HDTV Reviews Archives - Dan's Electronics Blog

Big led tv with soundbar in the living room

3 Amazing DIY Entertainment Center Hacks

June 26, 2019July 17, 2019 ReplacementRemotes.com

Is your entertain center getting a bit crowded? Maybe you want to upgrade and add a new surround sound system? You could be tired of that big jumble of electrical cords and wires runs all over the place. Before you run out and spend money on a new home theater entertainment center, check out these three amazing DIY hacks:

1. Mount your TV to the wall.

If you have space on your wall, get a replacement mount for the TV stand and mount your TV to it using the right mount. Putting the TV on the wall will free up space on the entertainment center you can use for your gaming systems, Blu-ray player, DVR, etc.

Bonus Tip: Get a universal remote control to control all of your devices and eliminate remote control clutter.

2. Get theater-like quality sound with a sound bar and subwoofer.

You do not need a high-end surround sound theater system to get theater-like quality anymore. Sound bars with subwoofers provide remarkable sound quality. Plus, they are perfect for your average-size living room. When selecting a sound bar, make sure it is compatible with your brand of TV.

Bonus TIP: Sound bars can also be mounted to the wall to free up space on your entertainment center.

Big led tv with soundbar in the living room

3. Organize your wires with zip ties and push pins.

Instead of having a big “spaghetti” pile of wires, you can organize them and make them neater. Use zip ties to combine multiple wires running to the same device. To keep wires out of sight, use push pins to hang the wires on the back side of the entertainment center.

Bonus Tip: Use wire covers for wall-mounted TVs and sound bars. To limit the number of wire covers on your walls, try to find one big enough to accommodate all the wires.

For help finding replacement TV stands, replacement mounts for TV stands, and universal remotes, please feel free to shop our online store or call Replacement Remotes at 855-573-6683 for further assistance.

How to Find Your Missing Remote

September 18, 2016September 20, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Is there anything more annoying than sitting down to relax in front of your television, only to realize your TV remote isn’t where it should be? At one time or another, we’ve all spent far too long searching for a lost remote, turning over couch cushions, and flopping around on the ground to look under armchairs. Next time you find yourself without your trusty remote, keep this list in mind to make your search a little shorter.

Check Your Body

There’s a good chance your remote is in your pocket or hiding beneath the folds of your clothing.

Look on the TV

Before you start digging through your furniture cushions, check on top of your TV to see if you happened to leave your remote there. Also, check around the TV stand or Blu-ray/DVD shelf.

Check the Obvious Places

If the remote isn’t next to the TV, the next step is to check the places where you usually use the remote. For most people, this means the couch or chair. Check the surface of your couch or chair, removing any items to make sure the remote isn’t sitting on top of the furniture. If you have no luck, start pulling up cushions and checking underneath.

Look in the Kitchen

Sometimes people make a trip to the kitchen with their remote in hand without even thinking about it, and then set the remote down before forgetting about it entirely. Check the kitchen counters, by the sink, or even inside the fridge.

For more information about TV remotes and accessories, be sure to contact ReplacementRemotes.com today at 855-5-REMOTE.

America’s Love Affair with Television

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Being the birthplace of television, it’s little wonder that America has a long-running love affair with the medium. Generations have grown up with a TV remote in their hands, and although technology is changing how we watch, it isn’t changing our appreciation for a good story presented with great visuals.

Consider these statistics about television viewership:

Although traditional television viewing (watching broadcast and cable networks) is declining, it doesn’t necessarily mean that people are watching less TV. They’re just choosing a different medium to view it. More and more people are watching streaming services like Netflix that offer fare from traditional TV networks, along with original programming.
Traditional television viewership remains an ingrained habit with older viewers. Just 23 percent of the over-65 crowd watch streaming services like Netflix.
Netflix now has 74.76 million customers around the world, including more than 44 million in the U.S., according to Variety.
Streaming is huge for younger viewers. About 60 percent of 35-44 year olds watch streaming video on demand.
Parents have a big impact on their children’s viewing time, but, as kids get older, that influence wanes. According to CBS News, parents have the biggest impact on kids’ viewing time from ages 6-11.

ReplacementRemotes.com sells new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronic devices. The company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Sources:

http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-tv-ratings-decline-2015-1201721672/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/parents-tv-time-may-be-the-biggest-influence-on-kids-viewing-habits/

Five Iconic 60s Television Shows

July 25, 2016July 27, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

The 1960s were truly the golden age of television, as the medium found its feet and established many conventions still observed today. It was the heyday of the sitcom, and also the era when broadcast journalism hit its peak and great dramas like MASH became popular fare.

Today, television viewers can enjoy some nostalgia or be introduced to some of the era’s iconic shows by using their television remotes to tune in to the many classic television channels on the tube. Here’s a list of some shows you’ll definitely want to check out:

60 Minutes – The venerable news magazine had its start in the 1960s. “60 Minutes” is one of the most influential examples of broadcast journalism, shaping the medium for decades.
Bewitched – “Bewitched” is one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 1960s, telling the story of an ad man whose wife is a witch – literally. Samantha Stevens only uses her powers for good, but her mother Endora is a different story. The mismatch of the supernatural Samantha and vanilla Darren made for great laughs and television.
Night Gallery – A little less well-known than “The Twilight Zone,” “Night Gallery” was a suspense/horror anthology that helped shape the genre. The influence of “Night Gallery” can be felt today in shows like “Stranger Things” and “American Horror Story.”
Perry Mason – This show practically invented the courtroom procedural. “Perry Mason” starred Raymond Burr as the eponymous title character, a committed defender of his clients, who were invariably innocent of the crimes they were accused of committing.
The Ed Sullivan Show – “The Ed Sullivan Show” helped establish the conventions observed by variety shows such as “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show” today. The show also introduced America to Elvis and The Beatles.

Five Tips to Avoid Losing Your Remote

July 18, 2016July 19, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Losing your TV remote is a real pain. Today’s television remote controls do a lot more than just flip between channels and, without your television remote, you may not be able to operate your TV.

For folks who’d like to avoid losing their remotes, these tips can help:

Designate a spot for the remote – Keep up with your remote by always leaving it in the same place. By returning the remote to an end table or coffee table after each use, you can avoid losing it.
Make it more visible – Paint your remote or tie a brightly colored ribbon around it to make it easier to find if it gets lost.
Get the kids involved – Establish a rewards system that gives prizes to your kids if they remember to put the remote in the right place or help in finding it.
Get a sofa caddy – Sofa caddies store remotes and connect to your sofa. They allow easy and convenient storage of your remotes.
Get a tethered remote – Tethered remotes are used in hotels to avoid theft of remotes by guests. The remote is connected by a cable to a device bolted on to a table or the wall. At home, these remotes will keep your device from being lost.

Four Tips for Productive Television Time

July 9, 2016July 11, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

You don’t have to feel guilty about plunking down in front of your home entertainment center for a few hours. Television time can be productive, as you can turn entertainment downtime into uptime used to complete easy, but often time-consuming tasks.

Consider the following ways to make TV time more productive:

Do your laundry – When your favorite shows are on, take care of a few loads of laundry. You can sort while you watch, pop them in the washer during a commercial, pop them in the dryer when they’re done, and fold while enjoying your favorite sporting events, movies, or shows.
Make schedules and lists – While watching television, you can plan your week. Sit down with your calendar and make grocery lists, cooking plans, and other schedules while watching your favorite shows. If a little more focus is required, work on the schedules and lists during a commercial break.
Pay your bills – Go online and pay your bills while watching television. Logging in and entering your info won’t take too much focus away from what’s happening on screen.
Organize your wallet or purse – Rearrange your wallet or purse to make it easier to find your ID and credit cards. Take the time to get rid of business cards, old gum, and other things you don’t need.

TV Habits Changing in Digital Era

July 2, 2016July 5, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Americans are watching less television than they did in years past, but that doesn’t mean they’re cutting back on electronic entertainment. People are now diversifying their entertainment, not just watching television, but also playing on their smartphones and accessing the Internet on computers.

The average American now watches more than five hours of television per day, down from historical peaks. However, Americans now spend eight hours or more per day on average consuming media. Besides television watching, that consumption includes checking out the Internet using a computer or mobile device.

Average daily Internet consumption has increased by 100 percent over the past five years. The Internet accounted for 13 percent of daily media consumption in 2010, but it will hit 30 percent in 2017. The growth in Internet consumption coincides with the decrease in traditional media consumption. Nearly 40 percent of homes subscribe to a digital movie service like Netflix.

Among demographic groups, African Americans watch the most television, while Asians and Hispanics watch significantly less. People also tend to watch more television as they get older. Around the world, Latin America has the highest rate of daily media consumption, while Asia has the lowest.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronic devices. The company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Set Up Your HDTV for Optimal Performance

June 25, 2016July 5, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Your new HDTV set provides lots of ways to connect to a variety of sources for your favorite television shows, movies, and other video content. For new owners, all the options can be daunting – even mastering the remote control takes a little study.

However, if you want to get the most from your HDTV (and you do, considering how much you likely paid for it), follow these tips for setting up the television:

Use the right cables – For the best picture quality, connect your HDTV to other devices using HDMI cables. HDMI cables carry high resolution images and sound. Most modern DVD players, video game systems, and computers are compatible with HDMI cables. If they’re not, you’ll likely need to use component cables to connect. If you have the option of connecting with HDMI, do it, as this will provide you the best picture quality and sound.
Optimize your cable box and DVD player – Make sure your DVD player and cable box are ready for your new HDTV. To prepare your DVD player, enter its setup menu and ensure it is set to output a 16×9 image. For your cable or satellite box, also switch to 16×9. If the cable or satellite box is capable of HD, be sure to set the output to 1080i.
Master the picture settings – Your HDTV is likely to have several presets to make this easy. Most HDTVs have presets such as “Sports,” “Movie,” “Standard,” and “Dynamic.” Each of these presets has differing levels of brightness, contrast, color, etc. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, use individual controls to adjust the settings as you like.

Replacementremotes.com is a provider of new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronics. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

Three of the Most Expensive Television Shows Ever Made

June 25, 2016July 5, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Good home entertainment doesn’t come cheap. Television shows can often have production budgets as high as some Hollywood movies, and many a solid performing show in the ratings has gotten the cancellation ax because its costs were too high.

Here are some of the most expensive television shows ever made:

ER – The long-running NBC medical drama didn’t have a ridiculous budget to begin with, but as its lead George Clooney ascended to stardom and the show got record-breaking ratings, producer Warner Bros. was able to command $13 million per episode from the Big Peacock. After Clooney departed the show, the budget dropped somewhat, and the show continued to be a strong performer for the network. In total, ER ran for 15 seasons.
Rome – The much beloved period drama from HBO spared no expense in recreating an authentic portrait of ancient Rome. Shooting on site in Italy, and the elaborate costumes and props required by the show ran the budget up to $9 million per episode. The high cost of the show contributed to its early demise, although it had a very loyal, but small, fan base.
Friends – Situation comedies typically aren’t expensive, unless they’re big hits and the cast members become mega-stars. That’s exactly what happened with Friends, as the show became a ratings juggernaut for NBC, and propelled Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox to mega-stardom, and also made stars of the rest of the ensemble cast. Over time, salary demands bumped the show’s budget up to $10 million per episode. But what’s a few million dollars among friends, right?

Source:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/most-expensive-tv-shows-ever.html/?a=viewall

Five Secrets to Preventing TV Eye Strain

June 18, 2016July 1, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

If you spend a significant portion of your day staring at computer screen or flipping through television channels with your remote, it can have an impact on your eyes. Eye fatigue is responsible for about 10 million primary care visits each year, but, luckily, the condition is rarely serious.

For television watchers and computer users who may feel a little discomfort, the following tips can relieve eye strain:

Keep your distance – Avoid sitting too close to your television or computer. Staying 20-26 inches away from your computer screen and eight feet or more back from your television will help reduce eye fatigue.
Get plenty of sleep – Insufficient sleep keeps your body from resting and repairing itself, resulting in greater eye fatigue. Make sure you get your six to eight hours each night.
Keep eye drops on hand – Refreshing your eyes with eye drops will help alleviate eye fatigue symptoms.
Observe the 20/20/20 rule – Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Take a break – Regularly get up from your desk or couch and look at something other than a computer monitor or television screen.

Replacementremotes.com is a provider of new and refurbished television remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronics. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.