Top 10 Home Cinema Gifts

Whilst many home cinema systems and components can be a little too expensive to give as gifts, there are plenty of other items that make ideal presents for the home cinema fan. There are some are sensible options, a few nice treats, and some absolutely essential items we think no home cinema fan should be without, but they’re all things we think will make perfect gifts for Christmas, Birthdays or just as a treat for yourself! So in true top 10 style we’re going to count down to the number one gift idea – stand by!

10. Laz-y-boy

Possibly the ultimate accessory for a home cinema, and definitely the most expensive, the Laz-y-boy Cool Recliner is the pinnacle of home cinema seating. Priced at around £1000, it won’t be in many peoples stockings this year but no top ten list would be complete without something completely over the top in it! More details »

9. HDMI Cable

A decent HDMI cable is a sure fire way to make sure you are getting the best from your system, and with HDMI cables looking to be the only connection you’ll ever need for some time to come, you can afford to splash out. Invest in a good quality cable such as the Lindy Premium Gold and you’ll never look back.

8. Movie Charts

A book of charts about movies doesn’t sound the most interesting thing to give as a gift, but Movie Charts is a hilarious selection of graphs and diagrams devoted to some of the most important questions raised in cinema and is sure to keep you chuckling for days on end. Read our review of Movie Charts »

7. Lindy Mains Conditioner

A mains conditioner is not one of the most exciting gifts we can think of to give, but it could be one of the best value. Promising to clean up the power supply so your components can really perform to their best ability it actually makes a very worthwhile and beneficial gift. Read our review of the Lindy Mains Conditioner »

6. Logitech Squeezebox Radio

Not strictly home cinema related, but an absolutely amazing device for listening to the multitude of internet radio channels (including Radio 1 and other BBC stations) as well as streaming all the music that is stored on your PC or Mac and listening to tracks off your iPod. Stupidly simple to set up, the Logitech Squeezebox Radio (available at Amazon) has a colour screen and is compact enough to move around the house or garden. The Logitech Squeezebox Boom is similar but with a mono screen and stereo speakers.

5. 101 War / 101 Gangster Movies You Must See Before You Die

Everyone loves lists (especially us!) and these two books are ideal for movie fans. More than just a list of great movies, these books are comprehensive in the films they cover and will help the movie fan in your life to get a better understanding and appreciation of the genre – so you could say they are educational too. Read our review of 101 War Movies You Must See Before You Die and 101 Gangster Movies You Must See Before You Die.

4. Toshiba XD-E600

Whilst much of the talk is about Blu-ray players these days, the latest upscaling DVD Player from Toshiba, the Toshiba XD-E600 is extremely good at making your standard definition DVDs near high definition quality. At around £70 it makes an ideal replacement for an existing DVD player, or even accompaniment to a Blu-ray player.

3. Popcorn Makers

Whats the first snack you think of when you think of the movies? Popcorn of course! A home popcorn maker will add that extra touch of authenticity to your home movie nights. With makers starting at under £20 and being a healthy treat into the bargain they will make a well received, and long lasting gift.

2. Universal Remote Control

With the large range of components now in our homes, there is also inevitably an increasing number of remote controls on our armchair. Fortunately, universal remote controls can ease the burden, and the Logitech Harmony One is one of the best with its full colour touch screen. At around £120 it’s not cheap but is well worth the money. The Logitech Harmony 650 at less than half that, also makes a very good choice.

1. DVD and Blu-ray Discs

When all is said and done, a home cinema is for watching and enjoying movies, so DVD and Blu-ray discs will always be welcome by everyone. View the latest releases at Amazon »