I have read the reviews and have narrowed it down to these three remotes.
The next step seems to be the hardest... narrowing it down to one.

Please advise as to which one might be the best, or work the best for me. I understand that a lot of it is personal preference.

I have a 50" panasonic plasma (monitor only, no internal tuner), onkyo a/v receiver,
sony directv box, hitachi vcr, onkyo 6-disk dvd.

I'm planning on buying a hd ota receiver, possibly tivo or a dvr, a new dvd player and whatever the future brings.

I also plan on adding x-10 lighting in the near future.

Can the harmony maunally controll components individually, like lights? Or are they only controlled through activities? And aren't "activities" nothing more than macros?

I need some help.

Thanks!

These 3 remotes, really? I think you've been stuck reading really old reviews & haven't kept up with current forum preferences. I would say none of the above are really the best choice out of comparable models.

Harmony remotes - I think most think the 768 is button deficient, requiring too many mode changes & too much reliance on the scroll wheel. If getting Harmony, get one of the newer designs, the 676 or 680. Harmony "activities" are several things - definition of macros to enter / exit the activity, and identifying groups of devices that are used together in an activity. You can always go into device mode to get all the commands for one device.

Home Theater Master MX-1000. No one recommends this; the software was never that great & hasn't been upgraded in years. It's an abandoned product line. Look at the MX-700, upcoming MX-850 Orion instead, which get much higher user ratings.

URC-300 - in my opinion the touchscreen really isn't a benefit, it's hard to find the key you want without lookiing down. I'd rather have URC-200 putting up with fewer buttons per LCD page, or the MX-500 (real buttons by the LCD, more buttons per page, but not as much macro capability), or the upcoming MX-650 Omega.

So I would advise one of these other remotes, which one depends on personal preference of button layout, macro capability, PC programmability, price. Look at user review section, forum messages to get an idea.

I have the 768 and it is a good remote on the other hand I got it when it was the only choice so if you have not I would look at the rest (newer remotes) just for completness, the 768 does have some cool features lacking in the newer models but they have other stuff. Also I don't know if Harmny still offers it.


The MX-1000 is definetly out of production. Like Stephen said it never lived up to reputation. If you want a touch screen (b&W) go with the Pronto TSU-3000

Stephen and Anthony,

Thanks for your response.
I've always liked what I've seen from the Pronto. However, I think the wife wants to keep this toy under $225.

Do you have any info on the upcoming MX-850 Orion and the MX-650 Omega??
I'd be interested on a release date along with a price as well.

Thanks!

you should look in the HTM forum

you can definitely find used or refurbished B&W Prontos at that price, but even new it is not much more