This story is part of Gift Guideour year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
You might think that a brand-new 4K TV is the ultimate in home theater, but there are plenty of other devices and accessories that can help you capture that “at the movies” feeling. If you want to help a loved one reach that pinnacle of audio and video performance, we’ve collected the best gifts to upgrade a home theater. From a turntables you soundbar to a new pair of headphones or a streaming deviceyou don’t have to break the bank on a great gift.
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Whether you’re buying for a cord-cutter or not, the Channel Master Flatenna offers a wealth of entertainment with no ongoing fees. Stick this stocking stuffer on a window and plug the cable into a tuner and they can be watching PBS in an instant.
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It’s possible to spend hundreds of dollars on a video streaming device. Possible, but not necessary. With a list price of $40 (and currently $25 on sale), 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.
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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.
Read our Audio Technica AT-LP60X review.
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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.
Read our Roku Streambar review.
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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.
Read our Sennheiser HD6XX review.
With an improved look and clearer sound, the Debut 2.0 is even better for people looking to dive into the audiophile world. At $400, the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 is an excellent value.
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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.
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