I'm looking to replace my TSU2000. I was pretty convinced that either the Harmony 720 or 880 would be a good fit for my needs.

I posted another thread looking for input between the two Harmonies. Because I can't link to that thread, let me try to summarize:


Had the Pronto for probably 5-7 years
Want something easier to operate with one hand
TV: Mitsubishi WD-62725 (DLP)
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V1400
DVD: Denon DVD-2910
DVR: Motorola DCT6412
Pronto programmed as 'activities' using lots of discrete codes
Not controlling anything other than the above equipment (no drapes, fireplace, popcorn machine...)


On another forum I was told coming from the TSU2000 I wouldn't be happy with either of those and what I really needed was the MX-900. The responders liked to throw around the phrase "you'll be limited" a lot, but none of them could give me even one example in how I'd be limited.

Can anyone who has owned or used both give me unbiased comments? I don't want a bunch of FUD or unsubstantiated statements.

TIA

First, all Harmonys use the same database and pretty much all work the same way, so whether you got the 720 or 880 would be a matter of preference. The "limitation" mentioned is that you can only put complex macros on the activity buttons, not individual device buttons like you can with the Pronto or MX-900. Whether this is important to you or not depends on your setup and what you do with it.

Thank you so much for your response. Currently (on my Pronto) the only place I have multi-step macros are on the activity icons on the home page, so it sounds like the Harmony would meet my needs.

Craig-
Here are few examples of Macros that I have easily programmed on other remotes but could not be easily programmed with the Harmony remotes so you may better make your decision:
1. Favorite channel buttons + aspect control. I like to program my SD favorite channels to automatically change the aspect of my Plasma TV to ZOOM to fill the screen while my HD faves reset the aspect back to standard
2. My wife likes to watch tv through the tv speakers while I use the receiver with full surround for everything. With a Harmony remote you can set up 2 activities - Watch TV and Watch TV2 (with Surround). While you should be able to switch between activities I've found the Harmony works better to power down and start activities fresh. This means if she's watching TV and I come in and want to move the audio to my receiver I need to power cycle my equipment so the remote doesn't lose it's place. With true macro remotes I can program a button in my TV menu called SURROUND that switches the devices and moves my audio as needed.
Finally, if you like changing surround modes on the receiver or use other "device-specific" advanced commands it's easier to lose your place on the Harmony remote.

Please don't misinterpret this response... I LOVE THE HARMONY REMOTES! The programming is revoultionary and they are truly easy to use but if you've been programming and using a Pronto for as long as you have you may be left wanting more control.

I'm with Jim on this one.

Please don't misinterpret this response... I LOVE THE HARMONY REMOTES! The programming is revolutionary and they are truly easy to use but if you've been programming and using a Pronto for as long as you have you may be left wanting more control.
I appreciate the detailed and even response. Thank you.

I probably use my Pronto more like a Harmony than a Pronto, if that makes sense. I took a good look tonight at how I've got it set up. Basically I have a home page with activities (TV, DVD, Radio, CD, VCR, XBox). Once an activity is selected I go to a device-specific page that gives me the basic controls to operate that device (e.g. transport controls for the DVD and VCR). If I want to switch activities, I go back to the home page and select the new activity. From what I understand, that is basically how the Harmony would work. With discretes for everything, I would think the Harmony would handle activity switching reasonably well.

Yes, I do have additional pages that give me direct access to things like the Yamaha receiver's sound field modes, but I use those features pretty rarely.

It sounds like there may be a couple of things that may not be quite as convenient with the Harmony (e.g. changing sound field modes), but it doesn't sound like there's anything I currently do with my Pronto that I can't do with the Harmony. I'm actually finding that as I get older I'd prefer to spend less time screwing around with gadgets and more time just using them to accomplish the task. One of the reasons I haven't set up the DVR remote in the Pronto is because it's just such a PITA to set up the UI and program all the controls.

I think what it boils down to is this:

1. I need to be able to set up a series of discrete IR commands to perform an activity.
2. I want to be able to assign or learn a single action to a button.

As long as I can do those two things, I'm good.

Considering the 880 is about $100 less money than the MX-900, and when I showed pictures of the 880 and MX-900 to the wife, she commented that the 880 looked friendlier.

Thanks again for all the info.

I appreciate the detailed and even response. Thank you.

I probably use my Pronto more like a Harmony than a Pronto, if that makes sense. I took a good look tonight at how I've got it set up. Basically I have a home page with activities (TV, DVD, Radio, CD, VCR, XBox). Once an activity is selected I go to a device-specific page that gives me the basic controls to operate that device (e.g. transport controls for the DVD and VCR). If I want to switch activities, I go back to the home page and select the new activity. From what I understand, that is basically how the Harmony would work. With discretes for everything, I would think the Harmony would handle activity switching reasonably well.

Yes, I do have additional pages that give me direct access to things like the Yamaha receiver's sound field modes, but I use those features pretty rarely.

It sounds like there may be a couple of things that may not be quite as convenient with the Harmony (e.g. changing sound field modes), but it doesn't sound like there's anything I currently do with my Pronto that I can't do with the Harmony. I'm actually finding that as I get older I'd prefer to spend less time screwing around with gadgets and more time just using them to accomplish the task. One of the reasons I haven't set up the DVR remote in the Pronto is because it's just such a PITA to set up the UI and program all the controls.

I think what it boils down to is this:

1. I need to be able to set up a series of discrete IR commands to perform an activity.
2. I want to be able to assign or learn a single action to a button.

As long as I can do those two things, I'm good.

Considering the 880 is about $100 less money than the MX-900, and when I showed pictures of the 880 and MX-900 to the wife, she commented that the 880 looked friendlier.

Thanks again for all the info.

The 880(or any other Harmony) will be fine for what you want.

Switching between activities is easy, whether you have discretes or not. You don;t need to select "Off" between activities.

You can assign the sound field commands(or any other device commands) to the LCD screen in the activity. If you don't adjust things that often, it is only 2 button presses to select an individual device where you have all device commands available, then a single button press to return to the current activity.

If you go for a 670 or other Harmony that has "Picture" and "Sound" buttons, these buttons act as short-cuts to a custom device mode for the audio and video devices in the current activity, which would make sound field adjustments easier again.

Craig-

It sounds like you've made up your mind and I think you're going to enjoy the 880. At least now you've got all the facts and opinions to make an informed decision - isn't AVS GREAT!!!

You may also want to consider the 890 just so you have RF available to you as an option in the future. Even if your components are in line of sight the RF capability will help ensure that your commands are carried through seemlessly and make for more reliable control.

Jim,

I appreciate your objective comments. Too often various forums become a matter of one group trying to get someone to join their 'club' so that they 'win.' You just laid out the facts so that I could then review my needs against any potential limitations and see how they intersected.

I looked at the 890 and considered it, but was hoping to keep the price ~$150, give or take. I can find the 880 for that, not so much with the 890.

One of my concerns with the MX-900 was that I don't usually like to spend that kind of money on something that I can't handle before buying. I've bought things in the past that seemed like a good idea and then didn't like their ergonomics or aesthetics. I found a local shop that is an authorized reseller for the MX-900 so I'm going to call them today and if they actually have them in stock I'll go take a look at it tomorrow.

At this point I'm probably 90% sure that the H880 is the one for me, but I feel like I should at least look at the MX-900 or I'll always wonder. That is partly because I checked out the 880 yesterday at lunch and it did have a bit of a cheap feel to it, as others have noted in other threads. That may be just because it was a display model that had had the sh** kicked out of it over the years.

If I can see the MX-900 tomorrow I'll then make a final decision. If not, I'll still make a final decision but it'll be an H880. :-)

I understand your point about buying things sight unseen but to expand on that I would recommend buying any remote from someone with a money back guarantee because "handling" it is still very different than actually "using" it. I should also caution you that I don't think the you're going to find the MX900 anywhere near your $150 price which is why I threw the 890 out there as another option.

Jim,

Again, good advice on the money-back thing. Thank you.

I did find one authorized reseller on-line that will sell the MX-900 for about $225. It's 50% above my price point, but if the build quality is really that much better I'd be willing to go for it. The $150 wasn't a hard number, it was something I pulled out of my head after seeing the 720 at Costco. If I get the perception that the MX-900 is significantly higher quality I'd be willing to shell out the extra money.

If the only pricing I'd found on it was MSRP I wouldn't even be considering it.

Please mods don't kill me...

check out Amazon for the 880. <100 for a refurb