Cheapest I've seen the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box so far. In stock on January 19, 2021.
CamelCamelCamel.
I do really like to look of these from the demo's I have seen, but the price of the sync + gradient strip just isn't palatable for me yet. I'll keep up with my Hue Play set behind the TV for now.
I have to agree with you on those points. Way too pricey for me and in all honesty, I wouldn't have it turned on for general TV watching. Whereas the Hue Play is used for all sorts of TV/movie watching. I've got 4 Play bars and it still cost me considerably less than what a Sync Box set up would cost me.
Yeah the other downer for me is its so expensive yet is already obsolete with HDMI 2.1
Unfortunately you cannot sync the Hue Play with TV/PS5 etc without this box. I know you can route it through a computer/laptop but not quite practical.
Is there ANY device (apart from a computer) that you can sync to without this device?
@pizzaguy: NVIDIA Shield (or any Android TV) running Hue Stream as long as not using HDCP content (i.e. no Netflix, Amazon, but can work with Plex) and doesn't currently support 4K or HDR
@fredskis: Seems to work for me with Plex and 4K/HDR content, though it doesn't seem to scale properly (it never gets as bright as SDR content)
@j33prong: Interesting, I wonder if that's a recent change. Last time I checked maybe 6 months ago my 4K stuff didn't work and I remember reading that was an existing limitation but I can't find mention of it anywhere now.
I'll check my media next time I'm watching 4K content!
Yeah I know, and that's totally fine with me. The Hue Play is 100% acceptable for my needs.
Don't you need the sync box for the TV? Thought the syncing was only for PC without the Synx Box?
I have the Hue Play bars set up with my TV as bias lights only i.e. not for syncing with what's on screen.
The lights will only change with the colours on the TV screen if you have a philips ambilight tv or one of these sync boxes.
On pc you can use an app for it to work.
Unfortunately as others have pointed out this won't work very well with new ps5 and xbox consoles.
If the price for this is too much, and you're into a bit of DIY, you can make your own.
Do a search on YouTube for Hyperion.
Basic parts needed:
There's also a few ambilight kits on aliexpress. Not as cheap as buying the individual parts yourself, but less hassle as they come pre-configured.
Oh wow - I didnt know that and I have 3/4 parts sitting right in front of me!
Looked up a couple videos and it seems they use Arduinos, do you have one you recommend as I am a bit lost?
EDIT: Planing to use it for PC only, some videos say you wont need a hdmi splitter/capture card although they go more into detail for devices such as consoles/media players
If you are using Philips hue stuff on a pc you dont need this sync box.
Just the lights and the hue Bridge. The free hue app on the pc does what this box is designed to do for tvs
I've only just started researching it recently.
I believe Arduinos were used for an older method, which split hdmi into RCA.
The following video uses the equipment I specified above:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_sO0yikwrs
I haven't looked into a PC-only method, although if you did do that, you'd need something to send 5-12V to the LEDs and also something to send a data signal along a wire.
Get better value for money. Buy a Nvidia Shield and install the Hue sync app. You got lights and a video player for your money.
I've done something similar - install the Hue Essentials app on the new Google Chromecast and it seems to work pretty well (especially in Plex)
hue essentials doesn't sync when I stream in any other app, did you face anything like that?
Yeah it doesn't work with DRM protected apps like Netflix or Prime unfortunately. This is where the sync box would be handy! It works fine on Plex so I'm happy with that for now.
Will the lights work in sync with the screen through the nvidea shield and with a console?
Not without something like the HDMI Sync Box this deal is about. There's no way for the Shield to know what the console is outputting. The sync box physically sits between your inputs and your TV so it can decode the image and gather colour/lighting information from it to pass to the Hue bridge before sending the signal to the TV
Still bloody expensive for what it is.
I already have numerous hue lights that i previously had hooked upto my pc. Having to shell out for this ontop of the phillips box and several lights is hard to justify
I personally don't even understand the desire to have lights changing in sync with the content on TV. Why? It would just be bloody distracting with the lighting changing constantly.
Once you've seen it in action, you can't go back. Especially with the gradient LED strip!
It's is definitely pleasant to watch and not distracting, but the cost with the sync box and lights is just stupid.
And instead of pushing all this crap to market Philips need to go back to the drawing board and build a hub that doesn't max out at 50 lights and 12 accessories so we actually buy their products. Pretty poor for a company that charges a premium for their gear.
The hub is only needed for the wifi lights. Some of the newer ones have Bluetooth and setup via a phone app.
You'd assume that would mean limitless lights, but I know the Bluetooth protocol will conk out if there's more than like 8 devices (aka Switch) in a room, and not sure if they connect to the Play box (unless it has a BT receiver?).
Huh? Philips Hue uses Zigbee, not WiFi, hence the reliance on the hub.
Newer lights also support Bluetooth as well as Zigbee but the experience of using them without a hub is worse because you can't automate things nor link them up to entertainment zones.
From what I gather, the Bluetooth functionality is there to get people into the system without shelling out for the bridge then eventually "upgrading" to the bridge anyway to get the rest of the features.
@fredskis: I believe the latest model Bluetooth colour bulbs have also been upgraded in terms of richer/deeper colours. Haven’t tested this though.
I didn't realise that you can only sync one entertainment zone at a time per hub which makes sense but sucks :(
What's the problem with that limitation? You can have bulbs/lights in multiple entertainment zones so just make one that encompasses both zones you want the sync box to work with? I guess the limitation would be the 10 bulbs per zone? (I think that's a limitation anyway)
The worse thing is Philips have said there is no plans to upgrade the hub to handle more lights.
mmm tempted ….but, i might go $499 in Australia, because if something goes wrong, going to be hard getting it back
How so? You're purchasing through Amazon AU.
JBHI
I find all the different conditions discussed above, RE HDMI 2.1, DRM, what if the source is the tv, then theres no HDMI in to plug into?, all that stuff confusing.
So, I opted for something on amazon that doesn't use HDMI it uses a camera mounted on top of your tv. It's not perfect colour reproduction, but it means I don't have to think about all those issues mentioned annnd its cheaper. Pretty happy with it. Now when the lights are off, the TV feels smaller.
are you talking about this kind of thing? https://www.amazon.com/Backlights-Govee-Compatible-Lighting-…
Yes. Looks like you found it for cheaper. This is the one I got
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07JKVKZX8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_f…
I don't understand the purpose of the camera. Why does this need a camera pointing at all the time you to actually work?
Pity it's Alexa only :-( I'm tied into Google Assistant only.
@KangaDrew: The one I ordered works with Google too.
The camera provides the tv screen colour information, telling the lights what colour to be to match what's on screen .
There are other modes too like music, which beats with the sounds.
Or you can cycle a set of colours in different patterns, or just have one colour.
Also, I just want to mention, I ended up buying a USB extension cable for this as the one provided feels a little short. It might be fine on your own tv setup.
@telljoolz: But if the camera is facing at the viewer, how is that picking up what's on screen? I feel like I am missing something here, sorry! lol
@KangaDrew: The camera records the screen and interprets the colours from there, instead of reading the video stream directly off cable. Pro: works on any content including DRM Netflix & Prime. Con: not as accurate as reading the video stream, and you need a camera stuck on top of the TV.
@KangaDrew: It doesn't have any HDMI capability - the camera watches the screen, to control the light colour. This way it's compatible with everything - if there's a picture on your screen, it can see it.
It doesn't require either Alexa or Google Assistant.
@Nom: But how does the camera watch the screen if it's facing you? It looks like the camera is pointed at/faces the viewer, so how is it picking up what's on screen when it's not aimed at the screen?
@Daddy: Ahhhh OK that makes sense then, cheers. The images I saw made it look like the camera was facing out, to whoever is watching it… which clearly made no sense lol
I’m invested in the Philips Hue ecosystem, so I got the HDMI Sync box and Gradient light strip fully working with Dolby Vision and Dolby ATMOS.
Primary signal is Apple 4K tv > HDMI sync box (HDMI 2) > Sony 9000H (HDMI 4) > Sony 9000H (HDMI3 ARC) > Sonos Arc
All cables Tersely 8K 1m length.
Before you start down this path, google Hue Sync problems… Some lessons I learnt:
The Sync box needs Dolby Vision to drive the colour changes, your TV must have it
The cable that came with the Sync box was before they firmware updated to Dolby Vision (on HDMI ports 2 & 4 only) - replace it
Update the 9000H firmware and use HDMI port 4
The Apple TV switches AV formats in depending on what it is seeing on the daisy chain. It gives a good hint as to the quality/bandwidth of your cables.
When it works, it is AMAZING, now I wish I had bought the biggest screen. Everyone who sees it, wants it.
![[Backorder] Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box Surround Lighting $332.35 + Delivery (Free w/ Prime) @ Amazon US via Amazon AU](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/97/596297.jpg?h=3f9e959d)
Ooh this is so so so tempting. It's so expensive for what it is though but a good deal (RRP $499).