Bold claim: upgrading your living room can redefine how you unwind after a long day—and these are the 10 gifts I, a TV tester, would be thrilled to find under the tree. After years spent reporting on the TV industry, I usually switch off the work brain and avoid thinking about my own setup. That’s the excuse I gave my editor when they asked if I had any A/V or TV-related items on my wishlist this year. Yet, after surveying the hints I’ve dropped and imagining the perfect living room in vivid detail, it’s clear I’m in a perpetual loop of improvement for my modest home theater.
These picks include many items I’ve actually requested this year. Some are aspirational and perhaps out of reach, but a few would be dream upgrades if someone wanted to surprise me. If you happen to be in a generous mood and want to help, my inbox is always open.
Quick links
- Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit For TVs: was $25, now $19 @ Amazon
- Monoprice Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables: was $35, now $24 @ Amazon
- "Minority Report" 4K Blu-ray: was $30, now $24 @ Amazon
- Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd Edition): $29 @ Amazon
- "Weapons" Limited Edition 4K Blu-ray: was $58, now $47 @ Walmart
- Sony HT-S100F 2.0-channel soundbar: was $119, now $99 @ Best Buy
- Sony Inzone E9 gaming IEMs: $149 @ Best Buy
- Panasonic DP-UB820-K 4K Blu-ray player: was $549, now $499 @ Best Buy
- Nintendo Switch 2 + "Mario Kart World" bundle: $499 @ Best Buy
- LG 65" C5 4K OLED: $1,396 @ Amazon
A quick intro from me, Michael
I’m Michael Desjardin, a Senior Editor for TVs at Tom’s Guide with more than a decade of hands-on testing and reviewing behind me. When the calendar flips to holiday season, I park my testing gear and pivot to scouting the best deals in TVs and A/V gear. If you want a peek at what I’m hoping to find under the tree this year (and what I’m actually shopping for), you’re in the right place.
My A/V holiday wishlist
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If you’d like more context or a deeper dive into any item on the list, I’m happy to break down why it belongs in a living room upgrade—and how a beginner can approach installing or evaluating each piece. Would you prefer this list framed as practical buying guidance, or as a more narrative, experience-focused guide to building a better home theater? And do you want more budget-friendly options, or are you aiming for premium, high-end gear this year?"}
