I have the following components

TV: Panasonic TH-42PX60U
DVD: Sony DVP-NS55P
STB: Motorola DCT 6416
HTIB: Onkyo HT-S790S

I assume that the harmony 520 can control all of these. I want to put all of these remotes in a drawer and only use the harmony without losing any functionality and also keep it simple enough for my wife to use. Is there any compelling reason for me to consider a more expensive remote (eg 550 or 680 etc.)? Why did some of you opt for the more expensive remotes?

Thanks
Barry

I went for the 550 because it has A and B buttons and more buttons in general. The 520 should work fine for you though.

The Harmony remotes are all the same functionality and programming wise. The only difference between them is their button layout and the battery type used.

I picked the 880 simply because of the color LCD, button layout and rechargeable battery. I bought the 676 for my Grandmother because she can't read English, but the color coded Activity buttons are perfect for her.

BarryPo,
I'm doing basically the same evaluation as you (i.e. similar components). Finding a remote that translates to best ease of use for my Comcast 3416 STB is highest priority. I found this link (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-harmony/thread.cgi?4251) in another thread here, and the pictures are fantastic. I think I'm leaning towards the 550 or 676, as having the pg-up/pg-down buttons near the 4 direction disc seems pretty important. I'll try to find both in a store first and see which one fells better in the hand (it's really all personal taste, anyway).

Hope this helps,
JJ

I too am trying to decide now: "WHICH ONE"? The one tat I could probably get for least amount of money and I like the Layout of all the keys, especially where the 4 Way and Enter are located and that they are separate - is the 659; BUT it does not have Page UP and Page Down [apparently that is not the same as Channel UP and Channel Down]???? WHAT exactly is the difference between these 2 sets of keys?
I also - like the looks of the 550 and the fact that it apparently has 4 keys that the 659 does not have and they can be programmed for various things.
Higher up on the Remote Chain and more expensive, I sure like the 720, the HK TC 30, and then 880.
Have various ones bookmarked on EBAY and watching to see what I can fit into me meager budget.

TKS for any tips....................................and

THANKS! Michael :confused:

Something to think about, we have the 520 and it makes an annoying clicking sound when the Vol +/- or Channel +/- buttons are pressed. I like the extra buttons on the 550 but don't know if it has the clicking sound--recommend testing it out in the store if able!

Any of the Harmony remote should be able to meet your requirements since they all use the same technology, just different user interfaces.

The 550 has a hard click for the volume, channel controls and the center direction controls. I just purchased the 550 and I love the form factor and it has plenty of buttons for what I need. Like all of the harmony remotes the configuration software is a bit of pain but you can get it to do what you want. You can find this remote for sub $80 right now

Thank you for the replies everyone. Do all of the harmony's make that clicking sound? If so, has anyone found a way to get rid of it?

thanks
barry

There's no way to get rid of the click. It's not an "electronic" sound that can be enabled or disabled, if that's what you mean. It's just the difference between what I would call a "hard" button, where there's a distinct point at which you know it has been pressed by the sound and feel of the click, and a "soft" button, which does not have that feel. Some people like that feedback, some don't. It's just personal taste.

I went to CC last night and was able to hold the 550, 670, and 880. The only one I really didn't like was the 880. Again, just personal preference, but the buttons that sort of blend from one to the next would bug me, I think. I liked the feel and look of the 550 (I don't think the "hard" buttons would bother me). I don't like the button layout of the 670 (I prefer the video transport buttons to be two rows of four, instead of a ring of buttons surrounding the 4-way). I'd probably consider the 676, but I didn't see it in stores. I just got a tip that Office Depot carries these.

Still searching, but I think I'm leaning towards the 550.

Here's a question for anyone. How easy/difficult is it to return things to Amazon? I've never done it. With the problems sometimes encountered with these remotes, I definitely want the ability to easily return it if necessary. It's almost worth a few more bucks to get it at a B&M store.

JJ

The majority of buttons on the 550 are soft, that is no 'click' feedback. I am still on the fence whether I like the 'click' or not but with all of the features I do like in the remote this one is not going change my overall opinion. In general I just like the way the remote feels in my hand, it looks good, is a perfect size and does everything I need. The only complaints I have heard is the wizard configuration software is a pain until you figure things out (I agree) and the number buttons are small for some people fingers.(no problem for me)

Just another note, I have not had this remote for more than a couple of weeks so I cannot comment on battery life. The backlight is nice but probably shortens the battery life and in this remote you can only change the time it is on for. I understand some of the other models let you have more control over which keys make it light up.

I too agonized over this decision far longer than I probably should have before finally just picking one. :) But I figured that the remote control would really be the centerpiece to tie together my entire HT system, so I was willing to take the time to get it right! I started reading through the threads on AVS as well as on Remote Central (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-harmony/thread.cgi?4251), but I was still torn between the 550, 670, and 880.

Eventually I decided I should just go to the store and check them out in person to see which one feels best, since a remote control is certainly a tactile device. I went to Circuit City to play with the demo models, and though they were non-working dummies I got a good "feel" for the ergonomics and buttons on each one. I thought the 670 looked to be the most ergonomic, but I was surprised to find that all of the buttons have a hard plastic cap (like the TiVo button on the "peanut" remotes.) Also, I would prefer if the 670 had larger number buttons since they're spaced out further compared to the 550. The rubbery bottom on the 550 felt nice and the weight balanced nicely in my hand. Other than that, I still didn't come that much closer to making a decision.


Here are the pros and cons I saw for each:

550:
+ lowest price
+ thin profile
- small number buttons
- less ergonomic design than others (personal preference)

670:
+ claimed to be "better for DVR" (though I can't seem to see exactly why. Seems to have the same transport buttons as the 550!)
+ more ergonomic shape and button layout than the 550 (again, personal preference)
+ dedicated activity buttons
- more expensive than the 550

880:
+ color screen and rechargeable battery (though some might see this as a negative)
+ ergonomic layout like 670
+ envy from friends and co-workers
- highest price

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/leigh13/temp/th_harmonyremotes.jpg (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/leigh13/temp/harmonyremotes.jpg)


In the end, since all else was coming out about equal, I picked the Harmony 550 primarily because of price. Amazon.com had it for $85 with a $10 rebate, and they ship the same day, so with 2-day shipping I got it for just under $97. And then another ten bucks off with the rebate check comes in two months.

No need to roll the dice with eBay either...as of today, Amazon actually has the Harmony 880 for $155 and then a $30 mail-in rebate, bringing the total to $125! Seems like the deal comes and goes though, as of last week they were only shipping the 880 from one of their reseller stores. The comparable price made the it a lot more appetizing... getting the 880 for only $24 more than the 670 seemed too good to pass up. But I held firm and decided the 550 will likely do the job for $50 less, and besides, do I really need a color screen on my remote control? (If you're not comfortable with Amazon, J&R (http://www.jr.com/) seems to have the best prices of any of the regular retailers.)


I received my Harmony 550 last Friday, and after some major headaches during the initial configuration (USB problems on two different computers!) I finally got it working well. The included v.7 software seems to be much better than the earlier versions, as I have found it easier to use than the web configuration at members.harmonyremote.com.

About the only gripes I have about the remote itself is the flat VOLUME and CHANNEL buttons. I've gotten used to raised buttons of different shapes that are easy to differentiate in the dark. On the 550, they're flush and don't have any tactile feedback between the up and down parts of the button, and I don't particularly care for the "click" on the vol/chan/d-pad buttons as described above. Further, I'd prefer the GLOW button to be placed somewhere else away from the other buttons--as it is, I tend to hit the down part of the navigation circle when I'm trying to get the remote to light up.

Those are pretty minor complaints though, as on the whole I am really happy with the 550. Since most of the GOOD things about this remote are common to all the Logitech Harmony models, I suggest you let the physical layout and price help guide your decision.


Good luck!

-leigh

Great post, Leigh! Thanks for taking the time to type that up. It's downright scary how closely my thoughts/impressions mirror yours. I've only been researching a couple of days, and I'm determined not to obsess about it, so I'll probably be pulling the trigger on the 550 pretty soon. I probably would have left BB with one last night for $105 if they had had one in stock (now I can save $20 from Amazon, though it's frustrating to have to wait :) ). I may stop in Office Depot to check out 676 ($99 on the website), if they have it.

Funny thing about the "glow" button on the 550. My impression, holding it in my hand at the store, was that I would really like having the 4-way as a reference point to finding the "glow" in the dark (no pun intended). In reality, wonder if I will also hit the down button by mistake.
JJ

Great post, Leigh! Thanks for taking the time to type that up. It's downright scary how closely my thoughts/impressions mirror yours. I've only been researching a couple of days, and I'm determined not to obsess about it, so I'll probably be pulling the trigger on the 550 pretty soon.
Happy to help! I actually copied much of that from what I wrote in another thread, but I thought it would be good to consolidate all my thoughts in one place. It's not an easy decision to make!

Funny thing about the "glow" button on the 550. My impression, holding it in my hand at the store, was that I would really like having the 4-way as a reference point to finding the "glow" in the dark (no pun intended). In reality, wonder if I will also hit the down button by mistake.

Yeah, it doesn't help that the button is right below "Down" and has the same flat plastic surface with a similar semicircular shape. For the last five years or so before I got the Harmony, I was using the universal learning remote that came with my Integra A/V receiver. That remote has a "Light" button (same as Glow) all the way in the upper right corner, so it became natural for me to hit that every time I picked it up in the dark.

Best advice I can give you now is to just pick one and go with it! You'll be able to sleep a lot better at night (at least until you start playing with all the programming options.) ;)

I own both a 550 and a 520 and would be happy with both. I guess I slightly prefer the 550 with its "picture" and "sound" buttons and the "down-arrow" / "up-arrow" buttons, but honestly my set-up worked fine with the 520. I bought the 550 when I completed my bedroom set-up, and moved the 520 from my main set-up to the bedroom. Would've been content with a 520 but I found a 550 for a good price and jumped on it. (FWIW; Main set-up is Sony LCD, Moto STB 6200, Oppo DVD player, Yamaha receiver, iPod dock, xBox 360; Bedroom set-up: Sceptre LCD, Moto 6200 STB, Panasonic receiver, Sony DVD player -- both remotes handle everything very well).

I was never interested in the 880 and similarly shaped remotes (personal preference), and prefer to have regular batteries rather than a charging cradle.

FWIW I ended up purchasing the Harman Kardon TC-30. It appears to be very similar to the Harmony 520/550. The main reason for me was the that the TC-30 has 8 activities buttons and the 520/550 only has 4. The other main differences are that the TC-30 has a color screen and lithium rechargable battery w/cradle. Too bad Harmony doesn't make a 520/550 w/ 8 activities.
http://www.harmankardon.com/images/product_small/TC30.jpg

Jay

Yah, but then you can't use Harmony's software, which seems the real clincher.

I have a 550 and a 688.

I really like the 550. Don't forget about the "picture" and "sound" buttons on the 550. By pressing the sound button you get a completely different set of functions. So while i am in the "watch TV" activity, i can push "sound" and get a complete set of functions for my surround receiver with out having to press device, then the component. Its been rather convenient to adjust surround modes, sub levels for night watching etc.

I however like the 688's shape better, its very nice to hold. The 550 is cooler looking and nice and thin, and is comfortable to use, but not as nice as the "peanut " shaped remotes.

All in all I would highly recommend the 550, you can get a great deal from amazon right now.

I really like the 550. Don't forget about the "picture" and "sound" buttons on the 550. By pressing the sound button you get a completely different set of functions. So while i am in the "watch TV" activity, i can push "sound" and get a complete set of functions for my surround receiver with out having to press device, then the component. Its been rather convenient to adjust surround modes, sub levels for night watching etc.

Okay, so maybe someone can explain this to me. I've set up the Picture and Sound pages for each activity to control some of the functions on my TV and Receiver. For instance, on my "Watch HDTV" activity, in the Picture tab I configured the MENU and directional buttons to control my TV so I can change aspect ratios and what not. However, whenever I press the Picture button during an activity, the remote seems to send commands for both the regular activity and the special Picture mode.

For example, I have an activity called "Watch HDTV" that mostly controls my HD cable box, along with the sound on the receiver. If I press the PICTURE button on the remote, pressing the MENU button next brings up the TV's on-screen menu as it should. But the menu on the cable box comes up as well, and the directional buttons on the Harmony control the menu on both the TV and the cable box simultaneously. Obviously this isn't the desired effect... any idea what's going on?

The regular activity modes and device commands work fine for everything else, the remote codes aren't duplicated or repeated. It's just using the Picture and Sound buttons within an activity.

Just did a little more research and found this thread on the Logitech support forums:

http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=programming&message.id=606#M606

Apparently this is a known bug with the remote and has not yet been fixed. Guess I'll just have to wait it out...

Just did a little more research and found this thread on the Logitech support forums:

http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=programming&message.id=606#M606

Apparently this is a known bug with the remote and has not yet been fixed. Guess I'll just have to wait it out...
Wow, I hope they do get that one resolved pretty soon. Kinda takes away the usefulness of those two buttons, huh? I would assume that can be fixed with just a firmware update, don't you think?

Thats interesting, I have not experienced that, but its because my "sound" and "picture" modes are utilizing the LCD soft buttons, and i did not configure the hard buttons.

I have things like wide mode, and individual speaker level adjustments set up on the LCD and they work fine.

I guess i am in or a treat when i try to use the d-pad to navigate a menu in the future.

Yah, but then you can't use Harmony's software, which seems the real clincher.AFAIK the software is identical. It is just a Harmony remote made for Harman Kardon. Everything works exactly the same.

Jay

AFAIK the software is identical. It is just a Harmony remote made for Harman Kardon. Everything works exactly the same.

Jay
So the Cnet review is misleading? (I really am curious).

http://reviews.cnet.com/Harman_Kardon_TC_30/4505-7900_7-31648347.html
The bad: The remote could sit a little more securely in its dock, the Web interface may intimidate nontechie users, and the TC 30 works only with Harman Kardon's desktop software, not Logitech's Web-based interface.

Maybe a TC30 owner can chime in, but I'm guessing the desktop based app for the HK is identical in functionality to the Harmony desktop app. It probably just has the HK logo and brand design. ;)

With the Harmony branded remotes, you can use either the desktop app or the web server.

So the Cnet review is misleading? (I really am curious).

http://reviews.cnet.com/Harman_Kardon_TC_30/4505-7900_7-31648347.htmlI was messing around on the harmony site to see how the user interface is compared to the HK and somehow it has used my user id/password from the HK web site and allowed access. So I am now at this site http://members.harmonyremote.com/EasyZapper/New/Main.asp but it is showing a picture of my HK TC-30 and has all the activites and devices that I had previously setup using the HK software. It appears to allow me to do everything. My conclusion is that the inital menus are slightly different but the software is functionally the same.

Jay

After reading the Cnet Review a little more carefully I see that it is indeed the same software with a slightly different look. See the quote below from the review: While we'd prefer to have the option of using either the desktop software or the Web-based app, our experience programming the remote with the Harman-flavored software was just as good as the one we've come to expect from Logitech-branded Harmony remotes--it really does seem to be the same software with slightly different graphical elements.

Hm. Very interesting. I would've seriously considered the HK (still might) if I had read a bit closer.