It’s cold outside so no one in their right mind will be leaving the house anytime soon, but if there’s someone on your Crimbo prezzie list who doesn’t anyway, today’s your lucky day! If a friend or family member would rather call their living room a home cinema and spends more on AV than they do on food most months, we’ve come up with a list of the perfect prezzies for your home entertainment addict in every price bracket.
From surround sound for not so much to high-end media streaming, we’ve got it all right here – read on for the details!
If you’re looking for a little stocking filler for a home entertainment addict, try these gizmos out for size.
USB prezzies
A movie wouldn’t be the same without refreshments, so sort your loved one out with their own USB-powered fridge! If there’s a seat near any AV equipment with a USB port (all three consoles sport them, as do plenty of DVD players), the person who gets this will be able to reach over and pluck out a cold can without taking an eye off the telly. £20 to IWOOT for chilled drinks seems like a fair exchange to us.
Headphone hush
If everyone in the house over the age of 25 falls asleep on Christmas day by about 3pm, these fancy cans will keep them playing the games they’re given, or watching the Christmas movie without waking them. Philips’ comfy SBCHP460 headphones come with two different connectors to plug into any system, while 40mm drivers blast out crisp sounds solely in the vicinity of your ears. Normally worth £30, they’re going for £18 on Play.com right now.
Zapper adapter
Dim the lights as the film starts, with the same remote. The Zapper works by screwing in between the light bulb and the source, and can be programmed to work with almost any remote. It’s not on sale in the UK but a shifty import from Amazon US will get one into your loved one’s stocking for under a tenner.
Looking to make your gift a bit more home entertaining? If you’re prepared to go over the £20 mark, there’s stacks of goodies that’ll brighten up the day indoors.
Radio control drinks cooler
The USB drinks cooler is all good and well if your giving the gift to a solo movie-watcher, but it’s not going to help anyone loafing around with them. Hand over this remote control drinks cooler and the lucky/lazy recipient can drive it across the living room, delivering cold ones to anyone who fancies a drink but can’t be bothered. Just £39.95 from Firebox.
All-rounder remote
So there’s the TV, the DVD player, the Sky box, the Blu-ray player, the sound system – assuming the telly fan in your life has found enough plugs to power them all, they’ll have a stack of remotes cluttering up the couch. Save them hunting for the right remote each time by buying them a universal control instead. Philips’ offering, the Prestigo SRU8015, will master up to 15 devices including their lighting system, all for £70 from Pixmania, and there’s even a screen so they won’t end up trying to find ITV on the Hi-Fi.
Logitech G51 5.1 surround sound system
Surround sound needn’t be expensive, but too many home cinema fans avoid investing in it since it’s perceived as a luxury set up. Use that false perception to your advantage and pick up this booming 5.1 set up from Logitech from just £81 with free delivery. Hand them over and your square-eyed loved one will think you’ve spent more than you have, either that or they’ll curse you for introducing wires to their otherwise pristine living room…
Money to burn eh? You don’t even need to keep the receipts on these lust objects: if the person you’re giving them to doesn’t want them, you definitely will.
Slingbox
The Slingbox has the potential to be the ultimate in home entertainment, precisely because it will let the recipient watch their telly, and associated set-top boxes, anywhere there’s a broadband connection. Try a Sling Solo if you know the presentee doesn’t have much set top space, or if you’re feeling really extravagant, throw in a Sling Catcher so they can receive signals from home on a remote TV. Prices start from £105 on Amazon.
Stream around some sound
Sonos is a great way to whizz tunes from room to room, and while it’s an expensive option (the Sonos, remote and Zone Players for each room add up big time), you can pick them up as a bundle for around £700. It more than pays its way though, with access to thousands of internet radion stations from across the world, plus Last.fm playlists and Napster compatibility, letting the owner listen to nigh on anything, anywhere in the house.
Super seating
Surround sound too obvious for you? Then long live the subwoofer beanbag! Pyramat’s latest Gamebag replaces the old fashioned sofa by sewing speakers straight in, and rumbling in time to any movies, music or games played through their AV set-up. You can even sync them up with other Gamebags for simultaneous booty-shaking. Shame the price isn’t so soft: £100 of your cold hard cash.
