FabianThe Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K has now been on the market for around six months and is particularly pleasing to console fans, who can now finally use 120 hertz at a 4K resolution. I don’t use a Hue Sync Box myself, but in recent weeks I have repeatedly read on social media about problems with it suddenly switching off.
The firmware update to version 2.5.0, which has been distributed for a few days, apparently addresses precisely these problems. “The problems with the CEC on/off function and the automatic switch-off after 20 minutes when the HDMI cable of the Hue Sync Box is connected to the second output of an AV receiver have been fixed. In addition, automatic light synchronization now works seamlessly in this configuration,” according to the Philips Hue release notes.
If you are traveling with a PlayStation 5 Pro, the Hue Sync Box now also works with Display Stream Compression and allows 8K resolutions with 60 Hertz. And if you are still watching 3D content, this can now also be properly routed through the Sync Box.
In the update notes, Philips Hue also mentions the following two points: Optimized input source switching, delay reduction for Playstation5 on LG TVs, and support for 144Hz Light Sync.
The new firmware version 2.5.0 is not only available for the new HDMI Sync Box, but also for the older model – however, there are only general bug fixes and no specific improvements. If the update is not yet displayed in the Hue app, you will probably need to be patient. It is not unusual for Philips Hue to roll out an update slowly over a longer period of time.
Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K
$349.99 / £299.99 / €349.99
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The box is really flawed for the modern user. If you have more than 4 HDMI devices and try using it through an AV receiver, it has lots of problems.
Haven’t had any issues since released, this is finely the perfect Philips hue box, no more crashed like the 4k box
Quick question upon the amount limitation of Hue Sync, is that one bridge one Hue Sync only? Saying in living room I have TV hue gradient lightstrip with Hue play HDMI box, and in bedroom, I have two hue gradient lamps with Spotify connected. Can I run both Sync together? It seems not.. so I guess one bridge with one sync only?