explorer slots game tricks NoneIt's officially holiday-gift-buying season. Did that sentence make your blood pressure spike? Understandable: We buy presents for people we love and we want them to be pleased — or at least not disappointed, discomfited or appalled. It can be more than a little agita-inducing. Well, we're here to help you with your mission with a collection of editor-approved gifts, all of them on sale for . Seenlast Candle Warmer Lamp with Timer Ugg Euphoria Plush Faux Fur Reversible Throw Blanket Mulberry Silk Pillowcase, Standard Size Venustas Men's Polar Fleece Heated Jacket Lego Icons Tiny Plants Building Set Uproot Cleaner Pro Pet Hair Remover Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (2024) Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar Scented Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Carry-on Luggage Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Newest Model) L'ange Hair Le Styliste Luxury Hair Dryer ESW Beauty Raw Juice Cleanse Mask Set Asakuki 5-in-1 Essential Oil Diffuser Madewell Women's Cotton Cuffed Beanie Tile by Life360 Sticker, 2-Pack Britannica's First Big Book of Why Lillusory Oversize Cardigan Majestic Pure Sweet Orange Body Scrub Polar Verity Sense Optical Heart Rate Monitor Armband Polar Pacer Ultra-Light GPS Fitness Tracker Smartwatch for Runners Renpho Eyeris 1 Eye Massager with Heat Warm Pals Microwavable Lavender-Scented Spidey The Spider We spend our days scrolling for the best deals, testing new products and researching the best stuff. So when it comes to gift-giving, well, let's just say we'll bet you wish you were on our list this year. If you're ready to start your holiday shopping and you need some help, we've compiled the best gifts — the ones we're absolutely obsessed with — that you can get on sale (up to 60% off!) during the . Seriously, we're filled with gift ideas! If you don't see something on this list that strikes your fancy, for , , , the and more. "As someone whose greatest fear is burning my house down, I'm a little obsessed with these pretty yet practical gadgets. Not only do they allow you to enjoy the scent of your favorite candles without any flame, they can also extend their lives as well. I plan on getting a few of these to gift to family and friends this year; at under $30, it's a small price to pay for some peace of mind." "Who doesn't want to curl up in a ridiculously soft blanket during the winter months? There is nothing I love more than hanging on my couch underneath a pile of blankets, so I plan on adding this faux fur one from Ugg into the mix. It's machine-washable and neutral enough to go with any home decor. While this throw is on sale, I plan on snagging it right away." "I'm a huge fan of my silk pillowcase — I feel like royalty while sleeping on the smooth surface, but it also keeps my hair from breaking and frizzing at night. This holiday season, I'm going to spread the wealth and gift these to friends and family. At just $10, it makes the perfect stocking stuffer. You can also choose from tons of different colors — everything from neutrals to bright pink and teal — so there's a style for everyone on your list." "Do you know how hard it is to get a tween boy to wear any sort of coat or jacket? Well, I've finally found a workaround: This battery-pack-powered fleece. It's light enough not to bug a coat-averse kid from the get-go, and they can toggle between three heat levels by pressing a button. If you're not part of the bus-stop crew, never fear — it would be a great gift for anyone who wants a little extra warmth without the bulk this winter." "Black thumb? No problem. These teeny-tiny plants are impossible to kill. This 758-piece set is one of the most popular Lego releases from the last year — and that's saying something since they recently earned the title of the most-searched toy brand on ." "This is a worthy stocking stuffer for any pet owner. It grabs hair from rugs, upholstery, pet beds — basically, any pet-loved place or perch — way more effectively than a vacuum, and you can use it over and over, so say goodbye to those annoying rollers of sticky tape. The only downside is that once you use it, you'll realize that your house has not actually been clean since you brought home Fido or Fluffy," "The best budget tablet just got a refresh, and while the updates are pretty modest, this is still an amazingly versatile device — especially at the Black Friday price of just $55. Amazon even managed to bake some new AI features into the Fire HD 8, like e-mail proofreading and natural-language web page summaries. Before you spend a small fortune on an iPad Mini, you owe it to yourself to catch Fire. Read my to learn more." — "I usually don't wear earbuds since they tend to fall out of my ears, but a few months ago, Bose gifted me a pair of these Ultra Open Earbuds, and I can't get enough of them! They fit like an ear cuff, so they actually stay put. Plus, they're not noise-cancelling, which I love because I can still hear the world around me. This makes me feel a lot safer while I’m out walking. And I’m definitely not alone in loving them — Oprah even featured them on her this year! Now that they're on sale, I’m thinking they’d make the perfect Christmas gift for my sister." "I use an artificial Christmas tree, so I love lighting up this Balsam and Cedar scent from to give my apartment that cozy holiday feel. This enchanting blend features aromatic balsam, cedarwood and juniper berry — it smells exactly like a real tree. It should last me through the holidays, though I might get a second just to be safe." "As someone who always travels with just a carry-on, no matter how long the trip, I have to say this Travelpro suitcase is a total dream! It rolls so effortlessly, and the contour grip handle feels super comfortable to hold. I love how both sections have zippered panels that help compress my belongings, plus there are multiple pockets for all my smaller items. The best part? It has an expansion zipper that gives me an extra two inches of space, which is a lifesaver when I get carried away with souvenir shopping!" "Even at full price, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max was the budget pick in our . At 50% off, it's a steal. Amazon's streamer may not have the easiest interface in the world, but it does have lightning-fast Wi-Fi, robust parental controls and some of the best gaming options anywhere — including support for Xbox Game Pass (basically console gaming without the console). All for a measly $30." "If you really want to treat someone this season, get them the L'ange Le Stylist hair dryer. It's super lightweight, dries hair fast and leaves hair silky smooth. My mom bought one over the summer and made me compare it to my Dyson, and I have to say, I like this one better! It's so much lighter. Unfortunately, she took hers on a trip abroad and it broke, but she loved it so much she bought another one. Now I feel like my beauty-loving teen goddaughter may need one for Christmas (and maybe me too)." "I love these ESW face masks. I often buy them to stick in birthday cards as a small treat or bring them on trips to share with friends. This 'juice cleanse' multipack comes with five fruit-forward masks for detoxing pores, brightening, moisturizing and soothing skin and providing anti-aging benefits. And just to note, I have sensitive skin that's prone to breakouts and they've always helped, never irritated my skin. They're great stocking stuffers, but I'll also give out a few to my girlfriends this holiday season." "More and more research shows that inhaling certain scents throughout the day (such as rosemary and peppermint) can lead to increased focus and mental clarity overall. This diffuser is wildly well reviewed and it will look cute in my (or my gift recipient's) office too." "When I tell my teenage daughter to put on a hat in the winter, she inevitably always grabs MY absolute favorite Madewell beanie. So this season, I'm gifting her one of her own. Normally, this cotton hat is $35 at Madewell, but right now Amazon has two colors on sale for less. I'm grabbing both!" — "I love my husband dearly, but he's never met a TV remote that he didn't near-immediately lose somewhere — in the couch cushions, under the coffee table, sometimes in different rooms from the television entirely. Tile Stickers have been a lifesaver for when we're struggling to locate the Roku clicker, soundbar remote, etc., and I have a feeling this two-pack will come in very handy for a variety of these kinds of items. They're perfect for gifting to any similarly-absent-minded loved ones too — stocking stuffer, anyone?" "My son just started asking 'why?' incessantly, so I'm leaning heavily into early learning resources. I love Britannica's educational books like this , and with 10 nieces (yes, all nieces) and my own two kids to nerd out with, I'll be sharing the love with titles like and ." "This oversize cardigan looks very similar to an expensive Jenni Kayne one that's $395, but obviously, this one is a fraction of the price. I got one last year and it's super soft, comfy and washes well — so I had to get two more. This year, I'm going to gift one to my mom. They're great for layering over a T-shirt with jeans or leggings and especially great for travel. I know my snowbird mother will take hers on the plane to Florida this year, and when she lands, it won't take up too much room in her tote bag." "This bright, invigorating all-natural scrub is made from some of the most skin-nourishing ingredients around, including sweet orange oil, dead sea salt, organic aloe vera juice and coconut oil. The scent is more tart than candy-sweet and it's amazingly effective for sloughing off dead skin cells. And the price can't be beat." "Not everyone likes wearing a watch or ring while exercising. For the fitness buff who wants to track their heart rate and intensity level without restricting wrist or hand movement, Polar's Verity Sense armband is the way to go — Polar is known for its top-notch heart rate products" "For anyone who runs, hikes or bikes and wants a GPS watch, this lightweight Polar Pacer is an excellent choice. It's also good for tracking general activity and fitness metrics and includes a built-in heart rate monitor." "If you're anything like me, then you stare at a computer for at least eight hours a day. And there's the time spent scrolling TikTok and Instagram after-hours. And, ya know, the hours spent bingeing the latest Netflix release. Well, this heated massager will nip the all-too-inevitable eye strain in the bud. Switch between five different modes until you find the right level of heat, vibration and compression. You can even play some music — either the stuff that comes pre-loaded or your own tunes via Bluetooth — to really zen out. It's a must for anyone looking to amp up their self-care routine in the year ahead, aka everyone you know." "Weighted blankets and toys can help kids calm down, and these lavender-scented, microwavable stuffed animals are on my list to buy for my own kids this year. This spider to match my son's Spiderman theme, and the for my daughter. Anything to make bedtime a little easier, right?" If you have , you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. . (And by the way, those without still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets will be without point guard LaMelo Ball for at least two weeks because of a strained left calf. Ball felt discomfort in his calf after Wednesday night’s loss to the Miami Heat and did not play against the New York Knicks on Friday. The team said he will be reevaluated on Dec. 11, which is two weeks from the date of the original injury. Ball has been hot for the Hornets, averaging 40.3 points in his last four games. He is averaging a career-best 31.1 points and 4.7 3-pointers per game for the season, which ranks second in the NBA. He also is averaging 5.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 starts. Ball has had a history of injury problems, mostly to his ankles, since coming to the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The only Hornets player to ever receive a max contract extension, Ball has played in just 202 games with 182 starts in five seasons. The team also said guard Tre Mann’s lower back soreness has been diagnosed as a disk irritation. His absence from the lineup began on Nov. 23 against Milwaukee. He will continue his rehabilitation and be reevaluated in two weeks. “They are competitors and they want to be out there on the court to compete and hoop, but they also want to be out there for their teammates,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said prior to Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks. "I just walked past ’Melo as I was coming in here to do media, and he’s like, ‘I’m going to take care of everything I need to do on this return to play program and I’m going to attack it with the right mindset.’ I have all the confidence in the world in our performance staff and in those guys.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBADoughty scores 17 in Indiana State's 83-80 win against Iona

THE HAGUE — The world’s top war-crimes court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. The action by the International Criminal Court came as the death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza passed 44,000 people, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Their count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Experts say hunger has become widespread across Gaza and may have reached famine levels in the north of the territory, which is under siege by Israeli troops. Israel says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid, though the trickle of supplies into Gaza remains near the lowest levels of the war. Netanyahu condemned the warrant against him, saying Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions” by the court. In a statement released by his office, he said: “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza.” Gallant, in a statement, said the decision "sets a dangerous precedent against the right to self-defense and moral warfare and encourages murderous terrorism.” The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects, putting them at risk of arrest when they travel abroad and potentially further isolating them. Israel and its top ally, the United States, are not members of the court. But others of Israel's allies, including some of its close European friends, are put in an awkward position. Several, including France, welcomed the court's decision and signaled they might arrest Netanyahu if he visited. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden's administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The warrants represent "the most dramatic step yet in the court’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Hamas," said Anthony Dworkin, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Israeli leaders, politicians and officials across the spectrum denounced the warrants and the ICC. The new defense minister, Israel Katz, who replaced Gallant earlier this month, said Thursday’s decision is “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” Human rights groups applauded the move. The warrants against both sides “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The decision came six months after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrants. The court issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ armed wing, over the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza. It said it found reasonable grounds to believe Deif was involved in murder, rape, torture and the taking of hostages amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the Hamas-led attack, militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking some 250 others hostage. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third of them believed to be dead. Khan withdrew requests for warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, who have both since been killed. Israel says it also killed Deif in an airstrike, but Hamas has never confirmed his death. The warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were issued by a three-judge panel in a unanimous decision. The panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both men bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The judges said the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and specific medical supplies created conditions “calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza,” including the deaths of children due to malnutrition and dehydration. They also found that by preventing hospital supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, doctors were forced to operate, including performing amputations, without anesthesia or with unsafe means of sedation that led to “great suffering.” Israeli diplomatic officials said the government is lobbying the international community to speak out against the warrants and is considering an appeal to the court. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal decision on how the government will proceed. Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague anytime soon. Member countries are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, recently visited Mongolia, a member state in the court but also a Russian ally. He was not arrested. Still, the threat of arrest now complicates any travel abroad by Netanyahu and Gallant. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the warrants are binding on all 27 members countries of the European Union. France signaled it could arrest Netanyahu if he came to its territory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine called it a “complex legal issue” but said France supports the court’s actions. “Combating impunity is our priority,” he said. “Our response will align with these principles.” Hamas in a statement welcomed the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant but made no mention of the one against Deif. Israel’s opposition leaders fiercely criticized the ICC’s move. Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, said it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Israel’s campaign has caused heavy destruction across Gaza and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Two days after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, Gallant announced a total seal on Gaza, vowing not to let in food, fuel or other supplies. Under U.S. pressure, Israel began allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid to enter a few weeks later. Israel now says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel's official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. The case at the ICC is separate from another legal battle Israel is waging at the top U.N. court, the International Court of Justice, in which South Africa accuses Israel of genocide, an allegation Israeli leaders staunchly deny. Lawyers for Israel argued in court that the war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. Associated Press journalists Raf Casert in Brussels, Mike Corder in The Hague and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Colorado's 2-way star Travis Hunter eyes Big 12 title and more before 'for sure' entering NFL draft

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the ChildAid 2024: The Dream Emporium performance at the Esplanade on Nov 30. SINGAPORE – They cut their teeth on performing on stage at previous ChildAid concerts. In 2024, pianist Jessie Meng, 17, R&B singer Riszuan Syah, 19, and guitarist Alex Hooi, 22, are back in the spotlight again, with 80 others, at the concert that marks ChildAid’s 20th year milestone. Joining the trio virtually is singer Ariadna Padron Yassin, 22, who is in Amsterdam pursuing her studies. Titled The Dream Emporium, the 2024 concert – held on Nov 29 and 30 – is set in an enchanting world where children’s dreams come alive through song, dance and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times (BT), ChildAid 2024 has raised about $2.1 million through ticket sales and donations from UOB; TTJ Design & Engineering, a structural steel specialist company; and Mr Mohamed Abdul Jaleel, founder and chief executive of MES Group, a property and logistics solutions firm. The money goes to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which sponsors the lunch and transport fees of children from low-income families, and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BAF), which supports artistically talented youth from less-privileged households. For the past two decades, ChildAid has been an inclusive platform for young performers, between ages six and 19 and of diverse backgrounds, to showcase their talent. Mr Wong Wei Kong, editor-in-chief of SPH Media’s English/Malay/Tamil Media Group and chairman of BT BAF, said: “It is heartening to bring these young talent together to put up the show... Since 2005, ChildAid has raised more than $30 million for our two charities... which aim to help children of disadvantaged backgrounds.” BT editor Chen Huifen said the 2024 event is “not only a look back at the legacy we’ve created, but also a look forward to the future we’re building together”. “For this reason, ChildAid 2024 has a futuristic storyline that incorporates elements of artificial intelligence into the making of the concert, so that our young talent can be exposed to various aspects of generative technology used in stagecraft,” she added. ST editor Jaime Ho said: “We are proud that a number of talent who made their name in previous ChildAid concerts have come back to be part of this year’s show.” Ms Amni Musfirah was 14 when she sang at her first ChildAid in 2008. Now 30, she helmed the 2024 show as a co-creative director alongside Mr Joshua Quek, assistant multimedia director at media entertainment company NoonTalk Media. The Dream Emporium, which is held at Esplanade Theatre, is scripted and directed by 29-year-old actor, writer and director Krish Natarajan. Known for his immersive productions that blend live-action role-play with theatre, his working with children opened up a new side of his creativity. Titled The Dream Emporium, the 2024 concert is set in an enchanting world where children’s dreams come alive through song, dance and AI technology. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH On Nov 29, he and the children filled the theatre with music, dance and drama and with AI interactivity, featuring songs such as Best Day Of My Life by rock band American Authors, Faded by deejay Alan Walker, Empire State Of Mind by rapper Jay-Z, and the nostalgic 1970s pop ballad How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees. Cast members spent about a month rehearsing for the big day, and dealt with stage jitters in their own ways. Violinist Anastasha Suchin, 10, said: “I would always take a moment, drink some water and be by myself before the performance, so that I can cool down and prepare myself for what was going to happen on stage.” Singer Loic Lastennet, 15, who is performing for ChildAid for the fifth time, said he takes breaths to calm himself. “I would also go through my song a few times in my head to make sure that I had all the lyrics and if I had lines with friends, I would sit down with them five minutes before going on stage and run through my lines with them,” he added. ChildAid alumnus Jessie Meng, 17, on the piano with a young violinist. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Guests, including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and SPH Media CEO Chan Yeng Kit, were invited to participate through various interactions such as voting for the wildest dream through live participation by raising their hands, and switching their mobile phone torch to assist in the recovery of the AI machine. Donations are ongoing until end-December. Those who wish to do so can visit www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/childaid2024 or send an e-mail to emailus@spmf.org.sg Companies can send an e-mail to emailus@spmf.org.sg or make cheques payable to Child Aid, with the name of the firm, unique entity number, contact person and number and address, and send them to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, 1000 Toa Payoh North, News Centre, Singapore 318994. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now$2.5 million in opioid grants to aid curb in state crisis

NorthWestern Energy recently implemented new communication system technology with new features to enhance customer service. Malina Hakola, a spokesperson for NorthWestern, said calls and emails to its customer service centers will use the same phone number and email addresses. The new technology gets customers the information they want faster, whether they call to talk to a customer representative, use the automated system to report an outage or check on an account, or send an email, According to a news release. “NorthWestern Energy works to exceed our customers’ expectations for the quality of energy service we deliver and the customer service we provide,” said Hakola. “This new technology is a cost-effective tool to meet that goal and better serve our customers.” Kathleen Arvila-Scott was this year’s first-place winner in the Butte Historical Society’s essay contest honoring Ann Cote-Smith. Arvila-Scott’s essay was titled “A Finnish Boy's Life in Butte, MT.” Second place honors went to Leah Stergar, who wrote “Cornwall, England to Butte, Montana.” Paddy Dennehy, BHS president, said all the essays from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 contests will be made into a book and all contestants, whether they won or not, will receive a free book. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?You may not realize it, but your TV is sad. It's sad because it wants to offer great sound to accompany its awesome picture, but it is woefully ill-equipped to do so. You could shop for a multi-component home theater system or a pair of bookshelves to remedy things, but if that sounds like too much hassle, a good soundbar is a great alternative. Luckily, now is the exact right time to grab one. Below we've rounded up the best Black Friday soundbar deals to turn your TV's frown upside down. Be sure to check our live Black Friday deals tracker too . WIRED Featured Deals The simplest soundbar: Yamaha Audio SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar for $130 ($50 off) The smallest soundbar: Sonos Beam Gen 2 for $369 ($130 off) Excellent savings on the best Dolby Atmos: Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar for $995 ($904 off) An upgraded version of our fave: Yamaha Audio SR-C30A With Wireless Subwoofer for $219 ($61 off) Surround sound soundbar: Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar for $350 ($150 off) WIRED's Black Friday 2024 Coverage Absolute Best Deals Black Friday Live Blog Deals Under $50 Apple Deals Walmart Deals Best Buy Deals TV Deals Phone Deals Laptop Deals Headphone Deals Gaming Deals Toy Deals Camera Deals Kitchen Deals Coffee Deals All-Clad Deals Beauty Deals Therabody Deals Travel Deals Mattress Deals Outdoor Deals Nomad Deals Branch Deals Black Friday Shopping Tips Soundbar Deals Klipsch Flexus Core 200 Yamaha Audio SR-C20A Compact Sound Bar for $130 ($50 off) If you're just after a simple and affordable audio upgrade, Yamaha's SR-C20A is a go-to option, now at an exceedingly reasonable price. It doesn't offer conveniences like network streaming or multiroom connection, but its 100-watt power plant easily exceeds the pale performance your TV is likely to muster. The 2.1-channel configuration includes dual full-range drivers and a built-in woofer for some heft in the low frequencies. You'll get a simplified TV connection over HDMI, standard Bluetooth streaming, and even a 3.5-mm analog input so you can connect a turntable with a pre-amp and some cable finagling. JBL Bar 1300X Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Soundbar for $900 ($500 off) The Bar 1300X ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is a sweet audio system that's even sweeter with this deal. This multi-piece setup provides realistic Atmos immersion with a unique twist. The battery-powered, fully wireless surround speakers can connect to the main bar to play and charge, or disconnect to sit behind you for versatile configurations–you can even take them outside as stand-alone Bluetooth speakers. It's a futuristic feature, but my favorite trait of this bar is just how good it sounds, offering an expansive dome of sound with 3D audio, and great musicality for streaming your tunes. I wish the app was a bit more precise for settings adjustments, but the 1300X's performance makes up for it, bringing cinematic punch to everything you play. Sonos Beam Sonos Beam Gen 2 for $369 ($130 off) The Sonos Beam Gen 2 provides expansive sound from a pint-size package. It's not big on bass, but it serves up detailed dialog, an expansive soundstage, and solid music streaming skills from a frame that virtually disappears beneath your TV screen. It provides good Dolby Atmos virtualization, though it's more limited than bars with dedicated upfiring drivers (see the Bose Smart Soundbar ). The Beam's best trick is its advanced networking skills that let it connect with other Sonos speakers in a surround configuration or whole-home audio system via the Sonos app. Said app has been maligned of late, but it now seems to be mostly back on track. You can also stream music from the app directly from multiple services, or via AirPlay and Spotify Connect. The Beam has long been among the most popular compact bars, and it's still a top option. Polk Audio Signa S4 Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer for $259 ($140 off) It’s not the latest and greatest soundbar we have tested, but the Signa S4 ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) is a slim bar with a relatively large wireless subwoofer that makes it great for action fans. I wish it had Wi-Fi for music streaming, but as long as you connect it to your TV, you can use the apps on there for that. —Parker Hall Bose Smart Soundbar Bose Smart Soundbar for $399 ($100 off) Bose’s Smart Soundbar ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is my favorite new compact soundbar thanks to its excellent sound and innovative new tricks. It all starts with true upfiring speakers, which help provide spacey immersion for Dolby Atmos TV shows and movies. The bar's new AI dialog mode is just as impressive, providing fantastic clarity in dialog and center-channel effects. Maybe most intriguing, you can now connect Bose's Open Earbuds to use in concert with the bar as personal surround speakers. The app is easy to use for making basic adjustments or streaming music, and the versatile design lets you connect other Bose speakers like a Bass Module subwoofer , so you can expand the system to suit your needs. Yamaha Audio SR-C30A With Wireless Subwoofer for $219 ($61 off) Every TV deserves better sound, and this cheap soundbar and wireless subwoofer from Yamaha is a great way to get a more cinematic experience than you can get with a standalone bar. It’s super easy to set up with a simple HDMI eARC connection, and it brings a shocking amount of depth to content you probably watched through tinny TV speakers. Its little brother, the SR-C20A, has been our best soundbar for most of the year, and this brings more bass at a now-discounted price. —Parker Hall Sonos Arc Sonos Arc for $699 ($130 off) Sonos’ popular Arc ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) has gotten an upgrade in the Arc Ultra, which provides revamped sound and some cool new features. But at $1,000, it makes the regular Arc feel like a real bargain, especially on sale. The baseline Arc is still a heckuva bar, offering smooth and detailed sound, great dialog, and expansive Dolby Atmos immersion thanks to multiple speakers and acoustic waveguides that bounce sound around your room. It's got some fun features, like the ability to connect the Ace headphones ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) with its clever TV Swap feature, or link Sonos speakers in a surround or multiroom audio setup with the Sonos app. The app has made headlines lately for all the wrong reasons, but it seems to be mostly back on its feet, and the Arc remains one of the best stand-alone bars you can buy. Klipsch Flexus Core 200 Soundbar for $360 ($139 off) Klipsch’s Flexus Core 200 ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is the most potent and musical stand-alone soundbar I've heard at its price point. Built more like a traditional speaker system than most plastic bars, it uses MDF construction and Onkyo internals for impressive sound and responsive performance. Upfiring drivers provide swirling Dolby Atmos performance, and hefty woofers punch deep into the mid-bass region for cinematic punch. What you won't get here is a Wi-Fi connection, limiting streaming to Bluetooth, but as the bar's name implies, you can still add surround speakers or a massive sub from the Flexus system. On its own, the Core 200 won't give you the full boom of bars with a separate subwoofer included, but if you value sound quality above all, this is a great choice. Sonos Ray for $169 ($110 off) The Ray ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) is a quirky little Sonos offering, but the smallest bar on the list is a great choice for the right buyer. This is the cheapest soundbar I've seen with this kind of network skills, letting you connect over Wi-Fi and enjoy all the spoils of Sonos, including linking up with other Sonos speakers in a whole-home audio system. The trade-off is that, unlike nearly all soundbars we test, the Ray connects to your TV via an optical connection instead of HDMI. That means it may not automatically work with your TV remote (though most remotes can be programmed), and it doesn't even come with its own remote, leaving only the Sonos app as an alternative. If you don't mind those limitations, the Ray is the spunkiest bar of its size, offering powerful, clear, and musical sound in a profile that barely registers. Vizio M Series Dolby Atmos Soundbar Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar for $350 ($150 off) If you're after a crazy affordable way to enjoy the thrills of surround sound, Dolby Atmos, and even its rival DTS:X, you won't find a better deal than Vizio's 5.1.2 soundbar ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ). Offering a multicomponent setup with true surround speakers, upfiring drivers, and a hefty subwoofer to bring the boom, this system will instantly raise your sound game to cinematic heights. To get this affordable, the bar cuts some corners; it requires a wired connection for the surround speakers instead of a wireless connection like many competitors, and it doesn't offer a Wi-Fi connection for high-quality music streaming. You will get Bluetooth streaming, though, as well as intuitive control via a backlit remote. This may be the best Atmos deal around, and on sale, it's a guilt-free pickup. ZVox AccuVoice AV157 Soundbar for $190 ($60 off) The ZVox AccuVoice has digital processing technology that makes voices sound clearer, making it a great option for folks that have hearing loss. There are twelve levels of voice boosting to choose from. This is the best price we've seen for it all year. — Louryn Strampe Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar for $995 ($904 off) This is a truly bonkers deal on our favorite Dolby Atmos soundbar. It's normally quite expensive, but you can save nearly 50 percent which is an eye-popping discount that comes close to the historic low we've seen just once before. It comes with everything you need for the best immersion you can get with a system like this, including a subwoofer with great bass response and intelligently calibrated room-filling sound. — Louryn Strampe JBL Bar 1300X for $900 ($800 off) The JBL Bar 1300x ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) has detachable wireless surround speakers. The speakers usually sit on either side of the soundbar, but you can pop them out and move them around for more immersion. The sound will calibrate itself according to your setup. The speakers do require recharging, so you can't just leave them out on their own forever, but re-docking them between watch parties will top them off. This is a great option for people with limited outlets or just a deep, innate hatred for wires.— Louryn Strampe Shockwafe 9.2.4 Dolby Atmos Soundbar for $978 ($522 off) This is the most bass-heavy soundbar system we've tried. It comes with two huge subwoofers that'll make explosions sound more explode-y than ever. There are side and rear speakers for added immersion that make playing video games extra fun, and there's support for formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Just keep in mind that this system runs large, so it's not ideal for tight spaces. (You'd probably rattle your head off in a small room.)— Louryn Strampe