We’re just over half way through 2026 and it’s shaping up to be one of the best years yet for home cinema enthusiasts. We’ve seen new, cutting-edge TV technology in the form of RGB TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense; fantastic active speakers from Klipsch and Edifier; and new luxurious high-end open-back headphones that have blown us away.
To help you sort through this year’s cavalcade of great gear, we’ve put together a list of 25 award-winning products that deserve a spot in your home theater or listening room. This list of products is sorted in alphabetical order to avoid any bias or claims of favoritism, so be sure to scroll all the way down to see the complete list of winners.
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
By adding noise cancellation to the already fantastic Maxwell 2 formula, the new Maxwell 2 is the all-rounder that Audeze’s gaming lineup has been crying out for. Its planar magnetic drivers deliver excellent fidelity, and while there are other headsets out there using similar drivers, none offer the immersion of ANC and a closed back design. — Pete Wolinski, Senior Reviews Editor
Belkin SoundForm Mini 2 Kids Wireless Headphones
As a relatively new dad, I take my daughter’s health seriously. As desperate as I am to have her right beside me listening to music on the latest speakers and soundbars, I want to preserve her hearing health — that’s where these cheap wireless headphones come in. With a set volume cap, there’s no way for her to crank up the music to a dangerously high level, which makes me feel better about the times we do listen to music together. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Bluesound Pulse Cinema
If you've yet to try a BluOS product, I urge you to do so. There are plenty of multi-room audio solutions on the market, but Bluesound's is the best by far. Its latest soundbar not only uses that platform to great effect, but it delivers 3.2.2 Dolby Atmos sound via 16 drivers. It's a next-level soundbar from a company on the cutting-edge of sound performance. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Creative Technology XF1
It's not often that I get excited about computer speakers. If I'm sitting at my desk, I'm usually testing out a new pair of awesome open-back headphones or I'm going to connect wirelessly to a nearby pair of bookshelf speakers. But the Creative XF1 has me intrigued, for sure. With a 10-band parametric equalizer and more than 120 genre- and game-specific presets, it's the Swiss Army knife of desktop speakers. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Denon AVR-X2900H
Denon knows what it’s doing when it comes to home cinema amplification. The company has been at it for decades, but blimey, this AV receiver is a bit of a belter. For a mid-range model, it’s exceptional. Movies sound convincingly cinematic, and music is rewardingly rhythmic. Thoughtful engineering, sensible connectivity and an excellent multiroom platform are the icing on the cake. — Steve May, Tom’s Guide Contributor
EarFun Clip 2
For gym-goers, runners and anyone who wants to remain aware while working out, few open-earbuds are better than the EarFun Clip 2. Their comfortable clip style is a winner in our books, and they’ve got AI-powered real-time translation to boot. Generally good for listening to music as well as taking calls, we were also impressed by the Clip 2’s 40-hour battery life. They’re some of the best cheap earbuds you can buy right now. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Writer Reviews
Edifier S880DB MKII
There’s a reason why the audio world made such a racket about the Edifier S880DB MKII upon release late last year. These $449 speakers look like a high-end brand and the sound matches up, too. With a rich, controlled low-end, expansive mids, and a dextrous, flexible treble, the S880DB MKII are some of the best midrange bookshelf speakers available right now. — Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Fluance RT87 Reference High Fidelity Dual-Plinth Turntable
I love the way that the RT87 looks. The dual plinth design makes it look unlike any other sub-$1000 turntable and lends a commanding presence to the deck. The carbon tonearm is a nice visual touch, and the hefty acrylic platter really brings everything together. In terms of performance, you’d be hard-pressed to find something that sounds better within $300-$500 of the RT-87’s price. — Tammy Rogers, Buying Guide Editor
Hisense XR10 4K Triple Laser Projector
The Hisense XR10 is an exceptional projector with a bright, crystal-clear image and contrast I’ve rarely seen from projectors. It’s brilliant as a home theater beamer, it rocks for games, and it’s easily adaptable to just about any space. The Hisense XR10 offers simply brilliant projection that’s a knockout in dark home theater environments and can still dazzle even with overhead lights on. — Mark Knapp, Tom’s Guide Contributor
JBL LIVE 780NC
Bolder doesn’t always mean better, but in the case of the JBL Live 780NC, it does. Available in a splash of striking colors, including the bright orange we tested, the Live 780NC combine style, finesse, and good vibes. Sound quality is just as vibrant as the design, and the battery life is good enough to keep you movin’ and groovin’ all week long. — Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
JBL Go 5
Good becomes great as JBL has introduced small but meaningful upgrades, making the JBL Go 5 one of the best Bluetooth speakers of 2026. It's pocketable so you can take it anywhere with you. Even though it's small, we've been impressed by its wide soundstage and just how loud it can get. Its IP68 rating means it's highly waterproof, dustproof and drop-proof too. At just $54, it offers simply unbeatable value for money. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
JBL Xtreme 5
What a speaker. The JBL Xtreme 5 is officially the most durable speaker in the world thanks to its drop-proof, IP68 rating. But hardiness isn’t the only area the Xtreme 5 excels — it’s also a bass beast. Improving on its predecessor’s loud-but-muffled bass performance, the Xtreme 5 brings control, power, and ferocity to the party. The ultimate party speaker of 2026. — Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
JMGO N3 Ultimate
In the early part of my career I avoided portable projectors like the plague. I found their performance lackluster and, despite their claims about being user friendly, never quite worked the way I wanted them to. The JMGO N3 Ultimate delivers the convenience and performance that I craved all those years ago. I'm definitely getting one of these for myself. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Klipsch The Nines II Powered Speakers
Klipsch's The Nines II were my favorite speakers of CES 2026. I heard them in a small enclosed booth on the Las Vegas Convention Center and I instantly fell in love with them. Despite their medium-sized footprint, they're bombastic. They deliver powerful, detailed sound with a fairly wide soundstage. It also comes with Dirac Live Room Correction that measures the acoustic characteristics of your room and automatically tunes the sound to prevent issues. I'm here for it. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Meze Audio STRADA
Audiophiles are quick to say that open-back headphones deliver a more natural, concert hall-style performance, but if you want lower bass response, you're not going to get it in open-backs. The closed-back Meze Audio STRADA delivers that clean, crisp low-end performance in spades. For high-end headphones, they're actually pretty affordable, too. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus nails the basics: It’s 4K HDR streaming in a pint-sized package for under $50. Roku’s primary interface is one of the easiest to use (and has been for years) but still features pretty much every single streaming service you’d want to watch. Streaming sticks may not be the home theater staples they once were, but anyone interested in adding new functionality to an aging 4K HDR TV will appreciate Roku’s slim and affordable solution. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Samsung HW-QS90H Soundbar
Want a soundbar that can seriously do it all? The Samsung QS90H is your one to watch. This all-in-one soundbar combines a powerful subwoofer with seven center channels and two surrounds — yes, in one bar. Dialogue is crystal-clear and smooth, and diegetic sounds are exceptionally detailed. It’s ideal for home setups that might not have space for a dedicated sub or rears. — Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Samsung S95H OLED
The Samsung S95H OLED TV earned my 5/5 star recommendation because it sets a completely new benchmark for OLED performance. It delivers fantastic brightness that confidently challenges traditional LED sets without compromising the sophistication of black levels. Thanks to a Glare Free display, the TV looks spectacular in both dark home theaters and bright living rooms. It even features fantastic gaming capabilities with low input lag right out of the box. — Kate Kozuch, Managing Editor
Shokz OpenDots 2
The Shokz OpenDots 2 offer an impressive combination of a great fit, excellent sound quality for open buds, and long battery life. They’re ideal for runs, strength sessions and other workouts, and great for general use as well, keeping you aware of your surroundings while delivering better sound than bone conduction headphones. If you’ve yet to try clip-on headphones, the OpenDots 2 will convince you of the advantages of the design. — Nick Harris-Fry, Senior Fitness Writer
Sonos Play
The Sonos Play is a highly versatile portable speaker that flawlessly bridges the gap between everyday home use and travel listening. I recommend it for those looking to blend wireless multi-room audio capabilities with everyday Bluetooth convenience. Offering crisp vocals, satisfying bass and an impressive 24-hour battery life, this lightweight speaker delivers incredibly balanced, room-filling sound. It’s the middle ground between the bulkier Move 2 and smaller Roam 2 that Sonos users didn’t know they were waiting for. — Kate Kozuch, Managing Editor
Sony BRAVIA 9 II TRUE RGB TV
The Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV is an absolute masterclass in modern LED technology and is, undisputedly, the champion of the current RGB display revolution. I recommend it for its astounding luminance and virtually invisible blooming, getting as close to OLED I’ve ever seen in terms of black levels. Delivering nearly 4,000 nits peak HDR brightness on a glare-reducing screen, this TV is the ultimate premium choice for bright room viewing. — Kate Kozuch, Managing Editor
SVS 3000 Micro R|Evolution Subwoofer
Squeezing flagship subwoofer performance into a smaller package is no easy task, and yet, somehow SVS succeeded with the new 3000 Micro R|Evolution Subwoofer. Packaged in a compact 11-inch enclosure, the 3000 Micro R|Evolution Subwoofer delivers 20Hz sub-bass response using dual opposing 9-inch active drivers and a 1,200W RMS amplifier. That’s a serious sub all for under $1,000. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
TCL QM8L SQD-Mini LED TV
While the rest of the industry is zigging toward RGB technology, TCL is sticking to white light-driven Mini-LED and ratcheting everything up to 11. SQD stands for Super Quantum Dot, and the new QM8L uses it to deliver high levels of brightness and high levels of color without breaking the bank. I saw it at CES 2026 and knew it was going to be the mid-range LED to beat this year. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Technics EAH-AZ100 Wireless Earbuds
In the pantheon of the best wireless earbuds makers, Technics holds a top spot. The Technics EAH-AZ80 that debuted in 2023 are some of my favorite earbuds of the last 10 years, and the new Technics EAH-AZ100 are even better. For discerning listeners looking for a pair of wireless earbuds, the Technics EAH-AZ100 deliver class-leading sound with head-tracked Dolby Atmos audio. For $249, I definitely recommend them. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
WiiM Amp Ultra
Home entertainment centers can only hold so many products. I wish there was space for an amplifier, a streaming music player, speakers, a turntable, a pre-amp and a CD transport on every shelf. Sadly, there's not. But thankfully Wiim is there to reduce the amount of gear we need with its excellent Amp Ultra that combines a streaming player with an amplifier that can deliver up to 100W per channel. For $549, I've yet to find something better. — Nick Pino, Managing Editor
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
- Best TV Brands 2026: We just graded them on price, performance and more — here’s how their report cards stack up
- These are the 5 best TVs we've tested for movies, sports and gaming you can buy right now
- Best headphones: Top picks tested by experts
