The picture settings, the extra equipment, and the spot where you choose to mount your TV need to be on point. Because you know you’d like to impress your brothers when they come over to watch the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox. If you want the most out of your 4K TV, take these tips from us. If you want to place your TV on a stand, you’ll want these flat-screen safety straps. They just hook onto the back of your TV, and the other ends of the straps connect to the back of your stand. This will ensure no movement if your kids touch the TV or if there is an earthquake. Your smart TV will have apps already built in, and those should stream at its highest quality. But if you don’t have all of the apps you need on your smart 4K TV, you’ll want a top-notch streaming device. The Apple TV 4K is the priciest at $179*, but its video and audio quality is tough to beat. You can also enjoy Ultra High Definition movies to rent or buy in the iTunes store. So do you have the bandwidth to support your family’s streaming needs? Our internet expert, Catherine McNally, recommends these internet providers for a smooth streaming experience. Because no one wants to see Spider-Man: No Way Home freeze while Spidey is saving the world. If you want the highest quality of picture and sound, you’re going to want HDMI cables. Then check your TV manual to see which ports on your TV you should be using for UHD. While we’re talking about TV connections, you may want to consider a soundbar for the best movie-watching experience. Or why not get a 2-in-1 deal with this Roku Smart Soundbar. It’s a streaming device and a speaker all in one for $180! Look at you killing two birds with one stone. This might sound crazy to you, but you’re going to want to set your TV to the standard settings. You know how you go to Costco, and the beautiful picture on the huge flat-screen TV just instantly draws your attention? Well, that brightness is only for that: the attraction. If you want a real-life picture and accurate color, choose the “cinematic,” “movie,” or “calibrated” mode (the mode name is different for different brands). You’ll still be taking full advantage of the colors and contrast your 4K TV offers. And if your TV’s picture looks like a soap opera when you watch TV shows and movies (and you don’t like it), set the motion smoothing to the lowest possible setting. But when you’re watching an NBA or NFL game, try turning the motion smoothing up to see if you like the realistic picture. Ya know, to feel like you’re sitting front row. We recommend not playing too much with the display settings because you could find yourself with more problems than before (yikes).
Find the perfect spot in your living room for your TV. Get a surge protector and flat-screen safety straps, and use the calculator to figure out the best distance from you and your TV-watching couch. Use an updated streaming device, box, or console that supports 4K content, such as a Roku Streaming Stick and Apple TV. Make sure you have a strong internet connection to support the bandwidth for you and your family. We recommend Xfinity Internet or AT&T Fiber. Pick the right HDMI cables if you want high quality and sound, like this 6-foot 2.0 HDMI cord, and add a soundbar for realistic sounds during your action movies. Get those picture settings right. For a real-life picture and accurate color, choose the “cinematic,” “movie,” or “calibrated” mode. And to make the color even more accurate, set the motion smoothing to the lowest setting possible.
And if you’re here because you’re considering getting a 4K TV, check out our best 4K TVs, best budget 4K TVs, and best 4K TVs for gaming.
