To start, let’s match those TVs above with their ideal sound system. For LG, that’s the $1500 SC9S, largely because it comes with a bracket that replaces the C2’s base, combining the TV and soundbar into a single unit. It has three upward-firing speakers that attempt to add height in spatial soundtracks, and comes with a wireless subwoofer, though there are no rears which can leave things a bit unbalanced. It has an extra HDMI 2.1 port so you don’t lose one from your TV. For the Samsung it’s the $2000 Q990C, a huge bar plus two wireless rears that are all stuffed with speakers for 15 channels in total, plus a wireless sub. This all makes for very convincing Dolby Atmos performance. It has two HDMI inputs, so it actually expands the number of things you can plug into your TV. But these are not HDMI 2.1, so your highest end tech will still need to go direct into the TV.

For an option that’s smaller in both size and price, the Gen 2 Sonos Beam is hard to beat. At $800 it’s probably the best value Atmos-compatible soundbar you can get, and is also the simplest, as all you need do is plug it in. Of course, you don’t get a lot of height out of it, but the soundstage is impressively wide from such a little bar, and it’s also very nice for music.

Wi-Fi speakers

While it’s hard to beat a proper hi-fi system with a pair of big speakers and separate components, there is a nice middle ground between that and a tinny Bluetooth speaker that splutters or breaks up if you take your phone out of the room. Plopping a Wi-Fi speaker in the right spot can make a big difference to your home listening.

Sonos has long been a leader here and for good reason. Its latest Era 100 and Era 300 smart speakers sound amazing, with the former being a slim $400 unit and the latter being a chunky $750 monster designed for spatial audio. The 100 is honestly enough for almost all use cases, filling a medium-sized room with good sound and a surprising amount of bass. If you really like to sit and listen, the 300 could be worth the extra, though be warned that some spatial mixes on Apple and Amazon Music are incredible while some are a bit confused. These speakers have microphones, and can work with Amazon Alexa or Sonos’ own privacy-preserving assistant. Most of the Google functionality of past Sonos products has been removed.

Google itself has long-since retired its greatest speaker, the Home Max. But at $150, and frequently discounted, its Nest Audio is easily the best value in the smart speaker space. Especially in smaller spaces or if you buy two to make a stereo pair, the sound is a lot more impressive than you might expect. On the other hand, those fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem could look at the newly resurrected HomePod, a $480 Siri-powered speaker with a high-end sound and easy AirPlay functionality that lets you fling sound from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Game consoles

Sony and Microsoft’s latest machines will be three years old by November, but due to the pandemic and other circumstances, it feels like they’re only now hitting their stride. For a long time these machines were difficult to find in stores, and most new games were released on the old consoles as well as the new, so you may have skipped the upgrade. But with 2023 already proving to be one of the biggest years in video games, now could be the time.

For power, features and games, there isn’t a lot separating the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The Xbox is slightly cheaper at $750, but that will change on August 1 when the price will go up to make both consoles $800. The first thing you should consider is whether you have friends or family that mostly play on one console or the other (some games let you play together no matter the system, but it’s generally easier if everyone has the same machine), and whether you already have a library of PS4 or Xbox One games you want to continue using. To save some cash you could look for the PS5 Digital Edition ($650) or Xbox Series S ($500), which play the same games but with no disc drive. The Series S is also less powerful, so it can’t do 4K gaming.

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Both companies now have a decent subscription offering that gives you access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee, though the edge goes to Microsoft in terms of what’s included. And then you have to consider that some games are exclusive to one machine or another. Historically Sony has been stronger here, though this year both have compelling offerings: Marvel’s Spider-man 2 and Final Fantasy XVI on PS5, and Forza Motorsport and Starfield on XSX.

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