Television has come a long way since the first commercial broadcast back in 1941. Despite all of the advancements in TV technology over the years, there are still a few upgrades you can make that will take your TV viewing to the next level. The best part is that none of these will break the bank.
Here are some TV accessories that you might not even know you needed.
1. Hemudu Adjustable TV Legs
Can’t mount your TV to the wall? Not enough clearance to fit your soundbar underneath your TV? No worries. Hemudu Adjustable TV Legs are an affordable solution. These after-market replacement legs can raise your TV to three different heights. Additionally, the adjustable legs feature tilting hinges, so you can angle your TV screen exactly how you like it. Furthermore, your TV’s cables can be hidden inside the legs, making them excellent cable management solutions as well.
The best part is these legs can be used with virtually any television. This is because the legs are attached to your TV via the VESA mounting holes on the back of your television. Installation takes minutes and will add the height necessary to take control of your entertainment setup!
2. USB Bias Lighting
The resolution of modern TVs is so high, you can make out the individual pores on your favorite actor’s faces. While it may seem like the only way to improve your screen’s picture is to buy a new, better TV, this isn’t necessarily the case. By adding bias lighting to your TV, you can help improve your current TV’s contrast for a minimal amount of cash. Bias lighting is situated at the back of your TV, creating a soft ambient light around your TV’s screen.
This ambient light makes the blacks and other dark colors on your TV screen seem richer. In addition to making your screen pop, bias lighting helps to combat eye fatigue and strain when you’re binging your favorite show. Furthermore, bias lighting is super-easy to install. They come in the form of LED strips that plug straight into the USB port on your TV!
3. HDTV Antenna
Many people are looking to “cut the cord” nowadays. Cable TV subscriptions are getting more and more expensive and offering less and less content you actually want to watch. Sure, you can ditch cable and rely solely on your Netflix account for your entertainment needs, but what about your local news? What if you want to watch sporting events? Unfortunately, many people stick with their cable subscription because of this. But what if we told you that there are high definition channels being broadcast over the air for the low price of zero dollars?
All you need is a cheap HDTV antenna to start pulling in over-the-air broadcasts from networks like NBC, ABC, FOX, PBS, CBS, and more. Many of the modern antennas are designed to be mounted indoors and have an unobtrusive flat “leaf” design. An HD antenna can supplement your streaming subscriptions so you don’t have to miss out on local content and shows from your favorite networks! To see which channels are available in your area, check out TVFool.
4. Streaming Box
A “smart” TV simply means that your TV can connect to the Internet. This means your TV is able to access apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and more. Unfortunately, different TV manufacturers have different user interfaces for their smart functions. So if you have an LG TV and are used to its interface but then decide to get a Samsung in the future, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with a new interface. While this may be a relatively minor annoyance, using a dedicated streaming box or dongle means you can maintain a universal user experience across all TV brands.
Additionally, streaming boxes like the Apple TV offer a slew of features not present in smart TVs. Furthermore, they often have much better performance, as they usually use more powerful components than smart TVs. Finally, whether you prefer Android TV or Apple TV, there are plenty of options to meet all of your streaming entertainment needs.
5. Soundbar
TVs are lighter and thinner than ever before. Unfortunately, this means that the components of your TV need to be smaller, including the internal speakers. Speaker size and placement within your TV has taken a hit over the years. Smaller speakers result in tinny sound, lacking proper bass response. Fortunately, there is a way to watch your favorite movies and TV shows the way they were intended with a sound bar.
There are a number of different sound bars on the market. varying in features and price. Some sound bars have sub-woofers for deeper bass, others simulate surround-sound setups, some feature Bluetooth connectivity. Whichever sound bar you choose, it will be a significant improvement over your TV’s internal speakers. To sweeten the deal, sound bars are super-easy to connect to your TV, often only requiring a single cable run to your TV’s optical input. Do your ears a favor and get yourself a soundbar.
6. Universal Remote
While accessories like a sound bar and a streaming box are going to make your TV-watching experience exponentially better, there is one drawback. Often each one of these devices has their own remote control. Unfortunately, this potentially means you’ll have to juggle between three different remotes.
Luckily, you can save yourself the headache by getting your hands on a programmable remote that can easily control everything, including your TV, streaming box, and sound bar. Fortunately, they’re easy to set up and are fairly inexpensive. The Harmony series of universal remotes from Logitech are highly regarded and offer excellent compatibility. Never again struggle with multiple remotes. Get one remote to rule them all!
What TV accessories do you think make your tube-watching more enjoyable? Let us know in the comments!