Sound Advice: Great gift ideas under $60

Don Lindich, Tribune News Service on Dec 11, 2024

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Great gifts under $60: Listed in ascending price order, here are some wonderful gift ideas under $60. Most are heavily discounted, one of them by a whopping $100.

Intoval 140W 8-port USB charger, $29.99: I love these 140W chargers for their eight charging charging ports (four of them USB-C,) high performance and the long AC cord that makes them perfect for travel. There is no heavy power block that can fall off the wall, and the cord allows you to put the charger on the hotel bed with you and your devices. It is powerful enough to operate a USB-C laptop, and the multiple ports allow couples to charge all their devices from one charger. (It can simultaneously charge two sets of earbuds, two tablets, two phones, a laptop and a Bluetooth speaker.) Sure to be loved by travelers, families or anyone with a lot of gadgets to charge, the latest sale makes it an extreme bargain. The Intoval 140W 8-port USB charger lists on Amazon for $49.99, but there is a $5 checkbox coupon and using the code BIGSAVING15 reduces the price another $15 to only $29.99.

ThermoPop 2 instant-read thermometer, $35: The original ThermoPop was a great instant-read thermometer, but the ThermoPop 2 is even better. Recommended by America's Test Kitchen, the ThermoPop 2's digital display automatically rotates for easy reading of temperatures and results are fast and accurate. The $45 ThermoWorks DOT Simple Alarm Thermometer is worth a look as well, and ThermoWorks frequently has sales on their website. thermoworks.com

Beatles Spin-Clean Record Washer Kit, $49.99: This limited edition, Beatles-themed version of the world's best value record washer is available in either red or blue, matching the iconic albums. It is currently being offered for $30 off the list price of $79.99. The Spin-Clean cleans both sides of the record simultaneously and cleans them as effectively as an expensive record cleaning machine. Operation is fast, simple and reliable. A great gift for vinyl lovers and those entering the hobby, the $49.99 includes shipping, making this the best deal I have seen on this iconic product. spinclean.com

ZVOX AV120 TV Speaker, $49.99: Reduced a whopping $100 from the $149.99 list price, this small TV speaker greatly improves dialogue clarity with the patented AccuVoice feature, which lifts voices above the soundtrack and background noise. It's a great companion to the Insignia TV featured below, or anywhere you want better television sound for an unheard-of low price. zvox.com

Insignia 24-inch F20 Series LED Smart Fire TV, $59.99: Discounted $20 from the $79.99 MSRP, this is a fine little HD television for under $60. I have a hard time passing up a deal and bought one to see how good it is, and have been quite pleased with it. It has racked up a 4.6/5 rating with over 3,950 user reviews, so owners seem as happy with it as I am. The Fire TV operating system makes operation and streaming easy. Available through Best Buy, both online and in stores. bestbuy.com

Q. Your column recently mentioned the 10.2-inch Apple iPad (9th generation) 64GB on sale for $199.99. I’m browsing the Apple site and can’t seem to find any 9th generation iPad for that price. Is there a coupon code or special trick to find it?

—M.R., North Oaks, Minnesota

A. They are available at Costco and Best Buy, no code required. I checked both websites and they are still selling for $199.99, $130 off the $329.99 list price. This model and price will likely not be around much longer, so best to act fast if you want one.

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