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I Finally Replaced My Old TV Setup and Every Streaming App Just Works
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items Your TV still has a perfectly good screen but it can't run Netflix without buffering, doesn't have half the apps you want, and the remote is from 2014. Buying a whole new TV feels wasteful when the picture is fine. I spent way too long comparing stre...
Sections
7
Streaming Devices That Turned My Dumb TV Smart
HDMI Adapters and Cables for Older TV Ports
Soundbars That Made My Old TV Speakers Bearable
Wi-Fi Range Extenders for Buffering Problems
Universal Remotes That Replaced My Remote Graveyard
Mounts and Organizers to Clean Up the Cable Mess
Streaming Devices That Turned My Dumb TV Smart
My 2016 Vizio had two HDMI ports and zero apps that still worked. Plugged one of these in and suddenly I had every service loading in seconds like it was a brand new set.
Grab this if your old TV has an HDMI port collecting dust. I went from zero working apps to every single one in about five minutes of setup. The remote even controls your TV volume, which saved me from juggling two remotes like a lunatic.
Roku Express 4K Streaming Player
Swap to this if your current stick keeps buffering during peak hours. Wi-Fi 6E made a real difference in my apartment where twelve neighbors are all streaming at once. Had it running within three minutes of unboxing.
Introducing Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device
Perfect for anyone deep in the Google ecosystem already. I cast from my Pixel constantly, but the actual remote and on-screen interface surprised me. Way better than the old Chromecasts that needed your phone for everything.
Google, Chromecast with Google TV, 4K HDR
Keep this one on your radar if you already own an iPhone and AirPods. The integration is seamless and AirPlay works without a hiccup. Pricier than a stick, but I stopped restarting my old Roku three times a night, so worth it.
Apple TV 4K 3rd Generation 64GB Black MN873LL/A
Try this before spending $150 on a name brand. I bought it skeptical and honestly it runs Google TV just as smoothly. For under $20, it made my bedroom TV feel like it was manufactured this year.
onn 4K Streaming Device, Google TV, Ultra HD
Toss this in your suitcase for hotel TVs that only have basic cable channels. It's tiny enough to forget it's there, plugs right into the HDMI port behind the TV, and I've used it in four different hotels without issues.
Roku, Streaming Stick 4K, HDR Dolby Vision
HDMI Adapters and Cables for Older TV Ports
One of my TVs literally had no HDMI port. Just RCA jacks from 2009. I almost gave up until I found converters that actually worked without weird lag or color problems.
Use this if your TV only has those red, white, and yellow ports. I hooked my Fire Stick through this converter and the picture was surprisingly decent on a 32-inch CRT in my garage. Took about two minutes.
RCA To HDMI Adapter Guide: Connect Old Devices Easily
Snag a couple of these so you're not scrambling when you set up a second room. They're dirt cheap and I've never had one fail on me. The ones that came with my old devices were always too short anyway.
onn 6' High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet
Get this if you have one HDMI port and two devices fighting over it. I was unplugging my Roku every time I wanted to use my game console. Now both stay connected and I just switch inputs.
ACCL HDMI 2Way Splitter (1-in/2-out) 4K@60Hz, 10 Pack
Bring your old computer monitor back to life with this. I turned a 24-inch Dell monitor from 2012 into a kitchen TV for recipe videos. My wife thought I bought a new screen until I showed her the adapter.
HDMI to VGA Adapters and Cables for Devices
Pair this shorter cable with any streaming stick mounted behind a wall-mounted TV. The longer cables were bunching up and pulling the stick out of the port. Three feet is the sweet spot for clean installs.
onn 12' Premium HDMI Cable, Black
Try this if your TV remote won't control your streaming device volume. CEC lets one remote handle everything, and I went from needing three remotes on my coffee table to just one. Life-changing for my parents who kept losing the Roku remote.
FVH Remote Controlled HDMI 2.0 IR Adapter with CEC
Soundbars That Made My Old TV Speakers Bearable
The speakers on my 2016 TV sounded like someone talking through a paper towel tube. Dialogue was impossible to hear without cranking the volume to 90, which then blasted every explosion scene through the walls.
Grab this if you just want to hear dialogue without reading subtitles on everything. It's small, plugs in with one cable, and the difference from my TV's built-in speakers was night and day. My neighbor stopped texting me about the noise.
onn 20 in Bluetooth 2.1 Channel Soundbar with Multi-Color
Switch to this if you want a soundbar and streaming device in one box. Freed up an HDMI port, replaced my old Roku stick, and the sound quality made me realize how much I'd been missing in movies. Two birds, one purchase.
wabracket Wall Mount Bracket for Roku Streambar
Use this in a bedroom or smaller room where a full surround setup is overkill. The built-in sub actually hits low enough for action movies. I stopped watching with headphones at night because the clarity at low volumes is solid.
Samsung Sound Bars
Perfect for anyone who wants plug-and-play without messing with Bluetooth pairing or apps. I connected it with the optical cable in the box and had better sound in literally 45 seconds. My dad set his up alone, which tells you everything.
VIZIO V-Series 2.0 Compact Sound Bar with Dolby Audio
Snag this if you care about music as much as movies. I play Spotify through it while cooking and the sound fills my open kitchen better than the Bluetooth speaker I was using before. Doubles as a legit music speaker.
Bar 2.0 All-in-One | 2.0 channel soundbar yang ringkas
Get the version with the wireless sub if your living room is bigger than a dorm. The bass from the separate subwoofer made my old TV feel like a home theater setup. Placed the sub behind the couch and the rumble during movies is fantastic.
onn Bluetooth 2.1 Channel Soundbar System with Dolby
Wi-Fi Range Extenders for Buffering Problems
My router sits in the front room and my bedroom TV is three walls away. Every streaming device I tried would buffer constantly until I fixed the actual Wi-Fi dead zone instead of blaming the stick.
Plug this in halfway between your router and your TV. I went from constant buffering circles to zero interruptions during a full season binge. Setup took five minutes through the app on my phone.
TP Link AC1200 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE315)
Switch to mesh if your house has more than two rooms that need strong signal. I replaced my single router with this three-pack and every room gets full bars now. Streaming in the basement actually works for the first time.
Netgear Nighthawk Dual-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System 1.8Gbps Router
Perfect for anyone renting a bigger apartment where you can't run ethernet cables through the walls. I placed one unit per floor and the handoff between them is seamless. No more buffering when I move my laptop between rooms either.
TP-Link Deco X25 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band 3 Pack System
Get this specific model if you have an older router you're not ready to replace yet. It boosted my signal enough to stream 4K in the back bedroom. I was genuinely shocked at the difference one wall outlet device made.
EX6400 AC1900 WiFi Mesh Wall Plug Range Extender
Try the budget option first before going full mesh. I spent $15 on this and it solved my kitchen dead zone completely. If it works, you just saved yourself $200 on a mesh system you might not need.
NETGEAR AC1200 WiFi Range Extender
Use your home's electrical wiring as an ethernet cable. I plugged one adapter near my router and one behind my TV, and now my streaming box has a wired connection without running cable through the house. Buffering vanished overnight.
TP-Link, Powerline Adapter Kit, AV500 Nano, Ethernet, WiFi
Universal Remotes That Replaced My Remote Graveyard
At one point I had four remotes on my coffee table and none of them controlled everything. My girlfriend refused to watch TV alone because she couldn't figure out which remote did what.
Pair this with literally every device in your setup. I programmed it for my TV, soundbar, Roku, and Blu-ray player in one sitting. The coffee table went from four remotes to one and my girlfriend actually uses the TV now without texting me for help.
SofaBaton, Universal Remote, App Control, Backlit Buttons
Grab this as a cheap backup or for a guest room TV. It's basic, no fancy screen or app, but it controls four devices and the code lookup is straightforward. Took me ten minutes with the instruction booklet.
GE 4-Device Universal TV Remote Control in Brushed
Get the hub version if you have devices hidden inside a cabinet. The IR blaster sends signals through closed doors so you don't need line of sight. I finally closed my media cabinet and the living room looks so much cleaner.
SofaBaton X1S Universal Remote with Hub and App
Switch to this if you keep losing the standard Roku remote in couch cushions. It has a rechargeable battery, a headphone jack for private listening, and you can literally say ‘Hey Roku, find my remote’ and it beeps. Found mine wedged under the dog be...
Where can I find the Roku limited warranty?
Use this upgraded remote if you already have a Fire Stick. The dedicated app buttons are handy, but the real win is the voice search. I just say the movie name instead of pecking at an on-screen keyboard letter by letter.
Amazon Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced
Perfect for anyone with a complicated setup involving a receiver, gaming console, and streaming box. One button press turns everything on and switches to the right input. Worth hunting down while they're still available since Logitech discontinued th...
Customer reviews for Logitech Harmony 650 Remote
Mounts and Organizers to Clean Up the Cable Mess
Every streaming stick came with a cable, every soundbar added another one, and suddenly the back of my TV looked like a bird's nest. Took me a weekend to get it all tidy but now it looks like a professional did it.
Get a wall mount that swivels if your TV is in a corner. I mounted my 55-inch on this and can angle it toward the couch or the kitchen depending on where I'm sitting. All the cables hide behind the TV now.
ECHOGEAR Full Motion TV Wall Mount with Extension
Stick these behind your entertainment center to group cables together. No screws, no damage, and they peel off clean if you move. I used six of them and the back of my TV stand went from disaster to invisible.
Command 17304-ES Cord Clip Cable Bundler, Large
Toss one of these along your baseboard if you wall-mounted your TV and have cables dangling down the wall. Painted mine to match the wall color and guests genuinely don't notice any wires. Took 20 minutes.
Customer reviews for J Channel Desk Cable Organizer Kit
Snag a bulk pack and use them on everything, not just your TV setup. I wrapped every cable behind my desk, entertainment center, and nightstand. Way better than zip ties because you can undo them when you swap devices.
VELCRO Brand ONE-WRAP® Ties Reusable Light Duty
Pair this with your Fire Stick or Roku to mount it directly behind your TV. Keeps the stick from dangling out of the HDMI port and getting bumped. My cat used to knock my streaming stick loose at least once a week before I got this.
Media Streaming Players
Use a flat-plug power strip so your entertainment center can sit flush against the wall. My old power strip stuck out three inches and the TV stand was always crooked. This one lies flat and has USB ports for charging remotes.
ONDOG, Power Strip, 6ft Flat Plug, 8 Outlets and 4 USB Ports
Accessories That Rounded Out My Whole Setup
Small stuff I didn't think about until I needed it. A backlight strip, a better ethernet cable, a remote holder. None of these are flashy but every one of them solved a specific annoyance I kept ignoring.
Stick this behind your TV and watch at night without your eyes feeling like they're melting. The bias lighting reduces eye strain and honestly makes the picture look better. My wife went from skeptical to requesting we put one on every TV in the hous...
Govee Smart TV Backlight 3S for 75-85 inch TV
Run a wired connection to your streaming box if your Wi-Fi is unreliable and you don't want to buy a mesh system. I ran one along the baseboard under a cable raceway and the difference in streaming stability is massive compared to wireless.
25ft (7.6M) Cat6 Flat Ethernet Cable 25 Feet
Plug this into your streaming device or smart TV to play local files without needing an app. I loaded it with home videos and old movies I'd ripped years ago. Handy backup when the internet goes out during a storm.
SanDisk 128GB Cruzer Glide USB 2.0 Flash Drive 2 Pack
Stick one of these on any remote you keep losing. I attached it to my Roku remote with a small adhesive strip and now I just ring it from my phone. Saved me from tearing apart the couch cushions at least twice a week.
Customer reviews for Life360 Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker
Use this to add Bluetooth to a soundbar or speaker that doesn't have it. I connected it to my older VIZIO bar and now I can stream music from my phone wirelessly. Cost me less than lunch and added a feature I thought I'd need a new soundbar for.
onn Wireless FM Transmitter, Bluetooth, 35W USB-C
Keep one of these in a drawer for the day you need to extend an HDMI cable but don't have a longer one. I've used it twice already, once for a projector setup and once when I rearranged my living room and my cable was suddenly six inches too short.
HDMI Female to Female Adapter 8K, HDMI Coupler 2-Pack