Christmas, birthday, name day, or an apology. We don't care why. We only care that you're buying from us. But since we're exceptionally honest (and since Henri needs money to fix the Alfa), we'll help you pick the right one.
Buying headphones for someone else is a bit like buying them shoes. Easy to get wrong. This guide is for you, standing in a store, or more likely scrolling your phone on the couch, wondering what on earth to buy.
First question: over-ear or earbuds?
This is the most important choice, and you can usually figure it out without an interrogation.
Over-ear headphones are the right pick if the recipient:
- Sits still a lot: office, home, on the train
- Values sound quality above all else
- Doesn't mind having something big on their head
- Wants to shut out the world (ANC works more effectively on over-ear models)
Earbuds on the other hand suit someone who:
- Moves around a lot: running, gym, cycling
- Doesn't like anything big on their head
- Wants headphones that fit in a pocket
- Is the type who leaves headphones on the table and needs a tiny case
If you don't know which, go with earbuds. NL25 is the safer gift, because very few people don't use earbuds. Over-ear headphones split opinions more.
Which model for who?
Here's Valco's lineup, simplified for gift buyers:
"I want the best and don't care about the budget" – VMK25.2
Jasse's latest tuning. Sound quality is class-leading, ANC works, and the build holds up. This is the "buy once, repair if needed" model. The recipient will either hug you or suspect you've done something wrong.
"They should be good, but I'm not taking out a loan" – VMK20
Fabric-covered, comfortable, more affordable. Still Jasse's sound signature. A good pick if you know the recipient likes over-ear headphones but the 25.2 price tag feels steep for a gift.
"The recipient is always on the move" – NL25
Earbuds with ANC. Fit in a pocket, stay in the ears, and sound good. This is the safest choice if you know nothing about the recipient's preferences.
"Budget is tight" – VMK15
VMK15 is our most affordable headband model, on-ear rather than over-ear. Wireless, good sound, light on the head. A perfectly decent gift. No need to feel bad about it.
"Not headphones, something for the cabin/beach" – Nordell MK3
A waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Survives a downpour, and probably also uncle spilling a drink on it. The MK3 is a stereo speaker on its own, and you can pair two of them to the same source.
Why Valco and not some big brand?
- Price. You pay clearly less than the big brands charge for their flagships, and the sound is still Jasse's handiwork. Jasse's ears are insured, that's how precisely these are tuned.
- Repairability. If the recipient sits on their VMK over-ear headphones next Christmas, we repair them for a flat 69 € and give the repair an extra year of warranty. Earbuds and speakers get a warranty swap, and broken ones are stripped for spare parts.
- Finnishness. Every purchase funds a small company's salaries, Henri's Alfa repairs, and 0.000001% of our Death Star. You don't even know Sony's CEO's name.
Who should pick something else?
Let's be honest.
If the recipient is the type who buys only Apple products and uses an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, AirPods Max or AirPods Pro integrate into Apple's ecosystem in a way we can't match. We don't love admitting it, but it's true.
If the recipient travels 200 days a year and ANC is absolutely critical, Sony's WH-1000XM5 has a slight edge in noise cancelling. Though the difference is small, and the price is in a whole other league.
If the recipient specifically wants a status symbol, well, then go buy Bose or Sony. We sell headphones, not logos.
Summary
- You know nothing about the recipient: NL25. The safe choice.
- Recipient sits a lot and values sound: VMK25.2.
- Budget is limited: VMK15.
- Cabin gift or outdoorsy type: Nordell MK3.
- Recipient lives in the Apple ecosystem: Consider AirPods, but know you're paying for the logo.
And if you still get it wrong, no worries. We have a 14-day return policy, and we cover return shipping within the EU. The recipient can swap for a different model, or you can keep them yourself and buy the recipient socks instead. Socks never go wrong.
Thanks for your money. The Death Star won't build itself.
