Why You Can Trust CNET Best Home Theater Gift Ideas of 2023
Looking to treat your friends and family to better audio and video? Here are some great home theater gifts.
- Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
Now that you've got a 4K TV, figuring out the best wall to mount it on -- and the proper positioning in relation to your furniture -- can really make your entertainment center pop. It's also a solid first step in putting together your home theater setup. You've got the basic hardware, now it's time to build out your system to turn any basic room into an awesome home theater. When shopping for best home theater gift ideas, there are a bevy of accessories to consider. A streaming device, turntable, a new pair of headphones and soundbar are all worthy items to look into. Things can add up quickly, here. But if you put your smart shopper cap on, you can find an awesome gift and stay on budget without breaking a sweat.
If you're wanting more home entertainment tips, be sure to take a look at our articles on rotating your streaming services, the best antennas, and how Roku and Fire TV compare.
It's possible to spend hundreds of dollars on a video streaming device. Possible, but not necessary. With a list price of $40, the Roku Express 4K Plus offers something for everybody -- a huge range of apps and compatibility with video standards such as Dolby Vision and a 4K resolution. That it works so well for the money is a good kind of surprise. The Roku Express 4K with Voice Remote bundle is even better for an extra $10.
Google's latest streaming stick, the Chromecast with Google TV, gives you a lot for your $50. It offers 4K resolution and Dolby Vision/HDR compatibility and it comes with a voice-enabled remote. If you have a Nest Hub or other Google Assistant speaker it now integrates better than ever before. Turn on your TV and watch the latest episode of your show with a simple, "Hey Google, play House of the Dragon." The Chromecast with Google TV is zippy, performs well and is easy to use.
The Roku Streambar is an instant video and audio upgrade in a box. It offers an excellent Roku streamer on board and boasts enhanced speech quality via the integrated speaker.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is the best budget turntable, hands down. It offers simple automatic operation and its sound quality is a cut above anything else at the price. Perfect for a child's bedroom, or a low-lit music sanctuary.
If you're looking for a pair of headphones to appease the budding audiophile in your family, the HD6XX offers an extraordinary value. They do need a good amp -- you can't really run them from a phone -- but the sound quality can't be beaten. I use them connected to a receiver for late-night viewing and they work a treat.
With an improved look and clearer sound, the Debut 2.0 is even better for people looking to dive into the audiophile world. At $350, the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is an excellent value.
You can spend a lot of money on a Dolby Atmos setup, but here's one for well under a grand. It looks great, it's easy to use and it sounds good with music and movies.