Father's Day Gift Ideas-- Part 1: iPod and accessories

Chad — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:05:00 GMT

As a father, I can attest that nothing makes a better gift than a good piece of electronics. And as a Crutchfield advisor, I'm often asked for gift ideas along those lines.

One of my first questions is this: "Does your dad have an iPod® yet?" That's a good place to start. And if he does, no problem. A well-chosen accessory can make a great gift, too. Here are some of my recommendations (both as a Crutchfield advisor and a hopeful Father's Day gift recipient).

Apple iPod Touch $299.99
What makes the iPod® touch special is the multitude of applications available through Apple's App Store.Even if dad's just a little tech-savvy, he can easily mix and match apps (both free and paid) to expand the player's functionality to do what he wants it to do. And although it plays music and video like a regular iPod, the touch can do more.

For the younger (or young-at-heart) dad, the iPod touch's Wi-Fi® connectivity can give him some of the same entertainment he enjoys on his PC. He could stream music from sites like Pandora, check Facebook, play games, even just surf the Internet. Very handy if other family members are clamoring for their time on the computer.

Bose® in-ear headphones $99.99
If dad already has an iPod or another type of portable music player, one of the best things you can get him (and one of the most overlooked gift ideas) is a good pair of headphones. The earbuds that come with the iPod are serviceable, but they don't deliver the level of performance high-quality in-ear headphones can. The Bose in-ear headphones deliver on sound quality, and have extremely good dynamic range.

If your dad needs the functionality of in-ear headphones (as opposed to larger, over-the-ear headphones) but doesn't like the way most of them fit -- these may be just the ticket. The Bose in-ear headphones feature an ergonomic design and soft, silicone ear tips that hold the headphones comfortably in place without requiring insertion or earclips. And if he likes other Bose products, these in-ear headphones are almost a sure bet.

Sony ICF-C1IPMK2 Clock Radio With iPod/iPhone dock $99.99
Even if your dad has an iPod or iPhone™, chances are he's still waking up to the same old clock radio he's had for ages -- we dads tend to hold on to things a little too long. You can help him upgrade his nightstand with the 'C1IPMK2 clock radio.

This handy device features a built-in iPod dock, and a selectable alarm source. So iInstead of a harsh electric tone or an obnoxious DJ jolting him awake, dad can greet the day to his favorite music from his iPod. And of course the 'C1IPMK2 doubles as a powered speaker system, so he can enjoy his iPod's music any time of day.

Alpine CDA-105 CD Receiver with iPod Control $199.99
Is your dad still spending hours commuting, or shuttling other family members around to various activites? Why not give him a way to have a little quality listening time in the car, then? The Alpine CDA-105 lets him play his iPod or iPhone through the car's sound system -- and with a Alpine KCU-440i iPod cable, he can control his player straight from the receiver.

The receiver also displays text information from the iPod, so dad -- and his passengers -- can see what's playing. And of course it keeps his player while connected, so dad won't run out of his favorite music no matter how long the drive (sorry, kids).

If your dad already has an iPod and/or the various items he needs to go with it, no worries. I've got some other suggestions.

Is your dad a movie buff? In part 2 I'll offer up some Father's Day gift ideas for the dad who watches a lot of TV. And if dad travels a lot (or just has to spend a lot of time in the car), well, I have a few suggestions I'll share in part 3.

Bose/Monsoon in Grand Prix

platoon5 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:56:49 GMT

I have a 99 Grand Prix and i was looking to hook up either a bose or monsoon system in my car. I was wondering what kind of re wiring i will have to do to make this work. Can I wire the amp straight into my alpine head unit or is there a different way that it has to be done.

Thanks for any advice

GM ONSTAR HELP!!!!

kev07 — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:55:18 GMT

Hello there! First time poster. I just installed an Alpine 9883 in my '03 silverado w/ Onstar & Bose set-up. Used the recommended GMOS-01 bus interface. It has a small adjustment screw for the chime volume, but it is not doing anything. It is so loud my speakers are cracking and its about to blow my ears!! Didn't know if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks alot!

04 Tahoe door speakers

KISSfan — Fri, 25 May 2007 18:02:07 GMT

I am trying to decide on what component speakers to use in my Tahoe. I have my eyes on the new Infinity Reference 6 1/2" components. I want to install these in the front and rear doors, and have a Rockford Fosgate 300X 4-channel amp to push them with. My subs are 2 Kicker solo-baric L7 8" in a vented enclosure, powered by a Rockford Fosgate 700S. I want awesome sound quality, with bright, crisp highs, and great mid-bass response. If anyone has any suggestions, I would gladly accept them. The truck currently still has the Bose speakers in it, which do not impress me. (In case you are wondering, I have replaced the factory HU with an Alpine IVA-W200, and integrated the Bose amplifier for now.)

Search results matching tags 'Bose' and 'alpine'

Father's Day Gift Ideas-- Part 1: iPod and accessories

Bose/Monsoon in Grand Prix

GM ONSTAR HELP!!!!

04 Tahoe door speakers