Ambilight TV, yay or nay?
Discussion
Mark300zx said:
Looks like my current TV is going pop and interested in the ambilight TVs, gimmick or not?
Ambilight if it's as good as a Phillips Hue Sync Box then yay......but a Phillips TV for me it's a nay 
My home is fully invested with Hue lighting anyway so the Sync Box was just another albeit expensive hit - a Phillips TV was low on my list when I replaced my old Sony Bravia.
Mark300zx said:
Looks like my current TV is going pop and interested in the ambilight TVs, gimmick or not?
Do you have surround sound? The main bit is what's happening on the centre- and then the front L and R channels. The surround side/rear speakers add the ambience to create a more convincing total effect. Ambilight is sort of the visual version of that, and it's why watching a big projector screen is a more immersive experience than a relatively small TV.
It's our peripheral vision that's being engaged. Done properly - as ambilight does - then what we see onscreen is supplemented by the ambilight effect rather than just abruptly ending at the TV screen borders.
Some will see it as a gimmick just as they consider projection or surround sound a gimmick. Hell, there was even a time when stereo was considered a gimmick. Could you imagine all sound being mono?
Edited by Lucid_AV on Sunday 27th November 03:57
We've got an ambilight TV, mounted on the wall, and I like it.
Had it 2 years now, and I'd say it does add to the viewing experience.
Having said that it took the wife ages to notice that the lighting replicates what's on screen, she just assumed it was random. But she's the type who doesn't notice the difference between standard definition and 4k.
Overall I'd recommend.
Had it 2 years now, and I'd say it does add to the viewing experience.
Having said that it took the wife ages to notice that the lighting replicates what's on screen, she just assumed it was random. But she's the type who doesn't notice the difference between standard definition and 4k.
Overall I'd recommend.
GiantCardboardPlato said:
Think how many books you could get instead.
Having been a long term member who only posts occasionally (generally when I have something useful or constructive to say) I often wonder how people post so much in such a short time.Then I see things like this and I get it, they just post utter drivel that's no help to anyone.
Carry on.
Bought one for my parents and whenever I visit them am surprised at how good the additional lighting works.
No real knowledge of the interface, but as they use virgin, once it was set up they don’t fiddle with it.
Been a couple of years and it seems to work fine.
They are not into fine details of black levels and other geekery so for a daily use it does suit them well.
No real knowledge of the interface, but as they use virgin, once it was set up they don’t fiddle with it.
Been a couple of years and it seems to work fine.
They are not into fine details of black levels and other geekery so for a daily use it does suit them well.
Weso said:
GiantCardboardPlato said:
Think how many books you could get instead.
Having been a long term member who only posts occasionally (generally when I have something useful or constructive to say) I often wonder how people post so much in such a short time.Then I see things like this and I get it, they just post utter drivel that's no help to anyone.
Carry on.
The question i posted is something i often use to decide how much i want to spend on home entertainment stuff. I find it useful test for evaluating purchases in terms of whether additional features are worth the additional expense to me.
I can see how you might think it was not meant to be helpful, but it was.
Philips ambilight is great but if you don't want to buy a Philips tv a simple led strip stuck on the back is a good option without the colour following effects, something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385250971295?mkcid=16&a...
Lucid_AV said:
Some will see it as a gimmick just as they consider projection or surround sound a gimmick. Hell, there was even a time when stereo was considered a gimmick. Could you imagine all sound being mono?
I've heard the "you only have two ears, what's the point?!" argument against surround sound... Interestingly, a mate is deaf in one ear yet still gets benefit from surround sound. The human ear is surprisingly good at being able to tell where sounds are coming from due to the big flappy bit as well as the aural processing that detects tiny differences in phase and amplitude arising from the environment around you as well as moving your head around by tiny amounts.When I was planning my current set up I thought Atmos was a gimmick but realised I'd be kicking myself if I didn't at least pre-wire for it... I ended up spending the extra and getting four ceiling speakers for a 5.1.4 set up, and I am glad I did. There are some films that make overt use of it (Marvel films especially) but it's mostly used to enhance the ambience.
OP don't bother with ambilight, get a projector
Wife approval factor is improved by pointing out the screen is retractable so you can have a living room without a big TV on show. The picture quality is important.
The sound quality is very important.
Being easy to use is important.
Having the right apps to watch the things you want is important.
Novelty lighting which may or may not be an 'improvement' should be way down the list.
We bought our last TV maybe 2 1/2 years ago now, at the time the Philips TVs looked a bit meh when switched off and I didn't find the sound as clear as the Sony we bought. I don't 'get' the ambilight thing at all, and if it was a big thing to want, you'd perhaps have to consider where and how your TV is mounted. I don't think it would go well where ours is.
If you're choosing a TV, the best thing IME is to go to Richer Sounds at a quiet time and watch and listen to a few.
The Philips as I recall was far from the worst for either sound or picture.
There are some pretty awful TVs on the market, many seem to appeal to some market of turning the colours up to 11 and the brightness up to 'welding'.
I happened to be in John ***king Lewis the other day, some of the tellies in there had really poor motion artefacts. Are they just crap tellies, or do they choose their source material cluelessly?
The sound quality is very important.
Being easy to use is important.
Having the right apps to watch the things you want is important.
Novelty lighting which may or may not be an 'improvement' should be way down the list.
We bought our last TV maybe 2 1/2 years ago now, at the time the Philips TVs looked a bit meh when switched off and I didn't find the sound as clear as the Sony we bought. I don't 'get' the ambilight thing at all, and if it was a big thing to want, you'd perhaps have to consider where and how your TV is mounted. I don't think it would go well where ours is.
If you're choosing a TV, the best thing IME is to go to Richer Sounds at a quiet time and watch and listen to a few.
The Philips as I recall was far from the worst for either sound or picture.
There are some pretty awful TVs on the market, many seem to appeal to some market of turning the colours up to 11 and the brightness up to 'welding'.
I happened to be in John ***king Lewis the other day, some of the tellies in there had really poor motion artefacts. Are they just crap tellies, or do they choose their source material cluelessly?
I made my own for far less about 2 years ago. I already had a spare raspberry pi a power supply and some leds. Has worked faultlessly since and may have been cheaper than a philips hue thing. Not sure it would be now if you can get a RPi but then I have no idea about philips prices.
I really like it and find the TV odd without it now.
I used this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urOEHzbV48A
There are probably other ways to do it now.
I really like it and find the TV odd without it now.
I used this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urOEHzbV48A
There are probably other ways to do it now.
I've just had an ambilight OLED and it's great, but I turn off the dynamic lighting and just have it on one colour as I find it annoys me. No different to how I had light bars behind the old TV really.
As others have said, it's a nice gimmick and very reliant on where the TV is, I would focus on other more important points like picture quality and useability.
As others have said, it's a nice gimmick and very reliant on where the TV is, I would focus on other more important points like picture quality and useability.
somouk said:
I've just had an ambilight OLED and it's great, but I turn off the dynamic lighting and just have it on one colour as I find it annoys me. No different to how I had light bars behind the old TV really.
As others have said, it's a nice gimmick and very reliant on where the TV is, I would focus on other more important points like picture quality and useability.
Are there settings to turn it down rather than off like the Sync Box can?As others have said, it's a nice gimmick and very reliant on where the TV is, I would focus on other more important points like picture quality and useability.
V8covin said:
OutInTheShed said:
I happened to be in John ***king Lewis the other day, some of the tellies in there had really poor motion artefacts. Are they just crap tellies, or do they choose their source material cluelessly?
They'll be set to shop mode or whatever the term isYou go to look at TVs in a well known retail shed, all the tellies are showing some s
tty cartoons which only shows you which TV is brightest and which has the least realistic colours.I can see two explanations:
1) The retailers are stupid
2) The retailers know how to sell TVs and the public are stupid.
ARHarh said:
I made my own for far less about 2 years ago. I already had a spare raspberry pi a power supply and some leds. Has worked faultlessly since and may have been cheaper than a philips hue thing. Not sure it would be now if you can get a RPi but then I have no idea about philips prices.
I really like it and find the TV odd without it now.
I used this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urOEHzbV48A
There are probably other ways to do it now.
The whole thing reminds me of being about 12 and building 'sound to light' circuits because you could rather than because anyone wanted them.I really like it and find the TV odd without it now.
I used this guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urOEHzbV48A
There are probably other ways to do it now.
I know someone who's got one of those funny lights that's supposed to stop people being grumpy in the Winter.
I find it really annoying.
OutInTheShed said:
I really don't get it!
You go to look at TVs in a well known retail shed, all the tellies are showing some stty cartoons which only shows you which TV is brightest and which has the least realistic colours.
I can see two explanations:
1) The retailers are stupid
2) The retailers know how to sell TVs and the public are stupid.
It's number 2You go to look at TVs in a well known retail shed, all the tellies are showing some s
tty cartoons which only shows you which TV is brightest and which has the least realistic colours.I can see two explanations:
1) The retailers are stupid
2) The retailers know how to sell TVs and the public are stupid.
My TV is setup as a realistic picture not just default settings. My brother in law does not believe it is HD as it is not as bright and garish as his TV.
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