WiZ HDMI Sync Box user review: The light show around your TV really works that well

Now that we can be found indoors in front of the television more often, it is nice to create a good atmosphere in your living room. This is possible with smart lighting from WiZ, and in particular with the HDMI Sync Box with LED strip and the Gradient Light Bars. Three of our readers tested them for us in recent weeks.

WiZ HDMI Sync Box with LED strip and Gradient Light Bars: this is what three loyal readers found

At the end of September we were looking for three of our loyal readers for a test panel. WiZ, a brand with affordable smart lighting, made available the HDMI Sync Box with LED strip (worth 77.99 euros) and the Gradient Light Bars (worth 53 euros).

With this device you synchronize the lights with what is happening on your television and we were curious how well this really works. Tristan, Patrick and Jordy have been working on it in recent weeks, so it is now time for their final verdict.

The smart lighting was made available to the three readers by WiZ. However, the content was created completely independently. The test panel members were encouraged to be as honest as possible and to mention both positive and negative aspects.

First impression: seemed exciting, but wasn’t too bad

Of course everything had to be installed first when the package arrived. That seemed exciting to Patrick at first, but in the end it wasn’t too bad for him. He quickly installed the HDMI Sync Box and Gradient Light Bars and connecting the app also went smoothly.

Jordy says that it was also arranged for him in no time. The app recognized the set immediately and the LED strip was also behind the TV. Everything was connected within a few minutes. He does think the Gradient Light Bars feel cheap and plastic.

Tristan also indicates that the instructions for use were quite simple, but did encounter a problem. His TV is on the wall and the cable from the LED strip to the Sync Box was too short. He eventually solved this by sticking the box to the back of his TV with double-sided tape.

However, Tristan then encountered another problem: connecting to WiFi. He noticed that the WiFi range of the Sync Box was not very long, which made connecting to his 2.4GHz network not that simple. He says he regrets that the lamps cannot be connected to combined networks.

Ultimately he succeeded, after which he was also able to import them into his smart home system. Great, because he could set it so that when the lights connected to the Sync Box turn on, the other lights turn off for an extra intense effect.

The app is sometimes a quest

While everything installed quickly, there were some minor challenges with the app. Patrick says that it took some getting used to the app and discovering where all the functions can be found. Jordy also agrees with this: he thought it was a shame that he was not shown how to activate the TV mode during the setup. He had to look for that for quite a while, while according to Jordy this is precisely the function that you want to test immediately.

Tristan also raises this point, who, like the other two, first had to search carefully in the app to set the Sync Box mode. You expect a short explanation or a pop-up that tells you how to activate it, says Jordy, but that is missing. Furthermore, the app works well, it says, and there are plenty of settings to play with. “You can really customize it to your own taste.” said Jordy.

Patrick agrees, who generally finds the app pleasant and clear. Switching between different modes, adjusting the brightness and speed of the lighting effects is easy. He likes the fact that he can decide how intense the lighting is, if he doesn’t feel like bright light.

He thought it was a shame that the app sometimes automatically jumped back to Cinematicwhile he had just set the Relax mode. This happened, for example, when he went to the next episode in Netflix or back to the menu. Patrick thought it was cool that you can indicate in the app where you have the Gradient Light Bars, for example behind the sofa or next to the TV. The lighting then automatically adjusts accordingly.

• Discover the WiZ HDMI Sync Box
• Discover the WiZ Gradient Light Bars

Lights synchronize surprisingly accurately

“The lighting responds really well to what is happening on the screen,” says Patrick. The colors are vibrant and match the images surprisingly accurately, he says. Jordy agrees with that.

He had a system from another brand that worked with a camera that scanned the image to synchronize the colors, but that was not a success. He was a bit skeptical about the HDMI Sync Box from WiZ, but was positively surprised.

Tristan is also positive about the light quality. A game of UNO immediately had a more exciting atmosphere and the lamps responded quickly to the image. Patrick also thinks the Gradient Light Bars really add something to the experience.

That makes films, series and even gaming a completely new experience, says Patrick. Especially during dark scenes, it provides extra atmosphere, without becoming disturbing. Since the installation, he and his family enjoy watching films and series more. Especially with films with a lot of color or action, you notice how well the light moves, says Jordy.

Jordy also says that he mainly uses the set in combination with an Amazon Fire TV Stick and a Google Chromecast and watches TV for about two hours per evening. This lighting takes the experience to a higher level, without delays or disruptions. He thinks it really makes a difference, especially in dark scenes or atmospheric images, just like Patrick.

Technology does not always go well

The HDMI Sync Box supports video formats up to 4K video at 60Hz. Higher refresh rates up to 120Hz are not supported and some games may stutter or black out, as Tristan experienced. He mainly used the set in combination with his Xbox, on which settings had to be adjusted because the Sync Box would otherwise not be supported.

However, these settings caused the screen to go black every time he went to a menu. When playing new games, the image stuttered or the sound sometimes cut out. The WiFi connection also often dropped out and the Sync Box then had to be manually switched off and on again.

He tested whether it was the games by watching a series, but now he only got a black screen. That resolved itself when he took out the HDMI Sync Box. The other two testers did not have this problem.

He likes the idea that WiZ has a trackside mode for watching Formula 1, where the lights show whether something is happening during the race (for example yellow or red flags). The performance is just a bit less, because you have to enter a delay yourself. As a result, you always get spoilers or the lights react too late.

In addition, Patrick thinks it is a shame that there is only one HDMI port on the Sync Box. For example, if you want to use a game console in addition to your Apple TV, you will have to manually change the cables yourself. A second HDMI port would be a big improvement, he says, possibly with a switch button or via the app.

WiZ responds as follows:

With an HDMI switch it is possible to connect two devices to the Sync Box and you no longer have to manually change the cables.

Jordy also noted: as soon as the LED strip has to go into too much detail (i.e. a different color per LED), it looks a bit messy. According to him, it is better to set the Sync Box with more saturated colors, so that the colors blend nicely into each other.

Conclusion: strong price-quality ratio

All in all, all three testers are positive about the quality of the lighting. They respond quickly to changes on your television. The WiZ HDMI Sync Box with the Gradient Light Bars exceeded Patrick’s expectations. He found the installation easy and the app offers many options. Apart from the problem with the app, he says the set is a great addition to his living room.

He also says he will replace his old LED strip behind the curtains with a WiZ LED strip, so that everything works with the Sync Box. “Once you get used to this setup, you won’t want to be without it anymore.” Jordy was a bit hesitant beforehand because of his previous experiences with another brand, but was nevertheless convinced. Despite the somewhat unclear app, it does exactly what you hope, he says.

Tristan is a little less enthusiastic. It lacks support for HDMI 2.1 and 4K 120Hz, among other things, and experienced many WiFi problems. According to him, it is more intended for people who use a Chromecast or another older system. “To end on a positive note: I am very positive about the Gradient Light Bars,” he adds. They have good colors, no problems with WiFi and are affordable, so he definitely leaves these for extra mood lighting.