If you’re looking for a home planetarium, there are two popular choices to consider. You have the Sega Toys Homestar Flux and the Sega Toys Homestar Original. They come from the same brand, but each of them has distinct features that will be discussed in this article.
Aside from that, I will compare these two products in terms of their set-up, functionality, quality, service or warranty, and price. And finally, you’ll find out which one is a better choice and why I recommend it.
Homestar Flux | Homestar Original | |
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Stars per Disc | 60,000 | 60,000 |
Projection Surface | 8.9 ft. | 9.5 ft. |
Shooting Star |  | |
Rotation | | |
Sleep-Timer | | |
Focus Adjustment | | |
Speaker |  | |
Lighting | 5-Watt LED | 3-Watt LED |
Scope of Delivery |
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Size | 6.34 in x 6.26 in x 5.94 in | 6.34 in x 6.26 in x 5.94 in |
Weight | 21.9 ounces | 28.2 ounces |
My Rating | ||
Read the review | Read the review | |
Start-up
Let’s begin with the start-up of these home planetariums. They have a common start-up, which only takes a few minutes. The device assembly is also the same.
The Homestar Flux takes two to three minutes to start working. The first thing you need to do is insert one of the two star discs by pulling out the front flap then inserting it back again. Use the cable to connect the room planetarium to a power source. Turn the unit on then adjust the sharpness to start viewing the starry skies.
Meanwhile, the Homestar Original takes a few minutes to start. You need to remove the protective cap first then connect the cable to a power supply. Insert one star disc by pulling out the front flap where you can see an opening. Once you have inserted the disc, insert the flap then press the power button to start the device. Use the wheel found around the lens to adjust the sharpness, and you’re all set. You can see a clear picture of the night skies.
Functionality
Without a doubt, both units have outstanding features as a home planetarium. For one, the Homestar Original has a timer that automatically switches off the device after 15, 30, or 60 minutes. It’s also the same timer that you can see on the Homestar Flux. They also come with a LED light. It means that you can watch the starry night skies while lying in bed as fall asleep.
A shooting star function is present on both home planetariums, but the Flux is slightly updated and looks more realistic. It is activated when a shooting star appears. There is also a rotation function that rotates the device to the north or south. However, the Original unit doesn’t indicate to what direction it rotates, and it makes noises as it moves. The Flux, on the other hand, produces minimal noises in addition to having illuminated buttons that are visible in the dark.
The focus adjustment is an essential feature in a home planetarium. The frame best adjusts the focus on the Homestar Original, and it should be within a distance of 4.9 to 7.5 feet from the wall to the ceiling. With two discs, each having 60,000 stars, its projection only covers about 8.2 to 9.8 feet in diameter, but it doesn’t label the star images.
The Flux is a much better planetarium in terms of this functionality. Since it has a more extensive and sharper projection, it only has a minimal focus adjustment, which is adjusted through the focus wheel. It also has two discs, but each disc contains more than 60,000 stars.
From the looks of it, both home planetariums have the same functions. But between the two, the Homestar Flux has a much better projection, giving you a much clearer, sharper, and more realistic images of the dark skies. It’s also lighter than the Homestar Original.
Quality
When it comes to quality, there may be a slight difference between the two. The Homestar Original has a good quality finish with materials that make the device sturdy. It comes with a 3-watt LED light and a protective flap for the lens. Meanwhile, the Homestar Flux already exudes sophistication with its packaging. It comes in a white box decorated with silver prints and an additional black cover for added protection. The matte-colored planetarium is high-quality, high mass, and stable.
Service/Warranty
Since the Homestar Original and the Homestar Flux come from the same brand, Sega Toys, it also has the same support or warranty service.
The good news is that it is easy for users to reach customer support if they have questions or encounter any problems with their units. There is a phone number that you can call and an e-mail address just in case you can’t reach them through their phone number. And the best part of it is that you get a fast response from the support team. I’ve had the first-hand experience with this, and the issue was resolved right away.
If you purchase a Sega Toys home planetarium online, there is a 14-day return policy in Germany. Aside from the right to return your order, you also have a warranty. The company offers a 2-year guarantee period, and that is not a problem. The units are sturdy and can last a long time; you won’t have to take advantage of the warranty.
Price Performance
Now, of course, this discussion will not be complete without talking about the prices of the products. Both home planetariums are not on the cheap side. The Homestar Original is around $140, and with that price comes a good quality device. Although some of its features are not at par with the cost, it’s still an excellent home planetarium for first-time users. It delivers and performs how the usual device works. With that said, the price performance of the Homestar Original is not justified.
The Homestar Flux, on the other hand, is more expensive than the Original, costing around $190. But the high price is for a good reason. It has more impressive functionality than its predecessor. All buttons are illuminated, which means you can see them even when there is no light. You get more than 60,000 stars. And best of all, it provides sharper and clearer images, which you don’t get from the Original. The price-performance? I would say that it is good, considering the impressive specifications of the device.
Conclosure – Sega Toys Homestar Flux vs. Original
There you have it, a comparison between the Homestar Original and Homestar Flux. Both devices have many similarities, but they also have significant differences.
They do have the same start-up, customer service support, and warranty period. But when it comes to their functionality, the Flux has better features than its predecessor. From illuminated buttons, minimal rotation noises to sharper starry sky images, it is clearly an updated version of the Homestar Original. And because it’s better, Flux is also more expensive than the original. In terms of packaging quality, Flux exceeds the Original unit with more security and protection.
But which of the two is the better option? I definitely recommend the Homestar Flux. Yes, it’s more pricey than the Original, but it’s worth the price. If you want a high-quality home planetarium that provides clearer images, then go big.
