# The EASIEST way to create a Custom Ambilight Setup: Complete Guide Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_hejZCOB9o Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/H_hejZCOB9o Generated: 2025-11-27T14:35:58.575+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The easiest way to create a custom ambilight setup involves using the FancyLEDs WS2814 RGBW strip lights connected to a Fancy Sync Box, which offers superior customizability and density (96 LEDs/meter) compared to proprietary options like Govee, allowing for precise control over color matching and ambient backlighting effects. **Key Points:** - The custom ambilight setup uses FancyLEDs WS2814 light strips, which feature 96 LEDs per meter, providing higher density than the Govee 60/m strips. - The creator builds a wooden frame structure behind the TV mount to hide wires and mount the LED strips vertically for a custom wall-washing effect. - The FancyLEDs strips connect via a USB-C plug to the Fancy Sync Box, which supports up to 4K 120Hz and features an Auto Low Latency Mode. - The setup utilizes Wago connectors to safely join the TV's power supply wires (running behind the wall) with the LED strip wires. - The vertical accent lights are installed using 1x2x8 wood pieces screwed into studs, which also serve as mounting points for the LED diffusers. - The video demonstrates using the FancyLEDs app to configure the LED strip orientation (bottom right corner start) and adjust color parameters for an accurate ambient light match to the screen content. - The completed setup includes ambient backlighting behind the TV and illuminated media console cabinets, creating an immersive viewing environment. ![Screenshot at 01:04: The creator uses a stud finder to locate studs behind the blue painter's tape outline, ensuring secure mounting for the TV bracket without relying on drywall anchors.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/H_hejZCOB9o/00-01-04.png) **Context:** The creator demonstrates how to build a highly customized ambient lighting (ambilight) setup for a large TV in a home theater space, contrasting their DIY approach using addressable RGBW LED strips with commercially available alternatives. The project involves electrical wiring, carpentry for hidden cable management, and configuration using a dedicated app to achieve precise color synchronization with the on-screen content. ## Detailed Analysis The video details the process of creating a custom ambilight setup, favoring DIY components for superior control and density over off-the-shelf solutions. The creator first prepares the TV mounting area by measuring the space (41-42), painting the walls white (22-24), and mounting the TV bracket (16-19). A key structural step involves attaching 1x2x8 wood pieces vertically to the studs (42-47) to serve as mounting points for custom vertical LED diffuser channels. For the ambient lighting, the creator uses FancyLEDs WS2814 strips (96 LEDs/meter), noting they offer higher density and customizability than the Govee 60/m strips (3:56-4:04). The USB-C powered Fancy Sync Box (1:50-2:03) connects to the TV's HDMI Out port (1:07). The LED strips are cut and soldered (5:43-6:20) to run around the back of the TV, with the wires routed through custom raceways hidden behind the baseboard (7:45-8:28) toward the sync box location. The wiring connecting the LED strips to the sync box power/data lines is managed using Wago connectors (7:27-7:43). Finally, the creator sets up the vertical accent lighting using aluminum profiles with diffusers (4:58-5:05) and connects the LED strips to the sync box via custom wiring. The app configuration is crucial: setting the LED strip starting corner (15:14) and adjusting color parameters (16:33) ensures the ambient light perfectly mirrors the screen content, as demonstrated with dynamic scenes (17:14-17:58). ### TV Mounting Prep - Measuring the wall space (0:37-0:43) - Marking the TV outline with blue painter's tape (0:52-0:58) - Attaching the EchoGear TV mount bracket (1:07-1:11) - Hanging the TV and confirming placement (1:41-1:49) ### Custom Vertical Lighting Installation - Cutting 1x2x8 wood pieces to secure vertically into studs (4:23-4:35) - Attaching aluminum diffuser channels to the wood strips using double-sided tape (4:49-4:54) - Running the LED strip along the vertical channels after cutting to fit (7:00-7:04) ### Wiring and Sync Box Setup - Soldering the custom USB-C power cable to the FancyLED strip (5:57-6:20) - Connecting power and data wires from vertical strips and TV backlight using Wago connectors (7:26-8:01) - Hiding wires using baseboard raceways and securing the sync box behind the TV (9:46-11:08) ### Media Console Lighting - Installing FancyLED strips inside and underneath the IKEA media console (11:56-12:28) - Connecting the console lights to the sync box (12:24-12:28) ### Final Configuration and Results - Connecting the Nvidia Shield to HDMI 1 on the sync box (12:30-12:35) - Configuring LED orientation in the FancyLED app based on the strip placement (15:11-15:37) - Final demonstration showing synchronized lighting with a movie (17:14-17:58) and game content (17:45-17:54) ![Screenshot at 0:04: Close-up view of the FancyLEDs WS2814 light strip reel, detailing specifications like 96 LEDs per meter and 12V rating.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/H_hejZCOB9o/00-00-04.png) ![Screenshot at 0:43: The creator holds a hand-drawn diagram mapping out the desired placement of the TV and associated equipment on the wall.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/H_hejZCOB9o/00-00-43.png) ![Screenshot at 1:15: The creator attaches the TV mounting plate to the back of the large Sony Bravia TV, noting the importance of correct alignment for the final hang.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/H_hejZCOB9o/00-01-15.png) ![Screenshot at 4:36: The creator uses a drill and a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig to pre-drill holes in the 2x4 wood pieces used for mounting the vertical LED diffusers.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/H_hejZCOB9o/00-04-36.png) ![Screenshot at 15:14: The FancyLED app interface showing the LED Strip Starting Corner selection, where the user selects the bottom-right orientation for the TV backlight strip.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/H_hejZCOB9o/00-15-14.png)