For several weeks we have been testing the new Orange TV premium deco. The so-called Orange Infinity HomeBox offers a unique and improved experience in sound and image quality, usability, design, connection and access to new services at home, but does it deliver on everything it promises?
Orange launched at the beginning of March a new decoder for your television that seeks to offer a unique and improved experience in enjoying football, film, series, music, game or videoconference content. This device has been dubbed the Orange Infinity HomeBox and stands out for having the most advanced connectivity or the best immersive sound. We have tried it for several weeks and we will tell you about the taste in our mouths that it has left us.
Technical characteristics
The new deco stands out for having WiFi 6 connectivity, Bang & Olufsen audio system or the Android TV operating system that gives us access to thousands of applications. On a technical level, this is the technical data sheet of the VSB3918 deco:
- Integrated Audio by Bang & Olufsen system
- Enhanced speakers: woofer (17W) and 3 full-range speakers (3W each)
- UHD 4K image quality with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision
- Integrated Google Assistant
- Android TV Operating System
- sound bar function
- Dual connection (Gigabit Ethernet cable / Wi-Fi 6 2×2 5GHz band)
- Bluetooth 5.0
- BCM72178 CPU
- 4GB RAM memory
- 32GB internal storage
- HDMI 2.1 / HDCP 2.2 / eARC connection
- Two USB 2.0 Type A ports (power up to 1A)
- Freeview DVB-T2 tuner
- Bluetooth and Infrared remote control, with TV control
Inside the box that the orange operator has sent us, we find, in addition to the Infinity HomeBox premium decoder, the remote control and 2 AAA batteries, an HDMI cable with Ethernet, a category 5e Ethernet cable, a power supply (DC 12V, 2 ,5A), the quick installation manual and the safety sheet.
First steps: what to consider and installation
Before starting to connect the new deco, some things must be clarified. The price of the Infinity HomeBox service is 5 euros per month and is available to all customers who have or contract a current rate in the Orange catalog that includes football:
- love soccer
- Love Soccer 2 with Netflix
- Love Soccer 2 with Disney+ and Amazon Prime
- Love Soccer Total 2
- Love Soccer Total 4
- 1 Gb fiber with TV
It can be contracted in different ways, through My Orange, in the Customer Area and by calling 1470. Of course, the service does not have a commitment to permanence and the customer can unsubscribe at any time. If we unsubscribe we will have to return it within a maximum period of 15 days.
In principle, it is not necessary for a technician to come for its installation, although if it is contracted together with the registration in Orange, he will leave everything configured during his visit. As we will see, it is auto-installable and can be up and running in a few minutes.
Installation is really easy. Simply connect the decoder to the television using the HDMI cable (preferably using an HDMI eARC/ARC port), connect the decoder to the router using the network cable, connect the DTT antenna (this is optional) and connect the device to the current.
Now we will only have to turn on the television, choose the HDMI port and wait a few seconds for it to load. The controller is set up to work right out of the box. There is the alternative of connecting it wirelessly using WiFi 6 technology, but it is always more advisable to do it by cable.
Deco use experience
Once we have everything connected and we have started the deco, we find ourselves with an experience very similar to that of the rest of the operator’s current television devices. Of course, this Orange Infinity HomeBox is faster and everything seems to work in a much lighter way, both when changing the channel and when we navigate through the different menus.
As we have already mentioned, we have almost the same options as in the deco that the operator already installed, but some sections have been added that allow us to take advantage of the potential of the Orange Infinity HomeBox. For example, we have access to Music or Games, a section that we can take advantage of by connecting a bluetooth controller.
The rest of the possibilities are the same at the interface level, being able to navigate through Google Assistant or Alexa, or download hundreds of Android TV applications from the Google Play Store. Without a doubt, Android decos are a good option today because we can access any platform such as Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, SkyShowtime and many more.
Where we do have a substantial change is in the sound section. The Orange Infinity HomeBox sounds good, really good. In addition, it can work as a sound bar for television, so we can take advantage of it to listen to DTT or the different Smart TV applications with much more clarity and sharpness.
This is because we have a 4-speaker system designed by the prestigious Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen that is compatible with technologies such as Dolby Atmos. This offers us a very clear sound, with many nuances and that is heard really well. It is, without a doubt, the most outstanding part of the new Orange device.
It’s worth it?
With all of the above reviewed, it is time to decide if it is worth paying 5 euros a month for this new equipment for our home. First of all, it must be emphasized that it also includes a 24-hour support service to resolve any questions regarding installation or operation, along with constant updates and free replacement in case of failure.
On one side of the scale we have a really well-built device, with great image and sound quality, very fast, with a neat interface and access to thousands of applications. On the other hand, we have the obligatory payment of 5 euros every month to get hold of the device.
This makes it very difficult to say if it is worth paying those 5 euros every month, since it will depend a lot on the economy of each home. If we focus only on the device, the answer is that it is worth a lot, but the economic part can scare more than one. My advice? Hire it and test it to draw our own conclusions.