Don’t let the Idiot Box fox you
You
spend a lot of time in front of your TV, but chances are you may not be using
it to its full potential. Here are 10 tweaks for creating the ultimate TV setup
1 Shop smart
Skip the showroom and read reviews online from respected outlets. Also ignore Smart TV features – you’re better off getting your Netflix fix through a set-top box like the Roku. Buy at the right time of year for the best price.
2 Play to your TV’s strengths
It’s useful to become familiar
with your current TV’s specs. LCDs are cheaper, but LEDs have truer blacks -- and if you have a plasma, put it in a low-lit room. A feature called Motion Smoothing gives off a fake “soap opera effect”.
It’s useful to become familiar
with your current TV’s specs. LCDs are cheaper, but LEDs have truer blacks -- and if you have a plasma, put it in a low-lit room. A feature called Motion Smoothing gives off a fake “soap opera effect”.
3 Clean up and organise your cables
It will give your whole setup a much cleaner look, besides making it easier to add stuff. Make sure you’re using the right cables, keep similar cables bundled with zip ties, and if you have more devices than can fit in your TV, consider an HDMI switch.
It will give your whole setup a much cleaner look, besides making it easier to add stuff. Make sure you’re using the right cables, keep similar cables bundled with zip ties, and if you have more devices than can fit in your TV, consider an HDMI switch.
4 Connect your devices
Hooking a computer up to your
TV can be handy if you’re trying to play a video from your PC. You can also hook up your phone for easy streaming video. If you’re a gamer, you might have a few old systems you want to hook up too. If your TV doesn’t have the right ports, you can get around it with a VCR or DVD player, or with the right adapters.
Hooking a computer up to your
TV can be handy if you’re trying to play a video from your PC. You can also hook up your phone for easy streaming video. If you’re a gamer, you might have a few old systems you want to hook up too. If your TV doesn’t have the right ports, you can get around it with a VCR or DVD player, or with the right adapters.
5 Find clever uses for your unused
ports
Many modern TVs have USB ports that’ll let you charge your phone or a game controller, or let you hook up ambient backlights. Composite ports allow you to hook up a video camera. If you have a video out port, you can even send your TV’s picture to another device.
Many modern TVs have USB ports that’ll let you charge your phone or a game controller, or let you hook up ambient backlights. Composite ports allow you to hook up a video camera. If you have a video out port, you can even send your TV’s picture to another device.
6 Get a good universal remote
Instead of using all those remotes, get an awesome universal one that can handle everything at once.
Instead of using all those remotes, get an awesome universal one that can handle everything at once.
7 Clean and maintain it properly
You can wipe the TV with a microfibre cloth or a coffee filter. A bit of water or an antistatic cleaner can help, but be sure to apply it to the cloth and not the TV. Make sure your TV has room to breathe.
You can wipe the TV with a microfibre cloth or a coffee filter. A bit of water or an antistatic cleaner can help, but be sure to apply it to the cloth and not the TV. Make sure your TV has room to breathe.
8 Use your TV’s modes
You may have seen that your TV
has a few different “modes”. For example, Game Mode will reduce the picture quality as well as input lag, so you have a better gaming experience. PC mode will make your picture look worse, but text will be much more readable.
You may have seen that your TV
has a few different “modes”. For example, Game Mode will reduce the picture quality as well as input lag, so you have a better gaming experience. PC mode will make your picture look worse, but text will be much more readable.
9 Pair it with some great speakers
Add a great pair of speakers or surround sound at the optimal distance and angle from the couch. 10 Manually calibrate your TV
Usually you can get a significantly better picture with tweaks to brightness, contrast, colour, and so on. You’ll need a calibration disc, though many DVDs and Blu-Rays actually come with them. Then it’s just a matter of finding your TV’s settings, and enjoying your superior setup .
– lifehacker.comETP140423
Add a great pair of speakers or surround sound at the optimal distance and angle from the couch. 10 Manually calibrate your TV
Usually you can get a significantly better picture with tweaks to brightness, contrast, colour, and so on. You’ll need a calibration disc, though many DVDs and Blu-Rays actually come with them. Then it’s just a matter of finding your TV’s settings, and enjoying your superior setup .
– lifehacker.comETP140423
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