If your dad is anything like mine, shopping for him can be tricky. After all, what do you get the man who insists that my “success and happiness” is the greatest gift I can give him? While I work toward those lofty goals, there are plenty of excellent Father’s Day gift options from brands like Audio-Technica, DJI, and Bose®. Here are some of our top recommendations.
Audio-Technica Stereo Turntable
If your dad has hung on to his record collection all of these years, you are about to make him very happy. Thanks to vinyl’s triumphant resurgence, there has never been a better time to get a good turntable, and we happen to like Audio-Technica’s AT-LP120XUSB Stereo Turntable.
This fabulous-sounding, fully manual turntable supports 33-1/3, 45, and 78 rpm speeds, meaning it can play all of dad’s favorite records. It features a built-in switchable preamp and supports wired and wireless output.
Another feature we really like is its ability to convert vinyl tracks into digital audio files, which is great for preserving rare finds in dad’s collection.
A cut above Audio-Technica’s best budget turntable, the AT-LP120XUSB is a great gift option for a dad who already knows his way around a turntable, or a dad who is excited to learn. You can purchase it as a stand-alone item or kit it out with a pair of Bluetooth speakers for a wireless setup that’s ready to go, right out of the box.
Autel Robotics EVO Lite+ Drone
If your dad has come down with a bad case of Drone Fever, we’ve got just the cure: the EVO Lite+ from Autel.
This drone is a great option for dads looking to capture amazing aerial images and video. Thanks to its powerful 1" CMOS sensor and Autel’s intelligent moonlight algorithm, the EVO Lite+ can capture detailed footage with low noise during the day or even at night. Featuring an adjustable f/2.8 to f/11 aperture, and capable of recording video up to 6K30, as well as 20MP still image capture, this drone yields professional-caliber results that drone dads will surely approve of (even if they don’t say so).
The EVO Lite+ includes a plethora of modes and special features designed to help dad shoot his desired shot. Additional safety and controlling features automate some obstacle avoidance, although we recommend snagging some flight insurance if this will be dad’s first drone. Overall, this drone is sure to please any camera-loving dad who is looking to take his craft to new heights.
DJI Mini 3 Pro
Alternatively, the DJI Mini 3 Pro also makes for an excellent gift. The best mini drone in the world makes it easy for a first-time flyer to feel like a seasoned vet. But don’t let its miniature size fool you; the Mini 3 Pro is packed with many of the same features you see in bigger, supposedly badder drones.
Some of those stand-out features include the ability to shoot 4K60p video and 48MP stills, tri-directional obstacle avoidance, and class-leading 34-minute flight time. Additionally, this drone weighs around 250g, making it a reasonably quiet option for dads who are noise conscious. At a slightly lower price than our Autel Robotics option, this drone is great for dads who don’t mind shaving off a few bucks and a slight video-quality downgrade.
BenQ HT2050A Home Theater Projector
If there’s one thing dads love, it’s talking about building a home theater in the basement. If that’s true of your dad, consider gifting him the HT2050A Home Theater Projector from BenQ. Not only does this projector create a fantastic viewing experience, it might also encourage him to start on that home theater project, finally.
The HT2050A offers coverage for more than 96% of the Rec. 709 color gamut, meaning it offers great cinematic color. It also has native 1080p resolution and excellent dynamic contrast, allowing for images to be detailed even in dark areas. With only a 16.67 ms input lag and a microsecond DMD response time, this projector also makes a great addition to any immersive gaming setup.
Having two HDMI inputs means dad can enjoy a variety of media on this projector. This is especially true with the enhanced sound modes that are tailored for different experiences, including cinema, gaming, music, and sports. It even has 10W built-in speakers if external speakers aren’t available. Best of all, it supports wireless streaming with a separately available wireless dongle for streaming directly from smart devices for even more seamless use.
Sennheiser Bluetooth Audio Transmitter
Some dads like to unwind with a little late-night TV. Unfortunately, this can disturb other family members, especially if the TV is in the bedroom. Sennheiser is here to protect that precious TV time with its Bluetooth Audio Transmitter.
This nifty gadget serves as the bridge between dad’s pair of handy Bluetooth headphones and an audio source. This source can be a computer, a TV, really any device that outputs audio via 3.5mm or optical audio cables.
Installation is simple once you have found the right audio output for your source. Once set up, it delivers a quiet TV viewing experience with headphones.
This transmitter is amazing for quietly enjoying a program during the workday if dad lives with children, working from home. It is also great for dads who like to have the TV going in the background while they do things like tinker or cook, since it has great range and can even reach a pair of headphones on a different floor.
Bose® QuietComfort 45™ Headphones
Speaking of Bluetooth headphones: The Bose® QuietComfort 45™ are excellent noise-canceling headphones that pair very nicely with our Bluetooth Audio Transmitter gift, although they are incredible stand-alone headphones, as well.
The superb noise cancellation is only one of the many perks any dad will love about these universally treasured headphones. Other fan-favorite features include incredible sound quality, the ability to swap between wired and wireless use, long-lasting 24-hour battery life, and Aware Mode for dad to tune in or out as he pleases.
Sonos Move
Closing out our audio portion, we have another tried-and-true dad favorite: the Sonos Move. This extremely sleek speaker connects to your home’s wireless network to bring you easy access to your favorite music, important information, and more.
While it embodies so many good qualities, the real heart of this amazing speaker is its sound quality. Delivering rich, room-filling sound, this is a great speaker for playing music in large rooms and outdoor areas.
While it is portable and wireless, this is a bit too big to bring on the go easily. Rather, this is meant for dad to carry from the kitchen to the backyard and anywhere around the house. So, if dad has been looking for a great party speaker when he hosts barbeques or poker nights, let him know that this is it.
WD My Cloud Home Server
One thing my dad values is his privacy. He doesn’t want to share his political views, his feelings, or any of his digital content. If your dad is looking for a secure way to keep his private information private, a home NAS setup, such as the My Cloud Home Server from WD, might do the trick.
Like all NAS devices, the My Cloud Home Server connects to your network via Ethernet cable, giving you the ability to access, upload, and share data across multiple secure, permission-only platforms. In other words, your dad will have total control over his personal data and digital files, including the ability to access those files from compatible mobile platforms, such as a web browser or media player.
Transcend DrivePro 250
My dad insists that he is the world’s greatest driver. While I won't deny that his ability to outpace and outsmart the GPS is impressive, I achieved my own peace of mind after I bought him the Transcend DrivePro 250 Dash Cam.
This dash camera records clear and hi-res video along a 140° diagonal field of view to capture the entire road in front of you. It automatically activates during a collision and includes a snapshot button which enables the driver to take still photos safely while recording.
The DrivePro 250 also features its own GPS system, meaning I no longer worry about my dad toggling between too many applications while he is driving. Additionally, the DrivePro 250 includes some of the more standard built-in features found in newer car models, such as forward collision warnings and headlight reminders, making it an excellent option for a dad who loves to drive an older car.
Need a different recommendation? Tell us a little bit about your dad in the Comments section, below, and we’ll see if we can’t come up with a good gift recommendation.
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