(Jul 06, 2009)
John P. Falcone
Senior Editor
It's long been known that the remedy for a common case of remote clutter is the universal remote. However, when it comes to turning five remotes--or even more--into a single ubercontroller for all that equipment stacked beneath your TV or in your towering audio rack, you have a lot of choices. Yes, they're supposed to do the same thing, yet they all seem to go about it slightly differently and offer a variety of interfaces and designs. These remotes represent the best of the bunch, so you can find the perfect remote that lets you banish all those clickers to a drawer--forever.
>> See all recent universal remote control reviews
Logitech Harmony One
While it's missing an RF option, Logitech's Harmony One is one of the best--if not the best--universal remote we've ever tested.
Price: $178.88 - $265.95 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 21, 2008
Excellent
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Logitech Harmony 1100
The Logitech Harmony 1100 is an excellent touch-screen universal remote that corrects most of the shortcomings and frustrations of its predecessor, but its high price will relegate it to high-end home theaters only.
Price: $359.95 - $499.99 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 19, 2009
Excellent
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Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote (Xbox 360)
A sleek design, an impressive feature set, and a manageable price tag make the Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote an excellent choice for Xbox 360 owners.
Price: $72.98 - $89.39 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 3, 2006
Very good
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Logitech Harmony 550
The PC-programmable Logitech Harmony 550 universal remote control offers a sleek design, an impressive feature set, and a manageable price tag.
Price: $93.00 - $129.99 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 30, 2006
Very good
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Logitech Harmony 1000
Though it lacks real multiroom capabilities and may not offer quite the flexibility of competing high-end tablet-style remotes, the swanky Logitech Harmony 1000 can be programmed by the average consumer, which saves the cost of hiring a home installer to program it.
Price: $283.95 - $482.00 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 8, 2007
Very good
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Logitech Harmony 890
While it isn't perfect, the Logitech Harmony 890 should be near the top of your list if you're in the market for a sub-$400 RF remote that can operate equipment that's hidden behind cabinets or closet doors.
Price: $238.36 - $349.99 (check prices)
Review date: May 17, 2006
Very good
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URC Digital R50
The URC Digital R50's successful combination of good ergonomics, solid design, and easy programmability makes it a good alternative to Logitech Harmony universal remotes.
Price: $85.39 - $149.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 19, 2008
Very good
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Monster Cable Home Theater and Lighting Controller 300
While the RF-capable Logitech Harmony 890 does much of what the Monster Home Theater and Lighting Controller 300 does for significantly less money, the Monster is the superior remote.
Price: $221.99 - $389.99 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 29, 2006
Very good
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Logitech Harmony 720
The combination of a color screen, a battery charger dock, and a sleek design makes the Logitech Harmony 720 one of the company's best universal remotes to date.
Price: $99.99 - $149.99 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 2, 2006
Very good
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