Verdict
Taking the input from all of your amusement outfit , the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K tracks the on - cover action and then synchronise your Hue lights with it . With support for 8 kB at 60Hz and 4 K at 120Hz , every mod gimmick is put up the right way . It might be expensive , but the additional air it bring is well deserving it .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The 2nd multiplication of its amusement syncing box , the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K adds 8 super C TV keep and 4 K supporting up to 120Hz , making it compatible with the latest biz consoles and PCs .
As with the original , this boxful is project to synchronize your Hue lights with the onscreen action , bringing entertainment beyond the boob tube concealment . It works brilliantly , and I found it more honest than the original box seat .
Design and Features
The Philips Hue toy HDMI Sync Box 8 K look very similar to its predecessor and looks much like a standard HDMI substitution . This one has an HDMI 2.1 yield that should link up to your idiot box / monitor / projector , and four HDMI 2.1 inputs .
That ’s a big upgrade from the olderPlay HDMI Sync Box , which had HDMI 2.0 ports only , limiting 4 K to 60Hz . With HDMI 2.1 , there ’s 8 K support at 60Hz , plus 4 K and below at 120Hz . The unexampled box seat is amply specced and quick for Dolby Vision out - of - the - box rather than as a subsequent microcode upgrade .
instal the box is easy . sprain it on and couple it with the Hue app , and then keep up the program line to add together it to your Wi - Fi web .
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K controls your Hue lights using the Hue Bridge , which talks to the luminousness using Zigbee ; if you do n’t have a Bridge , the box wo n’t work .
After that , it ’s a matter of creating Entertainment zone , which lie of the light that you require the box to control . you could create multiple Entertainment zones , letting you hunt down multiple Sync Box twist , move the Sync Box around or simple use different light depend on whether you ’re gaming or not .
For received Hue lightness , you need to watch over the simple apparatus procedure to place the light in relative to the screen you ’re using , including location and height . That lets the Sync box seat accurately check the on - filmdom social movement with where the lights are situate .
There ’s also the option of video represent slope lightstrips for larger TVs ( 55- , 65- and 75 - inch reading available ) , which link to the back of your video act a chip like Ambilight does on Philips video .
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K can be set up to automatically change over input , and to start synchronize with light source mechanically .
If you do n’t wish this theme , then you’re able to use the app to switch comment , or you’re able to program your TV remote to operate the Sync Box via its IR stimulation on the front .
There ’s also a push button on the front that cycles through the HDMI inputs in ordering . That ’s handy at a push , but it would have been easier if Philips had just clump a small dedicated remote restraint .
Synchronisation has three modes : Video , Music and Game . And there ’s a a choice of four intensity mode and you may aline brightness . It ’s worth playing with all of these scene to get the fashion that you like the best , ground on what you ’re doing .
I had some issues with the original boxwood , where it would sometimes melanize the concealment out for a few seconds before coming back to life , but the new box did n’t do that and seemed more dependable . Running the latest HDMI standard obviously helps .
HDMI eARCis digest , provided the equipment you ’re plug into is hooked up to HDMI 4 . In my case , I did n’t demand to do this , as I used the eARC porthole on my tv set to connect directly to theSonos Arc .
The only real limitation is that the Philips Hue wreak HDMI Sync Box 8 K only works with devices that have an HDMI input , and you wo n’t get synchronize lights if you apply your idiot box ’s work up - in apps .
Performance
The overall experience with the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K is like to that with the original corner . As the box decipher the HDMI sign , it can utterly cope with light color with the source . This is especially detectable with the Gradient brightness around the screen .
These go from subtly expanding what ’s on the screenland to intensifying explosions and flash in legal action films .
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K works brilliantly with standard Hue luminosity , too . I also sic the system up in my office , and used it for gaming at 4K/120Hz from my PC . I played the porta of The Last of Us Part 1 .
Walking around at the start , it ’s incredible how much item the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K adds to the game , even in subtle ways . For example , there ’s a bedside lamp in the bedroom . turn around , my Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp would light up to match the proportional emplacement of the lamp to my character .
My Hue Centris light added deeper core , tot up atmosphere , such as when driving past the burning menage in the opening car scene .
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Should you buy it?
If you ’ve got chromaticity light in the same way as your TV or projector , the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8 K is a great way to add atmosphere to films and game .
If you do n’t have Hue light already , this is an expensive manner to add interactive lights to your television set or PC . For gamers , theGovee AI Gaming Sync BoxKit might make more sense .
Final Thoughts
It ’s expensive , but the Philips Hue encounter HDMI Sync Box 8 K is a splendid add on for anyone with Hue lights that want to interject a bit more fervor into their entertainment . And , it ’s a great HDMI shift box in its own rightfield , too . It ’s far easier to set up and more accurate than the rivalGovee Immersion Kit Wi - Fi TVBacklight + Light Bars , which use a webcam to take in what ’s on cover .
The original Philips Hue diddle HDMI Sync Box is still available and is slimly cheesy , but I recommend the a la mode version as it has modern HDMI porthole .
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Unlike other site , we try every voguish home mathematical product we review soundly over an extended menstruation of time . We practice industry standard mental testing to compare feature decent . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
This box will work with any HDMI gimmick that break through the box ; it does n’t work with a idiot box ’s integrated apps .
The corner connects to the Hue ’s Bridge and controls the lights flat from that .
