7 gifts for a killer living room

Someone's media center is going to be better than ever.

UpdatedMon, November 16, 2015 at 6:00 PM UTC

Winter is coming. And with it also comes the need to show the loved ones in your life just how much you care for them by spending, spending, spending on gifts. Trouble is, there are just so many options to choose from. What you really need is someone, some outside force to hold your credit card-holding hand. And boy, do we have some suggestions for you. Happy Holidays! You're very welcome.

The advent of 4K has rendered the concept of HDTVs... 'quaint.' But now, cable's feeling that burn, too, from the likes of streaming dongles and services. Nowadays, to get that perfect home entertainment setup, you don't need anything more than an electrical outlet and a broadband connection to get your TV, movies and music wherever, whenever and however you like it. Because you're not just a couch potato anymore, you're a couch potato aficionado. See for yourself below.

Roku’s latest Android-powered set-top box now boasts 4K Ultra HD support on top of a few other enhancements. A button on top helps you ping lost remotes, while the controller itself has a headphone jack for late-night listening, voice search and motion-control. Plus, there are over 2,500 channels to satisfy all your bingeing needs.

$129 Roku

With up to 24TB of storage space, this media server has all the room you’ll need to store and stream your music, photo and videos. It features 1080p Full HD video transcoding and DNLA certification, making it easy to enjoy your digital collection on one or more sets throughout the house and access your content from anywhere.

$499 Amazon

Google’s affordable Chromecast got an overhaul this year and it’s still a must-have for media enthusiasts. This pocket-sized device lets you easily put mobile-based content up on any screen with HDMI and a WiFi connection. If you buy one before the end of the year, you also get a free movie rental from Google Play to sweeten the deal.

$35 Google Store

For those with money to spend, LG’s 65-inch 4K OLED TV would be the crown jewel of your home entertainment center. The ultra-slim design, deep blacks, rich color and Smart TV powered by webOS will take your home viewing to the next level.

$4,997.95 Amazon (curved)

If you have the space, nothing beats a projector setup in your living room. The BenQ HT1075 is one of the brightest projectors on the market, and it can deliver a solid 1080p image between 100- and 140-inches. Best of all, it's much cheaper than a new TV, even with screen and setup costs.

$795 Amazon

If you've already got some killer speakers, Chromecast Audio will get them connected in an instant. It delivers higher-quality music streaming than Bluetooth, and it's cross-platform, unlike Apple's AirPlay. It's also a cheap way to get Sonos-like control of all the speakers in your home.

$35 Google Store

Apple's long-awaited set-top box update finally adds an app store, as well as a significantly revamped touchpad remote control with voice commands and motion control. If you're already invested in Apple's ecosystem, it's a no-brainer upgrade.

$199 Apple (64GB)

Image credit: Getty Images

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7 gifts for a killer living room

Someone's media center is going to be better than ever.

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