Let me preface this by saying that no one should actually buy or make me any of these things. These are just a few of the items that I am enamored with. As for an actual gift, I’ve always felt that either a well thought out and unexpected purchase or something made specifically for me are the best presents.
That being said, here is my Christmas Wish List 2009. The list reflects a goal that I have set for myself this year: to stop accumulating so MUCH stuff, and instead insist on having many fewer, but much nicer (and in some instances the best) things, things that will persist in both their beauty and functionality for my whole life. Without further ado…
1. Wusthof 9″ IKON Cook’s Knife
I have always felt that Wusthof makes some of, if not the, best knives out there, both in their functionality and their design. These knives, and particularly the IKON series, with their natural, exotic-wood handles, are as much a work of art as they are a fantastic kitchen tool.
The new District by Trek is for me the ultimate commuter bike. It is lightweight, single-speed, and with a tech new twist: it replaces the heavy, maintenance-prone chain with a carbon fiber belt, making the bike lighter and easier to care for than a traditional chain-drive. The design is very retro, and I like that too. My only complaints would be that there is no fixed-gear option (or better yet, a flip flop), and that it doesn’t come standard with a Brooks saddle.
3. Grado GS1000
While luck has yet to afford me the chance to demo a pair of these exemplary headphones, they are widely recognized as one of the best available sub-$1000 (just barely!) pairs of audiophile quality headphones. Together with an appropriate headphone amp (more on that later), these cans produce with great fidelity and response a listening experience unlike any short of being at the actual event.
4. Martin D28
The Martin D28, to my ears, produces the brightest, richest acoustic sound of any dreadnought guitar. The warmth and richness of the tone, coupled with the absolutely minimal, elegant design makes this a guitar to die for. I’ve been telling myself for years that one day I will save up and buy myself a D28, but frankly I don’t think I deserve it yet.
Herman Miller chairs, and particularly the Aeron work chair, have long been sought after as some of the most comfortable, adjustable, and ergonomic chairs, particularly for people who have to work at a desk for the majority of the day. With the Embody, Herman Miller has produced a chair specifically designed with day-long computer users in mind. The design is largely biologically inspired, with the backs support taking cues from the human spine, and the covering mimicking human skin. Beautiful, functional chair.
I don’t think I particularly WANT the Dyson Air Multiplier as much as I am enamored with it’s technology and the design that results. Ultimately, the Air Multiplier is a desk fan; not the sexiest of wants. However, the novel way in which it works makes it an object worth of my coveting. The sleek, elegant design that results from its technology transforms the mundane office fan into an object of beauty.
This one is pretty much a gimme. Everyone I know who shoots wants a 5D Mark II. For my money, it is the current pinnacle of digital photography, hands down.
8. Homemade CMoy Headphone Amplifier (NOT in a mint tin)
One’s listening experience with headphones is greatly enhanced with the use of a headphone amp. The CMoy amp design is a cheap, relatively easy design to put together for budding DIY audiophiles. Being DIY, the amp can be enhanced by a careful eye to the design of the enclosure, as in the butcher’s-block-esqe example seen above (or made very ugly by the use of a mint tin as the enclosure). Furthermore, I can tell everyone I have a hand-crafted piece of audio technology, and that just sounds cool.
There you have it. Total cost: around $9350. But I’m worth it. Hugely.
