The best accessories for your new OLED TV

So, you bought a new OLED TV, the creme de la creme from the television options. It doesn’t matter if you own one of LG’s new CX TVs, Sony’s Master Series or even an older or used OLED. Your screen will still look much better than the vast majority of LCD devices, with unparalleled black levels and impressive contrast. But even if you have one of the best screens on the market, there are always some updates you can still do.

Adjust your settings correctly with a calibration disc

Although most TVs have a useful range of preset picture settings, they still need to be adjusted for your living space. A useful way to adjust all of these settings is with a calibration disc, such as Spear & Munsil’s HD Benchmark Blu-ray. It will guide you through everything you need to do to ensure you are getting the best image possible, while also avoiding pitfalls such as the loss of detail in extremely light and dark scenes. If you are fortunate enough to have a 4K Blu-ray player or game console with one of these units, check out the updated UHD version of the Spear & Munsil benchmarks, which also helps you adjust demanding HDR settings.

If you want the best image quality possible, you can always hire a professional to calibrate your device. But from my experience and what I have learned from TV experts, this is usually overkill for most people. Spending an hour or two with a calibration disc will basically provide the quality boost you want.

Buy UHD Benchmark on Amazon – $ 40

Go big with sound

I know it may seem obvious, but I’m still shocked at how often I need to remind people that your sound system is just as important as your brand new TV. Well, I’m not saying that you need to build a discreet Dolby Atmos home theater system (although it will certainly give you the best sound quality at home). You can still get a decent audio upgrade with a soundbar, even if you’re on a budget. At the most basic level, it will serve as a replacement for your OLED TV’s weak speakers. But modern sound bars can also serve as a centerpiece for a wireless surround system, and many also include support for Dolby Atmos audio, which can simulate suspended sound.

The choices of our 2019 sound bar guide still hold: Vizio’s SB362An-F6 remains a solid option under $ 100. And if you’re looking for something a little more engaging, consider the company’s M-Series line , which starts with a more capable multifunctional sound bar. You can also opt for the $ 350 M series wireless surround system, which includes two rear satellites and a separate subwoofer. And if you want premium Vizio quality, there’s the $ 1,000 Elevate sound bar, which can rotate to produce Dolby Atmos and DTS: X overhead audio.

Buy the Vizio 2.1 M-Series on Amazon – $ 122 Buy the Vizio Elevate soundbar on Amazon – $ 1,000

If you don’t like Vizio for some reason, it’s worth considering the Sonos product family, especially if you already have some Sonos speakers. The $ 399 beam is still a capable mid-range option, and you can add additional Sonos hardware later to turn it into a true surround sound system. At the high end, there’s the $ 799 Arc, which offers a much bigger sound with support for Dolby Atmos.

Buy Sonos Beam at Amazon – $ 399 Buy Arc at Sonos – $ 799

Light up

The great advantage of OLED screens is that they offer an almost infinite amount of contrast. But a major disadvantage of any modern TV is that they are often too bright to watch comfortably at night, without lowering the level of things. That’s where polarized lighting comes in – it encompasses any type of lighting placed behind your TV to provide ambient light. By diffusing the lighting in your living room a little, you can help reduce eye strain due to staring at a bright screen.

You could do this with any old lamp, but for a more balanced option, consider something like the Nexilumi LED light strip, which offers application-based control and a variety of color options. And if you have Philips Hue smart lights, you should consider Ambiance LightStrip Plus. Hue lights can also work with the company’s HDMI box, which can synchronize lighting with TV images. It’s a trippy and engaging update, but it will cost $ 230.

Buy the Nexilumi light strip on Amazon – $ 27 Buy Hue LightStrip Plus on Amazon – $ 80 Buy the Hue Play HDMI box on Philips – $ 230

Other hardware worth considering

Headphones are essential for nighttime viewing. Our wireless headset guide can help you get started, although you should be able to connect none Bluetooth headphones for your TV easily.

It may seem like an exaggeration, but if you want to watch the best quality 4K content on your OLED, you should get a 4K Blu-ray player. 4K Discs ever look better than 4K streams, in addition, most players will do a better job of scaling up your Blu-rays and DVDs older than your TV. You can also play 4K Blu-rays on modern game consoles, but I found these interfaces much more boring to navigate.