Rolling Stone

Andover Audio’s SpinBase is an ingenious all-in-one audio system for anyone who wants to play records. 

The flat, rectangular speaker is designed to sit just below a record player. It has an integrated phono preamp, so it can be used with modern and vintage turntables, and allows you to have a full turntable setup that takes up about as much space as a modern game console. 

I was skeptical at first, but the SpinBase delivers clear sound, even at loud volumes. You can adjust the bass and treble by twisting knobs on the back to get the mix just right for your ears or the album you’re spinning. The large volume knob on the front also acts as the power switch: Turn it all the way to the left, and the speaker shuts down. 

If you’ve written off vinyl because you don’t have enough space for a full audio system, Andover Audio’s SpinBase should make you reconsider. Purchase: $299 at Amazon.

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Wireless charging is fast, but I still plug my iPhone into a fast charging power adapter with a Lightning to USB-C cable when I’m short of time. This method can recharge a battery up to 50% in a half-hour. 

My new go-to cable is Anker’s Powerline III Flow, a colorful, ultra-flexible cable that Anker says has a “25,000-bend lifespan.” The cable feels pleasantly soft, and is malleable enough to snake around all of the other tech on my desk without showing signs of wear. 

I’ve used Anker’s cables regularly for almost five years, and always had a good experience. If you’re settling for a cable that’s frayed, or patched with electrical tape, this is an upgrade you’ll appreciate every day. Purchase: $24.99 at Amazon.

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The world of CBD can be difficult to navigate – what’s a CBD tincture vs. CBD oil? How “high” will I get from using the products? What other benefits should I get from using CBD?

With a ton of information — and CBD brands — out there, we like the simplicity and accessibility of Cornbread Hemp. The Kentucky-based brand uses USDA-certified organic hemp extracts sourced exclusively from their home state to create products that help with everything from rest to recovery.

The easiest product to get into is their CBD Lotion. Rub a quarter-sized amount between your hands and massage the lotion into sore joints and muscles for rapid relief. We’ve even used CBD lotion on our achy feet after a long run or hike. Cornbread Hemp makes a cooling methol formula to help soothe, and we like their CBD lotion for dry skin, to help repair dry patches and keep our hands and body moisturized. Purchase: $49.99 at Cornbread Hemp.

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The coolest fitness gift of 2021? It’s tough to beat a fitness mirror, which features workouts led by trainers and, sometimes, includes weights and other accessories.

One of the best fitness systems you can buy is the Tempo Studio. That’s why we’ve called it “the current champion of the fitness mirror game” (while the brand notes it’s not technically a mirror).

It’s built with a storage cabinet and everything from weight plates and a barbell to dumbells, a heart rate monitor and even an exercise mat, so you have everything you need to do any workout. What sets Tempo apart from other options is how it can help you adjust your form during exercises with its built-in sensors. It’s like your trainer’s right there with you during your workouts so you’re still getting the advice you need while you’re at home.

With the $39 monthly membership, you can choose from both live or recorded strength and HIIT classes, to ones focused on mobility and recovery.

Purchase: $1,781 with discount code rollingstone214 (regularly $1,995) on Tempo Fit

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Whether you want to do sprints or take a cardio workout class, this ProForm treadmill includes iFit-hosted classes you can access on the Pro’s 22-inch high-definition touchscreen. Below its screen, the tread features a fan to keep you cool, and you can sync up your Bluetooth earbuds to hear your on-screen trainer. Think it’s too big of a gift to give? Think again — the Pro 9000’s SpaceSaver feature lets you fold the treadmill together when you’re not running. Best of all, a one-year iFit membership also comes with the Pro 9000, so it’s like you’re giving two gifts in one, high-tech package. Purchase: $1,799, available at ProForm

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If you’re shopping for someone who loves cycling and spin classes, make it easier for them to do it from the comfort of their own living room with a fitness bike.

This exercise bike from a brand we trust, Echelon, features quieter adjustable magnetic resistance levels, along with a 22-inch touchscreen so you can access a variety of classes during your ride. Purchase: Starts at $1,639.98 on Echelon Fit

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Get up close and personal with some of the world’s most famous newsmakers and artists through a subscription to MasterClass, an online learning platform that taps everyone from celebrities to CEOs for on-demand classes you can take from home.

 

New this season: a filmmaking class from David Lynch, plus classes from Disney CEO Bob Iger, and presidential biographer and Pulitzer Prize–winning author, Doris Kearns Goodwin, teaching a class on presidential history and leadership in the White House. Timely much?

 

A subscription to Masterclass costs just $180 a year and gets you unlimited access to every course on the site. Start and stop each class on your own schedule and download workbooks for offline reading. Some classes also offer the chance to ask the instructors questions. Purchase: $180 on MasterClass.com.

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Treat someone to a memorable holiday dinner with a Surf & Turf box from Crowd Cow. This box includes a pair of 4 oz. lobster tails caught off the coast of Maine and two 8 oz. cuts of grass-fed filet mignon.

 

The buttery lobster paired with the tender and flavorful filet makes for a perfect dinner for two. Everything is packed fresh to order and ships conveniently to your recipient’s door.

 

Crowd Cow’s meat and seafood comes from some of the best independent farms and producers in the country, and everything is raised under the highest standards, with sustainable practices and no unnecessary antibiotics. Purchase: $63.98 at CrowdCow.com.

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Everyone appreciates an Apple gift card, which lets you redeem your balance on everything from music to TV shows, movies, apps, and more. Use it at the Apple Store or on apple.com to purchase gear and accessories. You can even use it towards your iCloud storage plans.

The Apple gift card can be sent over email and arrive in your recipient’s inbox in minutes. From there, they can either print it out to use in-store, or add the gift card code to their Apple wallet, to make payments through their laptop or phone. Purchase: $25+ at Apple.com.

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