How I'm bringing back physical media – and the 5 home theater gadgets helping me do it

The centerpiece of my home theater setup is the Hisense U8N, which I was able to go hands-on with before. While it’s still an excellent TV, you’ll want to pick up its successor, the U8QG instead. 

It has an even better refresh rate of 165Hz, which can be bumped up to 288Hz for console gaming. It also features an improved Mini-LED panel with up to 5,000 nits of brightness for better visibility in direct sunlight and harsh overhead lighting. It’s also Pantone-Validated for color accuracy, so you’ll get more lifelike images.

Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision IQ give you virtual surround sound and enhanced detailing to provide an immersive experience while streaming movies, music, console games, and shows. On the topic of console gamers, they will appreciate the native support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR to prevent screen tearing and stuttering. My favorite feature is that the Hisense TV lineup supports the PlayStation Remote Play app, so I can leave the console in the living room and play games or watch DVDs on the Hisense U8K we have in the bedroom. 

Read more: Hisense U8QG review

My spouse and I have an extensive vinyl collection featuring a variety of artists and genres. After our suitcase-style turntable gave up the ghost, I asked ZDNET’s resident audiophile Allison Murray for help choosing a new one. I ended up with the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, which is their entry-level turntable. 

It plays both 33 ⅓ and 45 RPM records, letting you switch between formats with the flip of a lever. It also has an automatic needle arm, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally damaging the delicate cartridge and other components. What I like the most about this turntable is that you’re able to replace parts like drive belts and needle cartridges as-needed, prolonging the lifespan of your record player. 

My only real complaint is that the turntable itself doesn’t have any audio output, so you’ll need to invest in a pair of decent wired or Bluetooth speakers.

Read more: I found a turntable that’s designed for beginners but has features that will satisfy experts, too

When I ordered my Audio-Technica AT-LP60X on Amazon, it was bundled with a pair of Samson MediaOne speakers. With the option to connect either via Bluetooth or a hardwire audio cable, you’ll be able to place your speakers wherever you need to in order to get the best sound coverage for your space. 

I have to admit I wasn’t expecting much from these, but the Samson M30BT are powerhouses when it comes to both audio quality and volume. The speakers come with detailed instructions, making setup a much less daunting and frustrating experience than I had anticipated. With the turntable and speakers set up in a corner of the room, we’re able to project clean, rich sound throughout almost the entire house thanks to the open-concept design. This made it perfect for playing Christmas albums while setting up decorations around the house during the holidays and house parties all year long. 

Also: The best Bluetooth speakers you can buy

While the integrated speakers in my Hisense U8N are perfectly suitable for gaming and streaming, I’ve had my eye on the Hisense HS3100 soundbar to help boost dialogue in movies, games, and shows and enhance audio while streaming music. With 3.1CH audio, this soundbar provides clean highs and mid-range tones and rich, deep bass with the included subwoofer. It also uses DTS Digital Surround audio processing for virtual surround sound and a more immersive experience without having to set up lots of extra speakers.

Read also: The best soundbars you can buy: Upgrade your TV with one of our top picks

I’m a big proponent of multi-function tech, so having a game console and DVD/Blu-Ray player in one device is a big plus. My PlayStation 5 is another cornerstone of my home theater, not only as a gaming console, but also as a multimedia player.  

The PS5 can handle everything from thrifted DVD box sets of The OC and semi-yearly marathons of The Lord of the Rings Director’s Cut editions on Blu-Ray to digital PS5 games and even physical PS4 discs. My biggest complaint, other than the high price, is that the PS5 does not support playback for music CDs (a media format that Sony helped pioneer). So if you want an all-in-one solution for your physical movie and music collection, you’ll have to pick up a PS3 secondhand.

Also: Own a PS5? Changing these 3 settings gave my console an instant performance boost

I’ve been testing and writing about TVs, video games, and gaming hardware for the better part of a decade. I’ve covered everything from budget-friendly smart TVs to high-end gaming consoles and accessories, and I’ve developed a keen eye for home theater and gaming tech that balances features, functionality, and value. I also gravitate toward TVs and other home theater tech that is designed to last: I ensure that everything I feature is able to receive firmware and security updates for at least five years, as well as offering smart features that keep your home theater on the cutting edge of entertainment.

For vinyl collectors, it’s better to store them standing upright on a shelf or in a dedicated box than laying them flat and stacked on top of one another. When you stack vinyl records, the weight of the ones on top can cause the records on the bottom of the stack to warp or even crack. 

If you have a PlayStation or Xbox console from the last 10 years, you’ll be able to play DVDs, Blu-Rays, and maybe even 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs, depending on which console you have and what media formats it supports. This also helps keep your home theater more organized, since you won’t have to dedicate space to separate devices for gaming and watching movies.