AV Gadgets Holiday Gift Guide for Dad (2025 Edition)
What do you get the man who already owns everything? Every year it’s the same question: What on earth do you buy for Dad? He has tools. He has socks. And he (I feel like I attacked myself here) has that one ratty hoodie he refuses to replace because it’s “perfectly broken in.”
What he usually wants is gear for his home theater, music system or gaming consoles.
Below you will find a list of products that we have tried and reviewed here at AV Gadgets and we know will brighten the day of any dad, or AV enthusiast on your Holiday gifting list. Let’s discuss and explore the AV Gadgets Holiday Gift Guide for Dad (2025 Edition).
For The Vinyl Dad
If anyone reads my stuff, you will know that I am a huge music fan and I LOVE the ritual of spinning vinyl. For folks who want to dip their toes into vinyl but don’t want to jump down the rabbit hole, there are a plethora of choices out there that won’t break the bank.
Fluance RT81+ Turntable
My turntable choice is the Fluance RT81+ ($349). This thing is the definition of “don’t overthink it.” The original RT81 was already a solid starter table, but the RT81+ fixes the weak spots and adds the upgrades people actually want. You get the excellent AT-VM95E cartridge, a built-in preamp that’s genuinely usable, a heavier, more stable platter, and isolation that punches way above its price point. It’s the kind of turntable you can set up in five minutes without feeling like you need to watch three YouTube tutorials, and yet it still delivers the kind of playback that makes people fall back in love with vinyl.
Plug it in, drop the needle, and wait for Dad to hit you with the classic: “They don’t make music like this anymore!” And honestly? On the RT81+, he’s not wrong.
Fluance Ri71 Powered Speakers
Need some speakers? My current favorites are the Fluance Ri71 powered speakers ($499). First, they have an AMT tweeter that makes those highs smooth as silk. Secondly, they are front ported so you can throw them pretty much anywhere. Lastly, they have input and output options. RCA for a turntable? Yup! Bluetooth? Yip. HDMI ARC? You betcha. Oh, and it has a subwoofer preout. These are my daily drivers for music and I love them!
For The Gamer Dad
Sometimes dads like to pretend they can still game. If you ask me, I will proudly tell you that I was the Quake III Arena champ at my university in the late 90s! Let us live our lies, but get us the cool gamer stuff!
Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset
Sometimes gaming sessions span into the evening, and we don’t want to disturb those around us, making headphones the way to go. However, I don’t want to sacrifice sound quality. My choice is the Audeze Maxwell wireless gaming headphones($299).
The Maxwell is just good, period. Planar magnetic drivers, terrific comfort, and wireless performance that doesn’t feel like a downgrade. Whether Dad’s watching movies late at night or gaming, these deliver the kind of clarity and punch that’ll make him rethink what headphones can do.
Plus they come with a cool app and are Dolby Atmos compatible right out of the box. Dad may not be a pro gamer, but he will feel like he is with a set of these cans over his ears.
GameSir G7 Wired Controller
The GameSir G7 SE ($49.99)is the upgrade he didn’t know he needed. The GameSir G7 uses Hall-Effect joysticks and trigger (meaning no drift). Everything feels tighter, smoother, and more precise.
Yes, it’s wired. And that’s actually a good thing. Zero latency, zero batteries, zero Bluetooth weirdness. Just plug it in and play. The cable’s long enough that he’s not sitting two feet from the TV, and the controller feels solid in the hand without being a brick. The face buttons have a crisp, confident click, and the rear buttons add just enough flexibility without turning it into some over-engineered “pro” controller.
For the dad who games on Xbox or PC and wants real accuracy without spending elite-controller money, the G7 is the sweet spot. It’s comfortable, dependable, and built to survive actual use. Not just sitting pretty on a shelf.
I know I said it would be a product I reviewed. The G7 was a gift from my daughter and I loved it so much, I decided to let all of you in on the secret!
For The Home Theater Dad
There are a few must-haves for a home theater. My choices are both (in my opinion) essentials.
SVS PB-1000 Pro
If your Dad believes the proper way to watch a movie is to feel it, a sub is THE choice. The SVS PB-1000 Pro ($599) might be the most “instant upgrade” you can give any home theater. I have a pair in my home theater, and I love to watch my guests’ reactions when the bass hits them in the chest. Pair that with a good price, an app, and super-clean bass all the way to 17Hz, and it’s a winner.
Sofabaton X1S Universal Remote
HDMI CEC is a mess, and let’s be honest, most modern home theater setups need a universal remote that can change inputs and turn sources on and off. The defacto standard was the Harmony Elite, but it is dead. My current choice is the Sofabaton X1S($199). It has 98% of the functionality of the Elite, but lacks on solid voice assistant and home automation control. However, at the time of this article (November 2025) the Sofabaton X2 is just about to launch and may just be the Harmony Killer!
For The Practical Dad
Dads can be practical. That’s why we (I) refuse to let go of those old t-shirts. They are perfect for what I need them to be! For the frugal dad, I have ideas.
SVS Prime SoundBase
Some dads have great passive speakers sitting around doing nothing because their old receiver finally gave up or because they got tired of dealing with the bulk and complexity. The SVS Prime SoundBase ($699) is the perfect modern fix. It has enough clean, honest power to drive real speakers properly, not just “make noise,” and it gives you all the connections you actually need: Bluetooth, PlayFi, HDMI ARC, optical, analog… the works.
It’s one of those rare boxes that disappear into a setup but quietly makes everything better. Small footprint, big sound, and zero fuss. And if you’re running powered speakers instead of passive ones? No problem! You can use the SoundBase as a preamp. That versatility is a big part of why I use one every single day. It just does its job without drama. And because it’s SVS, of course it has a dedicated subwoofer pre-out. Dad gets better power, better features, and better sound all without needing to bring back a giant receiver. Perfect.
EarFun Wave Pro Wireless Headphones
Don’t let the price fool you. The EarFun Wave Pro ($79.99) headphones punch so far above their weight class that it feels like someone in accounting screwed up. You get shockingly effective ANC that wipes out background noise better than some big-name brands, LDAC support for hi-res playback, and tuning that’s far more balanced than you’d expect from something that usually sits on an endcap next to phone chargers.
And the battery life? Absurd. You can use these for what feels like a week straight before they even think about asking for a recharge. They’re lightweight, comfortable, fold up nicely, and durable enough that Dad won’t be terrified to toss them in a backpack.
These are the perfect headphones for the dad who loves tech but also loves saving money. He’ll get 80–100% of the “premium” headphone experience for a fraction of the cost.
For The Streaming Dad
Dads need content. Physical media is great, but the convenience of streaming is king. For Dad’s who want the best, there are some choices.
Apple TV 4K (2024)
There are a lot of streaming boxes out there that promise the world and then bury you under ads, “recommended content,” and interfaces designed by someone who hates you. The Apple TV 4K ($199) is the opposite of that. It’s still the smoothest, fastest, and most stable streamer you can buy, full stop. Apps launch instantly, Dolby Vision and Atmos work without needing to troubleshoot every third Tuesday, and the whole thing feels like it was built by people who actually use their own product.
The interface doesn’t shove ads in your face. It doesn’t rearrange itself randomly. It doesn’t try to upsell you on services you’ve never heard of. Basically, it just works…and keeps working. For the dad who wants zero nonsense, zero buffering, and a box that quietly makes everything look and sound better, this is the one to get.
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro (2019)
Yes, it’s old. Yes, NVIDIA has refused to release a new one for reasons known only to them. And no, none of that matters, because the Shield TV Pro ($199) is still the streaming box for power users. If Dad has a Plex server, runs his own library, likes emulation, or wants a streamer that can handle every weird format and container you throw at it, this is the box built for him.
The Tegra X1+ may be aging, but it remains absurdly capable for media tasks. It handles AI upscaling, server-based streaming, and 4K HDR without breaking a sweat. The Shield’s flexibility is unmatched: it plays nice with Dolby Vision and Atmos, it’s perfect for local files, and it can basically replace half a PC for certain tasks. And the community support around this thing? Massive. There’s a reason enthusiasts are still buying them used and refurbished instead of switching.
If Dad wants a streamer that does more than just stream, the Shield TV Pro is still the king.
Our Take
Shopping for Dad doesn’t have to be a chore. Armed with some of the best tech and gadgets from our hobby, it gets downright easy. Best of all, there are tons of Black Friday sales on now, or sales just around the corner. With a little Google-Fu, you too can be the hero of the Holiday gift-giving season!
