Lytmi Neo Sync Box & TV Backlight Kit Review

A behind-the-TV ambilight kit can really enhance your movie and TV watching experience. Bias lighting provides a pleasing backlight around your television. By reducing the perceived brightness of the TV screen an ambient television light strip reduces eye strain. There are all sorts of ambilight options, from simple single-color LED strips to reactive lighting that changes colors according to the on-screen picture. The Lytmi Neo is an excellent, affordable responsive TV backlighting set up. With a modest price tag, it’s one of the best ambilight alternatives on the market, and a great way to take your home theatre to the next level. But should you buy one? Find out in our hands-on Lytmi Neo sync box and TV backlight kit review!

What is the Lytmi Neo Sync Box and TV Backlight Kit – Lytmi Neo Overview

The Lytmi Neo is an outstanding yet affordable ambilight TV kit. It features two main components: A lightstrip (or rather a pair of light strips), and an HDMI sync box. The sync box features an HDMI input alongside an HDMI output. Two USB ports let you connect the included RGB LED light strips.

Using included mounting brackets, you’ll affix the Lytmi Neo to the back of your television. Options are available for 65-inch and below, 66-90-inch, and 91-120-inch TVs. Using the 91-120-inch option, you could even run a Lytmi Neo light strip behind a fixed-frame projector screen.

Version 2.0 of the Lytmi Neo features 4K 60Hz video passthrough with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR) support thanks to its HDMI 2.0. There’s an upgraded lightstrip featuring a silicone casing for improved synchronization, better brightness, and lower latency. Additionally, there’s CEC functionality.

Lytmi Neo 2.0 Specs

• 65-inch and below, 66-90-inch, and 91-120-inch options
• HDMI 2.0
• 4K 60Hz support
• HDR support (compatible with HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision)
• Upgraded RGB LED lights with silicone casing (improved synchronization, brightness, illumination duration)
• Lower latency response time
• In the box: mounting hardware (10 x plastic mounting brackets), 2 x RGB LED light strips, 1 x HDMI sync box
• App control
• Modes: Screen mode, music mode, fun mode

Lytmi Neo Ambilight TV Backlight Kit Performance Review

The Lytmi Neo is a fantastic device. It consists of an HDMI sync box, a pair of RGB LED light strips, and some mounting hardware. Once you secure the LED strands to the back of your TV, hook up the HDMI sync box, and connect your devices like streaming set-top boxes or Blu-ray players, you’re ready to go.

Set up is simple and straightforward. The 3M sticky pads on the mounting brackets boast good adhesion. Built-in handles let you easily pop the brackets off your television which could be useful for re-positioning a bracket or in the event of upgrading TV sets. In my testing, brackets were easy to pry off yet stuck back on securely.

Whereas some ambilight kits rely on a webcam pointed at the screen, which adds latency, the Lytmi Neo instead utilized HDMI capture. As a result, its response time remains fast for colors that change accurately and quickly in accordance with the on-screen images.

An HDMI 2.0 input allows for 4K 60Hz video passthrough. Similarly, the Lytmi Neo handles 4K HDR images including HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision passthrough. On the audio side, the Neo has no issue with high-quality, uncompressed audio codecs such as Dolby Atmos.

Color reproduction is superb. I liked the vivid colors which mimicked the on-screen pictures. Response time is blisteringly fast with no perceivable latency. Starting at $169 USD for the 65-inch and below bundle, it’s an affordable alternative to pricier options such as the Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box.

Unfortunately, you won’t find 4K 120Hz video passthrough. Although 4K 60Hz should be fine for most users, hardcore gamers may be disappointed. However, there’s an easy fix: if you need a 120Hz refresh rate, simply use an HDMI splitter to send simultaneous video signals to the Lytmi Neo and a gaming TV or projector.

Similarly, there’s only one HDMI input. Therefore, you can’t connect multiple devices at the same time. If you’re using a receiver or soundbar with multiple HDMI inputs, this shouldn’t be an issue since you can send video into your audio device, then pipe audio out via a single HDMI cable. Alternatively, you can always use an HDMI switcher to manage multiple HDMI devices running into the Lytmi Neo’s solitary HDMI input. There is an app that lends manual control, though the sync box lacks a physical button or remote control to toggle the lights on and off. While I actually preferred the app which didn’t add another remote to my coffee table, some users may be left wanting some sort of physical control.

Ultimately, the Lytmi Neo is a solid device that delivers great bang-for-your-buck. It far outstrips webcam-based light strips with fast color-changing response time, high-quality LED lighting, and HDMI video capture while keeping its price tag well below high-end ambilight kits.

Lytmi Neo 2.0 vs. 1.4 – What’s the Difference?

The Lytmi Neo 2.0 makes several notable improvements over the Neo 1.4. As its name suggests, the 2.0 ushers in HDMI 2.0 over its predecessor’s HDMI 1.4. This allows for higher bandwidth, and accordingly 4K HDR with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision passthrough. Furthermore, HDMI 2.0 makes 4K 60Hz video passthrough possible.

Additionally, the Lytmi Neo 2.0 allows for CEC control which was disabled on the 1.4. There’s enhanced color accuracy and low-latency color-changing for seamless scene and color transitions. Plus, the Neo 2.0 features a set of upgraded RGB LED lights that come with a silicone casing and increased brightness.

Lytmi Neo 2.0 vs. Lytmi Neo differences:

• HDMI 2.0 vs. HDMI 1.4
• Up to 4K 60Hz with HDR (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision) vs. 4K 30Hz
• Lower latency, brighter, more accurate RGB LED lightstrips
• Silicone casing around LED lights

Lytmi Neo 2.0 Design and Build

The Lytmi Neo 2.0 features two main components: The HDMI sync box and a pair of RGB LED lightstrips.

Its HDMI sync box features an HDMI 2.0 input alongside an HDMI 2.0 output. You’ll find a pair of USB ports, one labeled “side,” the other labeled “bottom.” Additionally, the sync box includes a DC power input and a physical reset button.

On the top of Lytmi sync box you’ll find power indicator, mode indicator, and network indicator lights. In screen mode indicator light will be green, red for music mode, and blue for fun mode. Around front, the Neo features a built-in microphone.

Both LED light strips come wrapped in silicone casings for protection and improved light diffusion.

A set of 10 different mounting brackets let you secure the Lytmi Neo LED lights to the back of your television. You’ll find 4 corner brackets and 6 straight edge brackets.

Lytmi Neo Sync Box & TV Backlight Kit Review Installation

Installing the Lytmi Neo is fairly straightforward and painless. First, you’ll want to adhere the 10 mounting brackets to the back of your television or projector screen. The four corner brackets go in the corners while you’ll place the straight pieces along the edges: one each on the right and left sides and two each on the top and bottom edges. Then, snap the LED light strips into place.

How you run these around the back of the TV depends on where you’ve placed your sync box, but generally the idea is the same. The RGB LED light strip that connects to the USB port labeled “bottom” runs along the (you guessed it) bottom edge of your screen and up the side. If you start in the left-hand corner, it’ll make an L shape beginning in the left corner, running right along the bottom edge of the screen, then straight up the right-hand side of the TV. For this configuration, the LED strip labeled “side” starts in the bottom left corner, goes up the left side, then right along the top edge of the TV. Both LED strips intersect in the top right-hand corner.

Alternatively, you could start in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. If that’s the case, the “side” LED lights go up the right side of the TV, left along the top edge, and meet the “bottom” light strip in the top-left corner. As such, the “bottom” light strop travels left along the bottom edge of the screen, up along the left-hand side of the telly, and crosses in the top left corner of the screen.

If the LED strips are too long, you can cut them in appropriate places, along a sort of amber-colored divider on the light strand. However, you can always just sort of loop them back in towards the middle of your TV if you don’t want to bother snipping the LED lightstrips.

Lytmi Neo Ambient TV Bias Lighting Behind-the-TV Light Kit Performance

The Lytmi Neo delivers stunning color-changing performance. Its RGB LEDs shift shades quickly in accordance with the images on screen. I found the LEDs bright and vivid without being distracting or overpowering. Even with my TV situated in a corner, not ideal placement for an ambilight kit, the Lytmi Neo managed to produce gorgeous colors that kept pace with the picture on my television.

Lytmi Neo 2.0 App Experience and Smart Features

You can integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. This provides voice control for setting different features like changing the mode. The companion app gives you decent manual control, and is available for iOS or Android.

Should You Buy the Lytmi Neo 2.0?

There’s no shortage of ambient LED kits on the market. But the Lytmi Neo delivers the best bang-for-your-buck. It’s a responsive backlight that changes color with the picture on your TV. An HDMI input provides a low latency connection that’s faster than ambilight configurations using a webcam pointed at the screen.

You’ve got a choice of several sizes for compatibility with up to 120-inch screens. Boasting an update from HDMI 1.4 to HDMI 2.0, the Lytmi sports 4K 60Hz video passthrough with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision support. It even handles uncompressed audio tracks such as Dolby Atmos.

Set up is a breeze with intentional design elements like handles on the mounting brackets that make removal or re-positioning easy. What’s more, Lytmi packs app and smart home connectivity. Using the companion app for Android and iOS, you can toggle on different modes such as a music mode or “fun” mode. I enjoyed the mix of manual control and automated reactivity.

Although there’s no high refresh rate 4K 120Hz or 240Hz passthrough, all but the most hardcore gamers should be fine with the Lytmi Neo. An HDMI splitter easily solves the 4K 60Hz issue for serious gamers. Similarly, the single HDMI input might be an issue if you’ve got multiple devices such as streaming boxes, Blu-ray players, and game consoles to connect. However, you can always circumvent that problem with a soundbar, receiver, or HDMI switcher.

In the end, the Lytmi Neo 2.0 is an excellent purchase for most people. It’s a great way to lend some extra pizzaz to your home theatre, add a pleasing backlight to reduce eyestrain, and provide unintrusive lighting while watching movies and TV in a dark room.

The Competition – Top Ambilight TV Kits

Philips Hue makes an outstanding ambilight kit with the Hue Gradient light strip. Like the Lytmi Neo, it features an HDMI sync box plus a light strip and Hue hub. But the sync box alone is pricier than the most expensive Lytmi Neo 2.0. The Hue Play HDMI Sync Box normally retails for $230, the Hue Play Gradient 55-inch lightstrip about $230, and the Hue Bridge around $60. That’s nearly $520 for a 55-inch TV, and more if you’re using the 65-inch and 75-inch Gradient lightstrips. Compare that to $199 for the Lytmi Neo Sync Box kit 91-120-inch version, and $169 for the up to 65-inch kit. While you do get a few added features like 4K 120Hz passthrough and four HDMI inputs, you exponentially more for a Hue ambilight kit.

Govee offers its immersion responsive TV backlight bundle. Instead of HDMI capture, Govee reliez on a camera mounted on the top or bottom of the TV. Aimed at the screen, it analyzes the picture then changes the RGB LEDs mounted on the back of your television accordingly. The Govee Immersion TV kit is a good budget option. Though it works well, the camera color capture method doesn’t deliver the low-latency advantages of HDMI.

Though it doesn’t feature multiple HDMI inputs or high refresh rate 4K video passthrough, the Lytmi Neo is a solid alternative to cheap ambilight kits from the likes of Govee and pricey options from manufacturers such as Philips Hue. You get virtually all of the same benefits as the Hue sync box for a fraction of the price, minus a couple of power-user features, notably 4K 120Hz video passthrough and multiple HDMI inputs. And the Lytmi Neo is more responsive than the webcam-based behind-the-TV LED backlights that change color with your screen.

Lytmi Neo Sync Box & TV Backlight Kit Review – Final Thoughts

Overall, the Lytmi Neo is a fantastic upgrade for any home theatre. It presents a high-quality experience for an affordable price tag. Set up is easy and painless, the Neo stacks up extremely well even when compared with pricier premium ambilight kits such as the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box and Gradient Lightstrip.

Home media enthusiast necessities such as 4K 60Hz with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision passthrough come standard. I’d have appreciated more HDMI inputs, although that’s a problem easily solved with a soundbar, receiver, or HDMI switcher that has multiple HDMI ports. However, it wasn’t an issue for me since I’ve got all my devices routed through my Vizio Dolby Atmos soundbar, then running into the Lytmi Neo. Ultimately, the Lytmi Neo is a must-have for home cinema enthusiasts, and offers unrivaled bang-for-your-buck as the best ambilight alternative for most people.

Your turn: What ambient TV backlight kits do YOU recommend?