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View Full Version : Good universal remotes ~$100

sts9fan
11-03-2005, 12:14 PM
I need a universal remote!! Any suggestions? I am thinking of the Harmony 676 from ebay.:confused:
MDS
11-03-2005, 12:15 PM
Home Theater Master MX-350 ("Osiris"). I paid $125.
edwelly
11-03-2005, 12:36 PM
AAXES.com (http://www.aaxes.com/showCategory.aspx?CategoryID=148&show=all) has some good prices. I just bought the Sony RM-AX4000 for $109 + shipping but they have other models at good prices as well.
I have been VERY happy with my Sony remote. I hook it via a USB cable to my laptop and I can program away.

One note - it is SUPER important that you have all of the original remotes in order to properly program a universal remote - Good luck!!! Also, check out http://www.remotecentral.com/
Bryce_H
11-03-2005, 01:04 PM
oh contrar (sp) - with the Logitech Harmony remotes you just download all the codes off the internet. I have a 676, which I bought because my floor model Denon 3805 did NOT come with a remote (got it for $600). Plugged the Harmony into the computer - identified the 3805 as my receiver on the website and presto! Never needed the origanial. Logitech also has a great database of older stuff (i.e. my Sony VPL-400Q projector).
Doug917
11-03-2005, 02:25 PM
Another vote for the Harmony. I also have the 676 and love it. It is so easy to configure and works very well. It also does not hog batteries as some do-everything remotes do.
ssabripo
11-03-2005, 02:43 PM
Home theater Master MX-500 here.....got mine a while ago at newegg.com, and best $80 i've spent on my A/V ;)

easy to setup, fully customizable, very reliable, and most importantly, it feels good in your hand....the buttons, the shape, everything, just fits like an extension of your hand

http://www.remotecentral.com/ureview/photos/mx500.jpg


you can still get it at that price HERE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16880100601)
j_garcia
11-03-2005, 02:52 PM
The URC-100 is just $70 here (http://www.avtoybox.com/urc-100.html), and the 200 is $104. Both are very good remotes.
sts9fan
11-03-2005, 03:09 PM
got the 676 for $94 shipped on ebay. Good by clutter
jpm
11-04-2005, 11:25 AM
I just bought the newest Harmony -- the 520. Compared to the Sony I replaced, it's extremely easy to set up for multiple routines, much smaller and less intimidating for my family. It's also proving easy to customize as I go along.
Mobius
11-07-2005, 12:33 PM
Home Theater Master MX-350 ("Osiris"). I paid $125.

I also like this remote, I have the URC-200 version but I think it's 99.9% the same. I also have an MX-500 which is also very nice.
MDS
11-07-2005, 12:58 PM
I also like this remote, I have the URC-200 version but I think it's 99.9% the same. I also have an MX-500 which is also very nice.
As far as I know, the only differences are that the URC-200 has a green backlight instead of the blue on the MX-350 and the RF for the 200 is not assignable to different emitters on the RF base station as it is on the 350. Two things that aren't very important to most people.
korgoth
11-08-2005, 11:04 PM
anyone tried the new harmony 520?

i like the look of it way better than the others, i think if i bought a remote id have to choose between the 520, @ $100, and the 688 @ ~$175.
jpm
11-09-2005, 10:17 AM
anyone tried the new harmony 520?

i like the look of it way better than the others, i think if i bought a remote id have to choose between the 520, @ $100, and the 688 @ ~$175.

See my earlier post. I've had it about two weeks and generally like it. The size, look and activity based feature make it far less intimidating for family members. My only problem -- and I suspect it's just a case of needing to spend more time with the manual -- is that when you use the activity based feature to, say, watch TV, it only presents you with a limited number of the TV remote functions. If you want to do something more complex, like change audio inputs, you have to press the device button, choose A/V receiver and then proceed. Also the screen only presents four soft buttons at a time, so you may have to scroll through as many as 20 screens to find the right one for complex components like the receiver.

Still, it was truly simple to program, unlike the Sony I replaced, and with a little more time on my part I think I should be able to streamline the screens.

Also, the phone tech support was great -- no wait and the person actually knew what they were talking about.