Govee, a smart lighting company, has added Light Bars (model H605B to its Immersion TV LED Kit) to harmoniously extend backlight to the left and the right of 55- and 65-inch TVs. These additions almost double the illuminated area as well as the price. The new Immersion Kit is a more thoughtful purchase because it costs $79.99 instead of $149.99. The upgrade is for those who loved the old Immersion TV LED kit (model HL6199), but not for those who love it as much.
Govee Immersion kit (H605B with Light Bars Verge score 8 out of 10 Good Stuff. Extends backlighting on sides for deeper immersion
Amazing value for money
It works with all content except the Hue Play Box Bad Stuff Light bars that cannot be wall mounted
It's not fun to add stickers to an expensive TV.
Some people find backlighting distracting. Buy for $19.99 at Amazon. Buy for $149.99 at Govee
First, I must admit to my bias towards responsive bias lighting. In my review of the Govee model, it was mentioned that I love the Ambilight tech on Philips TVs. It makes it appear like the display is bleed onto the wall in perfect 360 degree synchronization. This makes watching sports and anime more real and immersive. This is me. There are many people who find this concept distracting and ridiculous. You don't have to read any further if that is you. If not, keep reading. This Govee Immersion Kit offers a visual treat.
The steps to install the color-sensing cameras and 12-foot adhesive LED strip are the same as for the previous kit. I won't repeat them. Govee has a great video tutorial. The second time I tried to calibrate the camera, the orange foam stickers didn't feel any more icky. My 55-inch OLED is still in good condition. The installation of the LED strip onto my TV's back was also much quicker. It took me less than 30 minutes to put the whole kit together, since I know what I'm doing. As with the Govee kit, first-timers should allow for about an hour.
The Light Bars are attached to the Govee control boxes via one USB-C Y cable. During calibration, you can define which bar is left or right in the Govee App. Govee recommends placing the Light Bars approximately 20 inches (51 cm) away from the TV's sides. To ensure consistent brightness, they should be the same depth and length as the LED strip at the back of your TV panel.
All has been modified or improved
The components are similar to the old Immersion Kit but Govee says that they have been improved or tweaked. New camera software algorithms transmit the correct color information to both the backlights and Light Bars simultaneously. The old kit owners who are upgrading cannot mix and match. Therefore, all 3M tape must be removed before installing new kit. My experience was that the tape holding the 12-foot LED strip to my TV and the camera came off easily. It also left no sticky residue.
The Immersion lighting can be configured via Bluetooth in the Govee Home App once it is installed. Wi-Fi is available to add the backlighting to your smart home. It also has built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant. The voice commands are not very useful since I connected the Immersion Kits controlbox to a smart plug. It turns on the backlighting and then off, based on the settings you have previously used with Govee.
The Govee Home app offers a wide range of options for the Immersion Kit. There are two types of party modes: interactive, which make the lights react to music; and static modes, which allow you to choose from a variety of color schemes and scenes. Video mode is where Ambilight-like magic occurs.
You can set the video mode to either Dynamic (previously called Game) or Calm. Calm allows for smoother, but slower color transitions. Although both settings have a slight lag when compared to the Philips Ambilight TV or the Philips Hue Play Box, it is acceptable, especially if the backlights can be dimmed for a subtler effect.
There are four types of color synchronization. My preference is the Bar Segment mode. This allows the Light Bar's color synchronization to mirror the colors projected by the RGBIC LED light strips attached to the back. For when I want to project one, less distracting, color onto the wall, the Same Color mode is my preference. It allows me to match the current TV scene with a single color. These are the two modes I have never used. I don't understand why anyone would choose Different Color mode. However, Whole Bar was very similar in practice to Bar Segment.
After several weeks of testing, I have settled on Calm / Bar Segment as my default viewing mode. It has 50 percent brightness, saturation, and is now my default. This is just me. I encourage you to try different settings for a few days to find the one that works for you. The Govee Immersion Kit can help you to find the right balance between immersion and distraction.
As before, I mounted the camera under my TV panel. It does affect the color accuracy slightly due to light interference, but it is worth the sacrifice to not have to see that ugly camera (it's now conveniently hidden by the soundbar).
Light Bars and stands made of black plastic are noticeable when you handle them, but not when you look at them from across a room. There is no white option, which would make it easier to conceal in my home.
Grid View The Light Bars are only available in black plastic.
The Light Bar must be placed on a shelf.
An LED light strip measuring 12 feet must be attached to the TV's back.
You can mount the camera (mine is temporary) to either the top or bottom side of your TV. The bottom looks better and is less susceptible to light interference.
Everything attaches at the Govee controlbox, which sticks to your TV's back.
These nitpicks aside, I still love the large backlighting effect in my living room and would rather have it than the Govee model. Although it took some time to get used, I may have just been a geek whizzing about the technology. It makes everything on the TV seem bigger.
My TV is mounted on a low, long cabinet that allows me to install everything easily. Wall-mounted TV owners without shelving for the Light Bars may be out of luck. Although mounting points for the Light Bars are located on the back of the Light Bars, you will need to rig a mount. However, this will mean that there will be two black wires running back to your TV. You'll have a lot of fun with this.
However, the cost of Govee's Immersion Kit is almost doubled by the addition of Light Bars. It is still significantly cheaper than the $229 Philips Hue Play Box, which requires you purchase lights separately like the $149.99 Hue Play Bar 2-pack and $229.99 Play Grade light strip, as well as a $59.99 Hue Bridge, if you don't already own one. The Govees Immersion Kit can be used with any content that is displayed on the TV. However, the Play Box cannot work with content feed to it via HDMI. However, the Play Box doesn't experience any lag.
Govees products are often on sale. The older Immersion Kit, which retails for $79.99, is currently on sale on Amazon for $67.99 and Govee direct at $58.80. This makes it a great deal. You won't be disappointed if you go all out with responsive backlighting and are ready to wait until Black Friday.
AGREE TO CONTINUE: GOVEE IMMERION WITH LIGHT BAARS Before you can use your smart device, you must agree to certain terms and conditions. These are contracts that almost no one ever reads. We are unable to review and analyze all of these agreements. We started counting how many times you must agree to use devices as we reviewed them. These are agreements that most people don't read and can't negotiate. You must agree to the following terms in the Govee Home App (iOS or Android): Govee privacy policies
Govee Terms and Use Final Tally: Two mandatory agreements
Thomas Ricker Photography / The Verge
