Best accessories
1
SONOS ARC SOUNDBAR If the cost and relative clutter of Samsung’s Q990B opposite are too much for you, the Sonos Arc is a pretty-much peerless ‘one box’ alternative. It uses 11 beautifully designed and balanced drivers to stage a 5.0.2-channel sound more powerfully and convincingly – especially with Dolby Atmos – than anything else in its class. You have the option of adding a subwoofer, too – though most people probably won’t feel the need. £899, sonos.com
2
SKY Q
Whether it’s near daily 4K HDR football matches, wall-to-wall 4K HDR Formula 1 coverage or any of an impressively large catalogue of 4K/HDR/Atmos TV shows and films, a suitable Sky Q satellite receiver and subscription (ideally including sport and movie packages) will ensure you can pretty much always find some spectacular content to scratch your entertainment itch. From £26 a month plus up to £49 set-up charge, sky.com
3
MONITOR AUDIO SILVER 200 AV12 5.1 SPEAKER PACK
If you prefer your audio channels real rather than virtual, you’ll love Monitor Audio’s Silver 200 AV12 5.1 speaker package. Available in a range of gorgeous colours, the combination of two Silver 200 foor-standing speakers, Silver C150 Centre, Silver FX rears and Silver W12 subwoofer creates a fantastically powerful, immersive soundstage with films and games. £2,099, monitoraudio.com
4
APPLE TV
While nearly all TVs now have built-in smart systems, the latest Apple TV 4K streaming box offers enough added value with its interface, wireless connectivity and the AV quality of its streams to make it a worthy addition to any system. Especially if you’re happy to commit to iTunes and Apple TV+, the latter of which serves up consistently outstanding production values.
£169 for 32GB version, £189 for 64GB version, apple.com
5
SAMSUNG HW-Q990B The Q990B is currently the last word in multi-channel, multi-speaker soundbars. Its combination of a speaker-packed main soundbar, large subwoofer and multi-driver rear speakers delivers an incredibly immersive 15 genuine channels of sound – including four up-firing drivers to provide Dolby Atmos’s famous height effects. No other soundbar delivers a fuller, more cinematic surround sound experience. £1,599, samsung.com
6
XBOX SERIES X
While the previous generation of consoles trailed behind TV tech, the Xbox Series X and PS5 have surged ahead of it, delivering features such as 4K at 120Hz, aggressive HDR and automatic low latency mode switching that only cutting-edge TVs can handle. We’re highlighting the Series X, though, because at the time of print, it’s the only console that can handle variable refresh rates... but we’re sure the PS5 isn’t far behind. £449.99, xbox.com
7
PANASONIC UB820 While most streaming services now support 4K, HDR and even Dolby Atmos sound, they still can’t compete with a 4K Blu-ray. Especially a 4K Blu-ray played on Panasonic’s UB820. With its advanced picture features, premium components and support for both of the advanced Dolby Vision and HDR10+ picture formats, the UB820 unlocks the full potential of your TV better than even the best stream. £299, panasonic.co.uk
8
CREATIVE SXFI THEATER HEADPHONES The innovative Creative SXFI Theater headphones are impressively comfortable wireless headphones with a detachable mic for gaming or TV/movie use. Where they become special is with their Super X-FI ‘holographic audio’ system. This uses photos of your ears and head to refine how it delivers a multi-channel speaker effect so effective that you almost forget you’re still wearing ’phones. £159.99, creative.com