Let's say you know somebody who just got their first job. Or say somebody who is retiring from one job and picking up a different line of work. What kind of gift do I like to get those people?
Well for me, I kind of associate the idea of work with music or audio or similar sound-oriented themes. I think, "whistle while you work." Or I think of bands playing while football teams clash or drummers and fife players marching alongside soldiers in historic battles.
Human endeavor and music go together quite nicely, kind of like peanut butter and chocolate or oysters and cocktail sauce or an action movie with a great sound-track. And most would certainly describe their occupations as "endeavors!"
So for those on their first jobs or for those retiring and doing something else, I think I would buy something audio in-theme. Not albums or things of that sort. But probably more like, say, a new set of top-flight speakers for a recipients truck. Or a new IPod Touch or high-end, IPod headphones for the young urban worker. Or a new Bose Wave system for an office space. Or a new set of high-end speakers for a computer.
I'd especially, if I was you, consider the idea of speakers and headphones as possible gifts. Both are prone to decline in their ability to reproduce sound as their years of use increase. So if your recipient has had, say a high end stereo for 5 years that he plays regularly, the speakers for it are probably not where they were at day 1. So you will be giving him something that has a lot of immediately recognizable value to him.
However, I would definitely advise that if speakers and headphones are not your thing, that you go to or contact a decent retailer or two and get some advice on "what's what." in consumer audio. A good stereo retailer or "e-tailer" will ask what you are buying the speakers or headphones for and also ask some various questions about the electronics themselves such as brand, model #, recipient and so on. That way they can advise you on what speakers or headphones will best work with the recipient's audio gear.
The e-tailer, crutchfield.com, for example is exceptional at this kind of customer service and I'd highly recommend them if you are buying a gift such as high-end speakers or head-phones. I have used them myself numerous times in the past and, in fact, recently purchased two pair of high-end car speakers from them for gift-giving purposes.
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