And as image processing is reliant on a camera, theres going to be a visible webcam on your TV. And for DIYers, a Raspberry Pi Ambilight project or the Adalight kit both allow you to make your own ambient LED lights behind a TV. All rights reserved. Theres also one to specify which is the left and which is the right light. There are a few different version of bias lighting systems. Although a responsive TV backlight may seem frivolous, its actually not a gimmick. Using a hub can give you more nuanced controls and can be accessed with an app on your smartphone. The LED light strips come encased in high-quality silicone tubes. However, try to look for lights suited for the size of your TV, and you wont have to worry about any cutting. While setting up your LED lights for your TV with a hub-based system is a more expensive option, you get more options and connections for other devices. With an average lifespan of about six years, these lights should be able to cycle through many movie nights. But the drama while viewing those vivid images can be upped even more once you think about the environments lighting. Comprised of six segmented LED lightstrips, the Sengled smart TV LED backlight fits TVs ranging from 45-inches to 72-inches. At their simplest, LED TV lights will create a soft, adjustable backlight behind your television, enhancing the ambiance of your home entertainment and reducing eye strain. I leave autoplay enabled, but only when it's on by default. From basic backlights to hubs designed for multiple lights and devices LED TV lights can bring a lot of style and fun to your gaming, movies, and music. Look no further than the space youve already got to play with around your screen. Theres an HDMI input and an HDMI output as well as USB connectors for the LED strips. In order to allow for theatrical lighting effects, colored LED strips should offer hues across the entire visible spectrum. At times, the Govee Ambilight alternative struggles to handle multiple colors on-screen. Whereas many budget Ambilight clones are merely strands of LEDs adhered to the back of a monitor or TV that can change color manually, others automatically adapt to on-screen colors. Although its best to use a behind-the-television LED strip parallel to your wall rather than in a corner, even a corner-located TV stand should work just fine. But then I came across a video that used them a bit differently. An Ambilight TV kit is an excellent addition to any home cinema. Then, the camera processes the on-screen image and automatically changes the color of its LEDs. Got one of the best TVs for PS5 and want to amp up the eye-popping visuals? Youll find lighting effects for special occasions and holidays. Customizable features include dimming, color change, party, and holiday light settings, scene-setting, and modes designed for movies, games, or music. Although the Hue Play sync box launched with only passthrough support for Dolby Vision or HDR10+ high dynamic range (HDR) standards, meaning lighting effects didnt work, a May 2020 update brought support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. In our testing, we appreciated the Lytmi Neos affordability, excellent color-changing performance, and 4K 60Hz with HDR video passthrough. While on-screen visuals and audio are indeed important, your physical surroundings are crucial as well. Below: Same but closer. The geek in me has always stared in awe at images and videos of peoples living rooms and desk setups where ambient light shines behind the TV or monitor to create an immersive experience. Tech Up Your Life is reader-supported and a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This bias lighting array touts Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa connectivity for smart home functionality. And the best LED TV lights synced with a microphone and camera offer a Wi-Fi connection and can work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. The strips plug in through a USB port on the back or side of the TV, offering a clutter-free appearance. Her love story with Android started in 2009 and has been going stronger with every update, device, tip, app, and game. Whether you want to maintain a dark viewing area with some added low lighting, or you want a couch concert beamed into your face, sync features can take you to a new level of fun. In my testing, the Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box was able to send Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD from my Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player to my VIZIO SB36512-F6 Dolby Atmos 5.1 soundbar. The Govee app gives you all the controls you need. It looked utterly cool. Not only can hubs be used with LED lights for TVs, but they can also be used with any smart bulb or fixture. As such, any video signal sent into the TV via HDMI. I waited with bated breath for my package to arrive, practically sprinting to the package room to retrieve my lights once they were delivered. And with the best LED lights for your TV, your favorite songs are even more lively. However, only HDMI ports 2 and 4 are full-speed. Check out the best Ambilight clones you can buy! She lives in France, speaks three languages and a half, and watches a lot of TV series. A built-in microphone syncs with audio in real-time. Enhance ambiance and renew your view with the best LED lights for your TV. Multiple connections allow you to connect, sync to, and control a plethora of compatible devices, such as your smart TV, streaming devices, Blu-ray player, and gaming system. Ports 1 and 3 dont have as much bandwidth. Its not the most developed integration, and Im hoping that at least scene control will be added soon. Thankfully for those without a Philips Ambilight TV set, tons of Ambilight clones allow for easy installation of LED lights behind your TV. While I really enjoy the immersive light experience in general, I have to say that sports (particularly soccer with its vivid green field), nature documentaries, and action movies (the way the lights pick up the bright colors of a Marvel movie is breathtaking) were my favorite uses. However, it retails for much less. Govee Wi-Fi TV LED Backlights with Camera, Sengled 13.12Ft Smart Wi-Fi TV LED Backlight, Philips Hue Play White & Color Smart Light, Luminoodle Color Bias Lighting USB LED TV Backlight. Govee wants you to put stickers on your TV to calibrate the cameras field of view, but I found this video that does exactly the same thing in a quarter of the time and with zero tinkering. With an easy USB connection, premeasured lengths that work out of the box with your specific TV size, and long-lasting bulbs, these are a good choice for enhanced, yet affordable ambiance. Tech Up Your Life is reader-supported. You can build your own Raspberry Pi Ambilight with a Raspberry Pi board, LED light strips, and a smattering of components. Setup isnt quite as easy as an ambilight alternative with an HDMI input. Going the DIY route is cost-effective. As such, DTS-HD and TrueHD soundtracks can be transmitted to a compatible receiver or soundbar. Although many off-the-shelf Ambilight system, from budget-conscious TV backlights that process TV images with a camera to full-fledged HDMI connected bias lighting systems, theres always the DIY method. For me, these lights are an expert piece of modern decor and the ultimate at-home movie viewing must-have. Even on a budget, the best LED lights for your TV will offer a customizable backlit light, be easy to install and set up unobtrusively and create a cool ambiance while gaming, watching movies, or listening to music. One thing to note: If you have a TV on the smaller side of the spectrum like me (I have a 55-inch) youll find that the lights overlap a bit when you get to the corners. But Nanoleaf Shapes are best for home theatre PC (HTPC) enthusiasts or PC monitor backlighting. Performance is superb since a video signal is processed in real-time with little to no lag when generating backlight colors. That will set you back a few hundred dollars. Still, its incredibly affordable at under $100. Learn more. While not essential for a viewing experience, an ambilight TV kit provides a pleasing illumination on the wall behind a TV, monitor, or even projector screen. I was also surprised by all the other modes that the lights offer. Movies and TV shows are best viewed in total or near darkness. If you go into this purchase knowing the limitations and willing to compromise a bit, this could be a great addition to your smart home and living room or office setup. It works really well when listening to music on YouTube and Spotify, but I wish it would dynamically pick the color from the screen too. Something as simple as placing LEDs behind your television really spruces up your TV or computer monitor. After attaching it to your desired location comes the calibration. Sure, the camera doesnt process on-screen images nearly as well as an HDMI responsive TV backlight that changed with the picture. If you are on a budget, getting LED light strips that offer basic controls with a remote is a good solution. While there are no sync options, this offers a good TV backlight for an entertainment center. It's a fairly small thing for such a spectacular effect, and with a little bit of work, you will have a truly enviable TV setup in your home. However, the Hue Play sync box is just that. Check out his online course, the Beginner's Guide to Affiliate Blogging From Scratch. These bars can be lights behind the TV and offer a similar lighting experience to the strip design, or they can be placed in other locations around the TV. Calibration video, the camera below the TV, and the controller. You can manually control the color of Shapes panels. Govee makes hands-down the best budget bias lighting kit. Related: Best soundbars for immersive sound. Since the Philips Hue Ambilight clone sends video and audio signals into an HDMI device, youll experience quick color changing. When it comes to quality, look for TV LED lights that will provide a brightness of at least 450 lumens per foot, equivalent to a T8 fluorescent lamp. Customize your lights through the app or voice-activated commands. Nanoleaf Shapes are great for PCs, while Sengleds color-changing LED strips work well with audio. I dont know if its the whole camera approach thats to blame (youre relying on what that sensor sees instead of getting direct HDMI input) or if Govee can improve the experience with some software updates. The best LED lights for your TV turn your entertainment center into a true centerpiece. Different modes use the systems built-in microphone and/or small 1080p mounted camera to adjust your lighting experience based on how you are using it. Best Fire TV Device Which Fire TV Device is Right for You? The main downside, apart from the lights themselves being sold separately, is price. Learn more. A solitary HDMI box, sans lights. At their most thrilling, the best LED lights for your TV will connect and sync in real-time with the colors and sounds youre streaming. I like that versatility because I have yet to move into my own apartment and I need to be able to quickly uninstall and move this setup when I eventually do. Using the Hue Play HDMI box, immersive lighting effects complement your movies, music, and video games. A built-in microphone can also be used to sync lights. Properly calibrated, LED TV lights can change color and pulse to the rhythm of a favorite album or a films soundtrack, elevating an immersive, emotional experience. I used it, of course. Installation is an easy peel-and-stick attachment to the back of the TV, and settings are controlled with a remote. Think about all the times youve walked down the aisle in a movie theater, or had your eye drawn to a particular part of a store display; the same lights used to define those spaces are now available at home. Want a truly theatrical experience? Related: How to set up a 4K TV for the best possible picture. The camera picked up on the changes with very little delay and synchronized the light bars with what I was seeing. Our own Max loves its products, Taylor was impressed with its Lyra floor lamp, so it made sense for me to check out its TV light bars. Being able to dim the lights in your room like you're in a theater can be a real treat, but why stop there? The miniature camera, mounted to the center, top, or bottom of your television, processes the images and then automatically changes the LED light colors. Govees Immersion lights require you to attach the included camera to either the top or bottom of your TV; this is how the strips lights synchronize with the colors on your screen. The Flow Pro can display one or many colors, be installed vertically or horizontally. When you are looking to use your LED lights with more than one device, this hub can control and connect them all. For a true Ambilight clone, I recommend either a TV bias lighting kit that features an HDMI hook up, or one with a camera. The Lytmi Neo Sync Box is a good, cheap Ambilight alternative with an HDMI connector for a responsive TV backlight. An embedded microphone helps bring these light strips to life based on the music youre listening to. Sometimes these are simple strings of LED light strips behind a TV controlled by a remote or an app. As such, despite not being a mandatory part of television watching, ambilight kits are totally worth it and can take your movie watching to the next level. From streaming devices and smart home gadgets to servers and everything else you need to give your life a tech up! If you spring for a premium television backlight that changes colors based on the video on your screen, the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box delivers extreme versatility. The Hue Play HDMI sync box lets you connect up to four HDMI devices such as game consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and set-top boxes. Not only does Philips offer Ambilight TVs, but it manufactures some of the best smart lights on the market. Once the lights were installed, the first thing I tested was the video mode, which tries to expand whats happening on the screen through the lights around and behind it. For me, the setup took about 20 minutes. The idea behind the Govee Flow Pro is similar to TV LED strips, but instead of sticking something to the back of the screen, you retain some flexibility. Whether you want adjustable backlights or a fully immersive lighting experience, weve selected some of the best LED lights for your TV. Instead of an LED strip like most ambilight clones come with, Nanoleaf Shapes feature LED panels that change colors. Controls and settings are controlled with the Philips Hue app. Although Ambilight clones can be pretty pricey, Govee offers an affordable TV backlight kit. As hard as I try to fight it, I spend a lot of time scrolling through TikTok. The TV and movie watching experience isnt completely universal. Wed have liked more HDMI inputs, although an HDMI switcher or HDMI splitter easily solves that issue. Right then and there I knew I had to test out Govees Immersion LED TV Backlights. QLED, OLED, Mini LED youve thought a lot about the backlighting technology in your TV. You need to do a little setup, but the end result is way too cool. That way, your on-screen picture is processed and the TV backlight automatically changes. Youll be the one glowing as you change colors and brightness according to your mood. For well over a year, Id seen Tik-Tokers line their walls with LED strip lights, a trend I cant say I was particularly fond of. For example, two light bars can be used on either side of the TV, projecting a light show onto the surrounding back wall. I noticed that a color really needs to be dominant and to last a while before the Govee followed suit, which means that the immersion factor was pretty hit-and-miss. Lights that expressively sync to the music, movie, or game you are playing can do so via a hub that connects to the TVs HDMI connection, or with a microphone and video camera technology. LED technology has come down in price over the years, so it is possible to set up your home entertainment system with this LED backlight look for under $40though you will often lose Smart features. Best Ambilight Clones Top Responsive TV Backlight Kits, Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box The Best Ambilight Clone on the Planet, Philips Hue white and color ambiance LightStrip Plus LEDs, Govee LED Backlight The Best Ambilight Alternative on a Budget, Govee offers an affordable TV backlight kit, Best Budget Ambilight Alternative Responsive TV Backlighting Option With an HDMI Input Lytmi Neo Sync Box, Best Cheap Responsive TV Backlight Nanoleaf Shapes, Best Audio-reactive Ambilight Clone Sengled Smart Wi-Fi LED TV Lightstrip, Beginner's Guide to Affiliate Blogging From Scratch, Best 4K Blu-Ray Player for All Budgets in 2022. Philips Ambilight TVs and monitors feature lights baked into the panel itself. Our TV is often the focal point of a roomits where friends and family gather to stream, binge, or have a cozy movie night. The experience is excellent, but I would have loved a little more reactivity and consistency. I hope its the latter. While these designs do not have the ability to sync with music and action on screen, you can manually adjust colors and brightness. Geekom IT8 Mini Review A Great Value Mini PC, Works with smart bulbs and other Philips Hue products besides strip lights, Passes through uncompressed audio such as Dolby Atmos and DTS TrueHD, Light strip for TV backlight sold separately, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa connectivity, Sometimes has difficulty processing multiple on-screen colors, Requires camera mounted properly to the top or bottom of a TV or monitor, HDMI input for responsive, video reactive ambient TV LED backlighting, Lots of integrations including IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and more, Multiple pre-sets (Movie Mode, Game Mode, Music Mode, holidays, special occasions), Up to 16 million different colors with manual color temperature control, Six segmented LED lightstrips for multi-zone lighting, LED lights are bright and energy-efficient, Not video-reactive dont change based on the video source, only audio, Not as easy as an Ambilight kit ready to use out-of-the-box, TV backlighting kit with camera for automatic color changing, TV ambient bias lighting with HDMI connectivity. Because a bias lighting system reduces the perceived brightness level of a TV screen by illuminating the space surrounding it, lights behind a monitor or TV thereby alleviate eye strain. I leave it on for some apps, off for others. For home theatre use, the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box is an excellent solution for setting up a TV backlight. Sengled makes some of the best smart bulbs on the market, and its smart Wi-Fi LED TV lightstrip is an excellent Ambilight solution. Therefore, you can turn on your TV backlight with voice commands. When I'm not hammering away at the keyboard, I enjoy running, reading, playing with my adorable dorkie Sebastian, and watching film. Lytmis Neo supports HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. Not only will your lights sync to your smart TV, but they will also work for gaming, streaming, and music. Once I had everything ready to roll, I got to testing and was immediately impressed. Googles mid-range Pixel 6a is easier to repair than its high-end siblings. You can set specific scenes or create your own, choose colors manually for each segment of every bar (it has six), or you can apply music effects that make the lights dance and flicker with the beats and rhythm. And, like with hubs, these enabled LED lights use a Wi-Fi connection and work through app controls, as well as with voice activation through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. I've been writing online since 2012 with bylines at MakeUseOf, SmartHomeBeginner, TechBeacon, DZone, DEV, DVD Netflix, Bubbleblabber, and Electromaker. Thats because the video signal is processed directly in real-time rather than with a slight delay using an external webcam. While its easy enough to buy everything separately, the Adafruit Adalight kit offers an Arduino-powered Ambilight project that includes virtually everything needed to cobble together a gorgeous bias lighting system for behind your TV. Most LED lights for TVs are designed specifically for use with smart TVs and customized to work with the size of your screen. Enter Govee, a company that wasnt on my radar and then suddenly was the only one on my radar. Additionally, Nanoleaf Shapes can react to touch, dance in sync with music, or match video signals with screen mirroring. It can be used behind the TV for custom backlights or be creatively placed wherever it works best in your space. I cant guarantee that. Cuttable light strips will have specific areas where the strip can be cut. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order). All Rights Reserved. In the end, the Lytmi Neo fosters an immersive atmosphere with fast, responsive HDMI TV backlighting on a budget. A music mode takes advantage of its mic for lights that adjust to audio. Now, I had toyed with the idea of trying a similar TV lighting system in the past, but after seeing the price tag (the set in question was well over $200) I decided it wasnt something I wanted that bad. A Sync Box is an additional purchase from your LED lights for TV and other smart bulbs, but it helps with more deeply integrated devices. Youll just need to make sure youve got the right length of LED strip for your monitor.