This rabbit-ears TV antenna takes us back to the future
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Good reception of local channels
- Built-in signal amplifier
- Cool retro vibe thanks to rabbit ears
Cons
- Needs to be placed near a window for best performance
- Integrated amplifier must be powered through a micro-USB cable and AC adapter or a TV’s USB port
Our Verdict
The Televes Innova Boss mixes great reception with a cool retro vibe. It provided sensitive and stable reception of local channels in our tests and should be a good choice for anyone who cannot install an outdoor or attic antenna.
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Do you remember rabbit ears? If you grew up in the 1960s or 70s or without cable TV, there’s a good chance you do. Rabbit ears were an indoor TV antenna that sat on top of your TV set and invariably required repositioning for different channels. They have very much fallen out of fashion these days in favor of sleeker and smaller antennas with a more modern aesthetic.
While they might look a bit old-fashioned, rabbit ears aren’t useless. In fact, they can deliver better reception of VHF TV stations, those broadcasting on channels 2 through 13, so it’s interesting to see them featured on the Televes Innova Boss Mix indoor TV antenna.
If you can’t install an outdoor or attic antenna, the Innova Boss Mix is a top choice.
The Televes Innova Boss Mix is in the foreground, the Televes Bexia is in the background in this shot.
Martyn Williams
This is an amplified indoor TV antenna that has a wonderful retro vibe, but is it any good? I gave it a thorough test.
To review reception, I compared the Innova Boss Mix with another Televes indoor antenna, the Televes Bexia, which is our current top pick in amplified indoor TV antennas. I put them in the same location and measured reception across the TV broadcast band with each antenna three times.
Power for the Televes Innova Boss Mix’s signal amplifier comes through this micro-USB port on its back panel.
Martyn Williams
The results were favorable in side-by-side tests. The Innova Boss Mix recorded slightly better signals in the VHF portion of the band and slightly worse signals on UHF stations. On VHF, the better results were enough to pull in an additional channel, while on UHF the results were not bad enough to lose any channels. In fact, while signal levels were lower overall, it also managed to receive an additional station. So, that’s a win all around.
The Innova Boss Mix and the Bexia both feature signal amplifiers with power delivered via a USB connection, either from a wall adapter or the USB port on a television.
Did the logo really need to be this prominent?
Martyn Williams
Further reading: This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best TV antennas.
That amplifier helps reception, but I always recommend installing an external or attic antenna, if at possible, before considering an indoor model. An antenna mounted outdoors or in your attic, where’s it closer to being outdoors, will deliver more stable reception, and probably a few extra channels compared to an indoor model.
Should you buy a Televes Innova Boss Mix indoor TV antenna?
If you can’t install an outdoor or attic TV antenna, the Innova Boss Mix is a top choice and is at least on par with the Televes Bexia. It will work well in areas with good to strong signals for reception of local TV stations. If you don’t like the rabbit-ears aesthetic, go with the Bexia, instead.
