(or, what we’d love to receive this holiday season… please?)
We all know that one person for whom it is difficult, nay, impossible to buy gifts. If you can think of it, they already have it. And if you’ve seen it somewhere, they probably have two. So what to do this holiday season when you want to buy the gift that will knock their proverbial stockings off? Relax. We have a few ultra-amazing, blow-the-rest-out-of-the-water-bazooka-style gift ideas that will place you at the top of their “nice” list this year. May we interest you in: (after the jump)
Kef Muon Loudspeaker

Sure, the Impossible Recipient already has speakers in their home theater, but do they have a featured-MOMA-artist designed speaker set cased in superformed aluminum that takes a week to mill? We didn’t think so.
We first lay eyes on these beauties at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 08 and were duly impressed with their design and performance.
As we should be.
Weighing in at an impressive 253lbs each, the Kef Muon speakers boast a claimed frequency response of 25Hz to 60kHz with a low extension of 20Hz and high extension of 100kHz.
At over 6 feet tall and a maximum claimed output of 118dB, your gift will definitely get noticed.
Kef claims its “Acoustic Compliance Enhancement” or “ACE” technology doubles available volume through absorption of air molecules through activated carbon.
Plus they say the slinky shell form has a function as well: it’s heavily damped to minimize sound distorting vibrations.
With a limited edition of only 100 pairs, lucky owners will be in an elite circle.
Speaking of elite, did we mention that they retail for $140,500?
For more info on the Muon, visit Kef’s website.
The Billboard Top 100 for 35 years, on 45 RPM Records
Analog audiophiles rejoice; we have the gift for you.
As part of their Christmas book, Neiman Marcus has compiled a once in a lifetime collection.
And yes, this gift is precisely what it sounds like; or as Neiman Marcus puts it, “To be clear, it contains each and every 45 RPM vinyl record that was listed on the Billboard Top 100® Rock and Pop charts from Jan. 1, 1955, through Dec. 31, 1990.
Absolutely every disc for 35 years, every No. 100 up to every No. 1.”
Wow.
Many records in the set are rare, some are even autographed.
With 18,400 45s included, your recipient will be grateful (and busy listening!) for a long time.
Are you ready for the price tag? $275,000.00.
But honestly, isn’t the gift of brilliant music truly priceless?
For more, click over to Neiman Marcus.
The RED ONE HD Camcorder
The holidays are all about memories, so why not capture them using the same HD camera as Steven Soderbergh used on his Ché films, and Peter Jackson used to film “Crossing the Line”?
Completely modular, the folks at RED state they have eliminated pixel shifting and have created the first digital movie camera that matches the detail and richness of “grainless” 35mm analog film.
To put this in perspective, HD films currently in theaters are made using a visual resolution of 2K, or 2,048 lines horizontal by 1,080 vertical.
The RED ONE uses an even higher definition of 4K, or 4,096 - 2,304.
Even more impressive is that the RED ONE allows for depth of field focus more similar to film. Essentially this gives the person filming (ok, recording) the ability to have the foreground in focus with a blurry background, keeping the eye on the subject matter (See right); something previous HD camcorders couldn’t do. At least not as well.
What this all means is that your recipient will be able to film little Suzy’s soccer games in a fashion worthy of not only the finest home theater, but also a red-carpeted Hollywood screening.
Well, visually, at least.
Retails start at $17,500. More at RED’s website.
Happy Holidays!
