Home Theater Buying Guide: Top Audio Speakers, Receivers, Headphones & Record Players 2020
By Team JamBase Nov 2, 2020 • 2:58 pm PST
Most of us have spent a significant amount of time around the house this year due to the pandemic, and if you haven’t already done so, it’s a great time to upgrade your home audio setup. We’ve got you covered with receivers, speakers, headphones, record players and more. And you can’t go wrong with upping your lighting game; go ahead and let your inner Kuroda shine!
We hope you love the products we recommend as much as we do! Just so you know, JamBase may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to purchase. Happy gifting!
2020 Holiday Buying Guides
Speakers
Polk Audio Home Theater Bundle
The Polk Audio T Series 3 Channel Home Theater Bundle includes one (1) T30 Center Channel and two (2) T50 Tower Speakers with Dolby and DTS Surround. The center channel speaker features (2) 5.25-inch drivers and a 1-inch tweeter, and each tower has a 6.5-inch driver, 1-inch tweeter and (2) 6.5-inch Bass Radiators that produce a well-balanced, room-filling sound. Start with this bundle and upgrade later to an immersive multi-room setup with 5.1, 7.1, 9.1 or more channels.
Vizio 5.1 Channel Home Theatre Soundbar System
The Vizio 5.1 Channel Home Theater Soundbar System offers immersive home theater surround-sound and a sophisticated new look and HDMI connectivity for the highest-quality audio. Three full-range speakers — including a dedicated center speaker for crystal-clear dialogue — are all perfectly balanced within the slim soundbar. Also included are a pair of low-profile surround speakers to envelop the listener, and a wireless 5-inch subwoofer that brings booming bass. DTS Virtual:X Sound Enhancement adds room-filling, floor-to-ceiling virtualized 3D sound to movies and music.
Klipsch Home Theatre 5.1 Surround Sound System
Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System delivers superior acoustic performance while keeping an incredibly minimal footprint when paired with your favorite AV receiver. Klipsch’s exclusive technology and aluminum tweeters deliver the cleanest, most natural sound possible The down-firing wireless subwoofer is designed to deliver room-filling low frequencies without requiring too much floor space.
Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker
We all miss our gyms and yoga classes. But it’s important to stay active, so meet your go-to (at home) workout buddy — the Bose SoundLink Color II. With wireless Bluetooth pairing, bring high quality sound to your workout in the living room, backyard, garage, or anywhere really.
Sonos Move Smart Speaker
Get brilliant sound anywhere with the all-new Sonos Move, the durable, battery-powered smart speaker for outdoor and indoor listening. Setup takes minutes, and control is simple with the Sonos app, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and your voice. Stream over WiFi and connect Move to the rest of your Sonos system at home. Switch to Bluetooth when you’re away and offline. Amazon Alexa is built-in so on WiFi you can play music, check the news, set alarms, get your questions answered, and more, completely hands-free. Experience surprisingly deep bass, a wide soundscape, and automatic Trueplay tuning that perfectly balances the sound for where you are and what you’re listening to. Enjoy up to 11 hours of continuous play time and deep, powerful sound. Easily recharge Move on the included base or a compatible USB-C charger.
OontZ Angle Bluetooth Speaker
The OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker (3rd Gen) is designed and engineered by Cambridge Sound Works in the USA for greater clarity sound, accurate mids and clear highs from dual precision acoustic stereo drivers. A unique triangular design and downward-facing, proprietary passive bass radiator further enhance sound quality. Its Bluetooth-friendly across tons of devices, water-resistant, and has a 10+ watt power AMP that pumps out more volume and plays your music with no distortion.
Stereo Receivers
Yamaha Stereo Receiver
The Yamaha R-S202 Stereo Receiver gives you Yamaha’s 125 years of music heritage packaged to reproduce music as it would be experienced live. Bluetooth connectivity adds easy access to streaming music. Each detail of this receiver was optimized for maximum power and minimal interference.
Denon 7.1 Home Theatre Receiver
Upgrade your home theater with the Denon 7.1 Home Theatre Receiver. It features Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Atmos height virtualization technology, plus the latest video technologies such as Dolby Vision, HDR10, HOG, eARC support and 4K video upscaling. Connect your media players and TV with eight HDMI inputs and two outputs with full HDCP 2.3 support on all ports. The front-panel USB offers convenient audio playback of MP3, WAV, FLAC, ALAC and DSD (2.8/5.6MHz) files for hi-res listening. Stream popular music services like Spotify, Pandora, Tidal and more via Bluetooth and with HEOS built-in. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for seamless voice control. And with the award-winning Denon setup assistant, the Denon AVR-S950H is simple to connect and enjoy.
Sony 5.2 Home Theatre Receiver
Update your home entertainment system to work with the latest 4K TVs and HDR picture with the Sony 5.2 Home Theatre Receiver. This 5.2 channel receiver is equipped with 4 HDMI inputs, HDCP 2.2 signal handling, and a host of advanced features including Bluetooth. The DH590 is the perfect combination of high-performance video capability and superb sonic fidelity.
Headphones & Ear Buds
Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-The-Ear Pro Headphones
The earpieces on the Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-The-Ear Pro Headphones are equipped with thick comfortable padding that keeps music inside and noise outside. The headpiece is also padded on the inside and is made of flexible rubber, ensuring that it won’t break. The headsets do not have a fixed wire; instead, there is a 3.5 mm jack in the bottom of the left earpiece which allows a standard 3.5 mm audio patch cable to be inserted. The 50 mm drivers and 100 dB sensitivity ensure that these headphones produce good volume and premium sound clarity at all frequencies and a reasonable price.
Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones feature three levels of world-class noise cancellation for better listening experience in any environment. They have noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for clear sound and voice pick-up, balanced audio performance at any volume, hassle-free Bluetooth pairing, personalized settings, access to future updates, and more through the Bose connect app. 12 inch USB cable included.
Apple AirPods
Apple AirPods are automatically on, automatically connected using the new H1 chip for a flawless listening experience. Easy setup for all your Apple devices.
Record Players
Audio Technica Turntable
This update of the Audio Technica-LP120-USB turntable features a new DC servo direct-drive motor, along with adjustable dynamic anti-skate control and selectable phono preamplifier. The fully manual turntable plays 33-1/3, 45, and 78 RPM records and is equipped with a USB output that allows direct connection to your computer.
Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player with Built-in Speakers
Give the youngster in your life the gift of vinyl. Take your tunes anywhere with the Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player with Built-in Speakers featuring upgraded premium sound quality. It sits on sound-isolating feet that prevent vibration and is perfect for the living room, bedroom or any other room in the house. Stream smartphone audio through the turntable’s built-in Bluetooth speakers. Easily connect external speakers via the stereo RCA outputs, or use the line input for non-Bluetooth devices like a CD player. For personal listening, connect your headphones to the headphone jack. And don’t forget to support local record stores when buying your vinyl!
Record Cleaner Kit
Your record collection is priceless because it’s a reflection of you. And we know you like to take care of it! Big Fudge is the leading supplier of quality products for the protection, storage and display of vinyl records. Clean dust, dirt and fingerprints off your records to improve sound quality instantly! Our 4-in-1 vinyl cleaning solution includes a velvet record brush, XL cleaning liquid, stylus brush and travel pouch. The handy Big Fudge Record Cleaner Kit will keep your collection sounding great.
Home Theater Lighting
Philips Hue Smart Hub
Want to give Kuroda a run for his money? Get started with Philips Hue Smart Hub and control your lights from your smartphone or tablet, or even with your voice. The Philips Hue Hub is the heart of the system and unlocks endless possibilities through the Philips Hue app. Add up to 50 Hue lights, LED lighting strips, and “surround viewing” that expands your TV’s screen to lights that reflect on the wall.
Philips Hue Play Sync Box
Expand your smart home viewing experience and create an entertainment setup that wows with the Philips Hue Play Sync Box. Bring your movies and gaming to life with “surround viewing” and a seamless level of integration – all possible with Hue smart lighting. The full room smart light effects make your TV content more vivid and captivating.
Philips Hue Play Black & Color Smart Light
Connect it to the Hue Hub (sold separately) in order to control lights with your Hue App, Voice or Smart Home device. Compact design, full light experience. Create a vibrant ambiance with Philips Hue Play Black & Color Smart Lights. Choose from 16 million colors to experience different light effects. Lay it on the floor, let it stand on the cabinet, or mount it on the back of the TV and paint your wall with light. Sync your lights to music or movies using the Hue Sync app.
Philips Hue White and Color Bluetooth Lightstrip Plus
Pair your Philips Hue White and Color Bluetooth Lightstrip Plus with any voice or Smart Home assistant. Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit, SmartThings, IFTT. Hub required, Alexa device). Sync your hue Lightstrip plus with gaming, music and movies using your PC via the Hue Sync app.
Brightown Outdoor String Lights
Brightown Outdoor String Lights are perfect for creating ambiance indoors or out all year round. They are dimmable and run on a parallel circuit, so of one bulb goes out, the rest stay on.
PASOW 50pcs Cable Ties Reusable Fastening Wire Organizer Cord Rope Holder
Keep your cords organized with the PASOW Cable Ties Reusable Fastening Wire Organizer Cord Rope Holder. These Velcro-type bundlers are great for computers, appliances, and electronics wire management. Reusable and low profile so as not to add to clutter. Oh, so satisfying.
Hope you enjoyed this list of receivers, speakers, headphones and record players and found some gift ideas for the music lover in your life. Don’t miss the rest of our 2020 Holiday Buying Guides for even more great gift ideas.
