(Nov 26, 2008)
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: $189.95 - $267.17 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 21, 2008
Excellent
Read full review
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: $265.00 - $299.95 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 29, 2006
Excellent
Read full review
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 - $134.78 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 2, 2006
Excellent
Read full review
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: $262.99 - $399.99 (check prices)
Review date: May 17, 2006
Excellent
Read full review
Monster Home Theater Controller 100
The Monster Home Theater Controller 100 universal remote arguably offers a superior design to competing models from Logitech and Harman Kardon, but it's comparatively pricey.
Price: $137.60 - $302.82 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 4, 2006
Excellent
Read full review
Philips Prestigo SRU8010
Philips' superb Prestigo SRU8010 will appeal to TV-centric users looking for a universal remote that's both affordable and easy to set up.
Price: $59.99 - $129.99 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 17, 2007
Very good
Read full review
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: $299.99 - $611.95 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 8, 2007
Very good
Read full review
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: $69.99 - $99.99 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 3, 2006
Very good
Read full review
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: $59.99 - $101.67 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 30, 2006
Very good
Read full review
Logitech Harmony 670
The Logitech Harmony 670 may not be the coolest-looking universal remote, but it's one of the easiest to use, especially for DVR users.
Price: $74.99 - $150.89 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 20, 2006
Very good
Read full review
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: $149.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 19, 2008
Very good
Read full review
