×
Skip to content

🌷Happy Easter! Save 10% on MediaLight and LX1 bias lights with code SPRING10. We are open as usual on Monday, April 6. 🌷

🌷Happy Easter! Save 10% on MediaLight and LX1 bias lights with code SPRING10. We are open as usual on Monday, April 6. 🌷

LX1 Bias Lighting Installation

Publishers of the Spears & Munsil Benchmark

🔧 Quick Start: LX1 Installation

  • Plan your route. Measure about 2 inches from the TV’s edge and decide if you’re going around 3 or 4 sides. If your TV has a ridge, step, or hump, don’t follow the contour—bridge it at roughly a 45° angle with a small air gap so the LEDs still face the wall evenly.
  • Start from the power end. Begin on the side closest to your USB or power source. Leave the corners slightly loose—don’t mash them down flat or you may tear the copper strip. If your corners look perfectly square, they’re probably too tight.
  • Power on & adjust. Connect to a 5V USB port only. Use the dimmer to set brightness and confirm that the glow is even. Never connect to 12V or higher. Some dimmers support 5–24V strips but do not convert voltage.

⚠️ The pure copper strips in your LX1 are excellent conductors of heat and electricity, but they are also very soft and can tear easily. Do not mash the corners flat — it’s best to leave them slightly loose to prevent tearing. If you’re unsure about your setup, please contact us — we’re happy to help.

✂️ Cutting the LX1 Strip

  • Cut only at the white cut lines. Thin white lines run across the strip at regular intervals. These lines mark the only places where you should cut.

LX1 cut line example

  • Always cut the end furthest from the power. If you cut the power end, the strip will not function.
  • Dry-fit first. Install the strip fully, power it on, and confirm placement before making any cuts.
  • Cut conservatively. Once cut, the removed section cannot be reattached.

Dimmer & Receiver Placement

  • Button dimmers: Can be placed anywhere convenient, including behind the display. Line of sight is not required.
  • IR remote dimmers: Require line of sight. The receiver only needs to protrude slightly beyond the edge of the TV and is usually not noticeable.

  • Clean placement options: Just under the bottom edge of the panel, near a lower corner, or tucked along the bezel while still facing forward.
  • Why not RF? We intentionally avoid radio-frequency remotes. RF dimmers can introduce interference, which is unacceptable for professional environments. The same standard applies to LX1.
Welcome to the LX1 installation page

Please only install one dimmer per MediaLight or LX1. They won’t work properly until additional dimmers are removed.

⚠️ Important: Regardless of what your à la carte dimmer supports, the LX1 operates strictly at 5 volts. Do not connect it to 12 V or 24 V power sources — doing so will permanently damage the strip.

Reduce the risk of damage to your new LX1 by reading this guide and watching the installation video below. (If your LX1 is damaged during installation, it is covered under the 2-Year LX1 Warranty.)

Optimizing LED Strip Corner Installation

To ensure the longevity and performance of your bias lighting system, we are updating our recommended cornering techniques. While various methods exist, our experience indicates that the following two approaches maintain the highest level of structural integrity without impacting the accuracy or shape of the light surround. By adopting these methods, you can help ensure the long-term reliability of the copper circuitry.

Method #1: The Gradual Turn This approach involves distributing the turn across two pre-existing notches in the strip. By creating two 45° angles rather than a single sharp bend, the strip maintains a slightly rounded profile. This reduces mechanical tension on the internal components while preserving the precise alignment of the LEDs for an optimal surround effect.


Method #2: The Loose Loop: The "loose loop" method is particularly effective when using alternative adhesives, such as nano tape, or if you anticipate the need for future removal. In this configuration, the corner of the strip is not pressed directly against the display. This "floating" corner provides maximum flexibility and eliminates potential strain on the copper without affecting the quality of the light output.

Revised Guidance for Cornering

We are revising our previous guidance to prioritize the long-term durability of our product. While a sharp, 90° fold will be perfectly fine in most installations, it can introduce unnecessary stress on the flexible copper strip. In a small percentage of cases, less than 1% from warranty repair experience, this stress can lead to micro-tears that may take years to manifest.

We have included a red "X" over the 90° fold image to ensure it is not mistaken for our current recommended instructions. However, it is important to note that using a 90° fold is not a violation of the installation instructions and will not impact your warranty.

By utilizing the Gradual Turn or Loose Loop methods, you virtually eliminate the risk of tearing the corner. These updated techniques provide the same high-quality lighting experience while potentially improving the physical longevity of your installation.

This is why we no longer recommend the harsh 90-degree turn as our first choice. While it will be fine 99 times out of 100, we believe that if we can reduce the risk of damage towards zero, we should. Of course, we will continue to repair or replace any damage under warranty, as always. This is simply an effort to help avoid unnecessary damage and ensure your setup remains perfect for years to come.

LX1 does not include an adapter, extension cable, wire clips, or dimmer. These are sold separately.

If your display has uneven surfaces (OLED humps, recessed panels), bridge gaps at roughly a 45° angle rather than following the contour to maintain an even halo.

Back of TV installation example

If any of this feels confusing, don’t worry. Contact us via chat and we’ll walk you through it. We’ll get your LX1 looking great.

Jason Rosenfeld
Scenic Labs
Makers of LX1 & MediaLight Bias Lighting
Publishers of Spears & Munsil Benchmark