Hardware Review · Purchased August 9, 2022 · $302.07 CAD via Amazon.ca
The Setup
A 4-input, 1-output HDMI passthrough box that analyzes video and audio in real time and syncs Philips Hue color lights to whatever’s on screen, across dedicated Video, Music, and Game sync modes. It needs a Hue Bridge and Hue color lights already in place to do anything — this is purely the brain that reads the content and tells your existing lights what to do.
The Review
The syncing itself is impressively accurate and responsive — explosions, scene changes, and color shifts on screen translate to the room lighting fast enough that it never feels laggy or disconnected from the action, which matters a lot for the Game mode specifically. It auto-switches inputs the moment a connected source powers on, so day-to-day use is genuinely hands-off once it’s set up.
The catch is the total cost of entry: this box alone is pricey, and it’s useless without a Hue Bridge and a set of Hue color bulbs you may not already own, which stacks up fast. It also only works with wired sources plugged into it directly — your smart TV’s built-in apps get no sync benefit at all — and it won’t pass through lossless audio formats like Dolby TrueHD. If you’re already invested in the Hue ecosystem, it’s a genuinely great addition; if you’re starting from zero, the real cost is much higher than the box’s price tag suggests.
What I Liked
- Accurate, low-latency color syncing that works well even for gaming
- Auto-switches inputs when a connected source powers on
- Supports HDR10+/Dolby Vision passthrough
- Genuinely enhances movie and game nights once set up
What I Didn’t
- Expensive on top of needing a Hue Bridge and color bulbs already
- No physical remote included
- Doesn’t sync a smart TV’s built-in streaming apps, only wired sources
- Doesn’t pass through lossless audio formats like Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA
The Verdict
Rating: 4/5
Genuinely impressive syncing, but budget for the full Hue ecosystem before this box — it’s the smallest part of the total cost.
Where to Buy
- Philips Hue product page (also on Amazon.ca)
