Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Field Evaluate with Signe Gradient Flooring Lamp & Gradient Lightsrip | Tech Lance

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I’ve just lately expanded my vary of Philips Hue sensible lighting in my TV room with Gradient Lightstrip and Gradient Signe Flooring Lamp. The one piece lacking from the system has been the HDMI sync field which permits me to sync something on the TV to my lighting.

specs

• 4 HDMI inputs
• HDMI: 2.0b with HDCP 2.2
• Video decision:
• HDR:
• infrared receiver
• ACC: sure
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n/ 2.4GHz
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2 for set up with WIFI

Compatibility: can it play 4K and Dolby Imaginative and prescient?

When it launched, it did not help Dolby Imaginative and prescient or 120Hz refresh charges, but it surely did have help for 4K 60Hz and HDR10+.

A current replace has enabled Dolby Imaginative and prescient. It additionally enabled a 120Hz refresh price, however as a result of bandwidth limitation in HDMI 2.0b, it could possibly’t do 4K 120Hz. For those who’re a PC gamer, this should not be an enormous deal as you should utilize the HDMI Sync app proper in your Home windows PC, however avid gamers with consoles like PS5 and Xbox One X should determine in the event that they wish to. 4K or 120Hz.

Not suitable with Sensible TV apps (requires set-top field/streaming system)

The sync field works by sampling the information that’s handed by means of HDMI, and due to this fact all the things you see must be despatched by means of the field.

Subsequently, the synchronization perform won’t work with any software that performs immediately on the TV. It additionally will not work for any system plugged immediately into the TV. For instance, some individuals could have a console just like the PS5 plugged immediately into the TV and use HDMI Arc to feed the audio again to a sound bar or receiver. On this state of affairs, it won’t work.

Setting

The sync field setup is a bit totally different than most Philips Hue units. To get began, use a unique app known as Hue Sync. It then has Bluetooth for the setup course of, however then connects through 2.4Ghz WiFi.

Utilizing Bluetooth simplifies this, because it permits you to keep away from the difficult technique of connecting to an open WiFi SSID to cross your work particulars, and you do not have to be on the identical SSID (when you maintain your 2.4Ghz separate like I do).

The field will then replace itself, which takes a couple of minutes, and then you definitely’ll must pair it with the Hue bridge. It will will let you view and management your numerous Hue lights.

leisure space

Earlier than you possibly can management your lights, it’s worthwhile to create an leisure space. That is totally different from regular rooms and zones as you possibly can place the lights in relation to your TV and seating place, permitting the sync field to precisely map the lights to what’s in your TV.

Software Settings

Inside the settings part, there are some things you are able to do to enhance your total expertise, together with:

• Voice Management – Management the sync field with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
• Distant management: The sync field has an infrared receiver and you may assign buttons on the TV distant to regulate the sync field.
• Automated Management – All of those choices are enabled by default. The primary one for me is the CEC management which permits the sync field to activate/off if you flip in your TV. For me, the Nvidia Protect distant wakes up my TV, receiver, and sync field.
  • Alternatively, you should utilize a USB cable between the sync field and the TV’s USB port to detect energy on/off
• For those who use HDMI ARC or Dolby Imaginative and prescient, chances are you’ll wish to allow ARC bypass and DV enhanced compatibility

On the primary web page of the sync field, you could have fundamental management over the lights. You possibly can choose whether or not you are syncing films, music or video games, then the depth of the modifications and the general brightness.

In use: works with Netflix

The sync field works precisely as I might hoped, with my lights intelligently syncing with all of the content material on my TV. Nvidia Protect acknowledges help for Dolby Imaginative and prescient, and in contrast to the free Hue Sync app, it really works with DRM-based content material like Netflix and Disney.

It is also a lot simpler to make use of than the Hue Sync app. Setting all of the lights and beginning the sync characteristic is less complicated to make use of and I discover the general efficiency to be higher.

You need to manually begin the pairing course of inside the app or use an assigned button in your distant or voice management. I like the truth that it’s worthwhile to do that as there isn’t any want in your lights to sink to Bake Off. I strictly restrict myself to the massive films and video games.

My setup may use some work to enhance efficiency. In the mean time, the TV is not wall-mounted, so the reflection from the playback bars and gradient mild strip is much less intense than I might like.

I watched the funds motion film Blackout on Netflix the primary time I attempted the sync field. With the settings turned all the way in which up, the general impact might be fairly distracting, particularly throughout motion sequences.

Enjoying the Summary Liquid 4K video on YouTube offered a superb instance of how lights change based mostly on display screen content material. I feel the Signe Gradient Flooring Lamp does a very spectacular job of monitoring the blues, greens and reds at totally different positions of the lamp in relation to the content material on the TV.

Extra management over the lights can be good. I moved my TV again a bit to enhance the efficiency of the sunshine strip and playback bars, however it will be good to have the ability to decrease the lamp and bulb settings whereas leaving the lights on the again of my TV up. .

I could find yourself separating the ground lamp and bulb and leaving them at one static colour whereas having the playbars and light-weight strip set to the best setting.

I have not dedicated to a brand new console but as I haven’t got numerous time to play, however taking part in Spiderman on the PS4 was a enjoyable expertise, with the Hue lights matching the content material.

When you have a celebration, it’s also doable to synchronize the lights along with your music. Nevertheless, that is simply executed by streaming from a laptop computer and utilizing the Hue Sync desktop app, bypassing the necessity for the HDMI field.

different choices

For those who’re utilizing Philips Hue lighting, the 2 different choices can be the Hue Sync desktop app or the Hue Stream Android app.

The Hue Sync desktop app clearly requires a PC to run, however aside from that, it is free to make use of and the most effective answer for PC avid gamers.

Hue Stream is sweet contemplating it is free, however efficiency is not that nice and it would not work with Netflix.

Worth

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Field is at present £230, but it surely was as little as £190 on Amazon in August.

Like my different current Philips Hue opinions, this one is unquestionably priced on the greater finish of the spectrum, but it surely’s a distinct segment product with little or no competitors.

Normal

The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Field is great and works precisely as marketed. You find yourself with a Philips Ambilight impact, and even higher when you sync a lot of lights. It is a area of interest, luxurious purchase, however that is true of numerous Philips Hue gear.

Whereas my TV room is not a high-end setup, it is nonetheless value hundreds of AV items of apparatus, and spending a couple of hundred extra on lighting that may improve the expertise is not a lot of an funding by comparability.

For me, the complete Hue ecosystem has appeared fairly addictive, it is simply the most effective sensible lighting answer earlier than you begin entering into high-end skilled choices.

Contemplating the excessive value, it is a bit disappointing that Philips Hue wasn’t faster to replace this with the newer HDMI 2.1 ports, which might permit it to work with [email protected] and make it rather more engaging to console avid gamers.

Final up to date on 2022-10-16 / Affiliate Hyperlinks / Amazon Product Promoting API Pictures