This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2021, our list of ideas, by topic, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the perfect gift.
No matter how big the TV, there’s always some way you can improve it, and you don’t need to spend much money. If you’re buying for a music fan you might be looking for a turntable or a new pair of headphones. And what giftee couldn’t do with a better video streamer, or a new sound system? From $25 and up there’s something here for every budget, and several products are currently on sale for Black Friday.
Channel Master Flatenna
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Dec 2016
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.
Read our Channel Master Flatenna 35 review.
$25 at Amazon
Roku 4K Express
Sarah Tew/CNET
It’s possible to spend hundreds of dollars on a video streamer. Possible, but not necessary. The $40 Roku 4K Express offers something for everybody — a huge range of apps and compatibility with video standards such as Dolby Vision and 4K resolution. That it works so well for the money is the good kind of surprise.
$25 at Amazon
$29 at Walmart
$25 at Best Buy
Audio Technica LP60X
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
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May 2021
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 smoky, low-lit music sanctuary.
Read our Audio Technica AT-LP60X review.
$279 at Amazon
$120 at Best Buy
Roku Streambar
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Roku Streambar is an instant video and audio upgrade in a box. It offers the excellent Roku streamer on board and boasts enhanced speech quality via the integrated speaker. As part of Black Friday the Streambar is selling for over 40% off.
Read our Roku Streambar review.
$99 at Amazon
$100 at Best Buy
$100 at Target
Massdrop x Sennheiser HD6XX
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you’re looking for a pair of relatively affordable headphones to appease the budding audiophile in your family, the HD6XX offer 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. Another Black Friday deal, they’re selling for $41 off right now.
Read our Sennheiser HD6XX review.
$179 at Drop
Elac Debut 2.0 6.2
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Jun 2021
With an improved look and clearer sound, the Debut 2.0 is even better for people looking to dive into the audiophile world. And at only $350 it’s cheaper than a receiver or a turntable. The Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 is an excellent value.
Read our Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 review.
$400 at Walmart
$350 at Audio Advice
Vizio M512a-H6 Dolby Atmos soundbar
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
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.
$500 at Amazon
$500 at Best Buy
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