Universal Remote Controls - Which One Do You Use?

[Doufuss]

Harmony

We have a 659, and it more or less controls everything. I still have to use my yamaha remote to control some functions of the receiver, but overall, we are very happy. My wife used to call me at work to fire up a DVD. (We had 4 remotes) Now, all she has to do is push a single button.

You program it at the Harmony website. The setup is fairly straightforward, and customer service is really exceptional. You can actually talk to a real, live person.

The layout and feel of the remote is good. Higher order functions are accessible via buttons flanking a small LCD. The menus are simple and easy to use.

 

[RaT]

I have setup remotes for several folks. (family members). I did a RTI and now working on a MX 800. The RTI is easily the simplest in design but costly. The MX 800 may well prove to be the best being both RF and infrared. With the RTI, if you hit a button that uses macros, you must keep it pointed at the IR receiver while it runs through the macro which can take seconds. With the MX 800, RF eliminates that issue, or so I hope. I'm just now getting it programmed. The other remotes like the MX 500 or MX 700 could be great choices, especially when price is considered.

 

[Duffinator]

I have a Marantz RC2000 MkII. It's been dropped several times, including yesterday from bar height by my 2 year old, but it keeps on ticking. I prefer the tactile feel of buttons over LCD screens. I've re-programmed it many times as my equipment has changed over the years and the only piece of equipment that it won't work properly (for some strange reason) is my Samsung DirecTV HD receiver. I've recommended the MX-500 to a few friends and have programmed them. Similar to the Marantz with some plus's and minus's, mostly plus's. I'm waiting for my Marantz to die so I can purchase the MX 500/700. For less than $100 the 500 is an incredible deal.

 

[Polkfan]

I picked up the 8 in 1 Kameleon from Radio Shack. It has several improvements over the older 8 in 1. It now has a tilt turn off that allows for power conservation, and brightness reduction. I now have remote control power back over my SR600 after my 1.5 year old son tossed the original Onkyo remote in the toilet a while back. The Kameleon remote has a very high cool factor! It seems to be very well made.