Date Published: 05/08/2008

It can be very difficult to shop for fathers, so as Father's Day approaches, you may find yourself bereft of gift ideas. If this is the case, you may want to consider upgrading his home audio setup. Whether you want to help him salvage his old media with new equipment or give him the ability to listen to his music with thunderous power, Consumer Guide has a wide range of audio options that will appeal to your dad's ears.


Turntables

Dad's record collection may be in use or gathering dust in milk crates in the basement. Either way, there's a good chance that he could use a new turntable on which to listen to his vinyl treasures. Yes, they still exist and are even improved in many ways. Stanton's T-80 turntable, for example, has a skip-proof tone arm, dual start/stop buttons and S/PDIF digital and phono line outputs that allow you to export audio to other devices.

The Sony PS-LX3000USB turntable might be a real treat for a dad. He can not only play records with this device, but also convert them into MP3 files using the turntable's USB connection and the included computer software. He can use this function to archive music, as well as enjoy his favorite albums while on the go. And if he would simply listen to his records, this turntable works just fine with any audio system.

Turntables are great for dad with record collections. Stanton T-80 turntable

Cassette Decks

Not long ago, cassettes were the main means by which people listened to music. If dad has a massive collection of cassettes in shoeboxes or on racks, he might appreciate receiving a brand new cassette deck while they are still available. The Onkyo TA-RW255 features two decks that have auto-reverse, so there is no need to eject and flip a cassette every time it ends. Recording CDs to cassettes is also easy -- when input is detected, recording starts instantly. An auto spacing option allows for breaks between songs, and recording levels can be adjusted manually.


CD Players & Changers

Since CDs became popular within the past 20 years, CD players are still fairly popular and affordable. The Onkyo DX-C390 is a 6-disc CD changer that provides the typical functions of any CD player and then some. It can read regular audio CDs as well as CD-R/RWs and it is programmable using the included remote; a playlist of up to 40 songs can be programmed or songs can be cued while a CD is playing.

If your dad enjoys listening to CDs but longs for vintage style, he will enjoy the Crosley Celebrity CR73-3 3 Disc CD Player. A small Oak cabinet contains a fully functioning record player and analog radio. However, with the push of a button, a three-disc CD tray pops out of the front with the LCD display discreetly located above it. Additionally, a cassette deck is tucked away on the side. This is a great combination piece for any dad who has a classic style and a mixed range of media.

The right home theater system can be found for any dad. Samsung HT-TX72

Home Theater Systems

A home theater system can be the perfect gift for the dad who enjoys listening to music from many media. The Samsung HT-TX72 is a great example of a home theater system with lots of connections. The five-disc CD changer is also a DVD player and can read MP3, WMA, DivX or JPG files off of discs. Sound is delivered through a 5.1 speaker system that includes two front tower speakers, two smaller rear speakers, one center speaker and one subwoofer.

A USB jack allows files from a computer to be played through the system, and an XM antenna jack can supply XM radio (with a subscription purchase, which is sold separately). The HDMI input/output opens also allows HD devices to be attached. An optical input supports a satellite dish or cable box. With all of this in one package, a dad can enjoy and share all of his audio, no matter how it has been recorded or stored.