Customer Reviews

Logitech Harmony 720 Universal Remote

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This little unit may have just saved my sanity and my marriage. Trying to keep track of remotes, never mind assisting the wife and kids in using them all the time, had about pushed me over the edge. Enter the Harmony 720 at a nice discount, courtesy of Costco. My research said this had the right balance of bang for the buck for me, and so far it has proven true. The bottom line is that it just works, and works very well.

For a bit more detail, this is a very nice feeling unit, it charges fast, and holds a charge well too. Plus the rechargeable battery is replaceable, should it ever need be. The buttons are intuitive, the display is crystal clear, and it sits very well in an adult hand. It was incredibly straightforward to set-up with the downloaded software (this gets you the most recent versions of software and firmware), and abracadabra, 98% of functionality for all of my components loaded automatically using the tutorial/wizard (of note, I am a Mac User, and I found the software to be relatively easy to use - I'm certain the Windows version would be similar). I then customized the remote to add the few functions that didn't pull through automatically, using the infrared learning capabilities and programming functionality. I also was able to edit the labels of the Activities more to our liking, which I greatly appreciate. All told, I only invested about two hours in programming, and we now have one nice remote, and it runs our entire system. Whether we want to watch a DVD, play the Playstation, watch TV, use the DVR, listen to music, etc, all we need do is press one button, and all needed components power up, and the remote gives full functionality to the individual components. It could not be more simple.

I am once again looking forward to growing my system, and keeping the ease of use that I now appreciate with this remote. Comparing the available online images to my unit, it also appears that Logitech may have fine-tuned the design a bit (removing painted labels under the transport buttons that have been reported to wear off quickly), which means they are paying attention to their user base - and that's great news. About the only feature missing is RF transmission (available in the 890), but I wasn't yet ready to pay the extra bones to get that functionality. Besides, I'm certain that Logitech will soon introduce some of the same styling from this unit into their higher end products, and then I may be ready!

Logitech gets a "Great Job!" for improving on a proven Harmony product line. Do yourself (and the family!) a favor and pick one of these up.

I've been trying to tame an ever growing morass of A/V components for the last 5 years. Between the TV, DVR, A/V Receiver, CD, DVD, Xbox 360 .... I was juggling what seems like dozens of remotes all the time. A few years back, I picked up a Universal Remote MX-500, which the "experts" all agreed was the best and spent (literally) an entire weekend programming it ... but it's inability to accept discrete codes and limited "macro" ability meant that every "action" (such as 'watching a DVD') required numerous key presses, and I still needed to keep other remotes handy. After sketching out a 6 step process for the baby sitter last week - just in case she wanted to watch a movie - I decided it was time to re-evaluate the "universal" remote technology out there on the market.

I was looking for a remote that offered ease-of-use, but still gave me enough power to customize the most minute settings so that my components would behave exactly how I want. I initially was leaning towards the Harmony 550, but after reading a number of reviews online, it seemed like the 720 had more of what I was looking for.

I received my remote two days ago, and had it set up within 40 minutes. It could have been done in 20 minutes, but I kept poking around the software to see what settings I could "change" (Answer = Almost Everything) After specifying the components I had, and the way in which they were connected (ie, DVD uses Input 4 on my TV and the CD-R setting on my AV-Receiver), the program downloaded all the settings to my remote. My first test of the initial set-up ? Virtually flawless. Everything worked as labeled, and the only customizing I had to do was to decide what features I wanted on the custom display.

To test the ease of the new setup, I had the ultimate arbitrer of "ease of use" (my wife) give it a try. I left the remote on the table and said "figure out how to watch a DVD" ... a process that left her confused and angry with the MX-500. Amazingly, she picked the remote up, it lit up, and she saw "Watch a DVD" on the display. Pressing it, the tv switched on and changed inputs, the AV switched on and switched audio inputs, and the DVD switched on and started playing. Ouila !

I'm looking forward to customizing the living heck out of this, but truth be told, it doesn't need it. A virtually idiot-proof setup, with tons of room to grow as needed.

This is my first go with a Logitech remote, and I am suitably impressed. Excellent product, folks.

Obviously a well thought out product. I purchased one yesterday, spent 45 minutes programming it online, and promptly shelved 4 remotes in the process. The build quality is top notch, buttons are well lit and assignable to whatever you want them to be (the unit programs them itself; however, you can override if desired).

I didn't think I could find a remote to replicate all of the buttons on my Time Warner cable DVR remote (Scientific Atlanta brand), but this baby does it all. I couldn't imagine paying upwards of $1000 for some of the ones I've seen for sale, when this one can control up to fifteen devices (even light dimming modules).

And the best part is that Logitech's database of remote controlled devices ( which this remote utilizes) is continually updated, so even if you buy a new component 3 years from now, you will be able to control it via this unit. A+A+A+A+

The (competing) universal remotes I've used so far either came with another device or were after market purchases. They have the following limitations:
* No investment protection: If I buy a new device later, I'll have to buy a new remote which understands that device's signals and hope the new remote continues to support my old equipment.
* Infrared support only -- won't mimic radio wave based remotes.
* Button assignments sometimes don't do what I expect, and can't be reprogrammed.
* I end up keeping my old remote so that I can do that one thing that my universal remote won't do (whatever it is).
* Macros (a sequence of key presses) are difficult to program if they exist and sometimes they're limited to operating just one device.
* If I point the remote away from your device before the macro has had a chance to execute, I end up with devices left on that shouldn't be, wrong modes, etc.
* If the function of learning from an old remote is supported at all, it has severe limitations (can't include in a macro, can only remember up to 4 learned functions, etc.) and often has the "copy effect" (a copy is not quite as sharp as the original, and a copy of a copy is noticeably bad -- a big problem if you need to upgrade your remote later and can't find the original).
* Failing to hit the "Satellite" or "Cable" button before changing channel causes something unexpected to happen to my TV or VCR, and family members experiencing this problem try to "fix" the problem, making things even worse.
* At least one of my devices isn't supported.

The Logitech Harmony 720 fixes all but one of these problems (it can't emulate radio-based remotes) and does it with style.

YES, IT DOES THIS!:
* I can download new codes from the Internet for new devices
* You can record a sequence of keys to set up your inputs and device modes
* Did something go wrong? An interactive help button walks the user through the potential problem spots. Handy for houseguests and "uninitiated" family members.
* It remembers what devices were on and off and adjusts the key sequence to compensate so you can switch from one activity to another without turning off all of your devices first or without screwing up the modes of each device.
* Some of my devices feed their sound through the TV. Some through my 5.1 surround sound system. My wife was very confused about when to use which volume keys on my old universal remote. This device simplifies it: 1 set of volume keys which adjusts depending on the activity.
* One button turns on only the devices I need. ...and when I'm done, one button turns off the devices I don't need.
* An extended list of functions (which goes beyond the capabilities of the original remote in many cases) is available, and can be programmed as an extra key on the remote's screen, labeled properly and everything.
* Remember that one function you keep the old remote around for? This remote can learn hundreds of functions from the old remote, and display them in a menu.
* Will operate PVRs and projectors too.

Pleasant surprises:
* "Do you use your Playstation to play DVDs?" -- well no, but I used to; thanks for asking!
* You can set up macros to execute as a device is being powered off and the remote will remember this even if you are leaving some of your devices on for another activity.
* "Your device wasn't in my database. ...but that's okay, let's make it work." Oh, how awesome is that??! That's worth $50 in itself!
* "Would you like to program a slide show into your remote control?" That's a bit over-the-top, but could be useful in certain settings.
* "Do you have a home media server or workstation such as Windows Media Edition where photos are stored that you might want to put in a living room slideshow?"
* "Do you have any home automation controls? ...and if so, do you want to dim the lights when you watch a movie?"
* [Help] button takes a first pass at fixing the problem *immediately* and without asking the user what's wrong. So [Help] --> "Did that fix it?" Uh, yeah; how did you know?
* In a dark room, all of the keys light up so you can see them.
* The remote will fully charge fairly quickly.
* All of your settings are backed up on your PC, so even if your battery goes dead you can restore it to its previous state.</UL>
* The biggest surprise of all? My usually anti-technology wife actually really likes using this device. She has a knack for finding faults with IMHO the most idiot-proof devices so I was prepared to return the device just in case.

Minor Drawbacks:
* A couple of devices required a bit of tweaking. For example, my TV and Receiver take much longer to turn on than the software expects so I had to make some adjustments.
* I guess this device requires a bit more kick than four double-A batteries could deliver so you have to recharge it periodically. A charging cradle has been provided for this purpose.
* I read elsewhere complaints that it's easy to not get the remote back in the charger correctly... this is true, and may require some training of family members; fortunately the battery lasts a fairly long time, so if your 7-year-old son or 80-year-old grandmother doesn't get it quite right it won't go dead overnight.
* Was it worth the price? Ugh; even for an amazing device like this one, the price is still pretty steep. It's good enough that I'd shell out $100 for it under the right conditions, but that's a lot to pay for a remote. Still, the smile I got from my wife at its simplicity convinced me to keep it.

This is the first Harmony remote , I've owned. Has a rechargeable dock , so you don't need to keep buying batteries. The 720 needs to be recharged about once a week. That was a BIG plus. I did some research on which of the Harmony remotes to get. I also thought about the HK-TC30, but saw that the LCD screen was much clearer on the Harmony 720. I didn't like the feel of the other Harmony's as well( the big peanut shaped ones). I use this remote myself, wife is too scared to use it( not electronics savy AT ALL), but I'll get her to learn it.The setting up was very easy & only took me about 15 minutes to set up.I had it operating almost ALL major functions of my Sony LCD TV,Motorola DVR, OPPO DVD Player, Sony VCR & PS2. I still have to adjust minor settings to get it exactly the way I want it.[...]

One more thing, if you have a DVR just set up as if you have a PVR. You don't need to ad the set-top cable box as another device. It will operate all functions of the box, just as a PVR. The HELP button is very helpful when something didn't turn OFF/ON when you wanted it to & didn't. Only minor problem is the slight clicking noise heard when pushing only certain buttons( VOL. +/- & CH. +/-)not a major problem to me.

I do highly recommend this remote to anyone trying to consolidate many remotes into just one.

My entertainment center has a TV, amplifier, tape player, CD player,
VHS/DVD combo, and a 2nd DVD player. My side table was overflowing with
individual remotes, all of which I wanted to replace with a centralized
controller. Enter the Harmony 720. This remote stores its settings on
the internet and you use your laptop with a USB cable to program the remote.
Within a period of about 2hrs, I was able to program a couple of basic
functions, such as turning on the TV and Amplifier to watch a TV program.
However, individual remotes were still required to do things like change
the TV input source. This is where things get tricky and wonderful at the
same time. The 720 is activity/device based. It displays an icon such
as 'Watch TV'. Pressing that button turns on my TV/Amplifier/Equalizer.
However, you have to do custom programming on an activity to setup the
remote to say 'Copy DVD'. I've had to contact the support center 3-4
times by phone and/or email to sort out issues. They are knowledgable,
polite, and patient; although you may have to wait for some time in the
phone queue. I have about 20 hrs into programming the remote and am about
half done. But when I do get done, my life will be so much easier with
the 720. I love it and purchased it with no regrets.

I bought this remote yesterday. When setting up my home theater system that I'd stored several years ago, I could no longer locate the remote controls for my components. After several non productive calls to Onkyo I decided to give the Logitech remote a try, hoping that they would have the correct codes to run my system. After I ran the easy to use software, the remote works much better than I had hoped. It's smart enough to set up all of your activities such as turn on TV, Sound System and DVD with the push of one button. I have no hesitation in recommending thisfine product With the docking station the days of dead batteries and a table crowded with a collection of remotes are over!

I got this as a late graduation gift. What a beautiful remote. In terms of appearance this remote is just gorgeous! Whether its the beautiful, crystal clear screen, or the really high quality matte finish on the back it just looks like a very high quality piece of equipment. Even the recharging contacts on the back are a beautiful gold metal.

The remote takes a bit of work setting up. I have a Hitachi plasma tv, Yamaha receiver, samsung dvd recorder, sony vcr (hooked up through the dvd recorder), xbox 360, and a wii. It didn't quite get the input list for my tv correct but that was fixed via some tweaking. 3 attempts at the computer with a combined setup time of maybe 25 minutes has everything working perfectly. Everything can be adjusted, even if you have a device that switches inputs slowly you can adjust the delay. The remote features an on screen help assistant in case something goes wrong and teaches itself to correct the issue. I was a little frustrated with software during the initial wizard setup but then found all the options I wanted after that was done and you can just get in an tweak things without the wizard.

One of the coolest features on this remote is that it has a motion sensor in it. When you set it down it goes to sleep but as soon as you pick it up it wakes up and has the screen and all lights on and ready to go. This is really nice that you don't have to find a button to turn the remote on.

The only downsides that aren't worth docking it a star is that the remote does not work for applications that use radio based remotes. For instance, the system can't turn my wii on. However, this isn't a problem for me as I have to use the Wii controllers to play the games anyway so using the controller to turn the system on is no biggy. I also wish the play, pause, skip, and fast forward buttons were more towards the top of the remote rather than at the bottom.

Absolutely the best in universal remotes. I have tried so many of them and always had to go back to using 2 or more of the original remotes because setting the codes never seemed to work. With this remote, the setup is very easy on the computer and works like a charm. Even if the remote doesn't turn all the components on, just push the help button and it asks questions until everything is set up like you want it. I love the charging feature instead of using batteries as I can place the remote on the charger overnight and be ready the next day. This is a very good product and one I would highly recommend.

The look and feel is nice and you can blindly thumb-navigate from your chair or couch without looking at the remote but the remote's LCD screen that lights up by just moving the remote is a convenient feature.

I am not a home theater guru but I do work in the computer industry and I'm impressed with the simple, easy to use interface(s) when connecting the remote to my computer(s) or using it directly.

My entertainment system includes a flat-screen 42" Motorola, Sony A/V Receiver, Comcast (Motorola) cable box and Toshiba HD-DVD player; all work flawlessly together using this remote. And yes, you can finally loose your cable provided remote; you can navigate all the guide menus using the Logitech Harmony 720.

You need a computer with a USB port and an Internet connection for configuration following your initial setup but after saving, the settings are there to stay; I tried removing the battery, draining the battery and even resetting the remote but my setting were never lost, which is great feature if you experience a long-term power outage. And even without a computer, if something isn't right; the remote will walk you through a step-by-step trouble shooting process to resolve your problem.

My only grip is that I have an A/V Receiver so can't see the volume adjustments on screen or on the remote but that's not really Logitech's fault (just a feature request).

I know there are similar more or less expensive units available but consider the time savings, quality, design and features- this remote is a good price.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase.