Only One Remote Control Ratings

Last updated: 19 October 2010

5. Highest score. This product affords us all of the most important commands needed to do pretty much anything that is possible to do with the product.

4. High score. This product does not have any serious shortcomings but might require us to jump through a few extra hoops to get the final result that we want. It is still considered a “friendly” unit.

3. Average. This product has a least one serious shortcoming that we would prefer to have available to us. Basically if there is another product that would work equally well all things considered we recommend that you choose something different from a control standpoint.

2. Low score. This product is considered a “hostile”. It probably has several issues that create obstacles that we may or may not have “workarounds” for. We would strongly suggest considering an alternative product if possible. Unfortunately all cable boxes fall into this category so your only better option from a control standpoint is to switch to satellite.

1. Lowest score. Not recommended. Avoid products in this category if at all possible.

NOTE: Most recent update will be highlighted using a yellow font color.

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Manufacturer

Product Type

Control Rating

Comments

Adcom

Preamps/Receivers

4

Limited code options for multi-room control.

Anthem

Preamps/Receivers

3

Mode selection requires macros that are not reliable. There are only 64 codes available for this preamp.

Apple

TV

2

Very limited control options.

Apex Digital

Displays

1

No discrete power or input commands.

Arcam

Preamps/Receivers

4.5

All discrete power codes are available for both main and second zone.

Arcam

CD/DVD Players

5

No known issues.

Atlona

Matrix Switchers

4

Recommend using RS232 for control of these products.

Audio Authority

PS3 Controllers

5

Full compliment of discreet commands. Battery powered unit.

Audiovox

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Audiovox

DVD Players

2

No discrete code support.

BenQ

Projectors

4

No on/off codes. Discrete inputs are available. Power button allows press twice for off.

B&K

Preamps/Receivers

4

Limited code options for multi-room control.

B&O

All

2

Works best in an all B&O system.

Bose

Lifestyle Systems

5

All discrete commands are provided. Vendor support is excellent!

Broksonic

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Cisco/Sci Atlanta

Cable Boxes

1

No discrete power commands. RNG Series remote is very difficult to learn. Very unpredictable response regarding emitter location and placement of emitters will be different from unit to unit. Control nightmare!

Coby

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Denon

Receivers

5

One of the best in the industry. Excellent vendor support.

Denon

Blu Ray Players

5

Discrete power codes are available.

Denon

CD Players

5

No known issues with current models. No discrete on/off on previous generation.

Denon

DVD Players

5

No known issues.

DirecTV

Satellite Receivers

4

On/off codes available on all current models.

Dish Network

Satellite Receivers

5

All models share same codes. Excellent control options.

DVDO

Video Processors

5

No known issues. All discretes available including picture formatting.

Dynex

Displays

2

No power commands but some input codes are available.

Element

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Emerson

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Emerson

DVD Players

2

No discrete code support.

Escient

Media Controllers

5

No known issues.

Fujitsu

Plasma Displays

5

No known issues.

Funai

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Funai

DVD Players

2

No discrete code support.

Haier

Displays

1

No discrete code support.

Hannspree

Displays

1.5

No discrete power commands but some input codes are available.

Harmon Kardon

Receivers

3.5

Latest models now feature some discrete codes for multizone but still very limited.

Harmon Kardon

DVD Players

5

No known issues.

Hitachi

Displays

5

Some older models do not feature discrete codes.

Hitachi

Projectors

3

No on/off codes. Power button allows press twice for off.

HP

Displays

5

All discretes for power and input are available but feedback is needed to confirm model applicability. Please report your results to our tech support personnel.

Insignia

Blu Ray

2

No discrete power commands.

Insignia

Displays

3

No discrete power commands but inputs are available.

Insignia

DVD Players

2

No discrete power commands.

In Focus

Projectors

5

No known issues.

Integra

Preamps/Receivers

5

Excellent control options.

Integra

CD/DVD Players

5

Some older CD Players do not feature on/off codes.

JVC

Displays

4

Discrete power and inputs are avialable. Code tech support is below average.

JVC

DVD Players

4.5

Discrete power commands are available.

JVC

Projectors

3.5

Two off commands needed for power down. RF a must if switching- extremely long time delay required for input after turn on. Older models have no discretes.

Key Digital

Video Distribution

5

No known issues.

Krell

Disc Players

5

Discrete power commands are available.

Krell

Preamps

4

Discrete power is available but very limited for multizone control.

Lexicon

Preamps/Receivers

4

Limited discrete mode selection and multi-room control.

LG

Displays

4

Discrete codes available. Limited testing data available on these products.

LG

DVD Players

4

Discrete codes available. Limited testing data available on these products.

Lumagen

Video Processors

5

Discrete commands are available and tech support is exceptional.

Lutron

Lighting

5

No known issues.

Magnavox

Displays

1.5

No discrete power commands and only a few input commands that do not work on all models.

Magnavox

DVD Players

1

No discrete power commands.

Marantz

Receivers

5

Every imaginable discrete code is available.

Marantz

Projectors

5

No known issues.

Marantz

CD&DVD Players

5

No known issues.

McIntosh

Preamps

1.5

Very limited control capabilities. Only 64 codes are shared among all models.

Memorex

DVD Players

1

No discrete power commands.

Meridian

Theater Systems

5

Best when used in an all Meridian system.

Mitsubishi

Displays

4

Inputs are not labeled consistently between models. Vendor support is poor.

Mitsubishi

Projectors

4

Discreet power and inputs are available. Vendor policy prohibits release new of codes.

Motorola

Cable Receiver

2

No discrete on/off codes.

NAD

Preamps/Receivers

4

All important discretes for multizone are available. Customer support is excellent.

NEC

Displays

4.5

Discrete power commands and inputs available.

Niles

Multizone Receivers

5

Latest models feature full compliment of control options.

Norcent

Displays

3

No discrete power commands but inputs are available.

Nyko

PS3 Controller

2.5

Basic transport and menu functions only.

NuVision

Displays

5

Discrete power commands and inputs are available.

Olevia

Displays

3

No discrete power commands but inputs are available.

Onkyo

Receivers

5

Excellent control options.

Onkyo

Blu Ray Players

5

Discrete power codes are available.

Onkyo

CD&DVD Players

4.5

Some older models do not feature on/off code support.

Oppo Digital

Blu Ray Players

5

No known issues.

Oppo Digital

DVD Players

5

No known issues.

Optoma

Projectors

4

Limited direct experience with product. Discrete codes are available.

Panasonic

Displays

4

Input switching method varies from one generation to the next. Tech support is non existent.

Panasonic

Blu Ray Players

5

No known issues. Tech support is non existent.

Panasonic

DVD Players

5

No known issues. Tech support is non existent.

Pantel

Outdoor Displays

4.5

Most discrete codes are available. Vendor support is excellent!

Philips

Displays

4

Input labels are inconsistent from one generation to the next. Requires long time delay between on and input selection.

Pioneer

Receivers

5

Power on with input codes and all needed discretes are available. Vendors support is exceptional.

Pioneer

Blu Ray Players

5

Discrete power codes are available.

Pioneer

DVD Players

5

Excellent vendor support.

Pioneer

Displays

5

Excellent vendor support. No discrete antenna A/B codes.

Pioneer

Projectors

4

Two off commands needed for power down. RF a must if switching- extremely long time delay required for input after turn on.

Planar

Displays

4.5

Discrete power commands and inputs are available.

Proscan

Displays

1.5

No discrete power commands but inputs are available. Code tech support is poor.

RCA

Displays

3

On/Off codes available for some models.

Rotel

Preamps/Receivers

3.5

On/Off codes available but limited multizone control.

Rotel

DVD Players

4.5

On/Off codes available on newer models.

Runco

Displays

4

Discrete codes support is avialable but code sets differ from model to model.

Russound

Multizone Controllers

4.5

All discretes codes are available.

Samsung

Blu Ray Players

4

No discrete on/off codes. Play does turn units on.

Samsung

Flat Displays

4

Discrete codes are available but input commands are badly organized. Multiple codes used between generations. New models are more consistent. Tech support is poor.

Samsung

DLP RPTV

3

Need 11 Second delay after turn on to switch inputs. If switching, RF is a must!

Samsung

DVD Players

2

No discrete on/off codes and play does not turn them on.

Sansui

Displays

1

No discrete power or input commands.

Sansui

DVD Players

1

No discrete power commands but inputs are available.

Sceptre

Displays

2.5

No discrete power commands but all inputs are available.

Schmartz

PS3 Controllers

5

Several models allow discrete power commands.

Scientific Atlanta

Cable Receiver

2

Discrete on/off can be realized with proper setup of the unit. No skip fwd.

Sharp

Displays

4

Input names vary between models.

Sharp

Blu Ray Player

1.5

No discrete on/off codes and play does not turn them on. Eject will turn unit on.

Sharp

Projectors

4

No discrete on/off codes. Power button allows press twice for off.

Sharp

Blu Ray Player

3

No discrete on/off commands. Play does not turn unit on.

Sherbourn

Receivers/Preamps

4

Some units support discrete commands.

Sherwood

Receivers

4

Does include all discrete power commands for both main zone and zone 2. Limited mode selection but zone 2 does include volume and mute commands.

Shinybow

AV Switchers

5

All discrete commands available for most models. Vendor support is exceptional.

Simm

Projectors

4.5

Input commands power on unit and select input. Power button press twice for off.

Sony

Displays

4.5

Discretes available for both displays and projectors but inputs are no longer labeled sequentially on some newer displays. (.5 deduction from previous score)

Sony

Displays- M Series

3

Discrete on off codes only. Input commands are not available with this series.

Sony

Blu Ray Players

5

Discrete power codes are available.

Sony

CD/DVD Players

5

Some older CD changers do not support discrete on/off.

Sony

Receivers

4.5

Discrete codes are available. Vendor support is now excellent.

Soyo

Displays

1

No discrete power or input commands.

Sylvania

Displays

1

No discrete power or input commands available.

Sylvania

DVD Players

1

No discrete power commands available.

TIVO

Sat/Cable Receivers

2

Some units can be hacked to get on/off as well as a useful skip fwd command.

Sunbright

Outdoor Displays

5

All needed discrete codes are available.

Toshiba

Blu Ray Players

4

No discrete power commands but will turn on with play.

Toshiba

Displays

3.5

Discrete power and input selection available on some upper end models.

Toshiba

DVD Players

3

No discrete on/off codes. Play does turn units on.

Toshiba

HD DVD Players

5

Discrete on/off now available.

Viore

Displays

1

No discrete power or input commands.

Vizio

Displays

5

Full compliment of discrete power and input codes now available. Thanks J Legge.

Vudu

On Demand Server

5

All discretes available. Excellent customer support.

Westinghouse

Displays

2.5

No discrete power commands but inputs are available.

Wyrestorm

Matrix Switchers

4

No known issues.

Yamaha

Receivers

5

Full discrete control of all functions. Vendor support is good.

Yamaha

Blu Ray Players

5

Discrete power codes are available.

Yamaha

CD/DVD Players

5

Newest models only.

Yamaha

Displays/Projectors

5

No known issues.

Zenith

Displays

4

Limited direct experience with product. Discrete codes are available.


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