Whether you have just gotten a new TV, or planning to get one, you can further upgrade your home theatre with a couple of additions. For example, a decent soundbar goes a long way towards improving the anemic audio in televisions. Or how about a faster and more capable streaming media player offering a more intuitive user experience? Not to mention gaming on the couch with the latest game console. Here then are five gadgets that will level up your home theatre experience.
Samsung HW-S801B 3.1.2ch Soundbar (2022)
A good soundbar like the Samsung HW-S801B would be our first recommendation. Despite its super-slim build, this soundbar offers solid bass, and Dolby Atmos support. It works even better with the latest Samsung TVs — you can even ditch the cables (except power, of course) with a wireless feature. More importantly, it sounds full, filling, and clear.
Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2
The Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 soundbar is a great match for the TV in your gaming room. It's got a huge sound with plenty of thump and punch, and the new version now comes with an HDMI ARC port, too. It also supports Creative's Super X-Fi holographic audio, thought this is more for audio enthusiasts who intend to use headphones with this soundbar.
Apple TV 4K
If you mostly use Apple devices at home, the Apple TV 4K is the streaming media player to get. Not only does it work seamlessly with Apple devices like the new AirPods Pro 2 — when you don't want to disturb your family members — the Apple TV 4K also offers a fast, smooth user interface that may feel more responsive than the TV's built-in interface. And if you have Apple Arcade, you can use this media box to play games on the big screen.
Xbox Series S
The Xbox Series S, and the more powerful Xbox Series X, are relatively easy to buy nowadays. Amazon even offers next-day delivery, which is not something you can say for Sony's PlayStation 5. But while it's not as powerful, the Xbox Series S is more compact, and its 1,440p resolution looks good enough for most games. In fact, some gamers may even prefer a lower 1080p resolution in exchange for a higher, and smoother 120Hz refresh rate. Get an Xbox Game Pass subscription along with it, and you'll be playing games in no time.
Wiz LED Strip Starter Kit 2M
It's important to set the right mood for your movie marathon. This is why some Philips TVs come with an ambient light feature, for instance. But you can create something similar using an LED light strip like this 2M starter kit from Wiz. A more affordable sub-brand of Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), this Wiz RGB light strip has an easy-to-use, and responsive controller app. It connects directly to Wi-Fi, so you don't need a bridge like some Philips Hue products, and reduces the cost.
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