I've just finished a 2 month endeavor of research, testing, and retesting multiple components and built a (what I consider) awesome Home Theater setup for my Father in law. He wants it BASIC, yet wants the latest technology--sans bluray/HDDVD. Here's what he's now got:
JVC 56" D-ILA
Yamaha RVX-2700 Receiver
Oppo 981HD DVD Player
Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD DVR (through twc)
Focal 826v Fronts with 800 series center and surrounds
Everything is attached to the Yamaha receiver via HDMI and output to the TV in a single HDMI Cable--so that's basically the only cable (besides the power cord) that's attached to the TV. Right now, we change everything by just switching inputs on the receiver which then changes both the picture and sound.
Sounds easy, eh? Well it would be...but the remote is about as simple as a thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.
So he's now given me, what he considers, the most important task--a SIMPLE remote that does not give up functionality....but I can't find one. The Logitech remote never really made sense to me. It seems to work great if it turns everything on at startup, but if for some reason one of the components is temporarily out of view of the IR signal, or someone crosses in front of you in the process, or you just weren't holding it high enough while powering it on to hit that bottom receiver--then you've taken pretty good remote and made it stupid as you then need to go through a series of button presses and menus to be able to turn on the one component that isn't on. I've just never liked it really.
I do like the idea of an RF system that doesn't have to be pointed at the units, but they all seem to feel like they have to be ripped from the set of Star Trek to be "cool looking".
So what are my options? I need it to be simple and intuitive. It doesn't need to do much as far as remotes go...just change the channels, do the volume, change the receiver inputs, and MAKE SENSE. I'd say $250 would be a good ceiling for me right now...but I'm all up for less.
Thanks.
JVC 56" D-ILA
Yamaha RVX-2700 Receiver
Oppo 981HD DVD Player
Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD DVR (through twc)
Focal 826v Fronts with 800 series center and surrounds
Everything is attached to the Yamaha receiver via HDMI and output to the TV in a single HDMI Cable--so that's basically the only cable (besides the power cord) that's attached to the TV. Right now, we change everything by just switching inputs on the receiver which then changes both the picture and sound.
Sounds easy, eh? Well it would be...but the remote is about as simple as a thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.
So he's now given me, what he considers, the most important task--a SIMPLE remote that does not give up functionality....but I can't find one. The Logitech remote never really made sense to me. It seems to work great if it turns everything on at startup, but if for some reason one of the components is temporarily out of view of the IR signal, or someone crosses in front of you in the process, or you just weren't holding it high enough while powering it on to hit that bottom receiver--then you've taken pretty good remote and made it stupid as you then need to go through a series of button presses and menus to be able to turn on the one component that isn't on. I've just never liked it really.
I do like the idea of an RF system that doesn't have to be pointed at the units, but they all seem to feel like they have to be ripped from the set of Star Trek to be "cool looking".
So what are my options? I need it to be simple and intuitive. It doesn't need to do much as far as remotes go...just change the channels, do the volume, change the receiver inputs, and MAKE SENSE. I'd say $250 would be a good ceiling for me right now...but I'm all up for less.
Thanks.
...
