Great Remotes
ezc
Posts: 426
Just got our shipment of Harmony remotes in from CES & I purchased two ( one of each model) to try in my system. Im impressed with this hard button remote! No macro programing! Standard set up in about 45 min or less. Here is my review
This is hands down the easiest universal remote that I have ever programmed & have used! I have programmed the SST-659 for my family to use including my 2.5 year old son. Even he can press one button to turn on the system to watch one his dvd's, he still needs mom or dad to put the dvd in & get it started. My wife now doesn't have any problem using our main Home theater system now with the SST-659.
I have set up a SST-768 for my use & so far its worked well! The 768 is slightly harder to use than the 659 but after getting to know the remote & understanding how it works I like the 768 better. The standard setup & programming took about 45 min for each remote. No macro programming & no teaching the remote commands! My 768 is now set up to control our main HT system, the small HT system & a third TV. Total programming time for my 768 is about 1.5 hrs. It controls 3 TV's, 2 DVD players, 2 Receivers & 2 VHS players all with one remote! Easy to use scroll to a activity like watch DVD main system (icon based look at the pic & press select!), press one button & the TV turns on, Receiver turns on, DVD player turns on, TV input changes to comp 1, receiver switches to dvd, Voltage Stabilizer turns on, Power Conditioner turns on & I even have the DVD tray to open upon start up (again all with out programing macros)! I have tried many remotes & some costing much more but hands down this is the best hard button remote! On line programming makes it forward compatible & should be able to use with future equipment & upgrades! This is one product that is highly recommended if you have a Home Theatre System of any size or even a TV with just a VCR or DVD player this again is a must have! I cant see myself going back to 5 remotes for the main system, 3 remotes for the small system & one for the Kitchen TV, or spending more on another universal remote than spending hours programing it to work when I can have my 768 control everything & be programed in less than an hour. Oh one cool feature is the TV listings right on the remote. No more flipping through the chanels, I just scroll to what I want than press select, Its displayed by time & show name or station name. Every 5 days I do an update to the remote to update the TV listings! That feature is not necessary but Im glad its there! If there is any Polk member that is interested in purchasing one contact me & we will offer you a special price. We are an authorized dealer so the remotes will have a full factory warranty.
This is hands down the easiest universal remote that I have ever programmed & have used! I have programmed the SST-659 for my family to use including my 2.5 year old son. Even he can press one button to turn on the system to watch one his dvd's, he still needs mom or dad to put the dvd in & get it started. My wife now doesn't have any problem using our main Home theater system now with the SST-659.
I have set up a SST-768 for my use & so far its worked well! The 768 is slightly harder to use than the 659 but after getting to know the remote & understanding how it works I like the 768 better. The standard setup & programming took about 45 min for each remote. No macro programming & no teaching the remote commands! My 768 is now set up to control our main HT system, the small HT system & a third TV. Total programming time for my 768 is about 1.5 hrs. It controls 3 TV's, 2 DVD players, 2 Receivers & 2 VHS players all with one remote! Easy to use scroll to a activity like watch DVD main system (icon based look at the pic & press select!), press one button & the TV turns on, Receiver turns on, DVD player turns on, TV input changes to comp 1, receiver switches to dvd, Voltage Stabilizer turns on, Power Conditioner turns on & I even have the DVD tray to open upon start up (again all with out programing macros)! I have tried many remotes & some costing much more but hands down this is the best hard button remote! On line programming makes it forward compatible & should be able to use with future equipment & upgrades! This is one product that is highly recommended if you have a Home Theatre System of any size or even a TV with just a VCR or DVD player this again is a must have! I cant see myself going back to 5 remotes for the main system, 3 remotes for the small system & one for the Kitchen TV, or spending more on another universal remote than spending hours programing it to work when I can have my 768 control everything & be programed in less than an hour. Oh one cool feature is the TV listings right on the remote. No more flipping through the chanels, I just scroll to what I want than press select, Its displayed by time & show name or station name. Every 5 days I do an update to the remote to update the TV listings! That feature is not necessary but Im glad its there! If there is any Polk member that is interested in purchasing one contact me & we will offer you a special price. We are an authorized dealer so the remotes will have a full factory warranty.
Post edited by ezc on
Comments
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ezc,
How have you been buddy? Great review. I've been eying these Harmony remotes for about a year now ever since my audio dealer told me he was thinking about carrying them.
I had a Phillips Neo Pronto for about a week a few months ago... got completely frustrated with the thing and then the learning feature locked up so I returned it for a refund. I didn't care for the "soft" buttons either too much. It was also kind of bulky and didn't seem like it would withstand a few knocks and drops like remotes often get. Seemed kind of fragile and there were even some users on the Neo Forum who said their unit faceplate cracked after being dropped. Not like I would abuse a remote, but I would prefer one that is more robustly built.
How do you get the thing to learn commands or your other remotes if you don't teach the Harmony? Do they have a online setup? Also do they carry obscure brand names that are often found in hi-fi gear... Jolida for example?
I'll be getting in contact with you if I want one. The Monster HTPS 7000 I purchased from you is still working great... I love that thing.
Anyone thinking about buying from ezc, he is a top notch seller and a GREAT person to deal with. Very nice fellow and knowlegeable about the gear he sells.
Paul -
Ecz,
Do you have link for them?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
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Thanks PaulPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
You are welcome Jesse,
I need to get my read on too.
Paul -
Paul,
The remotes can be trained via IR. If harmony has the info in its data base you select the manufacture from a drop down list & next step YOU NEED TO TYPE IN THE MODEL #. If its not in the data base you need to train the remote. If Im not mistaken once you train & do an updatge it saves your settings in your account. Also if the equipment isnt there let us know & well ask Harmony to try & get the correct codes for that equipment. I was told that there are over a few thousand codes in thier data base & its still growing. One manifacture that the harmony cant do as of now is B & O. If you want to check to see if your equipment make is there do the test drive on the Harmony site or send me the make & models & I can check on it for you. So simple to set up, you just answer questions like when watching a dvd what controls the sound? Drop down box choices receiver, pre/pro, tv you just select the correct one! What blows me away about this remote is the programing. All other universal remotes I have or had had preset codes for different items (ex denon dvd 2900) I punch in the code & the remote works but I still need to train the remote to have all the buttons work. So far with the Harmony I havent had to do it yet. I like the fact that if Denon comes out with a newer dvd player that I purchase I just go to the harmony website & add in the new dvd player which should take no more than a few min. than reprogram the remote. Simple as that. Being forward compatable is the key! -
Paul,
Checked on Jolida in the amp section & yes Joilda is listed. m amazed at the info they have. Some manifactures I have never heard of! Item that may interest you since you own a 7000. My friend here in our HT Club won the Wide screen review contest & won a 7000. He uses richard grey 400s in his system. He replaced them with the one 7000 & Pic & Sound much improved. He tried adding the RG 400 back in to the system along with the 7000 but it only made the sonud & pic worse. Anyway just thaught that would interest you!
Ace -
Hi ezc I might be interested in one email me at ctrinh123@msn.com thanx.Wish I was a polkologist then I could call my self Dr.warviper.
