@Justin_tech - do you have any thoughts on mounting the gradient lightstrip behind a 100" projection screen? Have you seen this done? I have the 75" lightstrip on my 75" television and am currently planning an upgrade to an ultra short throw projector with either a 90" or 100" screen. I know that the lightstrip can be installed onto 85" displays if set back from the edges of the display. I have an idea as to how the lightstrip can be mounted, and what I will try, but would love to see how others have done this. My idea - build a 16x9 frame from 2x2" to the inside dimension of where my lightstrips are currently mounted. Mount my lightstrips to the outside of the 2x2 frame, and mount the frame to the wall (centered to where my screen will be), and then devise a way to mount the screen (90-100") to the frame. Think it may work? Have you seen it done? Have any other ideas? Care to do a video on this (for projection screens)?
Covee is just not as great as hue (i tested out both) imo the colors of hue product are more accurate and have somehow a more beautifull dept color pallet. but if you don't care about syncing lights from your tv, covee is the best alternative after hue. the have great products like always you have two type of consumers, one find price more important , the other like quality, if you like quality you need to find patience. it's not that anybody who like hue buy all these bulbs at once, most expand them over time. expensive? YES. worth it? hell yeah.
So... $240 for the light, $60 for the bridge, and $230 for the Sync box. That's $530 before tax which, in my area, would add another $45... so roughly $575. Wow. That's ridiculously expensive for a light on the back of a TV. In fact, that's probably about 25% of the cost of most "nice" TVs right now.
Nothing on OLED prices and if you already have 3/4 of the stuff, then it's not an issue for people alredy in the ecosystem. The fact is this is the most seamless and cheaper option if you consider buying serval light to get a similar effect. Obviously cheaper options exist, but they don't come close. Besides, some people literally spend a grand on a phone so...you know lol.
@@pudgysquid817 It's actually a fair assumption if you're remotely familiar with hue, or even Sonos, for that matter. Sure, it may be a bit if a put off, but it's an ecosystem regardless and that extends to more than just the lights.
@Pudgy Squid While you can certainly get a very nice TV for around $1,000 these days, nothing on the market comes with back-lighting like this. This is a luxury item meant to take home entertainment to an unnecessary level. There are plenty of people who spend well beyond $1,000 for their setup; especially once you factor in receivers, speakers and gaming rigs. For someone who has $10,000 or even $5,000 invested, this is a drop in the bucket for what it adds to the experience. Also, I'd agree with Skreamies... there are a lot of people (myself included) who already own Hue products. But even if you don't, this solution actually makes it far more affordable, easier to implement and provides better results vs the previous options. To get the same effect you'd have to have 7 bulbs or light bars behind the TV; that would be at least $250 MORE and look like complete shit. If you're at the point where you're adding smart lighting to the back of your TV, this is a no-brainer
Hi Justin, quick question. if my TV is sitting on a tv stand but not right against the wall will this gradient light still work ok? My tv sits in the corner like on a corner unit so it’s close to the walk but not against it like you see in a lot of these videos. Thanks
I recently discovered that the Philips gradient strip and sync box only work with HDMI input content, which means built-in TV apps won't be compatible-only external devices like a Fire TV Stick or Apple TV will work. It's surprising that Justin didn't mention this in his review.
I remember when I got my sync box and set up my light strip. The first thing I did was put on Star Wars TROS and the scene where Kijimi was blown up was amazing. The transition of blues and red was phenomenal. Now that there’s the Hue gradient, it’s only gonna look 10 times better! Well... 7 times better 🙃
like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, th-cam.com/users/postUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....
price doesn't always mean technically sound. Philips hue is expensive but it has lasted 10 years in my home. There's some things that make sense to smartify but Bose always was hit/miss with third party integrations. Your Smart Home setup sounds slick. Keep at it!
Now that I think of it, I paid $1100 for my Philip Hue TV Entertainment setup. 65" Gradient $250 6 Play Bars $450 1 Sync Box $230 2 E12 Bulbs $100 S/o to PayPal 4 payments. I was able to split the payments in the course of 6 weeks.
I've had the enjoyment of ambient lighting for over 4 years with the discontinued DreamScreen HD/4K. Nevertheless, I'll make the transition to the Hue Sync for the ease of use and integration with rest of my Hue lighting.
I also have the DreamScreen HD. I think overall, it’s better than the Hue system because the bottom edge of the TV screen is illuminated. And the entire 55” kit cost me about $250 if I remember correctly. As you mentioned, the DreamScreen company is no more...and my system is starting to shut itself off mid movie. So, I will be keeping my eyes on Hue and hoping for improvements to their current TV ambient lighting systems.
@@brianpaine1749 Without a doubt, the DreamScreen was superior… More accurate lighting zones! Nevertheless, with the Hue system, you can add play bars or the gradient tube to the bottom for the 360 experience. If you live in Europe/Asia, you can buy the Phillip’s Ambilight TV.
I think Phillips should launch extension like hue light strips And discontinue led light strips from hue this is much better if it can be extended (10-15 meters ) So this can be used as other areas also
@@Rewelsworld You can use the gradient strip without the sync box but it only functions like the regular strips meaning it only shows one color/temperature. With the sync box you can use the gradient function. However, Philips has said that they are going to update the app to allow the gradient feature without the sync box in the future.
You sounded so excited I love it! This is the best review I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much! Even with the high price it’s quality I may jump in in the future 🎶
You could just use the longer strip to loop round and fill the gap at the bottom with a couple of Velcro pads. I’m watching this on a 50in Ambilight TV 😜 but it’s cool that they’re finally bringing ambilight to all people. It really makes a difference for movies!
Its just the way how you attach the strips, and the distance between the tv and wall. To close the light range will be short, too far red colors fade. and ofcourse you u need a light colored wall for best effects, Dark absorbs light reflects light.
Thanks for the review. Since the gradient lightstrip will not support 120" projector screens, what is the recommendation folks have to get the best experience for this setup? We watch movies and play games with big sound and lots of explosions, lol. I'm putting in a home theater and have the hue sync box (but not tied to it if there are better options), I'm trying to make the experience as immersive as possible in the room and would like some feedback, what would you do?
Hue play bars are a great start and they are sold in packs of two. I also like the Signe lamps for in the corner. Check out our setup in this video: th-cam.com/video/PI650zkgxbU/w-d-xo.html
Hello Justin, I just got started with Hue products and i cannot stop and found your channel :) Thank you for the review! I guess the lightstrip will work fine with my new Samsung TV right?
What purpose does the hue bridge serve? Also, I know it needs to be plugged into your router directly, but it doesn’t have to be plugged into the tv? Cause the tv I want the light strip for is in my room and there’s no way to connect the bridge into my router and my tv.
Presumably, if you have a smaller than 55" tv, you could position the lightstrip so the top and sides aren't completely straight, to use up the excess length? Only having a few zones, this shouldn't affect the colour detection too much, if at all
Hey Justin. Once again great video from you. Only one question. Do I need the hdmi box in order to use the led light strip or I don’t need it ? Is necessary?? Thanks in advanced
Only necessary for syncing with the tv. Without it you can use it as one color or use the entertainment setups with iconnecthue. You could also use the Hue Sync app on Mac/PC. Watch my latest “gradient update” vid for the iconnecthue lighting. It’s pretty cool and no sync box required for multi color light
I think one of the first movies I would watch with hue's gradient light strip is interstellar. Btw great job with the video! I'm new to your channel but you just earned a new sub! :)
Can u set it up on an new TV ? Or is it to late - if u aldy used it on another TV? I mean can u take it of agin and set it on a driffrent tv ?? Thanks for the help!
I've being considering investing in this product since it got announced recently. Some time ago I invested in "cheaper" bias lighting system from another company which provides just an "ok" experience, but honestly for the price you couldn't argue too much. (But its inconsistencies of tracking colours on my TV and regular disconnects from my wifi have me frustrated) But this system has me really excited and will be the proper finishing touch to my multimedia set up. (I already have a great TV and surround sound system) But your review has totally confirmed my decision! Yes it will be expensive addition to my current set up. But I've already invested in a great system, and there is no point cheaping out at this point especially for the quality and reliability you will get from the Philips Hue system. Fantastic review and love the genuine excitement from your reviews! I have now subscribed and looking forward to seeing more future content and ideas of how improve my home lighting/automation ✌️ 😊
Ive got this and an entire smart house, its okay but not worth the price wait a little while and try and get it cheap in the black friday or january sales, it isnt worth it at the current price.
@@nessunday Thanks for the advice mate! Yeah that's the plan. The system overall is very expensive. Like the HDMI sync box alone is around £240/€270 I feel is a considerable amount of money you need to pay extra to have to buy to get it to work properly. Thankfully I already have the Hue bridge and some coloured lights to sync to it. But will definitely be waiting for Black Friday sales to see what discounts it gets before pulling the trigger. 👍
I currently have 2 dreamscreen 4ks for my TV (one as backup when the first dies) the colors on that strip are more vibrant and diverse than the gradient. Their led strip needs work. Unfortunately dreamscreen went out of business over a year ago. But did you know that that sync box you got right there is actually dreamscreen technology? Phillips bought out dreamscreen's technology and made their own (which im glad to see so when my setup finally fails me ill have this to get (and hopefully a better version by that time) Look up dreamscreen videos and youll see what I mean about more color
I had a bridge and was about to buy the Sync Box with some Hue Play lights, but its a good thing I took my time in doing so. I ended up buying the Sync Box and started using it with my HueGo (already owned) and lamps with Hue bulbs (moved in from the bedroom) to kick things off. Now I cant wait until this pre-order comes in.
The best way i see doing this for my 75" is to bring it in the middle because it seems like the light is bright enough. Make it close in as close as a full square as possible. Then just have my two play bars on the side.
Hi Justin for the UK! Just found your site after looking for the sync box and info and you came up! Great site and content and explanations. Just wanted to ask a question on the Gradient Strip? I have a 65in tv which is wall mounted with little space behind. To your knowledge If I purchased the largest size strip which would cover the back of the tv (curved tv forgot to mention) in a circle would the light strip work in delivering the lights all around the tv as it floats on a false wall? Cheers Chris.
Welcome to the channel! Unfortunately no, you cannot wrap it around the bottom of the TV. For the bottom I recommend one single color LED strip or 3 play bars.
@@Justin_tech Hi! Thanks for the welcome, and I did think as much. Play bars I have looked at but really no space... At the moment I do have the light strip around the back so I guess I could use that... Shame Though.. Thanks again and keep safe. Chris
The sync box does not support hdmi 2.1. So it’s already obsolete if you have a recent tv or are planning to get a next gen gaming console or pc graphics card (ps5, xbox series x or RTX30X0).
One question Justin: do you think the 55” size could fit on a 50” tv? I saw the length on philips official site and I’m asking myself if mounting it nearer the borders could work. 🤔 Thank you in advance and congratulations for your videos and channel! 😊
I think it will. Mine comes out to 44" on top and 21.5" on each side (with little wiggle room). According to the patherium theorem (a2 + b2 = c2) it will work on a 48.5 inch tv and up, maybe even smaller...
Nice review. I have 70 bulbs on 2 hubs and found an unfortunate limitation in that only 1 device or zone can be synced at a time. Either sync box or pc not both at same time even with 2 hubs. Sync box has been pretty rock solid for me.
How would this work with an AppleTV ? Any issues or concerns ? Or would I just plug in my AppleTV to the hue sync box before into my tv ? (FYI I alway have a sound bar via HDMI arc from my AppleTV)
I still think the price of the sync box has to come wayyyy down, then I might take a chance on it. For now, I feel like the novelty of the changing light effects might be more distracting than immersive. At the moment, I just use the app “OnSwitch” to match the mood of whatever it is I’m watching. For example, I use the preset “Cocktail Lounge” when I’m watching RuPaul’s Drag Race; lots of pinks, purples and blues. The colors morph slowly and aren’t distracting.
I've gotta say, I felt similarly before the gradient, but because of how great the output of the gradient is, and how smooth it looks, I'm on the bandwago for hue sync. I agree its a bit pricey...I wish they had a starter pack with he sync box and gradient strip!
I bought one of these and it's really cool. Shame it only has 5 zones. Since my TV is wall mounted it looks a bit weird that the wall on the bottom side is not lit. Can you make a video, where you showcase how it would look like and how it needs to be set up if we add some light bars there?
Great review however I can’t get it to work with my cable, it works with Apple TV and my game system do you have a solution to how to get it to work with normal cable? Thanks.
Your the best! I’m just get it my sync box yesterday.. and I love it !!! Thanks one more time Justin !! I’m doing my entertainment area following you!.! Ecuador is happy thanks to you!
I use a pc with a 32 inch monitor as my main (only entertainment system). I think buying a 55inch light strip will solve the bottom light problem, but will it work with just a pc? If yes, what else will I need?
so I have a 77" inch tv and don't care about the bottom, would 65 inch strip work well for that setup as long it covers the sides and top? appreciate it in advance
Anyone know if the 75 inch will work with an 86 inch tv? i reached out to philips and they said they actually recommend each strip to cover the size listed on the box and larger but im not sure if it will cover 10 inches larger lol TIA! never had any smart lighting before and really want this for the tv!
he mentioed they would put it on the 85 but it never went over how it went i guess i can do the play bars on the botton like suggested. wish you could put the light upside down as the wall mount leaves empty space on the bottom not the top
Hi will the light strip only work with devices using the hdmi play box? We have apps like Netflix/Prine/DisneyPlus built into the TV would these allow the light strip to react and work?
Hue sync works when it want sot. Mine has stopped working or synching to my TV. Love it when it worked. Customer service shipping me a new box. Hope it works.
That’s tough. The play bars could be a better option for that distance....but the gradient strip is much cheaper. Perhaps you could test the gradient and return if you are unhappy? The gradient shines at a 45 degree angle so it may have issues hitting your wall whereas the play bars are strong and direct.
i remember reading a review somewhere that dont buy a 55 strip for a 55 tv cause it will be short. Then i saw in your video it did not even cover the bottom on your 55 tv. is it not then better to buy 65 strip and cover the bottom on your 55 tv then?
I want to get the 55" Gradient Light Strip for my 34" ultra-wide monitor. But I'm unclear on the actual length of the strips. Is the actual light strip 55" in length, or does the 55" only represent the size of TV/Monitor it should fit? If the latter is true, how long is the actual light strip itself? I'd like to plan how to install/mount it to the monitor and if it will work given the size.
Hey Justin, is there a chance you can show us 4 Philips Hue Light bars at the back of the tv horizontal and vertical set up demonstration? Is it going to work like the gradient lightstrip? Thanks.
@@Justin_tech, What I’m trying to say is, if you don’t have a gradient light strip and you only have the hdmi sync, is having a 4 Light bar will do the job? 2 on top and 2 at the bottom. I tried searching TH-cam if there’s any video tried that combination. I’m hoping you can give it a try since you’re the only one I enjoyed watching any Philips hue eco system.
Do you know how an hue gradient lightstrip (not a play one) can be used in an entertainment area controlled by hue sync taking advantage of its gradient qualities? And not to be used as a common lightstrip? The same question but when using a tv with ambilight + hue ... how can you do so that the gradient lightsrip can be exploited with that quality and not act as a common Lightstrip?
Philips should soon release a new Sync Box with HDMI 2.1 since buying one right now has pretty much zero value to gamers who want to use this with their new consoles. Other than that this looks much better for a tv compared to the Play light bars, mildly disappointed it doesn't span across all 4 edges of the tv though.
Hey Justin. How are people mounting the play bars on back of the TV and speakers? I just ordered the entire set up and it doesn't come with options for mounting and hilios said they don't make anything to do so
Thanks for this video, I’ve pre-ordered mine and waiting for the shipment notification email. With regards to what ill be waiting as soon as Ive installed it, it’ll be rewatch of some of my fav. Movies just to experience them with colour. Thanks again.
lol, at about the 5:50 mark you clearly have mislabeled the settings! subtle is much more extreme and extreme is much more subtle xD that error aside, very good video! I will now definitely have to upgrade my tv bias lighting with this setup!
Hey Justin - great video. Quick question - I have a 42" mounted TV. Based on your review, did I understand correctly that I would not be able to use the 55' or 65' strip to cover the 4 corners of my TV? thank you!
Well now I have to get this 🤣🤣 but what to do with my 3 play bars. Also I have two of the desk bar lamps as rear surround lights. What did you do with your play bars Justin? As for movie the definitive demo is aquaman at 1h50m the underwater battle in Dolby vision.
Hi may I know if philips hue sync box works by directly connecting to Andriod TV? Or do I need something like a Firestick Nvidia Shield TV pro to connect to it?
Is it possible to remove and reuse the mounting plates when you decide to replace your TV, or is there a way to order a new set of mounting plates somewhere?
At the moment there’s no way to get just the plates (great idea, they should do this). I think you’ll be able to remove, but you may want to get more adhesive, like 3M command tape to reinstall.
Just wondering, u said its 44 inch along the top. Are u measuring that until the cable starts curving either side, so just the straight bit, or is that including the curve before going straight down, so measuring out above the curve? If u know what I mean. 😂
hi, i just bought the epson ls300 projector, i am planning on having a 120 inch screen. How can i have this lights on my screen? should i get 3 strips of the simple ones and some hue play on the bottom? what should I do? any help please
Do you think it’s worth it if i have the tv under window in a room? Do you think the light will come out great on the closed windows (so on the glass) at night? Thanks!
I'm curious if you think 30 inches away from a wall is to far for something like this? Where i live right now, i cant get my tv any closer to a wall, and have nowhere to mount to a wall. I have yet to get the sync box, but this makes me want to get one.
Thats tough...i would test it out with a hue lightstrip and see what happens. Remember the light shines at a 45 degree angle, so important to test that out.
Hey Justin - any special consideration in your assessment of mounting this to a 65" LG C9? I guess my question is, will it damage the glass since that's what it would be mounting to?
Nice review. Can you give us more imfo on the music mode? I've already pre-ordered mine and purchased a sync box. Now my setup goes like this: - tv / soundbar / caavo control center / tv receiver - ps4 - nintendo switch - kodi Where do I put the sync box? Between the soundbar and the caavo control center? Between the tv and the soundbar for the music mode? 🤔
Going to wait for a hdmi 2.1 version if they’ll even be one in the future that is, it’s a one time purchase for me something that cost this much I want it to be future proof from a while
Totally understandable! The gradient strip looks great with or without the sync box and you can use entertainment setups with it and apps like iconnecthue for multi-color with just a bridge
I wish they sent out the preorders as fast as the press copies. I preordered the day they announced... I have a 43 inch tv and bought the 55” strip. How should I set this up? My hue setup officially cost more than the tv so I will upgrade to a nice 55 inch eventually. But for now it’s mounted to the wall.
You may be able to adjust the placement to fit your tv and also curve the bottom of the sides just a bit to fit. Would be interested in seeing this done!
Hi Justin... I have a Philips Ambient TV so have this Ambient lighting built in to the TV on three sides, could I use one of these strips along the bottom? TV is mounted on the wall so as you say the bottom of the TV is dark, this would be a great fix! 😀
My first movie with the Gradient Lightstream will be "Man of Steel". I love this film and I'm sure it is going to deliver spectacular results. I have a 65 inch Samsung TV and I like Samsung's image quality. So I'm looking forward to the Gradient Lightstrip, BUT, the only thing that bothers me, is that the in-TV-Apps like Netflix and so on, are not going to work directly with the Sync Box. Are there any solutions already for that?
Having the same issue here, I just stream from my Playstation, the new Samsung OS is a bit buggy anyways (very often the apps crash cuz the TV ran out of memory) and you can take advantage of a consoles hardware for faster internet speeds and higher quality picture.
You can use it with the hue sync app on mac/PC. For this setup I’d recommend plugging into TV via HDMI for no lag. No smart tv. Hue sync box won’t work using smart tv and for the setup I just told you, it’s all about the Mac/pc anyway.
The 55” was avail in the US Philips Hue store today. The others have been becoming avail on and off over the last few weeks. Follow me on Twitter - I announce whenever they are back in stock!
Check out my other Hue Sync Vids:
Gradient Lightstrip Update - Tips & Tricks: th-cam.com/video/hODs0taUze0/w-d-xo.html
Hue HDMI Sync Box Review: th-cam.com/video/cBXqiqBbKL4/w-d-xo.html
@Justin_tech - do you have any thoughts on mounting the gradient lightstrip behind a 100" projection screen? Have you seen this done?
I have the 75" lightstrip on my 75" television and am currently planning an upgrade to an ultra short throw projector with either a 90" or 100" screen. I know that the lightstrip can be installed onto 85" displays if set back from the edges of the display.
I have an idea as to how the lightstrip can be mounted, and what I will try, but would love to see how others have done this.
My idea - build a 16x9 frame from 2x2" to the inside dimension of where my lightstrips are currently mounted. Mount my lightstrips to the outside of the 2x2 frame, and mount the frame to the wall (centered to where my screen will be), and then devise a way to mount the screen (90-100") to the frame.
Think it may work? Have you seen it done? Have any other ideas? Care to do a video on this (for projection screens)?
Would honestly buy this if it wasn’t so expensive.
Check out Govee Immersion, does a darn good job for a fraction of the price.
@@brandonmumm5223 I will thanks!
Covee is just not as great as hue (i tested out both) imo the colors of hue product are more accurate and have somehow a more beautifull dept color pallet.
but if you don't care about syncing lights from your tv, covee is the best alternative after hue. the have great products
like always you have two type of consumers, one find price more important , the other like quality, if you like quality you need to find patience. it's not that anybody who like hue buy all these bulbs at once, most expand them over time.
expensive? YES. worth it? hell yeah.
So... $240 for the light, $60 for the bridge, and $230 for the Sync box. That's $530 before tax which, in my area, would add another $45... so roughly $575. Wow. That's ridiculously expensive for a light on the back of a TV. In fact, that's probably about 25% of the cost of most "nice" TVs right now.
Nothing on OLED prices and if you already have 3/4 of the stuff, then it's not an issue for people alredy in the ecosystem. The fact is this is the most seamless and cheaper option if you consider buying serval light to get a similar effect. Obviously cheaper options exist, but they don't come close. Besides, some people literally spend a grand on a phone so...you know lol.
This is meant to add to the current eco system so the price for most will be just the light strip as they have the other things
Skreamies that is a big assumption. I don’t own any of the Hue lights so I would have to purchase all of it just to get started.
@@pudgysquid817
It's actually a fair assumption if you're remotely familiar with hue, or even Sonos, for that matter. Sure, it may be a bit if a put off, but it's an ecosystem regardless and that extends to more than just the lights.
@Pudgy Squid While you can certainly get a very nice TV for around $1,000 these days, nothing on the market comes with back-lighting like this. This is a luxury item meant to take home entertainment to an unnecessary level. There are plenty of people who spend well beyond $1,000 for their setup; especially once you factor in receivers, speakers and gaming rigs. For someone who has $10,000 or even $5,000 invested, this is a drop in the bucket for what it adds to the experience.
Also, I'd agree with Skreamies... there are a lot of people (myself included) who already own Hue products. But even if you don't, this solution actually makes it far more affordable, easier to implement and provides better results vs the previous options. To get the same effect you'd have to have 7 bulbs or light bars behind the TV; that would be at least $250 MORE and look like complete shit. If you're at the point where you're adding smart lighting to the back of your TV, this is a no-brainer
If I’m granted a loan to get one of these - is that called a *Hue Grant?* 🤔
OMG - Love that.
No it’s called a hue loan. If Phillips gave you free money it would be a hue grant.
Hi Justin, quick question. if my TV is sitting on a tv stand but not right against the wall will this gradient light still work ok? My tv sits in the corner like on a corner unit so it’s close to the walk but not against it like you see in a lot of these videos. Thanks
That'd be HUgE grant 😂
Classic.
I recently discovered that the Philips gradient strip and sync box only work with HDMI input content, which means built-in TV apps won't be compatible-only external devices like a Fire TV Stick or Apple TV will work. It's surprising that Justin didn't mention this in his review.
I remember when I got my sync box and set up my light strip. The first thing I did was put on Star Wars TROS and the scene where Kijimi was blown up was amazing. The transition of blues and red was phenomenal. Now that there’s the Hue gradient, it’s only gonna look 10 times better! Well... 7 times better 🙃
Woohoo!
like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, th-cam.com/users/postUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....
price doesn't always mean technically sound. Philips hue is expensive but it has lasted 10 years in my home. There's some things that make sense to smartify but Bose always was hit/miss with third party integrations. Your Smart Home setup sounds slick. Keep at it!
Now that I think of it, I paid $1100 for my Philip Hue TV Entertainment setup.
65" Gradient $250
6 Play Bars $450
1 Sync Box $230
2 E12 Bulbs $100
S/o to PayPal 4 payments. I was able to split the payments in the course of 6 weeks.
Hi, Any idea how much all of this will cost the average consumer mate, It would be cheaper to buy a new Phillips t/v
Great demo! Now if Philips can grasp the concept of restocking in order for customers to a actually buy one. This has become the PS5 of home lighting.
Been waiting for this!!! Thanks, Justin!
Yayy! I got you!
I've had the enjoyment of ambient lighting for over 4 years with the discontinued DreamScreen HD/4K. Nevertheless, I'll make the transition to the Hue Sync for the ease of use and integration with rest of my Hue lighting.
I also have the DreamScreen HD. I think overall, it’s better than the Hue system because the bottom edge of the TV screen is illuminated. And the entire 55” kit cost me about $250 if I remember correctly. As you mentioned, the DreamScreen company is no more...and my system is starting to shut itself off mid movie. So, I will be keeping my eyes on Hue and hoping for improvements to their current TV ambient lighting systems.
@@brianpaine1749
Without a doubt, the DreamScreen was superior… More accurate lighting zones! Nevertheless, with the Hue system, you can add play bars or the gradient tube to the bottom for the 360 experience. If you live in Europe/Asia, you can buy the Phillip’s Ambilight TV.
I think Phillips should launch extension like hue light strips
And discontinue led light strips from hue this is much better if it can be extended (10-15 meters )
So this can be used as other areas also
I bought today:
-bridge
-Gradient 55 inch
- Sync Box
:^)
Woohooo! Welcome to the club
Charles Leglreg is the sync box worth getting?
@@danielsetu965 if you want the lights sync with your TV, yes. Watching Movies or playing Videogames is going to be awesome.
Justin_tech is the synch box needed for this to work too expensive I’ll just go with Ambilight
@@Rewelsworld You can use the gradient strip without the sync box but it only functions like the regular strips meaning it only shows one color/temperature. With the sync box you can use the gradient function.
However, Philips has said that they are going to update the app to allow the gradient feature without the sync box in the future.
You sounded so excited I love it! This is the best review I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much! Even with the high price it’s quality I may jump in in the future 🎶
Hue are so welcome! :)
Could you buy the 75" and put it on a 55"? Would give a bit more coverage at the bottom.
It's possible. Comes down to measurements. This one may be close...
You could just use the longer strip to loop round and fill the gap at the bottom with a couple of Velcro pads.
I’m watching this on a 50in Ambilight TV 😜 but it’s cool that they’re finally bringing ambilight to all people. It really makes a difference for movies!
For that much money, I’d want all 4 edges lit up!!
Agreed. It needs improvement
@@bheleu021 yes
Its just the way how you attach the strips, and the distance between the tv and wall. To close the light range will be short, too far red colors fade.
and ofcourse you u need a light colored wall for best effects, Dark absorbs light reflects light.
Thanks for the review. Since the gradient lightstrip will not support 120" projector screens, what is the recommendation folks have to get the best experience for this setup? We watch movies and play games with big sound and lots of explosions, lol. I'm putting in a home theater and have the hue sync box (but not tied to it if there are better options), I'm trying to make the experience as immersive as possible in the room and would like some feedback, what would you do?
Hue play bars are a great start and they are sold in packs of two. I also like the Signe lamps for in the corner. Check out our setup in this video: th-cam.com/video/PI650zkgxbU/w-d-xo.html
Hello Justin, I just got started with Hue products and i cannot stop and found your channel :) Thank you for the review! I guess the lightstrip will work fine with my new Samsung TV right?
Welcome to the channel! :) I don't see why not!
What purpose does the hue bridge serve? Also, I know it needs to be plugged into your router directly, but it doesn’t have to be plugged into the tv? Cause the tv I want the light strip for is in my room and there’s no way to connect the bridge into my router and my tv.
Can’t wait to watch Disney/Pixar’s ‘Soul’ with these
Yessss. The movie was great!!
Is it suitable only for tvs or also as a cool lightstrip on a wall?
I have 65" inch TV on a stand so I only want the strips on the sides and top. What size strip would I have to purchase?
Presumably, if you have a smaller than 55" tv, you could position the
lightstrip so the top and sides aren't completely straight, to use up
the excess length? Only having a few zones, this shouldn't affect the
colour detection too much, if at all
Hey Justin. Once again great video from you. Only one question. Do I need the hdmi box in order to use the led light strip or I don’t need it ? Is necessary?? Thanks in advanced
Only necessary for syncing with the tv. Without it you can use it as one color or use the entertainment setups with iconnecthue. You could also use the Hue Sync app on Mac/PC. Watch my latest “gradient update” vid for the iconnecthue lighting. It’s pretty cool and no sync box required for multi color light
I think one of the first movies I would watch with hue's gradient light strip is interstellar. Btw great job with the video! I'm new to your channel but you just earned a new sub! :)
Ah thank you!!! Great movie idea.
Can u set it up on an new TV ?
Or is it to late - if u aldy used it on another TV?
I mean can u take it of agin and set it on a driffrent tv ??
Thanks for the help!
I've being considering investing in this product since it got announced recently.
Some time ago I invested in "cheaper" bias lighting system from another company which provides just an "ok" experience, but honestly for the price you couldn't argue too much. (But its inconsistencies of tracking colours on my TV and regular disconnects from my wifi have me frustrated)
But this system has me really excited and will be the proper finishing touch to my multimedia set up. (I already have a great TV and surround sound system)
But your review has totally confirmed my decision! Yes it will be expensive addition to my current set up. But I've already invested in a great system, and there is no point cheaping out at this point especially for the quality and reliability you will get from the Philips Hue system.
Fantastic review and love the genuine excitement from your reviews! I have now subscribed and looking forward to seeing more future content and ideas of how improve my home lighting/automation ✌️ 😊
Ive got this and an entire smart house, its okay but not worth the price wait a little while and try and get it cheap in the black friday or january sales, it isnt worth it at the current price.
@@nessunday
Thanks for the advice mate!
Yeah that's the plan. The system overall is very expensive. Like the HDMI sync box alone is around £240/€270 I feel is a considerable amount of money you need to pay extra to have to buy to get it to work properly. Thankfully I already have the Hue bridge and some coloured lights to sync to it. But will definitely be waiting for Black Friday sales to see what discounts it gets before pulling the trigger. 👍
Hopefully there is a sale!!
@@Justin_tech 🤞
Wait so you telling me I can't use this to put it in a corner of my bed and use the gradiant colors? Only on back of TV?
I currently have 2 dreamscreen 4ks for my TV (one as backup when the first dies) the colors on that strip are more vibrant and diverse than the gradient. Their led strip needs work. Unfortunately dreamscreen went out of business over a year ago. But did you know that that sync box you got right there is actually dreamscreen technology? Phillips bought out dreamscreen's technology and made their own (which im glad to see so when my setup finally fails me ill have this to get (and hopefully a better version by that time)
Look up dreamscreen videos and youll see what I mean about more color
I also have 4 sidekicks setup which sync up so ill look forward to being able to have my hue lights actually sync to the TV too lol
What about ambilight
@@Rewelsworld ambilight I believe requires a PC to capture the image on your TV in order to work.
I had a bridge and was about to buy the Sync Box with some Hue Play lights, but its a good thing I took my time in doing so. I ended up buying the Sync Box and started using it with my HueGo (already owned) and lamps with Hue bulbs (moved in from the bedroom) to kick things off. Now I cant wait until this pre-order comes in.
Yay!!!
@@Justin_tech Used your link (Phillips website) to make the purchase, hopefully it helps your channel.
The best way i see doing this for my 75" is to bring it in the middle because it seems like the light is bright enough. Make it close in as close as a full square as possible. Then just have my two play bars on the side.
Yes that's what I think too. We have one coming to our 85" tv and will be posting a vid on that soon!!
Hi Justin for the UK! Just found your site after looking for the sync box and info and you came up! Great site and content and explanations. Just wanted to ask a question on the Gradient Strip? I have a 65in tv which is wall mounted with little space behind. To your knowledge If I purchased the largest size strip which would cover the back of the tv (curved tv forgot to mention) in a circle would the light strip work in delivering the lights all around the tv as it floats on a false wall? Cheers Chris.
Welcome to the channel! Unfortunately no, you cannot wrap it around the bottom of the TV. For the bottom I recommend one single color LED strip or 3 play bars.
@@Justin_tech Hi! Thanks for the welcome, and I did think as much. Play bars I have looked at but really no space... At the moment I do have the light strip around the back so I guess I could use that... Shame Though.. Thanks again and keep safe. Chris
The sync box does not support hdmi 2.1. So it’s already obsolete if you have a recent tv or are planning to get a next gen gaming console or pc graphics card (ps5, xbox series x or RTX30X0).
One question Justin: do you think the 55” size could fit on a 50” tv? I saw the length on philips official site and I’m asking myself if mounting it nearer the borders could work. 🤔 Thank you in advance and congratulations for your videos and channel! 😊
I think it will. Mine comes out to 44" on top and 21.5" on each side (with little wiggle room). According to the patherium theorem (a2 + b2 = c2) it will work on a 48.5 inch tv and up, maybe even smaller...
Justin_tech thank you so much for your answer and kindness. 😁
Awesome video! My TV is 89", you think that the 65" Gradient Light Strip would cover enough of it?
I'd recommend the 75 inch.
@@Justin_tech Thank you so much Justin!
Nice review. I have 70 bulbs on 2 hubs and found an unfortunate limitation in that only 1 device or zone can be synced at a time. Either sync box or pc not both at same time even with 2 hubs. Sync box has been pretty rock solid for me.
good to know, i was going to have my tv and two pc battlestations setup
@@mmhmmlala how many lights did you sync with your syncbox? i tought only ten was possible
Can these be used on a PC monitor for gaming without the need for a sync box then?
How would this work with an AppleTV ? Any issues or concerns ? Or would I just plug in my AppleTV to the hue sync box before into my tv ? (FYI I alway have a sound bar via HDMI arc from my AppleTV)
Apple TV works perfectly. HDMI ARC works too. Just have the arc go from tv to soundbar. Have the apple tv plug into sync box, then plug into tv.
I still think the price of the sync box has to come wayyyy down, then I might take a chance on it. For now, I feel like the novelty of the changing light effects might be more distracting than immersive. At the moment, I just use the app “OnSwitch” to match the mood of whatever it is I’m watching. For example, I use the preset “Cocktail Lounge” when I’m watching RuPaul’s Drag Race; lots of pinks, purples and blues. The colors morph slowly and aren’t distracting.
I've gotta say, I felt similarly before the gradient, but because of how great the output of the gradient is, and how smooth it looks, I'm on the bandwago for hue sync. I agree its a bit pricey...I wish they had a starter pack with he sync box and gradient strip!
Is HDMI Sync box a must when using Gradient Strip on a PC??
I bought one of these and it's really cool. Shame it only has 5 zones. Since my TV is wall mounted it looks a bit weird that the wall on the bottom side is not lit. Can you make a video, where you showcase how it would look like and how it needs to be set up if we add some light bars there?
Working on it! :)
@@Justin_tech Cool stuff. Can't wait to see it :)
Can you use it just as a backlight without having it sync to the tv if you wanted to
Great review however I can’t get it to work with my cable, it works with Apple TV and my game system do you have a solution to how to get it to work with normal cable? Thanks.
How come mine does not look as responsive as yours? Mine sometimes stays in one color for a while
Did they yet update the firmware so that you can use gradient function with no sync box at all?
Bless you for using Speed Racer and Spider-Verse in your demo.
😄😄😄
Great review! Can this light strip be reusable? It looks like the sticky tape for the docks would wear out and would need new ones
Totally reusable. The mounts may need more adhesive, OR maybe Hue will sell replacement brackets? That would be perfect.
Justin_tech now how bout if I buy the 65 inch strip for my 55 inch tv, could I do that
Your the best! I’m just get it my sync box yesterday.. and I love it !!! Thanks one more time Justin !! I’m doing my entertainment area following you!.! Ecuador is happy thanks to you!
YESSSSSSSSS
I use a pc with a 32 inch monitor as my main (only entertainment system). I think buying a 55inch light strip will solve the bottom light problem, but will it work with just a pc? If yes, what else will I need?
It will work using the Hue Sync app on your PC, but the strip may not fit.
so I have a 77" inch tv and don't care about the bottom, would 65 inch strip work well for that setup as long it covers the sides and top?
appreciate it in advance
Have you tried the Govee Immersion Wi-Fi TV Backlights? I like the fact that it will work with a smart TV ans not need the HDMI signal.
Anyone know if the 75 inch will work with an 86 inch tv? i reached out to philips and they said they actually recommend each strip to cover the size listed on the box and larger but im not sure if it will cover 10 inches larger lol TIA! never had any smart lighting before and really want this for the tv!
Check out my gradient strip update video! We put a 75 inch on our 85 inch tv and it looks great!!
he mentioed they would put it on the 85 but it never went over how it went i guess i can do the play bars on the botton like suggested. wish you could put the light upside down as the wall mount leaves empty space on the bottom not the top
Hi will the light strip only work with devices using the hdmi play box? We have apps like Netflix/Prine/DisneyPlus built into the TV would these allow the light strip to react and work?
Is this better than the ambilight on my Philips TV?
Hue sync works when it want sot. Mine has stopped working or synching to my TV. Love it when it worked. Customer service shipping me a new box. Hope it works.
my tv has 2,5metres to my wall. do you think the strip will be "enough light" or should i consider the light bars?
kind regards from germany.
That’s tough. The play bars could be a better option for that distance....but the gradient strip is much cheaper. Perhaps you could test the gradient and return if you are unhappy? The gradient shines at a 45 degree angle so it may have issues hitting your wall whereas the play bars are strong and direct.
i remember reading a review somewhere that dont buy a 55 strip for a 55 tv cause it will be short. Then i saw in your video it did not even cover the bottom on your 55 tv. is it not then better to buy 65 strip and cover the bottom on your 55 tv then?
For the lightstrip plus syncbox you can get an 4k ambilight tv of 65 inch from Philips too.
Not in the US :( Also, the nice thing about this is it can move from TV to TV as we upgrade over time.
What was your play bar setup? The one you compared this strip to. How many lights and in what placements?
One light strip on top and a play bar on each side
I want to get the 55" Gradient Light Strip for my 34" ultra-wide monitor. But I'm unclear on the actual length of the strips. Is the actual light strip 55" in length, or does the 55" only represent the size of TV/Monitor it should fit? If the latter is true, how long is the actual light strip itself? I'd like to plan how to install/mount it to the monitor and if it will work given the size.
Yes the 55” is for the TV it should get installed on. The 55” strip is 88” long altogether.
@@Justin_tech Oh, Wow. Thats longer than I thought. Thanks for the quick response BTW. Cheers!
Great video 👍🏽 do you think i also could mount this gradient strip under my sideboard? I have a short throw projector on top. Would this work?
Hey Justin, is there a chance you can show us 4 Philips Hue Light bars at the back of the tv horizontal and vertical set up demonstration? Is it going to work like the gradient lightstrip? Thanks.
I did this! Check out my gradient strip update video. 🤓
@@Justin_tech im talking about having 4 pcs of light bars at the back of the TV. You reckon it’s going to work like gradient effect?
Yes I showed that off. Did you watch the video? I show anywhere from 3-5 play bars across the bottom from Hue users.
@@Justin_tech, What I’m trying to say is, if you don’t have a gradient light strip and you only have the hdmi sync, is having a 4 Light bar will do the job? 2 on top and 2 at the bottom. I tried searching TH-cam if there’s any video tried that combination. I’m hoping you can give it a try since you’re the only one I enjoyed watching any Philips hue eco system.
Do you know how an hue gradient lightstrip (not a play one) can be used in an entertainment area controlled by hue sync taking advantage of its gradient qualities? And not to be used as a common lightstrip? The same question but when using a tv with ambilight + hue ... how can you do so that the gradient lightsrip can be exploited with that quality and not act as a common Lightstrip?
Philips should soon release a new Sync Box with HDMI 2.1 since buying one right now has pretty much zero value to gamers who want to use this with their new consoles.
Other than that this looks much better for a tv compared to the Play light bars, mildly disappointed it doesn't span across all 4 edges of the tv though.
Hey Justin. How are people mounting the play bars on back of the TV and speakers? I just ordered the entire set up and it doesn't come with options for mounting and hilios said they don't make anything to do so
Hey Justin. Can i use apple tv 4k for my UDH 4k tv, and sync it with my philips sync box? Thanks
Yes you can!
@@Justin_tech thanks. Wich hdmi cable should i use?
Does an alcove ruin the effect?
Thanks for this video, I’ve pre-ordered mine and waiting for the shipment notification email. With regards to what ill be waiting as soon as Ive installed it, it’ll be rewatch of some of my fav. Movies just to experience them with colour. Thanks again.
Woohoo! enjoy :)
lol, at about the 5:50 mark you clearly have mislabeled the settings! subtle is much more extreme and extreme is much more subtle xD
that error aside, very good video! I will now definitely have to upgrade my tv bias lighting with this setup!
OH NO!!!
Hey Justin - great video. Quick question - I have a 42" mounted TV. Based on your review, did I understand correctly that I would not be able to use the 55' or 65' strip to cover the 4 corners of my TV? thank you!
You cant use the strip on the bottom, it wont know where it is placed, it can only be used for the three sides unfortunately (for now).
Well now I have to get this 🤣🤣 but what to do with my 3 play bars. Also I have two of the desk bar lamps as rear surround lights. What did you do with your play bars Justin? As for movie the definitive demo is aquaman at 1h50m the underwater battle in Dolby vision.
I put the play bars at my desk to light up my computer!
No light at the bottom tho? Bit of a letdown. Would that issue be solved tho if I got the 75' strip for a 65' tv?? 🤔
No you can’t do that, but you can get the gradient lightstrip ambiance or the light bar which comes out early next year
I'm still considering but hesitate
Would love to get one if gradient strip is 4-sided and hdmi 2.1 support
Any ideas or rumors about these?
Great detailed video my man, sold it for me ! Been dying to improve my Smash Bro nights with the boys!
Smash bros for the win!!
So with the sync box you wouldn’t need to use a computer?
precisely.
So still no setting for bottom colours.... this sucks big time >:(
Hi may I know if philips hue sync box works by directly connecting to Andriod TV? Or do I need something like a Firestick Nvidia Shield TV pro to connect to it?
Is it possible to remove and reuse the mounting plates when you decide to replace your TV, or is there a way to order a new set of mounting plates somewhere?
At the moment there’s no way to get just the plates (great idea, they should do this). I think you’ll be able to remove, but you may want to get more adhesive, like 3M command tape to reinstall.
Just wondering, u said its 44 inch along the top. Are u measuring that until the cable starts curving either side, so just the straight bit, or is that including the curve before going straight down, so measuring out above the curve? If u know what I mean. 😂
hi, i just bought the epson ls300 projector, i am planning on having a 120 inch screen. How can i have this lights on my screen? should i get 3 strips of the simple ones and some hue play on the bottom? what should I do? any help please
@justin do you think the strip would work with a 50 inch tv?
Do you think it’s worth it if i have the tv under window in a room? Do you think the light will come out great on the closed windows (so on the glass) at night? Thanks!
I'd say if you can put a white pair of curtains/blinds over the wind when you're using, that would be best!
I'm curious if you think 30 inches away from a wall is to far for something like this? Where i live right now, i cant get my tv any closer to a wall, and have nowhere to mount to a wall. I have yet to get the sync box, but this makes me want to get one.
Thats tough...i would test it out with a hue lightstrip and see what happens. Remember the light shines at a 45 degree angle, so important to test that out.
I have a 55" OLED LG but wall-mounted, should I buy the 65 or 75" version of the light strip so it covers the bottom too?
You can’t do that unfortunately. It won’t sync correctly
Hey Justin - any special consideration in your assessment of mounting this to a 65" LG C9? I guess my question is, will it damage the glass since that's what it would be mounting to?
I'm asking Hue about this....but my guess is it will be just fine. I'm sure they tested with many screens including this very popular one.
@@Justin_tech Cool, thanks Justin. I guess I would hate to put something on the glass and it invalidate any warranty, etc.
Always fun watching you getting so excited
Nice review. Can you give us more imfo on the music mode? I've already pre-ordered mine and purchased a sync box. Now my setup goes like this:
- tv / soundbar / caavo control center / tv receiver - ps4 - nintendo switch - kodi
Where do I put the sync box? Between the soundbar and the caavo control center? Between the tv and the soundbar for the music mode? 🤔
I’m not sure what the Caavo is, but it seems like you should put between receiver and that.
Going to wait for a hdmi 2.1 version if they’ll even be one in the future that is,
it’s a one time purchase for me something that cost this much I want it to be future proof from a while
Totally understandable! The gradient strip looks great with or without the sync box and you can use entertainment setups with it and apps like iconnecthue for multi-color with just a bridge
I show off in my gradient strip updates video
I wish they sent out the preorders as fast as the press copies. I preordered the day they announced... I have a 43 inch tv and bought the 55” strip. How should I set this up? My hue setup officially cost more than the tv so I will upgrade to a nice 55 inch eventually. But for now it’s mounted to the wall.
You may be able to adjust the placement to fit your tv and also curve the bottom of the sides just a bit to fit. Would be interested in seeing this done!
Have you received it yet. Interested to see as I was going to get this with my 49 inch TV?
You can see Philips Hue awesomeness when you DIMM lights. No flicker, no headaches as other chinese or IKEA. Cheers.
100%
Can't wait to get these for my TV. This was a great review
thank you!!!!
Hi Justin... I have a Philips Ambient TV so have this Ambient lighting built in to the TV on three sides, could I use one of these strips along the bottom? TV is mounted on the wall so as you say the bottom of the TV is dark, this would be a great fix! 😀
Nope I don't think that will work :/
My first movie with the Gradient Lightstream will be "Man of Steel". I love this film and I'm sure it is going to deliver spectacular results. I have a 65 inch Samsung TV and I like Samsung's image quality. So I'm looking forward to the Gradient Lightstrip, BUT, the only thing that bothers me, is that the in-TV-Apps like Netflix and so on, are not going to work directly with the Sync Box. Are there any solutions already for that?
Having the same issue here, I just stream from my Playstation, the new Samsung OS is a bit buggy anyways (very often the apps crash cuz the TV ran out of memory) and you can take advantage of a consoles hardware for faster internet speeds and higher quality picture.
work on computer monitor?
Does the sync work with Netflix, Prime etc. Also what about TVs with dedicated game modes HD slot, such as the q80 and q90
It should work with all of the above as long as you are running your devices/streaming apps through the Sync Box, then to the TV.
I got a question. Ok actually 2... first: is it possible not to buy the synch box? And second: does my TV has to be an android or just smart?
You can use it with the hue sync app on mac/PC. For this setup I’d recommend plugging into TV via HDMI for no lag. No smart tv. Hue sync box won’t work using smart tv and for the setup I just told you, it’s all about the Mac/pc anyway.
So this will not work on your regular Dish network shows and movies, even though your dish HDMI is plugged into the sync box?
It would work just fine with this
These gradient light strips are sold out every where would the regular hue light strip work for this ?
The 55” was avail in the US Philips Hue store today. The others have been becoming avail on and off over the last few weeks. Follow me on Twitter - I announce whenever they are back in stock!