Whether you’re inclined to enjoy video games and movies in a man cave, a shared living space with your roommates, or hole yourself up in a bedroom, I have the information you need to make your gaming center even better. All you need is some money, and a good deadlift to be able to move all your furniture and electronics.
I’m coming from the assertion that you want the best, and that means going with at least 50″ of HDTV. Before we get started, here’s what I use to play games, watch movies, and say “Xbox make tacos”:
1. Panasonic Vierra series 50” 3D Plasma.
2. IKEA 3 level stand.
3. Xbox One with Kinect.
4. PS4 with PlayStation Camera.
5. Yamaha HTR-3084 5.1 receiver.
There’s not much I would change based on what I can afford. However, this guide is more dream-inspired. If I did have an influx of cash, say from a good night at the casino, there’s plenty I would replace. Below I’ll go over some items that would make my gaming center even better, and probably would do the same for yours.
HDTV: LG 55EC9300 OLED
Price: $3,500 retail.
Wowza! Keep in mind that only few years ago, OLED’s went for at least $10,000, and those were much smaller in size than what we have here.
Heads up, 4K is not a deciding factor since the PS4/Xbox One don’t fully support the resolution, although they supposedly will in the distant future with an update. 4K Gaming will have to wait until PS5… but no worries, 1080p is more than enough eye candy for gaming. Anywho, curved displays are all the rage and with good reason, they maximize space and provide a better view. The LG 55EC9300 OLED 55” boasts the best black levels since the plasma era and bright whites. Image clarity stuns on a crowded show floor, a sun lit room, or a darkened basement. The curve brings a 0.25-inch depth, and also helps to lessen pesky reflections. The effect is impressive with or without the built-in 3D feature. Not a lot of games do 3D well, but hey, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception may be worth it alone. With OLED, blurred movement (LCDs) and screen burn-in (plasmas) are a thing of the past. Finally.
Ports: 4 HDMI ports (one ARC, another with MHL), three USB ports, one ethernet port, and in case you want to hook up your Nintendo 64, composite/component AV inputs. Many ports equals more flexibility, especially if you plan on plugging in many entertainment solutions at once. I probably won’t be using them since I hook up my consoles with the HDMI connections of my receiver.
Receiver: Onkyo TX-NR636 7.1
Price: $550 retail
As much as I love my Yamaha, the biggest issue I’ve had in the past few months is wear and tear. After three years, my “all about the bass” speakers have diminished in strength… a lot. I used to play Mass Effect 3 at a booming, but not too loud -24db, now I play Destiny at -14db and it sounds the same as it did at -24db. Clearly, loss has occurred. I want longevity for my next receiver and speakers. Onkyo’s latest “sounds” like the one to get. Gamers tend to play loud and for hours upon hours in a single session. Among the greatest selling points Onkyo wants the NR series to be “future proof” with built in WiFi/Bluetooth, lots of inputs, and streaming abilities. It sounds brilliant, too. Some reviewers believe it will last up to six years. That’s more than I can say about my Yamaha, sadly.
Ports: Support for HDMI 2.0, HDCP 2.2, Dolby Atmos, and phono input.
Headphones: Countless Options
There are plenty of cans to choose from, though the Turtle Beach models are still the go-to for most players with model Seven priced at a hefty $229. Another option: the propriety ones. The PlayStation Gold Wireless or the Xbox One Stereo Headset are both solid, and each are under 90 bucks. Honestly though, I think this is one area where we can all save our Benjamins. The affordable Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter add-on is just 25 bucks. If you have PS4, the controller has a built-in jack. This means you could just use the ear buds that came supplied with your Phone. Or you now have a use for those pricey Beats by Dre you bought impulsively. The only possible downside to doing this is that the battery will drain faster on your Xbox controller. If you’re a PS4 owner you should have two controllers anyway, since the battery life on DualShock 4 is lousy.
Chair: Ace Bayou Wireless X rocker Pro Series Video Rocker with Vibration
Price: $229
I’m a couch guy, but after researching numerous chairs for this article, I would love to see how far Martin Crane’s Lazy Boy has come.
Ace Bayou’s latest boasts 2 speakers, a subwoofer, wireless capabilities, and a wood and metal frame with flame retardant foam. All dressed up in sleek black and grey vinyl upholstery. Naturally, it’s compatible with Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Wii U, and anything else you may have.
For the record, I’m a little concerned that this pic reminds me of the humans in WALL-E. But hey, you probably won’t mind when you’re sitting comfortably and have everything you need less than an arm’s reach away.
Video Capture Device: el Gato Game Capture HD
Price: $138
One of the coolest things to happen to gaming has been Twitch. The newest generation of gaming allows you to broadcast whatever you’re playing, sharing your experience with others in the process. But what if you wanted to broadcast a full play through of Resident Evil 4? Or analyze the polarizing last few hours of Mass Effect 3? To do that, you need a capture card, and the el Gato is a popular choice.
Features for el Gato include the ability to record Xbox/PlayStation gameplay to a Mac or PC, built-in live streaming to YouTube/Twitch, unlimited full HD 1080p capture, a flashback recording feature to record retroactively, immediate access, and full control of your captures.
So that’s about it. Okay, a few other mentions. I am pro Kinect. If possible buy the full-priced Xbox One. I never get tired of saying “Xbox On” and having my television, receiver, and Xbox up and running within seconds. The other reason; it pretty much cancels out the need for the one thing I did not include on this list: universal remotes. They always function too slow and never quite work, at least in my experience.
