Canon Puts Efficiency On Press-
"A good universal remote for the money" on by jrprip
Pros: Easy to program, even easier to use
Cons: Lighting controls can be trying, multiroom setup average
Summary: Just to clear up some wrong information given by a few of the other reviewers, you most certainly can assign any buttn to any function. Also, while the initial setup may be rigid, once completed it offers a slew of options for fine tuning. You can adjust the macros (activities), the timing, and the delays. It is very easy to program and very easy to use. I am a home theater installer and have programmed remotes from URC, Phillips, Creston, Logitech, and Sony. The remotes from Monster and Logitech are by far the easist to use and program. Sony (remote commander) and Phillips (pronto) remotes are horrible in every way, and URC and Creston remotes are better for more intense multiroom systems but are much more difficult to program and not as easy to use (along with being MUCH more expensive). FYI, the reason all of monster and logitech's programming is done online is very important-if your computer dies all your info is still there, an installer can update your remote remotely, and database updates are constant(literally to the minute) so the codes for your just released brand new blu ray will be there. Fellow Cnet posters, please make sure the information you are dissemenating is accurate before you write a review.
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"Easy to use; slighty letter than Harmony" on by erock1974
Pros: well built, good layout, easy to program
Cons: Expensive $$$
Summary: I previously owned a Harmony 880. That was good, this is better. It seems more responsive than the 880, is better built, and the layout is better. I have not tried out the RF or the wireless lighting yet, but the general remote functions are great.
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"Cheap feel, poor programming, expensive" on by vitoa
Pros: Lighting control
Cons: Flimsy. Internet connection required to program. poor interface for programming control
Summary: I bought this remote (at a premium) thinking it would be the best universal remote available, and inexpensive compared with RTI, Crestron, or Universal Remote. That couldn't have been farther from the truth.
First of all, the remote is not built well. The buttons are the flimsy, "raised" hard plastic type, not the firm plasticized or rubberized type, and the center "joystick" control protrudes much to tall--enough to where you could accidentally snap it off. The remote's plastic creaks when you press certain buttons. Not what I'd expect for $350!
If you are an A/V enthusiast, and you want complete control of your multiple components, consider a remote by Universal Remote Controls (URC), or if you have the money, Remote Technologies Inc (RTI), but not this. Although you have a cute color screen, the appearance of the "soft buttons" cannot be customized. You can simply change the text in them, that's all.
You MUST have an internet connection to program your remote because the software (and your configuration) resides completely on their website. If their site is "experiencing difficulities" (which I've had occasionally) or your connection is down, you can't program the remote.
The "programming" of the remote is very rigid. You cannot assign whatever you'd like to the soft buttons, nor macros, nor delays. The programming website asks you a series of questions about your components and it pretty much sets up the remote how it believes you need it based on what components you have and what are called "activities". "Activities" seem to be the dumbed down way of programming many of these remotes (such as those by Logitech & Harmony) where you answer a few questions about which A/V imputs are used by your components (to watch TV for example), and it figures out all the component switching and assigns it all to a button titled "Watch TV". This is great for grandpa and grandma who have no idea of how to work remotes, but when you want to control other components briefly, then return to "Watch TV" it becomes problematic.
The lighting control is a nice touch, but the in-wall dimmer I replaced in my master bedroom RARELY receives its commands from the remote, and it's not more than 40 feet, through a few walls (which they claim RF is supposed to allow for up to 120 feet).
This remote simply isn't worth the money or aggravation. If you are an A/V enthusiast, consider RTI, URC, Pronto, or if you have the money, Crestron. -
"Sucked in by the fancy packaging and Monster brand name" on by danofthenorth
Pros: It does control multi a/v units with a single button once programmed. (Although it took 3 hours of troubleshooting on my PC to get the thing to control my units.)
Cons: For the exhorbitant price, frankly I was expecting more. This thing is like something that would have been designed in the 80's, the display screen is archaic in terms of quality and overall it just feels like a cheaply designed unit.
Summary: After using Monster cables and surge suppressors I couldn't wait to get my hands on this remote thinking it has to be top end as well, right? Wow,what a disapointing shock I got opening this thing up. Compared to thier other products this remote feels like going from a new Mercedes down to a 80's Hyundai. It looks and feels cheap and just won't do some things that I want it to. Don't pay full price for this like I did, you'll feel robbed. Caveat emptor.
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"av works great, zwave lighting cant seem to program" on by shanegilman
Pros: works perfect on all my av conponets & all the activities
Cons: i switched from the harmony 720 cause the monster controls lighting as well as av, & i cant seem to get none of my zwave lights programed to the monster remote, instructions very poor in lighting set up w no email response when asking for help. can .
Summary: exelent remote for a/v but if I cant get help w/ the lighting half I should have stuck w/ the harmony 720, really no differance between the 2 w/out the lights beeing programed
Monster Cable Home Theater and Lighting Controller 300 user reviews
