Wiz, the smart lighting company that’s not to be confused with the Google-owned cybersecurity firm of the same name, says it’s enabling an Ambilight-like experience on any smart TV with its newest product.
It has announced the imminent availability of a new HDMI Sync Box which can be plugged into any compatible TV to create an atmospheric mood lighting system that’s similar to Philips Ambilight.
The package comes with both the Wiz HDMI Sync Box and a complementary LED lightstrip that can be fitted to any television ranging from 55-inches all the way up to 75-inches, the company said. Once it’s all set up, you’ll be getting a three-sided Ambilight experience, with colours projected above and to the sides of the image on the TV.
The system requires the use of an external media player alongside the TV. The HDMI Sync Box sits between the external player and the TV, reading the colours that emanate from the video signal, before adjusting the colours on the supplied lightstrip to match the content on screen.
Of course, that means the system doesn’t work with any smart TV that has its own apps built in. So if you own an Android TV or Google TV that comes with Netflix pre-installed, but you desperately want a mood lighting experience, you’ll have to buy an external player (such as a set-top box like the Google TV Streamer) and use that instead of the TV’s native apps.
Another downside that must be pointed out is that the Wiz HDMI Sync Box only works with HDMI 2.0 signals, not HDMI 2.1. So it only supports 4K resolution at up to 60Hz with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, but not the 4K@120Hz experience associated with the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, for example. It won’t work with the Apple TV 4K from 2022 either.
Wiz’s HDMI Sync Box sounds a lot like the existing Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, and that’s not really a surprise when you consider that Wiz is owned by a company called Signify, which also owns the Philips Hue brand. However, the Philips Box was recently updated to support 4K at 120Hz, or 8K at 60Hz, so it has fewer limitations. It still requires an external player, though.
For a more seamless Ambilight experience that works with any and all content and apps, you’ll need to buy a Philips TV that comes with Ambilight built-in. In addition, the native Ambilight experience also has more features, such as a “Lounge Mode”, that aren’t available with the box systems.
Another way to get mood lighting on your TV is to use the Philips Hue Sync TV application, but bear in mind that it currently only works with TVs made by Samsung and LG. It also requires users to buy an LED lightstrip separately, and then purchase a special device known as the Philips Hue Bridge, which links the smartphone app to the TV you’re using. The app itself just connects to the lights. It’s a bit more complex, but it’s slightly cheaper and eliminates the HDMI 2.0 limitation of the HDMI Sync Boxes.
That said, there are some advantages to purchasing Wiz’s HDMI Sync Box. It allows users to expand the mood lighting experience beyond just a basic LED lightstrip that’s attached to the TV. So you can purchase various LED bulbs and lamps and place them strategically around the living room to enhance the overall experience. There’s no limit to how many additional lights you want to hook up.
The box also comes with an integrated microphone, enabling the lights to be synced to music only. But note that this enhanced experience will only work with Wiz LED lights that support both Bluetooth and WiFi, and you’ll need to download the Wiz app to set it all up.
Another advantage is price. The Wiz HDMI Sync Box with an included lightstrip for 55-inch and 65-inch TVs will go on sale later this month, priced at just $90 (around £68), while the 75-inch version costs $110. That compares to a staggering $350 for the Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box, which also requires the lightstrip to be purchased separately.
