Editor's Eye

As the holiday season kicks off, a report from dealnews.com suggests that Black Friday will see some insane TV deals—like 55-inch 1080p HDTVs going for $499. You should be able to get a 42-inch set, perhaps from a leading brand, at $189 or less, the report said. These are very brief, quantity-limited sales, of course, but it just shows you how competitive the TV business has gotten these days, and how prices have dropped on even the bigger screens. $500 for any 55-inch HDTV would have been unheard of even a year ago.

I’m not suggesting you buy a third-tier TV just because it’s on sale—far from it. But if you’ve been looking to upgrade to a larger screen, the holiday buying frenzy will likely see price pressure on TVs across the board until the Super Bowl in February. Watch the papers and Websites, be ready to act, and you could end up with a very good bargain indeed.

Good sales aren’t the only reason home theater and the holidays get along so well, though. During these times of family gatherings, we find that television programs, movies, and music are a constant presence. From the soundtracks of football games, holiday shows, and blockbusters on the big screen in the den to Pandora streaming Christmas crooners to the kitchen, the gear and technology we enjoy year in and year out act as a kind of sticky glue that pulls us together during this special time of year. We know—you can never get too much of a good thing, but please watch responsibly! And if you need recommendations of what to watch—or gifts to give—be sure to check out our movie reviews.

There are a few recently posted reviews worth calling attention to. Highlights include Vizio’s budget-minded E601i LED LCD, which, at $1,000 retail, is the least expensive good quality LCD we've seen at the 60-inch screen size. Pioneer’s second and improved iteration of its amazing $500 Andrew Jones–designed speaker package sets yet another standard for value. And GoldenEar’s new $1,000 SuperCinema 3D Array soundbar represents its own breakthrough of sorts for its surprising sound quality and spacious imaging.

From all of us at Home Theater, here’s wishing for a great start to your holiday shopping.