Easy Ways To Boost Your AV

You don't always need a hardware overhaul to improve your home cinema experience. Team HCC outlines some small system tweaks that could make a big difference

BE BIASED

This might sound counterintuitive if you’ve ever been in a cinema, but it’s not a good idea to watch TV in the dark. The reason is simple: eye fatigue. A TV has significantly more light output than a projector, so in a blacked-out environment, as the image constantly changes brightness, your pupils end up working overtime. Bias lighting is an easy and affordable solution to this particular AV problem. In essence, all you need to do is add a light source behind your TV, creating a more comfortable viewing experience without causing reflections on the screen. As an added bonus, it also improves perceived contrast – handy if your TV’s black levels are more of a dark grey. Depending on your TV install you could just place a lamp behind it, but if you fancy a tidier solution, or if your TV’s wall-mounted, attaching white LED strips to the rear is a winner. For a slightly bigger outlay, companies like MediaLight offer all-in-one LED bias lighting solutions that are measured precisely to D65 colour temperature. Owners of Philips' Ambilight TVs (pictured) can select the ISF Ambilight mode for a neutral D65 bias light – rather than the brand's dynamic coloured lighting effects.

NETWORK SMARTER

These days your AV system can live or die by the quality of your home network. Having a fast, reliable connection is paramount, but all too often congestion and poor Wi-fi reach can conspire to make life a buffering nightmare. There are several steps you can take that will transform your streaming media experience.