The Best Smart Home Equipment to Level up Your Entertainment System
While tech companies increasingly think I need AI-generated media content just to pass the time , what I really need is technology that automates the mundane parts of entertainment. Collect and organize the movies I really want to watch, stream music throughout the house, or create the atmosphere I need for complete immersion. When it comes to truly useful home entertainment, this is where smart devices can come in handy for watching TV shows and movies, listening to music, or playing games.
Regardless of your media choice, the time you spend watching TV shows, listening to music, or playing games is a deeply human activity. This means that not every technology that tries to automate your habits will necessarily be beneficial. I’m not so much interested in cramming as many YouTube videos into your queue as possible, but rather in using technology to find and manage the media you need in a way that suits you.
With all that said, here are a few smart home gadgets that I find really useful for home entertainment.
Streaming boxes and sticks
These days, it’s hard to find a TV without some kind of smart system that readily offers apps for your favorite streaming services. However, some of these platforms are more convenient than others. Even if your TV already has its own operating system, you can purchase a streaming box or a separate set-top box with a more user-friendly platform.
-
Google TV: This is my personal favorite. The Google TV Streamer adds a Google-powered interface that lets you search for shows and movies across all your streaming services. You can even add content to your watchlist from search results on your phone—it’s definitely one of the most convenient ways to catch that show a friend told you about but can’t remember the name of. Now, just tap to add it to your watchlist, and it’ll appear on your home TV.
-
Roku: If you’re looking for something more platform-agnostic, Roku streaming boxes and receivers offer the widest selection of streaming services in a single device. Since Roku isn’t owned by any company that also offers a streaming video platform (like Amazon), you can find virtually any streaming service. While it lacks some of the more comprehensive search options found on Google TV, Roku more than makes up for it with excellent physical remote controls and a wide selection of devices at every price point.
-
Apple TV / Amazon Fire TV : Both Amazon and Apple offer their own streaming boxes, which work quite well, but they share a common drawback: both companies tend to overly favor their own content stores. If you’re heavily involved with the Apple or Amazon ecosystem, these devices may be the best options for buying, renting, and discovering movies and TV shows. However, if you’re less tied to a specific platform, the other two options on this list may be better suited for you.
By the way, another great tool for organizing your watchlists is Letterboxd . This app isn’t a streaming service or platform, but it’s one of the best ways to discover new shows, rate and review the ones you’ve already watched, and connect with people who share your tastes.
Create ambience with smart lighting
For a while, I thought the idea of a backlight behind the TV, let alone synchronizing it with the image on the screen, was a bit overkill. But after trying it, I realized it’s actually pretty cool. A backlight behind the TV can reduce eye strain, especially when watching in a dark room, making the viewing experience even more immersive.
In recent years, it’s become easier than ever to synchronize color backlighting to follow the contours of the image on the screen. This is great for watching movies and even better for gaming, where your eyes are constantly trying to refocus as you navigate virtual worlds. Here are some of the most accessible systems for setting up such lighting:
-
Philips Hue Sync: The Philips Hue system supports Hue Sync, which allows you to connect smart lights to your screen. The app is compatible with Windows/Mac computers, select LG and Samsung TVs, and the Hue Play, a separate box for connecting any HDMI source to your lights.
-
Govee: If you’re looking to save money, Govee has a more affordable light sync system . It offers the same features as the Hue Play Box for $260, including the sync box and light strip.
Even if you don’t want to spend the extra effort (and money) to sync the backlight with your display, any ambient lighting can make viewing more enjoyable. You can even use your smart home system to automatically turn on ambient lighting when you turn off the overhead lights in your living room.
Enhance your music with smart speakers and an assistant
Smart speakers are perfectly adequate for everyday use. They can read recipes, set timers, or play podcasts, and you probably won’t notice much of a difference. But for listening to music, something higher-quality might be useful.
One of my favorite speakers is the Sonos Era 300. This speaker supports wireless music streaming from a variety of music apps, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It also has a 3.5mm line-in jack for connecting analog music devices.
I’ve also used similar Bose products in the past, and when choosing an audio system, it’s important to consider your needs. Sonos, in particular, is known for its reliable multi-room audio system. If you want to install speakers in the living room, kitchen, office, or bedroom and easily play music across them, as well as transfer music from one room to another, Sonos is an excellent choice.
Bose speaker systems offer some similar features, although their multi-room audio capabilities aren’t as advanced as Sonos’. However, Bose soundbars excel at creating room-filling surround sound, especially for movies and TV shows. If you’re more interested in TV and use speakers solely for music, the Bose ecosystem may be the better choice for you.
Bring your record collection into the 21st century
The phrase “smart turntable” might make analog audio enthusiasts shudder, but hear me out. The Victrola Onyx is one of my favorite smart home devices, especially because it brings classic analog collections into the modern smart home environment.
This model uses a standard RCA output, so if you already have an analog speaker system, you can connect it and enjoy the warm, rich sound you’re accustomed to from your record collection. It also features Sonos streaming, so you can listen to your albums in another room. This allows you to stream audio without losing the tactile feel of vinyl.