2021 sure went quickly, and 2022 is right around the corner. As is traditional around this time of year, it’s fun to reflect upon some of the best audio and AV gear of the past year. Here are some of the best we've seen here at Home Theater Review.
Some of these products, especially those that are on a yearly update cycle, such as TVs, are soon to be replaced. CES 2022 is right around the corner. However, that does not make 2021s top choice TVs obsolete, certainly not yet. Because January might be the month of new news, but most of what's shown won’t ship until later in 2022.
Meanwhile, some of the best TV tech of 2021 is now available at discounted prices as compared to when it was released. Savvy shoppers, who understand how incremental some yearly upgrades can be will take full advantage of the closeout prices sure to come—what's better than Black Friday sales? clearance pricing! The trick is to hop prudently, and patiently, in order to pick up top-performing technology at discount prices you only see when a products' replacement is imminent.
Editor's Choice TVs: Samsung QN90A QLED, LG C1 OLED, Sony A90J OLED
2021 saw TV makers focus strongly on gaming capabilities, with even 4K sets gaining HDMI 2.1 so they may offer 120 Hz 4K, VRR (variable refresh rate), and ALLM (auto low-latency mode) along with lossless 3D immersive sound through eARC. Meanwhile, the 8K ecosystem saw some expansion, although more so on the hardware side than content.
For the year 2021, our retrospective Editor's Choice TVs are three 4K models that offered something extra in terms of performance and/or value: The Samsung QN90A, LG's C-Series OLED, Sony's A90J OLED. These TVs are, collectively, among the "best of the best" within their categories, but each model has its standout capabilities.
The models listed are 83" or 85" but these TVs are available in smaller screen sizes as well.
