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The Best Smart Home Gear to Level Up Your Entertainment System

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 13:21 GMT by Lifehacker
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The Ultimate Smart‑Home Entertainment System: A Lifehacker‑Style Rundown

If you’ve ever imagined the living room of tomorrow—where a simple “Alexa, play The Mandalorian” is enough to cue the TV, dim the lights, and launch your soundbar—then you’re not alone. Lifehacker’s classic “Best Smart‑Home Gear for Your Entertainment System” breaks down the must‑have gadgets that bring that vision to life, and does so in a way that’s easy to digest even if you’re not a tech‑savvy nerd. Below is a concise, up‑to‑date recap of the gear, how it all connects, and why you might want to add it to your setup.

1. Voice Assistants – The Digital butler

The article starts with the undeniable truth: a voice assistant is the hub of any modern entertainment system. Lifehacker recommends two front‑running options:

• Amazon Echo (3rd Gen or newer) – The Echo’s Alexa can trigger streaming services, control smart lights, and even play music through your home speaker system. Amazon’s “Alexa Skills” for entertainment let you cast to Fire TV or Roku, open Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video with a single command.

• Google Home (or Nest Mini) – Powered by Google Assistant, the Home can also manage YouTube, Spotify, and other services, while integrating with Google Cast. One major link in the article goes to Google’s “Assistant for TV” page, which explains how the assistant can be tied to compatible TVs or Chromecast devices.

Both devices also work with iOS and Android, so you can control your entertainment system from your phone or tablet. Lifehacker notes that Echo’s far‑field microphones make it more reliable in a noisy living room, while the Google Home is more affordable.

2. Smart Streaming Devices – The “Sticks” of the 21st Century

Where the voice assistant is the brain, the streaming stick is the muscle that pulls the curtain. The article lists the three most popular sticks, each with a dedicated link to their Amazon page:

Each link includes a comparison chart that highlights processor speed, HDR support, and the number of available streaming services.

3. Smart TVs – The Canvas

The article explains that a smart TV can become an all‑in‑one hub if you choose the right brand:

• LG OLED55CXPUA – Built‑in webOS, support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, plus the “LG ThinQ” app for remote control.
• Sony XBR-55A8H – Runs Android TV, which can pull in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The Sony “Remote‑Control App” link lets you turn the phone into a remote.
• Samsung Q80T – Features Tizen OS and “SmartThings” integration. The article links to Samsung’s “Voice Control” guide for setting up Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant on the TV.

All three support 4K HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, ensuring a crisp picture for your favorite shows.

4. Smart Soundbars & Speakers – The Sound Engine

While most living rooms still use a TV’s built‑in speaker, Lifehacker underscores the difference a smart speaker makes. Key picks include:

• Sonos Beam – A compact soundbar that works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. The linked Sonos “Beam Setup” page explains how to integrate it with a smart TV for “cinema mode.”
• Bose SoundTouch 300 – Offers Alexa voice control via the Bose app. The article highlights the “SoundTouch App” for easy pairing.
• Amazon Echo Studio – 3.0 channel, 10‑Watt speaker, and Alexa. It’s a great “home theater” option if you want a single device that plays music, podcasts, and controls other smart gear.

The article compares the audio performance, connectivity options (HDMI ARC, Bluetooth), and voice control integration.

5. Smart Lighting & Ambient Controls – Set the Mood

Lighting is the invisible layer that turns a living room into a movie theater or a cozy lounge. The article’s top recommendation:

• Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance – With a Hue Bridge, you can set up “Movie Mode” scenes that dim the lights and add a blue wash. The Hue app link shows a “Movie Scene” preset that automatically dims all lights to 30% brightness.

Other options mentioned include:

• LIFX Smart Bulbs – Wi‑Fi only, no bridge needed, but they can’t be integrated with Alexa’s “Hue” skill unless connected via LIFX Cloud.
• Nanoleaf Light Panels – Color‑changing panels that can be arranged into a wall‑mounted “smart light display.” The article links to the Nanoleaf “App Guide” that explains how to sync light colors with music or TV playback.

6. Smart Remote – The Universal Commander

Lifehacker’s final recommendation is the Logitech Harmony Hub, which works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and even the Apple HomeKit Bridge. The article provides a link to the Harmony “Setup” page, which explains how to program a single remote to turn on the TV, switch to the correct input, launch your streaming service, and dim the lights—all with one click.

The Harmony Hub’s ability to mimic a TV’s IR commands means you can still use your old remote if you want to. For tech‑minimalists, the article suggests sticking with the Harmony “Remote Control” app, which works like a virtual remote on your phone.

Putting It All Together

To visualize how all these pieces work together, imagine the following scenario:

1. You say, “Alexa, set movie mode.”
2. Alexa sends a command to the Philips Hue Bridge to dim the lights to 30% and change the color temperature to “warm white.”
3. The Alexa skill triggers your Roku Streaming Stick 4K to switch to the “Netflix” app and start a recommended movie.
4. The Sonos Beam takes audio from the Roku and plays it through a high‑quality surround experience.
5. Once the movie ends, you say, “Alexa, turn off the lights.” The Hue lights go dark, and your Harmony Hub turns the TV to standby.

The article’s step‑by‑step “smart home scenario” diagram (linked in the “How to set up a smart entertainment system” section) is a great visual aid for newcomers.

Bottom Line

Lifehacker’s guide is essentially a roadmap: start with a voice assistant, add a streaming stick, upgrade to a smart TV or a smart soundbar, and finish with smart lighting and a universal remote. By linking directly to product pages and setup guides, the article eliminates the guesswork, letting readers jump straight into building their own cinematic ecosystem.

If you’re ready to upgrade from a standard cable setup to a fully integrated smart home entertainment system, start with the pieces that matter most to you—whether it’s Alexa for voice control, a Roku stick for its price/performance ratio, or Philips Hue for lighting—and then expand gradually. The result? A living room that feels more like a home theater than a cluttered cable box.