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Advanced controls - lock, dupe & change.
The AV2100 offers two choices for volume control. The first replicates the TV’s volume signal on all video sources and the amplifier’s on all audio sources. The second option uses the amplifier for all sources. While the volume keys may be overwritten with learned signals under any component, the learned signals will not be duplicated to other components if you do so on the AMP or TV device. The pre-programmed codes are always used unless replaced on a device-by-device basis.
A somewhat unusual option allows for the copying of one AV2100’s configuration to another when they are placed head-to-head. Apparently this function is limited to remotes with a "[T]" symbol on the case – currently comprising the RM-AV2100 and the RM-VL900 models – but also meaning that users upgrading from the AV2000 to the AV2100 will still need to program their new remote from scratch. I can only see this feature being of real use to dealers who have a "master remote" programmed in advance, or those who want to configure their customer’s remote with a minimum of physical handling by completing the "grunt" work on a store unit.
Other features allow locking the remote, which completely disables all buttons until a key combination is entered. A more friendly write-protection option protects settings from any changes while it is engaged, but still allows for total use. As on the AV2000, both hard key and LCD buttons feature a beep sound, but instead of using the top left LCD to disable or enable it, the setting is more wisely hidden as a setup key combination. Though the audible feedback is nice at first, the AV2100’s LCD panel is so easy to get used to that you may quickly find the beep is an unneeded annoyance. A huge plus to the basic design is that buttons are always in the same place on the LCD screen – after a while you may even be able to use it without looking at the display.
So, I can hear you asking: what’s the top left LCD button used for now? Glad you asked! Sony has added a new feature that provides "simple" and "complex" displays. The LCD square, labeled "CHANGE", allows the displaying of all commands or only the most often used ones. Though this setting comes pre-configured for all devices, the remote also allows for selection of which keys to show for basic operation and which keys to hide. One downside is that learned keys are always shown in both modes; it would have been nice if those were configurable as well. Changing this function’s state affects the entire remote; you can’t assign it on a component-by-component basis.
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