Hottest home entertainment gear

Consumer Reports

October 30, 2014 at 6:00 AM

The holiday season is once again approaching: Time to start making those gift lists for all your friends and loved ones (oh, and maybe to think about presents you might want for yourself!). If anyone has been especially good this year (yes, including you), a TV, streaming media player, or other home entertainment device might be just the gift you need.

In our Great Electronics Gift Guide, we’ve gathered together more than 100 recommendations—from bargain to sweet spot to splurge—to help you choose. We’ve also included buying advice for consumers with specific needs—and their stories could match yours. Whatever you're looking for, we have ideas. Happy shopping!

Don't miss the rest of our Great Electronics Gift Guide!

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How to shop for TVs

The landscape of television technology has changed significantly. At this time last year, Ultra HD (UHD) sets, which have four times the resolution of 1080p TVs, were new to the market. And, boy, were they expensive—with big-brand models priced at $4,000 and up. Now, most major TV manufacturers have UHD sets in their high-end lineups, and very good performing models with updated features can be had at half that cost. Some of the Ultra HD TVs look different, too, with curved, superthin screens.

Other big changes are afoot. Plasma televisions, which used to dominate the top of our Ratings because of their deep black levels and wide viewing angles, have all but disappeared from stores. Meanwhile, a relatively new and expensive screen technology called organic light-emitting diode promises even better performance than plasma. OLED sets are a hot topic, but there are still very few on the market. Nonetheless, they are creeping down the price ladder toward affordability. LG now offers a 55-inch curved 1080p set for $3,500—its 65-inch OLED with Ultra HD resolution (an industry first) is still up in the stratosphere at $10,000.

We’re excited about the marriage of UHD and OLED technologies, but those sets will remain pricey for some time. So for the next few years, LCD TVs will be the go-to choice for most consumers. But don’t get tangled up in the confusing terminology. Most LCD televisions use an energy-efficient LED backlight, so manufacturers often tout them as “LED TVs.” The two technologies overlap, so all LED televisions are actually LCDs.

Smart TVs are more common than ever. Those Internet-connected sets can run apps and stream movies, TV shows, and music from services such as Amazon, Netflix, Pandora, and Spotify. They also tap into social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. A number of smart TVs have Web browsers, though we’ve found that browsing the Web on a TV is a pretty poor experience. More TV brands also offer “second screen” apps that allow you to use your smart phone or tablet to access Web content and then wirelessly “mirror” that content on your TV.

One thing that still seems to be a problem is wimpy sound. The stylish, skinny designs of many TVs mean there’s less room for adequate speakers. Some models buck that trend. The Sony Bravia XBR-X900B sets, for instance, have large speaker arrays flanking the screen, which provide top-notch sound quality. If the sound on your set is subpar, consider adding a sound-bar speaker; expect to pay $200 to $300 for a decent-sounding one.

Bargain

Panasonic Viera TC-50AS530U, $600
This 50-inch 1080p LCD set has excellent picture quality. Each family member can customize a home screen with his or her favorite apps. A Swipe and Share app lets you share content with compatible mobile devices. Like all these budget picks, it has middling sound—but at these prices you can just buy a sound bar.

Also consider

Sony Bravia KDL-40W600B, $470
This 40-inch LCD TV has excellent picture quality and lifelike colors. It has four HDMI inputs, a lot for a set this size. You can turn on a scrolling Twitter feed relevant to a program you’re watching, or use Skype in split-screen mode to chat while watching a favorite program. A 48-inch sibling to this set offers comparable performance for $600.

LG 42LB5800, $450
This 42-inch 1080p TV has very good high-definition picture quality and color accuracy, plus a fairly wide viewing angle for an LCD set. It can run apps and stream online content, and it will recommend programs based on your viewing history.

Samsung UN28H4000, $200
Very good picture in a small size.

Sweet spot

Samsung UN55H6400, $1,200
This nicely priced 55-inch 1080p TV has excellent picture quality and an impressive set of features. Its Clear Motion feature minimizes motion blur better than most LCD TVs we’ve tested. It responds to voice commands and suggests programs according to your viewing history.

Also consider

LG 55LB7200, $1,400
This 55-inch 1080p TV has excellent high-def picture quality and uses LG’s webOS smart TV platform, which organizes content in tiles across the bottom of the screen.Just point the Magic Remote to move an onscreen cursor, or use voice commands to change channels or browse the Web.

Samsung UN60H6350, $1,300
This 60-inch LCD TV delivers excellent picture quality. Its 120Hz feature reduces motion blur during fast-moving scenes very well.

Sony Bravia KDL-50W800B, $1,000
This 50-inch LCD set delivers excellent high-def picture quality and offers access to online content. It also has screen mirroring, which lets you wirelessly send content from a smart phone or tablet to the TV.

Splurge

Sony Bravia XBR-65X900B, $3,800
There are dozens of TVs in our Ratings with excellent picture quality, but rarely do we hear great sound. The distinctive, wedge-shaped 65-inch Sony Ultra HD set wears its large, side-mounted speaker arrays proudly, delivering what may be the best TV sound we’ve heard. It has Sony’s smart-TV platform plus a Social Viewing feature with a scrolling Twitter feed.

Also consider

Samsung UN65HU9000, $4,300
A gently curved, 65-inch screen distinguishes this top-of-the-line UHD TV, which has loads of features, including the ability to divide the screen into four panels, each with its own live TV or Web content. All of the connections are made via a separate box containing the TV’s brain. You can replace it in the future to add new features and capabilities.

LG 65UB9500, $2,800
This 65-inch UHD TV has a wider viewing angle than most LCD sets. Like the other UHD TVs here, it has smart-TV features and, in addition, can also stream UHD (4K) videos from Netflix.

A few more standouts

We combed our full Ratings of 170-plus sets to find TVs that illustrate a few extremes—the biggest, cheapest, and best sounding. Our selections are limited to models we’ve tested; we know there are bigger TVs out there, for example. Prices were as of mid-October and may have changed by the time you read this. For up-to-the-minute TV news and recommendations, go to ConsumerReports.org.

Biggest: 70-inch LG 70LB7100, $2,400, and Sharp Aquos LC-70SQ15U, $2,200
The LG has excellent picture quality; the Sharp model is very good. These may be too big for many living rooms but could look great in a home theater.

Cheapest: 24-inch LG 24LB4510, $150
Sure, it’s small, but the picture is excellent, and the price is right. Like most sets this size, it has sound that’s just OK.

Best sound: 55-inch Bose VideoWave II Entertainment System, $5,000
Only a few TVs in our Ratings of more than 170 models offer excellent sound, including this Bose and the Sony Bravia XBR-65X900B. The Bose has excellent picture quality but no Internet capability.

Which TVs score highest for reliability? Check our buying guide and Ratings for more information.

What to buy for a mom and her son

Velicia says: “My TV is from the ’80s or ’90s, and my 14-year-old son tells me I should join the 21st century with a flat screen. The new TV will be in our family room, for when people come over to watch the Super Bowl or Beyoncé’s concerts. Anywhere between 32 and 40 inches would be good, and I’d love to spend under $500.”

Claudio Ciacci, TV tester, says: “Our top pick for Velicia is the LG 39LB5800, a slim, 39-inch LED-backlit set that will fit in her entertainment center. It’s selling for about $430, but it could cost less during the holidays. It has excellent picture quality, and LG has been a reliable brand. This set has LG’s smart-TV platform, with access to streaming shows. Finally, the audio is good, and that should make Velicia—and other Beyoncé fans—happy.”

How to shop for Blu-ray players

You might think a Blu-ray player is hopelessly out of date in an age when everyone wants to stream Netflix’s “House of Cards.” But modern Blu-ray players are arguably the most versatile devices you can add to your entertainment setup.

In addition to playing all kinds of discs, most models can stream content from online video services such as Netflix and music services such as Pandora, and Blu-ray players deliver better movie quality than streaming. Some can relay music, video, and photos from other devices on your home network to your TV, or mirror the screen of your mobile device on your TV.

Wi-Fi is standard on most players, and some have Web browsers. Well-equipped models go for as little as $75 or so, and fully loaded players are in the $150 range. You can expect excellent Blu-ray picture quality at all prices.