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Universal Remotes: Ratings of Sources
Total of 24 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. CNET
Sept. 21, 2009
Best Universal Remotes
by John P. Falcone
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

John Falcone at CNET recommends six universal remotes as the best on the market. Each remote receives a brief blurb, which links to a lengthier review that includes CNET's testing details. Reviews are some… of the best available for universal remotes -- detailed, balanced and somewhat comparative. Of the six, the Logitech Harmony 900 leaves the best impression. It wins an Editors' Choice award and an "outstanding" rating, and CNET editors say it's the best universal remote they've ever tested. The Logitech Harmony One, an older remote, received an Editors' Choice in 2008.

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2. PCMag.com
As of Oct. 2009
Product Guides
by Editors of PCMag.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment PCMag.com reviews fewer universal remotes than CNET, and their coverage over the last year is pretty slim. Only a few remotes have been reviewed recently, but the new Logitech Harmony 700 earns an Editors' Choice award. Among recent reviews, PCMag.com also tests the Logitech Harmony 1100, but it receives only an average rating.
3. HomeTheaterReview.com
As of Oct. 2009
Remotes & System Control Reviews
by Editors of HomeTheaterReview.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment HomeTheaterReview.com only has a few recent reviews of universal remotes, but the reviews are richly detailed and very well balanced. There's no rating system, which makes it hard to evaluate which remotes are best overall, but editors say three specific universal remotes deserve a look.
4. RemoteCentral.com
As of Oct. 2009
Latest Remote Control Reviews
by Daniel Tonks
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Daniel Tonks writes incredibly detailed reviews of universal remotes, with some individual reviews exceeding 10 pages. The reviews are sometimes comparative, and Tonks is quick to point out where each… remote falls short. However, we would rate this source higher if it offered a rating system; it's hard to tell which remotes are best overall. Among remotes tested recently, the Sony RM-VL610 and URC Digital R50 get good reviews.

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5. Audioholics.com
As of Oct. 2009
Remote Controls
by Editors of Audioholics.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Audioholics.com has solid single-product reviews of home audio equipment and accessories, but its coverage of universal remotes is pretty slim. In the past year, only two remotes have been reviewed, and only the URC MX-450 gets a high rating. The editors of Audioholics.com also review the Philips Prestigo SRU8015, but they say it's somewhat of a letdown.
6. AudioVideo Revolution
May 26, 2009
Logitech Harmony 1100 Remote
by Todd Daugherty
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Todd Daugherty writes one of the most detailed reviews we found of the Logitech Harmony 1100. Daugherty walks readers through the setup process and discusses usability and major features. Overall, he says it "does what it does very well."
7. TrustedReviews.com
As of Oct. 2009
Latest Reviews
by Editors of TrustedReviews.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Britain's TrustedReviews.com has exceptionally detailed reviews, but they cover far fewer universal remotes than other sources. Its rating system is especially helpful, and each remote is scored on a 10-point scale. Only the Logitech Harmony 1100 has been reviewed recently, but it gets a high rating.
8. Sound & Vision Magazine
As of Oct. 2009
Miscellaneous Reviews
by Editors of Sound & Vision
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment There are no head-to-head tests at Sound & Vision, but several detailed, single-product reviews can be found on the magazine's website. Reviewer John Sciacca has detailed analysis of both the Universal Remote Control URC MX-450 and the URC MX-980, but there aren't very many new reviews of universal remotes.
9. Good Housekeeping
Not Dated
Best Universal Remote Controls
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests 12 universal remotes. Like most Good Housekeeping tests, editors don't reveal testing scores or details, so this review isn't as valuable as it could be. Only… the top three remotes are named. The Logitech Harmony One is the test winner, but it only receives a brief, three-sentence analysis. This source would get a higher rating if it included more commentary and testing results.

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10. CrunchGear.com
As of Oct. 2009
Reviews
by Editors of CrunchGear.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment CrunchGear.com reviews two of the newest Logitech remotes, the Harmony 900 and Harmony 700. Its conclusions on the Logitech Harmony 900 differ from many other professional reviews we've seen. Matt Burns gives the Logitech Harmony 700 universal remote a limited recommendation -- he loves the remote overall, but thinks the Logitech Harmony One is a better deal.
11. Amazon.com
As of Oct. 2009
Universal Remotes
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Some universal remotes at Amazon.com get hundreds of individual reviews, making this site the best source to check for user opinions. However, several of the top-rated remotes have since been discontinued, and popular new models haven't yet had a chance to attract a good number of reviews.
12. Which? magazine
Not Dated
Remote Controls: Best Buys
by Editors of Which? magazine
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Which? magazine, the British equivalent of ConsumerReports.org, tests 21 universal remotes and selects six as best buys. Of the six, only two are available in the United States -- the Philips Prestigo SRU9600 and One For All Kameleon 8. We would rate this source higher if more of their recommendations were available in the U.S.
13. Wired.com
As of Oct. 2009
Home Audio and Video
by Editors of Wired
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Wired has only reviewed two universal remote controls recently, and the remotes covered get pretty brief coverage. Editors note pros and cons and the reviews are based on testing, but there's not much detail.
14. About.com
Not Dated
Logitech Harmony 700 Universal Remote PlayStation 3 (PS3) Review
by Roger Altizer
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Roger Altizer, About.com's guide to PlayStation games, doesn't review many universal remotes, but he posts a detailed single-product review of the new Logitech Harmony 700. Given his focus, the review relates heavily to how the Logitech Harmony 700 works with the PS3. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
15. TechRadar.com
As of Oct. 2009
TV Stands and Remotes
by Editors of TechRadar.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment TechRadar.com has brief reviews of technology products, but it has useful variation in ratings. While based on testing, editors here offer fewer details than review sources ranked higher. In addition, TechRadar.com has only reviewed two universal remotes in 2009, and only the Logitech Harmony 1100 gets a high rating.
16. PC World
Sept. 21, 2009
Digital Gear: Battle the Clutter of Remotes
by Agam Shah
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Agam Shah of the IDG News Service takes a look at several recently released or upcoming universal remotes. Shah tests each remote and discusses ease of use and reliability, as well as any notable drawbacks.… Still, the reviews are brief and one of the units he tests is an audio-video receiver that aims "to make remote controls irrelevant," and another is not available in the U.S. This article is most valuable for its notes on the usability of the new Logitech Harmony 900.

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17. Gizmodo
Aug. 11, 2009
Logitech Harmony 900 Universal Remote Review
by Jason Chen
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Gizmodo.com has only reviewed on universal remote recently at the time of our visit. Jason Chen writes a somewhat brief, testing-based review of the Logitech Harmony 900. Chen says it's the "best remote by Logitech yet."
18. Premiere.com
Aug. 21, 2009
Perfect Harmony: Logitech's Newest Universal Remote Reviewed
by Editors of Premiere.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Premiere.com only has one universal remote review, but its coverage of the Logitech Harmony 900 is pretty detailed. Editors test the remote and have good in-depth information on how easy the remote is to set up. There's no rating system, but it's clear from the commentary that editors have a good impression of the Logitech Harmony 900.
19. I4U.com
As of Oct. 2009
Home Entertainment Reviews
by Shane McGlaun
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment 14U News has reasonably detailed reviews of universal remotes, complete with a 10-point rating system and analysis based on hands-on testing. The best remotes receive an Editors' Choice award. However, there is very little variation in ratings -- all three Logitech Harmony remotes receive an Editors' Choice -- and the site hasn't tested remotes from any other manufacturers in 2009.
20. T3.com
July 22, 2009
Six of the Best Universal Remotes to Zap Your Tech
by Editors of T3.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The editors of T3.com pick six of their favorite universal remotes, although two are not available in the United States. Each remote only gets a brief overview, and the analysis focuses on features rather than usability.
21. Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
As of Oct. 2009
Remote Controls
by Editors of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity offers extensive information about home theater and high-end audio. It's worth checking for reviews, but editors haven't reviewed a universal remote since September 2008.
22. ConsumerReports.org
Oct. 2007
Universal Remote Controls: Buying Advice
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The editors of ConsumerReports.org offer advice on buying one remote to control all your home-entertainment equipment in this free report. The article details the types of remotes available, and gives examples of several remotes, but most are discontinued.
23. Buzzillions.com
As of Oct. 2009
Remote Control Reviews
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Some universal remotes attract hundreds of individual owner-written reviews at Buzzillions.com, which compiles reviews from online retailers. Buzzillions.com includes reviews from BestBuy.com, which is… another good source for remote reviews. The only downside to Buzzillions.com is that most of the universal remotes that have had time to attract the most reviews are also older models that may be outdated or discontinued.

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24. 2009 International CES
2009
Innovations Honorees
by Editors of 2009 International CES
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a trade show held each January. Honorees for the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Showcase are selected by a panel of judges consisting of… independent industry designers, engineers and journalists, although their rating methods are not publicized. The Logitech Harmony 1100 wins the 2009 CES award in the home-theater accessories category.

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