enters the Computer
Price: $219
The Scarlett 2i2 represents the gold standard for home recording interfaces. This fourth-generation model reflects years of refinement, delivering professional recording quality with foolproof operation.
At its core, the 2i2 features Focusrite's renowned mic preamps with switchable Air mode — a feature that adds presence and clarity inspired by Focusrite's legendary ISA console preamps. The improvement in transparency and detail over previous generations is immediately audible. High-quality preamps matter because they're part of your signal chain on every recording.
The Scarlett 2i2 is proof that the recording quality bottleneck in most home studios isn't the interface — it's the room acoustics, microphone technique, and monitoring quality. This interface will never be the weak link in your signal chain.
Perfect for: Anyone getting serious about recording, podcasters who need reliable quality, musicians who value simplicity and reliability.
6. Elektron Digitakt II
Beat Production: The Sampler That Defines Modern Electronic Music
Price: $1,149
For electronic music producers and beatmakers, the Digitakt II represents the evolution of one of the most beloved samplers ever created. Elektron doubled down on what made the original great while addressing every limitation.
The Digitakt II's 16 audio tracks (doubled from the original's 8) open entirely new creative possibilities. You can now build complete arrangements, layer textures, and experiment with sound design without constantly bouncing or making compromises. The stereo sample playback massively enhances percussive possibilities.
The Digitakt II excels at both traditional beat-making and experimental sound design. Its ability to simultaneously sequence internal samples while controlling external gear via MIDI makes it the hub of many electronic setups.
Perfect for: Electronic music producers, beatmakers who work with samples, live performers who need a reliable sequencer and sound source.
Holiday 2025 Gift Roundup
Where to Start: If you are not sure where to begin, the Soundbrenner Wave at $93 is the single best gift you can give a musician — professional or aspiring — this holiday season. Accurate monitoring improves every other decision they make about their sound and performance, so it is a present that keeps showing up in their playing long after the holidays.
If the person you are shopping for cares about sounding better, practicing smarter, or performing with more confidence, Wave is the shortcut. Most musicians do not realize how much guesswork they are living with until they hear their instrument or mix through a truly neutral, isolating set of monitors. It is a simple upgrade that makes everything else they already own work better, from their voice to their pedals to their DAW sessions. At this price, it is the kind of rare holiday deal that feels generous without being risky.
This holiday season, gift with confidence. These six picks are the most worthwhile gear finds in the musician and audio space right now, all chosen for the real improvements they bring to practice, performance, and everyday listening.
Limited-Time Price: $93 (normally $179)
Free shipping
30-day hassle-free returns
Click here to secure your Wave before prices increase →
Have you tried any of these? Share your experiences in the comments!
Peter McIntyre
23 hours ago
Digitakt is so expensive…
Mia
2 days ago
Wave for $93 sounds like a steal. I’m tempted!
Sam
3 days ago
Already own the SM7B! Best value mic in the game
Marvin Cavanaugh
1 day ago
I hear you, Sam. It's a staple in my home studio. While it's not the most exciting piece of gear, paired with Wave IEMs it's a combo that forms the backbone of everything I do.
Ryan
3 days ago
Soundbrenner Wave for stage… does it survive sweat? I’m drenched after every set
Zoe
2 days ago
Soundbrenner Wave holds up fine with sweat for me. No problems after a few sweaty gigs, but I’m not a total waterfall up there
