As streaming options continue to soar, more and more people are staying in to enjoy their favorite movies and shows. For those of us who like to up the ambiance while viewing our favorite shows, what better way to do that than to lower the lights and dish up some buttery popcorn goodness to replicate the movie-theater experience? However, did you know that watching TV or even playing video games in the dark can cause eyestrain and lead to headaches? There is a solution, and it's called bias lighting.
The science and benefits of bias lighting are fascinating, so I'll touch on the highlights, as well as an innovative way you can easily incorporate bias lighting into your home entertainment setup. For greater insight and details, download our free Bias Lighting Guide.
When we watch TV or play video games, our pupils get larger or smaller each time the picture brightness changes. That automatic reaction is multiplied when we are in a dark room and the bright TV screen is the primary light source. Depending on what we are watching, the brightness level can change quickly, drastically and often. The rapid change that our pupils make can cause eyestrain, which includes symptoms such as sore, tired, burning, itching, watery or dry eyes, blurred or double vision, headaches and more. Thankfully, we can do our eyes a favor by simply adding bias lighting to our entertainment setup.
what is bias lighting and how does it work?
Bias lighting is light with a temperature of 6500 degrees Kelvin that reflects off the wall behind the TV to create a soft white glow.
That glow helps to normalize the overall light levels in the room. TVs and monitors are specifically calibrated to 6500K, which is why that same light temperature is required to reap the benefits of bias lighting. Placing any other color or temperature of light behind the TV may look cool, but it won't provide you with the scientifically proven benefits of bias lighting—reduced eyestrain and enhanced color saturation of any TV or monitor.
With the addition of bias lighting, you'll notice that your on-screen picture appears more vibrant. Even though nothing physically has changed with your TV, the diffused glow of the bias light behind your TV creates an optical illusion called simultaneous contrast. Consider the image below. Is the center horizontal bar the same color throughout?
At first glance, it seems obvious that the inner bar appears to transition from light to dark when viewing it from left to right. However, take a moment and cover every part of the graphic except for the inner bar. Now what do you see? This simple change in background color majorly influenced our perception of the inner bar’s color. This same concept translates to richer colors and an enhanced TV viewing experience when you add bias lighting to your home entertainment setup, as shown in these before and after photos. Amazing!
Bias Lighting Innovation
While there are numerous bias lighting products available, there is one that is easy to install and takes the guesswork out of bias lighting and its placement. This indoor HD antenna features an innovative, patent-pending design that lets you easily mount it to the top of your flat-screen TV.
The antenna’s PureBias™ 6500K lighting feature is built into the back of the mounting bracket and, when turned on, emits a soft white glow around your TV as the light reflects off the wall. Mounting the antenna on top of the TV ensures the bias lighting feature is perfectly placed. For optimum results, your display should sit between 6in. and 18in. from the wall.
Installing this antenna is easy. Simply connect the antenna’s coax cable to your TV or cable/satellite box and then connect the antenna’s USB power cable to the USB port on your TV. You can also power the lighting feature through a wall adapter (sold separately). The inline ON/OFF switch controls the bias light only, so you can take advantage of this unique feature whether you're watching TV through the antenna, cable or satellite, streaming your favorite movie or competing with friends on your new PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming console.
Regardless of your entertainment setup, if you enjoy the ambiance of watching TV in the dark or the ability to sharpen your gaming focus by dimming the lights during gameplay, bias lighting is the quickest and most economical way to set the mood and get the most out of your home entertainment.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BIAS LIGHTING HERE.
