It doesn't always have to be a new television - that's the opinion of the manufacturers of two small devices that want to refine the slipper cinema.

One is concerned with the good sound, the other wants to bring the colorful world of streaming services to an older screen.

A sound improver, called HDSX TV Sound Optimizer, is supposed to combat an annoying problem as an electronic outboard motor: If commercials interrupt the program, the sound often becomes louder. Jumps in volume are sometimes annoying when switching between different programs, and those who reduce overly dramatic film music to a moderate level, at the same time dampen the dialogues. All of this should be a thing of the past when the small aluminum box with the HDSX electronics comes into action.

This promise is not quite so exotic; Settings called “night mode” in some televisions and soundbars promise something similar. But if this sound option is missing, the additional box, price around 120 euros, could actually help. However, it only works on external speakers: the television feeds digital stereo sound to the device via an optical connection, and another optical cable connects the HDSX processor to a soundbar. Headphones can also be docked to the box via an analog jack socket.

Two switches, one for the digital and one for the analog signal path, switch the processor effect on and off.

First of all, it is noticeable that the HDSX electronics significantly reduce the overall volume.

And it really levels out violent volume fluctuations, so it does a lot of sense, especially at late hours.

But of course the small outboard also levels the program dynamics;

we would turn it off for concerts.

Modern Google TV interface

The second box, completely in white, is a small Android computer with the type code THA100, which can give every television connected via HDMI a modern Google TV interface if desired.

It lists, neatly sorted, all the important streaming services with their logos, YouTube and the media libraries of the stations are also included. On top of that, the virtual app store Google Play has a whole universe of other video sources and programs available. Outwardly similar devices are available in innumerable variants for pocket money, some come directly from China. We have not always had good experiences with such TV boxes: Lousy surface graphics often determine the picture, insufficient processor performance occasionally causes the films to stutter, the Android substructure often refuses to select the appropriate frame rate.

The white box that bears the Thomson brand name is completely different.

The frame rate can be precisely adjusted to the program here - 50 Hertz for European TV, 60 Hertz for videos from America, 24 Hertz for digital versions of movies.

In practical terms, this means: all video material runs smoothly and without jerking, and the small electronics box can even handle films in UHD resolution without complaint.

For fun, we installed the Kodi program, a universal, technically sophisticated media player that can, for example, access everything that is stored on a media server in the home network or on a hard drive connected via USB.

The small electronics box can also handle this program with ease, and we think: Your price of around 100 euros is okay.