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    What is the Best Smart TV to Buy?

    Best Smart TVs | StreamWise Solutions

    Smart TV, not-so smart TV – we work with all kinds every day so we get this question all the time. However, it is a tough question to answer without considering the following:

    Size Matters in the Viewing Space

    We have seen plenty of big Smart TVs in small rooms. And, we have seen plenty of small TVs in big rooms. In general, we recommend measuring the distance between the TV and your favorite TV chair. Knowing this distance in inches, use this basic formula to help you estimate the proper size of the TV.

    Formula: If you sit 6 feet (72 inches) from the TV, divide 72 by 1.45.

    In this case, the viewing experience would roughly be best on a 48″ TV. Remember, if you sit too close to a large, cheaper TV, then you might see pixels more often than you like.

    For several years, the formula for TV sizes was equal to distance from your favorite chair to the TV divided by 2. However, as the display technology has improved and become more affordable, you can sit closer to a larger TV without seeing the individual pixels. If you want to be more conservative in your TV size decision, then use this older formula. In the example above, using the old formula, the recommended size for the TV would be roughly 36″ (72 / 2 = 36). However, this just seems a little too small these days.

    Of course, this formula is just a starting point. Some people like larger TVs in their space because they watch lots of blockbuster movies and sports. Others prefer something smaller because they just watch the news.

    Lighting Should Complement the Smart TV Screen

    Most modern 4k TVs are bright enough to overcome glare in a bright room. If you’re planning on placing the TV in a bright room, purchase a TV that has excellent reflection handling and good brightness levels. Better reflection handling helps reduce the intensity of bright lights – both direct and indirect. High brightness is important to overcome the remaining glare, so the content can be seen clearly and not just a reflection of any nearby light sources.

    Choosing from Many Options

    It’s almost impossible to find a TV that does not have “smart” functionality. The cost of smart functionality has dropped significantly over the years. So, nearly every TV contains some sort of a Smart TV operating system. The Smart TV operating system allows TV sourced from the internet to be watched, and not just from a cable company. In other words, only watch Netflix or Amazon Prime Video can be watched on a Smart TV, streaming media player, phone, or tablet. Learn about whole-home Wi-Fi to ensure an optimal streaming experience.

    However, after years of working with all kinds of Smart TVs, we recommend one experience above all others – Amazon Fire TV. Whether you buy a TV with Fire TV functionality built-in or buy a Fire TV Max streaming media player, we recommend Fire TV for a few simple reasons:

    • Amazon Fire TVs are the only Smart TV operating system that supports the Fire TV Recast for the best integrated antenna experience.
    • You can cancel content subscriptions (ex. Paramount +, etc.) right from your Amazon account, making it easy to manage your TV budget.
    • It easily syncs with Ring Doorbell. So, the front door can be seen on your TV.
    • And, most importantly, it is easy to use.

    Is a Sound Bar Required?

    TV speakers, in general, don’t provide the best sound experience. The reason is simple: the speakers are typically in the back.

    It used to be that the only way to get high quality sound was with over priced AV Surround Sound systems with attached external speakers. While the sound quality was good that complexity was way too high, which frustrates the average consumer.

    Sound technology has evolved, and now nothing beats a sound bar with a clear center channel speaker. It is the center channel speaker that carries the dialogue from the TV show or sports program. It is also much less complex, as it hook directly to the TV with only 1 cable, no input changes like the old school AVR. If you have trouble hearing the dialog on your TV, we recommend you invest in a high-quality sound bar like one of these:

    Of course, as with most other things in consumer electronics, the better quality speakers and bigger the Sound Bar, the higher the price.

    What is NextGenTV and why upgrade my TV?

    NextGen TV is the marketing name for the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, which combines traditional over-the-air broadcasting and improved digital signal encoding with internet connectivity, opening up all sorts of possibilities that were previously unimagined for free broadcast television. See our NextGenTV blog, or here is a quick summary:

    • Better OTA Antenna signal quality with less interference
    • Higher 4K resolution for free over-the-air broadcast
    • Combines broadcast TV with broadband internet

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