What’s Really the Difference Between a $500 and a $2,000 TV?

Let’s say you’re in the market for the new TV, and you’re finally looking to make the jump to 4K. When you’re shopping around, you come across a puzzling situation: two brand new TVs, identical in size, but with two very different prices. One costs $500 while the other $2,000. What’s the deal? What does that extra money actually buy you, and do you need it?

There’s more to picture quality than mere resolution.

If you have two 4Ks that are the same size and were made in the same year, but one costs significantly more than the other, it boils down to picture quality and specifically the technology being used to put the colors on the screen. All 4K TVs have the same number of pixels (3840 x 2160), but the difference in picture quality comes from how they are lit. The best 4K displays are the ones that have the most control over each individual pixel, to light them up in different colors or even turn them off completely without affecting adjacent pixels of a different color. That’s where display technologies come in, and when it comes to 4K TVs, you’re either talking about LCD or OLED.

Above you’ll see two 4K TVs that are the same size (55-inches) and from the same year (2019), but at very different prices. The Vizio M-Series Quantum, which is one of the best affordable 4K TVs, costs less than $500. The LG B Series, one of the nicer OLED TVs, is over $1,000 more expensive.

Pricier OLED displays mean better colors, sharper contrast, and blacker blacks.

The lesser of the two displays is the LCD (liquid crystal display). LCD TVs control the brightness of their picture with an LED backlight that covers a lot more space than a single pixel. Instead, they control groups or clusters of pixels that are known as dimming zones. The more dimming zones an LCD TV has, the more control it has over the pixels and the better picture it’s going to be able to produce.

The ultimate dimming zone, however, is a single pixel, and that is what an OLED TV delivers. Each pixel on an OLED screen is its own backlight. The result is that OLED TVs are able to get brighter and darker while in close proximity to each other, which generates much better contrast. Additionally, OLED TVs are generally able to be thinner and lighter than LCD TVs because they don’t require an extra panel of back-lighting. The problem is OLED is a newer technology and it will be responsible for the bulk of the price differential between two otherwise identical-looking TVs. One of LG’s 65-inch entry-level 4K OLED TVs costs $2,300, for example, while one of the company’s 65-inch 4K LCD TVs costs $650.

Brighter brightness, higher refresh rates, HDR and more dimming zones also add to image quality (and price).

It’s not just OLED or LCD though. More expensive LCD TVs will shore up their display technology weakness with other technologies, like a brighter backlight, or a larger number of smaller dimming zones. More expensive TVs will often also boast a higher refresh rate, the number of times per second that the screen updates what it is showing. Higher rates mean a higher price, but less motion blur. Higher-end TVs are also more likely to support high dynamic range (HDR) technologies, such as Dolby Vision and HDR10, which help create deeper blacks and more vivid colors on any display.

A TV is more than just its display. Materials and speakers are a cost factor too.

A lot of times the difference between a company’s entry-level 4K TVs and mid-range 4K TV, by the likes of TCL or Vizio, is the fact that the frame of the TVs is made of plastic instead of metal. Not only does a plastic frame not look as nice, but it’s also more susceptible to bumps and scratches whenever you happen to move it.

And while you’ll basically always be better off using a soundbar instead of your TV’s built-in speakers, some of the more expensive TVs might have slightly bigger speakers that get slightly louder, have better sound separation and might even support surround sound technologies, like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. But many TV manufacturers (such as TCL, Sony, Vizio, Samsung and LG) actually want you to buy a separate soundbar or speaker system because they make those as well. And for our money, that’s a good choice.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The 15 Best Hi-Fi and Audio Gifts for the Rocking Dad

Your dad doesn’t have to be an audiophile to appreciate a gift that is a speaker. He doesn’t have to be home theater buff to appreciate a soundbar. And he doesn’t have to technology wizard to appreciate a good pair of headphones. As long as you’re there to set it up for him and show him how it works, then he’ll love it. Here are some great audio and hi-fi gifts to get your dad for Father’s Day.

AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt

If you’re shopping for somebody who loves listening to high-fidelity music and they predominantly listen to music on their smartphone or laptop, the DragonFly Cobalt is one of the best portable DAC/headphone amplifiers you can buy.

Audeze LCD-1

Planar magnetic headphones are normally very expensive because they’re difficult to make and they sound really good. But thanks to some new-age technology and innovative manufacturing techniques, Audeze, one of the best-known makers of planar magnetic headphones, has made these normally expensive headphones way more affordable.

Schiit Audio Fulla 3

The Fulla 3 is an affordable, beautiful headphone amp and DAC. It’s a great little gadget to improve any desktop audio setup. It plugs directly into your laptop or desktop, and then you can use it as a DAC/amp with wired headphones or as a DAC/preamp for a nice pair of powered monitors.

Ortofon 2M Blue

The Ortofon 2M Blue is a moving magnet cartridge that fits most turntables. If you’re shopping for somebody who has an entry-level vinyl setup, this is the perfect upgrade.

Pro-Ject Phono Box DC

This is one of our favorite entry-level phono preamps. It’s a great upgrade or addition to most entry-level turntable systems.

Q Acoustics 3030i

Q Acoustics is a British audio company that makes some of favorite passive bookshelf speakers. The 3030i are the company’s newest offerings. They deliver the soundstage and power of floorstanding speakers, while still being bookshelf-sized.

Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700

These are arguably the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. Not only do they have impressive sound and powerful active noise-cancellation, but they deliver the most impressive call quality you can find in a pair of wireless headphones.

Audioengine A2+ Wireless

These tiny powered bookshelf speakers are great because of how versatile they are. You can connect them to your laptop or an entry-level turntable system, or, since they have built-in Bluetooth, you can stream music to them straight from your smartphone.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)

The Debut Carbon is Pro-Ject’s most popular turntable. It’s the upgrade from the company’s Essential line of turntables, offering some key features — such as a heavier platter, higher-quality feet and a motor that’s decoupled from the plinth — to reduce noise and distortion.

KEF LSX

The LSX is a wireless all-in-one speaker system very similar to KEF’s high-end LS50 Wireless, just in a smaller and more affordable package. The speakers come with a multitude of connectivity options. You can connect the speakers to your TV (via optical), your turntable (via RCA), your smartphone (via aux) or your computer (via USB). Or you can stream directly to them over Wi-Fi, through Tidal and Spotify apps, or over Bluetooth.

Apple AirPods Pro

If they have an iPhone, these are the best wireless earbuds you can buy them. They have powerful noise-canceling and transparency modes, and are Apple’s first wireless earbuds with an IPX4 rating, so you can workout with them and not worry about your sweat ruining them.

Sonos Amp

The Amp is a newer, more powerful and more versatile version of the now-antiquated Connect:Amp and great for anyone who has a mix of Sonos and non-Sonos speakers in their setup. It connects to your bookshelf or floorstanding speakers and essentially turns them into Sonos speakers. The Amp also has an HDMI ARC port, which allows you to connect those connected passive bookshelf speakers to your TV.

Cambridge Audio AXA35

This is one of the best budget integrated amplifiers you can buy (and one of the prettiest, too). It can connect a turntable and pair of passive bookshelf speaker thanks to its integrated moving magnet phono stage. It also has a headphone jack for private listening sessions.

Shure SE215

The Shure SE215 are simply one of the best pairs of wired in-ear headphones you can buy. They sound great, delivering excellent highs and midrange, and they’re comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time.

Sonos Arc

The Arc is Sonos’s newest flagship soundbar and its first to support Dolby Atmos. If they are both a Sonos enthusiast and a home theater buff, the Arc will make the ultimate Father’s Day present.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Best Noise-Canceling Wireless Earbuds to Buy in 2020

True wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) are a relatively new development in the audio scene, with the Sony WF-SP700N being the first pair to make a considerable splash when they landed in late 2018. They sounded alright and the fit was snug, but their noise-canceling abilities hardly up to snuff.

Fast forward a year and a half and the landscape for ANC true wireless buds has changed entirely. There still aren’t a ton of options out there and there are some notable holes. Heavyweight Bose won’t release its own pair, the Bose Noise Cancelling Earbuds 700, until 2020 for example. But what options there are follow through on the promise of their design. Here are the best of 2020, in order of their price.

The Short List

Best Overall: Apple AirPods Pro

Charging Port: USB-C or Qi Wireless
Battery Life: 4.5 hours, up to 24 hours with case
Release date: fall 2020

The AirPods Pro deliver almost as powerful noise-canceling skills as the Sony WF-1000XM3, and sound just as good. The cool thing is Apple packed the AirPods Pro with a ton of new tech. There’s Adaptive EQ, which is a sort-of hearing test to help you find the best fitting silicone ear tip. The transparency mode is pretty phenomenal. And they have Apple’s H1 chip for easy iPhone pairing. These are also Apple’s first wireless earbuds that are sweat-resistant (IPX4), so you should have no problem exercising with them.

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Best Noise-Cancelling: Sony WF-1000XM3

Charging Port: USB-C
Battery Life: 6 hours per earbud; up to 18 extra hours with case (with ANC on)
Release date: August 2019

The Sony WF-1000XM3 are really the “OG” wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation and they still offer the most effective noise-canceling abilities of any wireless earbuds on the market. Their noise-canceling abilities aren’t quite up to the levels of the Sony WH-1000XM3, the company’s flagship noise-canceling over-ear headphones, but then again we wouldn’t expect it to. Additionally, they’re still one of the best-sounding wireless earbuds on this list. If you’re looking for a downside, the only thing is that the charging case is quite large.

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Best Budget: Amazon Echo Buds

Charging Port: micro-USB
Battery Life: 5 hours per earbud, up to 20 hours
Release date: fall 2019

The Echo Buds are the most affordable wireless earbuds with noise-cancellation. Or rather, they use Bose’s “active noise-reduction” technology, which Bose claims isn’t as good as the “active noise- cancellation ” technology that’s in its own headphones (and will be in Bose Noise Cancelling Earbuds 700, when they’re released in 2020). That said, the noise-canceling ability of the Echo Buds is surprisingly good; the secret, I think, is that in addition to the noise-reduction technology, the Echo Buds go for a fit that is snugger than most and it creates a natural, passive noise-canceling seal. The downside of these earbuds they feel kind very plastic-y. Also, to get the most out of these earbuds you’ll want to use the Alexa app, which can be confusing for the unfamiliar.

Best Sound: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Charging Port: USB-C
Battery Life: 7 hours per earbud, up to 28 hours with case
Release date: early 2020

These are Sennheiser’s second-generation wireless earbuds and they look pretty much identical to original Momentum True Wireless that were released in 2018. Only, they have significantly most battery life, active noise-canceling and transparency modes, and they still pack Sennheiser’s best-in-class sound. If you’re comfortable paying $300 and they fit in your ears (of few of my colleagues can’t wear these), then these are one of the best-sounding noise-canceling wireless earbuds you can buy.

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The Other Options

1More True Wireless ANC

Charging Port: USB-C
Battery Life: 5 hours per earbud; charging case holds an extra 18 hours
Release date: early 2020

1More is a company that specializes in hi-fi headphones and earbuds that are way more affordable than the competition. And the 1More True Wireless ANC, which is the company’s first pair of true wireless with active noise-cancellation, as fit the company’s ethos. They deliver solid sound and impressive noise canceling abilities, and they come at a price that’s slightly more affordable than the AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM3 and Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus.

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Sony WF-SP800N

Charging Port: USB-C
Battery Life: 9 hours listening time; 9 extra hours with case
Release date: May 2020

The Sony WF-SP800N are the company’s mid-range pair of wireless earbuds. They’re a more affordable alternative to Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM3, and they lack same level of noise-cancellation and sound-quality (but the two earbuds utilize the same companion app). The real unique thing about the Sony WF-SP800N, however, is that they have a workout-focused design and an IP55 water-resistance rating. They’re one of the few noise-canceling wireless earbuds that are optimized for runners and people going to the gym.

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Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus

Charging Port: USB-C
Battery Life: 10 hours per earbud, up to 40 with case
Release date: late 2019

The MW07 Plus is Master & Dynamic’s second-generation wireless earbuds (along with the MW07 Go) and its first with active noise-cancellation. They sound excellent and have pretty decent noise-cancellation abilities. They lack of a companion app, however, which makes it a little difficult to know which mode you’re in (there’s an ambient listening mode in addition to an ANC mode). They’re on the expensive side, for sure, but they’re made of acetate and stainless steel, and are definitely some of the most unique and flashiest wireless earbuds you can buy.

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Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Best Smart Home Gifts for the Tech Tinkering Dad

Whether your dad is a smart home neophyte, or a well-versed master, he could always use some new toys to add to his technological web. Here are some great smart home gadgets he’s sure to love.

Apple TV 4K

The most recent Apple TV is not only good for streaming television, but also playing exclusive games on Apple Arcade. It also comes with a free year of Apple TV+

Sonos Move

Perfectly portable, the Sonos move is a great addition to dad’s existing Sonos collection or the foundation of the he doesn’t know he wants yet.

Wemo Mini

Don’t waste dad’s time by trying to replace the appliances he already loves. Grab a smart plug instead.

Wyze Cam Pan

With its simple installation and all-seeing swivel, the Wyze Cam Pan is a great way to keep tabs on any garage, workshop, or dad-space.

Arlo Video Doorbell

Dad’s home is his castle, and with a video doorbell you can gift him a moat.

Wyze Bulb

Help dad make sure no lights ever get left on when they don’t need to be by giving him the power to control them all from his phone. If you dare.

Roku Smart Soundbar

Whatever he likes to watch on the TV, a Roku Smart Soundbar is an easy way to improve on his TV’s built-in speakers.

Nest Thermostat

He’ll never be able to thank you enough for giving him complete remote control of the thermostat at all times. The only downside is that you may never forgive yourself.

SimpliSafe Home Security System

If one camera just won’t be enough, this security system will give dad plenty of setup to keep himself busy with.

Google Nest Hub

Give dad the perfect dashboard from which to pilot a Google-based smart home.

Vizio P-Series Quantum

If dad has yet to make the jump to 4K, now is an excellent time to do it for him.

GE Smart Microwave

For those days when he can’t go out and grill, this microwave will give him an indoor appliance that only he knows how to use to its fullest potential.

Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub

Whether dad knows how to use his grill too well or not well enough, this smart grill hub will give him some more room to develop his craft.

Eve Room Indoor Air Quality Monitor

The thermostat not keeping dad busy enough? This wonderful air quaility monitor will give him some more numbers to obsess over.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

Is Your iPhone Acting Strange? You Might Not Be Alone

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