Ok, I guess you saw that I was looking into the SL-9000 and the RR900. Now I found out about the Sony RM-AV2000. I saw Dan's review on the 9000& 2000. Both are highly recommended. Which would do the best with these components:
Starting with:
Toshiba Cinema Series 27" TV with V1, V2 and
Color Stream inputs.
Toshiba SD2109 DVD
Kenwood VR-209
Pioneer PD-F606 CD changer
Sharp VC-H948 VCR
RCA DRD222RD 4th. gen. DSS Reciever

I'd like a remote that would be compatible for our system and fairly easy for my wife, Lisa, to use. I'm not interested in the Rotel anymore, just the 9000 & 2000.

I tried to use the remote that came with the Kenwood receiver that has macros and all that stuff, but it won't control my DSS channels. I do NOT want this to happen with a $100+ remote.
I refuse to buy a Marantz!! So anyone have a suggestion on what I should do? Please respond

It mainly boils down to whether you prefer actual buttons, or touchscreen. I strongly prefer actual buttons because you can feel for the right button in the dark, and not have to look away from the TV to find the button, or use the backlight.

On the other hand, an LCD touchscreen means the button labels can change a bit, and will be a little closer to their actual function whereas on the SL9000 they won't be close at all (unless you use the stick-on labels). But the Sony's LCD is only semi-customizable, you have to pick one of the labels they chose for a button.

What do you have against Marantz? The RC2000 Mark II is a lot more powerful since you can choose your own 4-letter label. I'd recommend that over the Sony, though it's more expensive. I'd also recommend the Marantz over the SL9000 if remembering the location of functions is going to be difficult for your wife.

I have to agree with Stephen in that it all boils down to whether you want real buttons or a touchscreen. Both will handle your equipment fine - except I must ask, does your DSS receiver accept IR signals? That's the only requirement, but I ask because some can't.

One thing I can say in favor of the AV2000 is the the most technically "uncertain" person I know picked it up right away. They look at the SL9000 and go cross eyed... all those little buttons! :-)

I have a Kenwood VR-309, and the remote controls my 3rd gen RCA DSS with no problems (other than a mis-mapped Enter button -- which is a pain).

Someone else in another thread was having trouble getting their RCA DSS (which sounded like it was 4th gen.) to respond to IR as well.

My guess, then, is that the 4th gen. RCA stopped supporting IR for whatever reason. As I understand it, the Kenwood 309 is just the 209 plus DTS decoding, so I doubt if much changed with regard to the remote and its abilities.

d

Our RCA DSS receiver does use IR, only the high end 3rd gen. 515 receiver uses the RF remote. The 4th gen system we have has the small receiver.

Here is a large picture of the VR-209 Kenwood receiver and Remote. The remote wil only scan the channels down, and only the '2', '4', and '6' will work. I can't get, say, '135' unless I scan down.

The Marantz is a bit out of our price range, but maybe would be worth the extra cash?!

I like the idea of a touch screen or even a LCD disply. The button thing isn't a problem, just as long as my wife could understand it. I have a chance to buy the Rotel for $100+ s/h. The SL9000 for $101 delivered. But the Sony looks like a combo of the 2.

Again, please let me know which of all, would do the best job.

Hmm ... IIRC, the Kenwood remote is telephone upgradeable; you call them, they have you hold up the remote to the phone speaker and it might be able to be upgraded to work correctly with your DSS. Have you tried calling the support number in the manual for the remote? You may be able to avoid getting another remote altogether, if control of your DSS is your main concern.

If your wife isn't technically minded with a good memory, I don't think the SL9000 is the way to go. It works fantastic for me because I remember where all the keys are for my 6 components (I try to maintain some consistency in choosing layout; display always on the info button, menu buttons always in the same place, etc.). I can find all buttons by feel and never even look at the labels. But for someone who has to look at the labels to figure out what they do, it just doesn't work. You can use stick-ons for some, but they won't change for each component.

I do think the Marantz is worth the extra money over the Sony ... Custom labels are nice because you can deal with future components which have differently named features. The remote has a nicer shape and button layout which is good if you are a channel-flipper and like to keep the remote in hand and frequently fiddle with things. The Marantz is good enough that it can be the last remote you ever buy, if you don't need the whiz-bang customizability of a Pronto like device.

For those who have been keeping count..., try the Palm Pilot. It costs the same as the Marantz and can do alot more. However, if I remember correctly, your dilema of remotes is limited to about $100. So, if it's between the Sony and the 9000, go with the 9000. The Sony is HUGE for a remote. You CANNOT easily handle it with one hand, whereas the 9000 you can with no problem.

There's definately something to be said about comfort when using the remote...and the SONY is just too big!

I used to have a Marantz RC2000MkI and found that there were several things I didn't like about it.

First, it was difficult to use for anyone except the person who programmed it (me!). The 5 character button labels just don't cut it for someone who is not used to the system.

Second, the LCD display was difficult to read, the segments on the LCD are too thin for easy reading and are basically impossible to read w/o the backlight.

Third, the macros are difficult to program and not exactly intuitive to use. I basically only got as far as the power macros before I gave up.

Fourth, I found that it's memory was quite limited. When I added a DVD player to my system, it ran out of memory (most of my components use 48 bit codes).

After the memory limitation cropped up, I gave up. I gave up and got a Pronto, which addressed all of these problems. I thank me, my girlfriend thanks me, my friends thank me.

If you can live with the limitations, especially the illegibility of the LCD display (this may be better on the MkII) the Marantz is certainly servicable and is a far better choice than the SL9000 or other remotes of it's ilk. It just isn't a Pronto :-(.

I have looked at several remotes, but as I wanted real keys (don't like LCD only) and still have a flexible one you can relable I finally tried the Marantz RC 2000 (mkII) which is simply great!

Check it out - havn't tried any better yet!

Page 5 of the instructions for the RC2000mkII Marantz remote I just bought, say, "To change the input on the receiver or peramp, click (a function key) twice." I've gone through the programing instructions, and I can't get the remote to switch amplifier inputs as described. What am I doing wrong? The only way I can get the remote to change amplifier inputs is by programing functions for each device into the a "direct" key.
Bill R.

Bill.... You'll need to *program* that capability, if I remember correctly. Go into Learn mode and use whatever your receiver remote transmits to get the receiver to switch over. Remember to "double-click" the device button in the Learning mode when you try to teach it the commands.

I don't know if this makes any sense. E-mail me if you have any questions! Good luck!

Robb