9 thoughtful gift ideas for home theater fans looking to upgrade their entertainment setup
Do you have a home theater enthusiast in your life? No doubt it's great to watch movies with them, but what about finding a great Christmas gift to make that experience even better for them (and for you)? No one expects you to buy them one of the best TVs, but we have some great and more affordable options than a huge and expensive OLED TV.
We've picked out some fantastic choices to keep your loved one entertained this holiday season. The list below is as varied as great ways to enhance their auditory experience, to cool movies to watch and show off their home theater setup, and even a great but affordable TV if you want to go big with your gifts. Recognizing that we all have different budgets, we've made sure there are options for every bank balance. View the best Christmas gift ideas for home theater enthusiasts below.
While you're shopping, check out our guides to the best ones Christmas sales in the US and Sales on Boxing Day in the United Kingdom. You will find plenty of great holiday and Christmas gift ideas.
Best gifts for TV and streaming devices
Amazon Fire TV 43-inch Omni QLED
QLED on a budget
Amazon's Fire TV lineup punches above its weight, so if you can stretch your budget to a new TV, the 43-inch Omni QLED is a great option. It has support for Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HLG and HDR10+ Adaptive, so it looks pretty good. There is adaptive brightness, so that it also automatically adjusts to the lighting in your room. Easy to use, Fire TV makes the whole experience easier for the whole family to explore this Christmas.
Easy streaming
Most of us have a smart TV, but a dedicated device generally works better. The Roku Express 4K Plus is cheap yet very useful. It offers support for just about every streaming app you can think of, and also offers 4K and HDR visuals. The voice remote is the highlight here, meaning you can speak a command instead of tapping the remote the old-fashioned way.
The Apple owner's choice
The Apple TV 4K just works and works well, just like all other Apple technology. It has support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos and works seamlessly with your other Apple devices. You can use it to stream your favorite shows, view photos from your phone, transfer other content, and get all the benefits of Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness Plus.
Best Blu-ray Player, Projector and Soundbar Gifts
Ideal for physical media
One of the best 4K Blu-ray players, the Sony UBP-X700 is perfect for physical media enthusiasts. The quality is generally still considered to be better than streaming or digital copies, but using 4K discs will give you the best image contrast and clarity, along with superior picture quality. The Sony UBP-X700 also offers streaming support with built-in Wi-Fi.
Really cinematic
The Samsung Freestyle Projector is intended for people who do not have a TV of any size. It works best in dimly lit rooms, allowing you to project in Full HD up to 300 cm high. It's easy to use and does all the hard work for you, like autofocus and choosing the best screen size. It also works outside the home with support for voice assistants, streaming apps and music playback.
Exceptional surround sound
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 delivers vibrant bass and crystal-clear dialogue with everything you watch. It has a wide soundstage that feels cinematic in nature, with Dolby Atmos adding to the surround sound effect. Besides being perfect for movies, you can also stream music, podcasts and more, so it fits well in your living space. Easy installation sweetens the deal.
Best Earphones and Blu-ray Discs Gifts
Best for solo viewing
If the person you're buying for often watches movies late at night when everyone else has gone to bed, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 will ensure that he or she can enjoy their time without missing out on great sound quality. Dolby Atmos support and spatial audio all make for an immersive experience, while there's fantastic ANC to cancel out the surrounding world as you watch.
The best movie of 2023
Considered the best film of 2023 by many reputable sources, Oppenheimer tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, responsible for the Manhattan Project that led to the first atomic bomb. It's a gripping story and it looks fantastic too, with spectacular visual effects and HDR10 support for more vibrant and lifelike colours. It's a long but gripping film, whether you're a history buff or just love compelling movies.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning part one
Spectacular set pieces
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning part one shows just how impressive stunts can be as Tom Cruise throws himself onto buildings and performs some exceptional stunts that will have you wondering how he ever managed to do them himself. Support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos brings the experience into your home and it's the kind of movie the whole family can enjoy.
More holiday sales in the US
- Amazon: 70% off Kindle, TVs, tablets and clothing
- Apple: AirPods, Apple Watch and iPads from $79
- Adidas: 40% discount on running shoes and clothing
- Beauty: 51% discount on makeup, skin care and hair tools
- Best Buy: $800 off TVs, laptops and headphones
- Cheap TVs: Big screen 4K TVs starting at $269.99
- Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas and trees
- Del: Inspiron and XPS laptops starting at $260
- DreamCloud: 40% discount on all mattresses
- Family pajamas: Christmas Pajamas starting at $12.99
- Gaming: console bundles starting at $289.99
- Lenovo: 76% discount on laptops, desktops and printers
- Lowe's: up to $800 off major appliances
- Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
- Noordstrom: 40% discount on Nike, Levi's and UGG's
- Patagonia: sweaters starting at $64.99
- Samsung: $2,000 worth of TVs, phones and appliances
- Shopbop: 25% discount on the entire site with the code Holiday
- Goal: 40% discount on Christmas decorations, TVs and toys
- Toys: Disney, Barbie and Lego starting at $14.99
- Walmart: cheap TVs, air fryers, PS5 and toys
More Christmas sales in Britain
- Amazon: up to 65% off technology and gifts
- Adidas: up to 60% discount on outlet clothing, shoes, clothing
- AO: up to 40% discount on vacuum cleaners, appliances and technology
- Argos: up to 70% discount on toys, Christmas decorations and technology
- Boots: half-price gift sets, gift vouchers and fragrances
- B&V: cheap christmas trees, lights, decor, wreaths
- Car Phone Warehouse: 120GB data for £12 per month
- Curries: up to 40% discount on TVs, air fryers, laptops and more
- Cotswolds outside: up to 50% discount on Patagonia, Rab, North Face
- Debenhams: up to 70% discount on home, fashion, gift sets
- Disney: up to 60% discount on Christmas sweaters, toys, decorations
- Ecopper: up to 40% discount on laptops, desktops and components
- John Lewis: £300 off TVs, Apple and Christmas decorations
- Jessops: up to £1,000 off Sony, Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm
- O2: up to £600 off iPhone, Samsung and Google
- Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and appliances
- Shark: up to €100 discount on the best-selling vacuum cleaners
- Terribly: discounts on technology, appliances, furniture and beauty
- Vodafone: Six-month half-price SIM cards from £11.50