My wife bought me this remote for Christmas after not being able to find a Harmony 700 in the stores.
This is my first UR that does more than your basic cheap UR.
I had asked for a Harmony One but my wife didn't want to spend that much on "just a remote" for me. So she proceeded to look for a Harmony 700. Mind you she waited until the last week before Christmas to start shopping.
Well, Christmas morning rolled around and I opened the box fully expecting to find a 700 and instead found the ARRX15G. She said the stores were all out of the Harmony 700 and that this one was recommended by a sales person as a viable alternative.
I waited a few days before I opened it because I was trying to find reviews online but they all seemed extreme either for or against the remote. Having never used a higher end universal remote I figured what the heck I'd give it a shot. Worse case I'd just return it.
After installing the software and going through the initial device install. I was pleasantly surprised at the flexibility of this remote. I use it to control 4 different devices - a Sony KDFE42A10 television, an Onkyo TXSR606 reciever, a Sony BDP350 bluray player, and an older Sony DVD Player.
I like the button layout and find that I was able to memorize the layout rather quickly.
A day later I decided that I wanted to add a couple of Activities and change some of the color buttons for functions that I use most often. Although, this took some time, about 30 minutes, it was very easy to follow the software and to make the changes I wanted to.
My wife paid $80 for this remote and I am rather satisfied with it. with the money she saved over getting the Harmony 700 she bought me a few blu-rays.
Again, I have never used a Harmony remote so I can't compare the two but for my uses, as simple as they may be, this remote works very well. It's nice not having to juggle 4 remotes on my side table just to watch a movie. Acoustic Research ARRX15G Xsight Color Universal 15 Device Remote Control
I received this items as a gift for Christmas. My second Harmony remote is coming apart (older one had a failed LCD). My initial impression was that the remote has a better display, fit, and finish than the mid-level Harmony line. Unfortunately, during the software update process, two of these locked up and then became nothing more than $80 door stops (remotes will not even power up). After 2 calls to support, I'm still not pleased(one hold for 15 minutes, then disconnected). Call 2 took ~14 minutes with the resolution being "exchange it".
If you choose to buy this remote, do so with caution (and buy it locally). The manufacturer's software implementation is worse than Logitech's, and support is sub-standard. Here's hoping Best Buy is restocked early next week.
PROS: Attractive well built, nice screen, great back-light, huge online device codes database, code learning
feature for unknown codes, each family member has their own Favs, a good choice for the novice do-it-
yourself Home Theater user, good value for price.
CONS: Big, on heavy side, batteries don't last long enough, some buttons too small and too close together,
website not designed for the more experienced user creating custom command strings(macros), slower to
use than standard remote due to screen lookups, Favs must be added online.
Any remote controlling a Home Theater type of multiple electronic devices requires some level expertise of programming remotes, else you are going to be frustrated. But I will say this remote will require the least expertise if you follow the Manual step-by-step religiously, because XSight has gone out of their way to make setting up a complex A/V system about as easy as it is going to get. The trade-off is if you have more expertise and want to jump right in creating or customizing your own command strings, it is not as friendly to you. NOTE: The XSight website provided to help you through the setup requires a Windows ONLY XP w/Service Pac 2 or later O/S, and Internet Explorer ONLY browser, and when you are connected to the PC, even when the Remotes display is not light, its processor is still running and it will quickly discharge alkaline batteries.
Now for the possible disappointments to some. This remote is big, 9" X 2 1/4", and heavy 3/4Lb. But any remote with this size screen will likely be as large. There is a trade-off. Secondly, it uses 3 AA batteries so this will add to the weight if you use standard alkaline, which you will not want to because it will use them fairly quickly, especially if you hooked up to the PC USB. You will want to get lighter and rechargeable NiMH batteries at some point, and I would suggest the Hybrids or PreCharged NiMH's because they will not self-discharge as fast as standard NiMH's, important for a remote just lying around most of the time. In this Remotes favor, it does an excellent job of automatically turning itself off, letting you choose the on time, and letting you choose to use the Auto-On Tilt motion detector or not, when you pick it up. I would turn Tilt-Off, especially if you use non-rechargeable alkaline batteries since one press of any button turns on the display, but the Tilt feature works very well.
What I liked the most about this Remote is the ability to organize channel Favs into categories, called Profiles, with a title and even a logo or picture of your choice, for example Mom, Dad, Kids, Educational, News etc. What I didn't like is how small and close together some of the keys were, especially the screen control key, the ones you will find your using the most because each most screens only show three choices, and the scrolling to get to what you want can be a pain, even with back-lighting. Why they choose to make all the other keys almost too big (if that's possible :) ), and the screen control ones so small and close together, is know only to them I guess.
I will point out the screen control bar has been moved away from other keys and made bigger on the XSight Touch screen model of this remote, though the other small key have not. The difference between the Touch and this Color XSight model, aside from the much higher cost, is just three things; the screen is a Touch instead of this models side keys, it uses a proprietary LiION rechargeable battery with stand like a cell phone or ipod, and it is RF ready meaning it can control an optional RF Extender to replace the limited distance Infrared(IR) standard used in all remotes. Otherwise the models are exactly the same using the same
layout(with the one scroll bar mentioned above), same firmware/features, and same website software for setup.
Bottom line for me, if you are not able to setup a more complicated A/V arrangement and do not want to hire an A/V installer, then this Remote may very well do the job for you at the cost or less than an Installer visit. At the same time, you will have the trade-offs of size, weight, battery life, and need to scroll screens to get to certain buttons available on screen only. One big advantage to screened soft-buttons however is you will now have access to almost all of all your original remotes buttons in one place and you can even assign ones of your choice to any hard button on the remote, exchanging the buttons original function for one you prefer, for each of your A/V Devices.
However, if you are more experienced Home Theater sort of A/V equipment, then the online website is not as flexible and friendly as you would find at say, Logitech's Harmony line site, but you can get what you want out of this remote, just with more time and head-scratching getting past the novice 'hand-holder' step-by-step software approach.
If you choose this Color Model for the price advantage over the Touch, then be sure to get rechargeable AA Hybrid batteries. Hybrids are chargeable using the same NiMH charger you may already have. They will not self-discharge when not in use like standard rechargeables. Be advised the Touch Screen will not solve the small control buttons too close together, though the Touch's bigger and space away scroll bar will to some degree. The nice advantage to the Color's AA use is, unlike cell phone and ipod batteries, AA are available anywhere and are not expensive like proprietary LiIONs found in the Touch.
Hope this has helped those trying to make a choice here, and it is worth reading the other reviews found here and at Amazon's XSight Touch Model page to get other pros/cons. I would say this remote is a good buy for the money, but certainly not for $100 to $299 price sold else where. Fyi, the Xsight is exactly the same product as the Nevo line sold to Installers at $299. It is also sold under the Audiovox label.
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