Are you tempted by the latest television technology but hesitant about the cost and environmental impact? Before you rush to replace your current set, consider these seven practical upgrades that can significantly enhance your viewing experience - some of which won't cost you a penny.
Revitalise Your Smart TV System
One of the first signs that your television is showing its age is a sluggish smart platform. As streaming services evolve, older operating systems struggle to keep pace, resulting in slower app loading times and clunky menus. Fortunately, you don't need to replace the entire television.
Adding an inexpensive streaming dongle can transform your viewing experience. Devices like Amazon's Fire TV Stick (starting at £39.99 for HD), Roku's 4K Streaming Stick Plus (available from £24.99 at Argos), or Google TV streamer (£99) plug directly into your HDMI port, providing faster interfaces, updated services and voice search capabilities.
For those seeking premium content, Sky Stream offers another compelling option. This compact box delivers Sky channels, including movies and sports, alongside popular streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+. The base package costs £15 monthly and requires no dish or aerial - everything streams through your wifi connection.
Optimise Your Viewing Environment
Sometimes the solution isn't technological but environmental. Room lighting plays a crucial role in picture quality. Harsh overhead lights can create reflections, while complete darkness can make black levels appear grey on LED televisions.
Try repositioning table lamps to eliminate screen reflections and consider adding bias lighting behind your television. This technique, commonly used in professional studios, reduces eye strain and enhances perceived contrast. For dark movie viewing, maintain some ambient room lighting rather than watching in total darkness.
Viewing distance also significantly impacts your experience. With modern 4K and 8K televisions offering higher pixel density, you can sit much closer than with older HD sets. The ideal viewing position is approximately 1.5 times your screen size away - meaning about 2 metres for a 55-inch television.
Maximise Your Current Television's Potential
Before considering replacement, explore your television's settings menu. Many sets ship with Standard picture mode as default, but switching to Dynamic or Vivid mode can inject renewed colour and vibrancy into lacklustre images.
HDMI settings deserve particular attention. If high dynamic range (HDR) content from external devices like games consoles or Blu-ray players appears underwhelming, check that your HDMI setting is configured to Optimal or Enhanced mode. Conversely, if HDR content looks too dark on older televisions, reverting to Standard mode may provide a brighter, more enjoyable image while maintaining 4K resolution.
Transform Your Audio Experience
Modern thin televisions often compromise on speaker quality, resulting in muffled dialogue and weak sound. The most effective solution is adding a soundbar. These compact devices dramatically improve audio clarity, expand the soundstage and restore cinematic scale.
For smaller televisions around 43 inches, the Sharp HT-SB700 offers Dolby Atmos compatibility and 140W power for just £89. Owners of larger screens might consider the Samsung HW-Q990F at £999, which includes 23 speakers, a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers for fully immersive surround sound.
While there are legitimate reasons to upgrade - such as physical damage or extremely outdated design - many perceived shortcomings can be addressed through these cost-effective solutions. As technology specialist Steve May notes with his thirty years of experience, strategic upgrades can postpone that major purchase while significantly enhancing your home entertainment setup.
