Customer Reviews

Philips Magnavox PM725S Universal 7 Device Remote Control

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Bought the remote mainly to control my older sony audio receiver/Amp that I never had the remote for. The remote worked nicely giving me most of the most used functions. I was very impressed when I loaded up some "learned" commands for my VCR. It allowed me to assign various not supported features via my original remote to almost any button I desired on the new remote. Very nice feature for only 12.99 on sale at Kmart. You can also assign any code to the 7 device keys. (ie 7 tv's if you so desired). Some VCR/DVD keys a little crowded, but hey there's only so much room for all the features we want. I would buy it again.

After 5 trips to and from the store to buy and then return remotes, I've finally found one that's a keeper. Unlike another reviewer who couldn't use the mute function for their amp, I did not have that issue - I can mute my amp just fine. I not only control my TV (Sony), Surround Amp (RCA) , DVD (Mintek), CD (Sony), Stereo Amp (an older Yamaha), VCR (Sony) but also an older Echostar sat. receiver. The Yamaha stereo amp was a nice bonus as we'd lost that remote many years ago.

There are 2 features that would make this remote even better, and for which I'd spend an extra $5. Backlit buttons would be especially useful - at the very least, Philips could've thrown-in glow-in-the-dark buttons. Also, it would really be helpful if there was some way to know which function had been last selected - with 7 it's easy to forget. For example, the Kameleon lights up when you move it - so perhaps something like that for either all the buttons or even just the device that's currently active. Overall, I'm very pleased with this product and, once you memorize which button does what (in a dark room), it's well worth recommending.

I'm very pleased with this remote control. The instruction manual was good, and I programmed this to control my Panasonic VCR, Panasonic TV, and Pioneer DVD player with no trouble. It's lightweight, evenly balanced, and thin - so it should be good for those with small as well as large hands. It has plenty of buttons to use, and only lacks one or two minor buttons that my VCR's remote control has. But given that this one can "learn" functions from other remote controls, I should be able to program those functions into it if I care to bother.

DO NOT BUY a Magnavox universal remote for your DVD Player.
Buy a more reliable brand. Seriously, you will be sorry you bought this.
In fact, eventually, you'll feel like smashing this piece of **** into pieces.
Try ordering the actual remote made for your DVD player from its manufacturer

They might work fine for a TV or VCR. But for a DVD player,
the MENU FUNCTION is a shoddy, inoperable, unreliable waste of money.

If you enjoy sitting there pressing the Menu function over & over for
several minutes trying to set up your program, only to realize that the
remote won't select some DVD set-ups, then, hey, buy it.

I purchased an open-box Sony DVD Player at Best Buy, marked down
because there was no remote. So I bought this Magnavox universal remote.
It works fine for basic functions: STOP, PLAY, PAUSE, etc.
But for choosing set-up functions or episodes on a DVD, it is horrendous.

The Magnavox remote for most DVD's, to choose a set-up (widescreen or TV aspect size)
or to choose an episode of a TV show DVD, you must bypass the main menu
screen by pressing all the buttons to start playing the program. Then after it starts playing,
you have to press the MENU button again until you get back to the main menu screen,
then choose your set-up, chapter or episode, then press the play button until it plays again.

The Magnavox Universal remote is especially frustrating for:
1. DVDs where you have to choose widescreen or regular aspect at the beginning
of the disc. Most DVDs have the widescreen on one side, so those are not a problem.
But there are some that require you to choose the aspect size on the DVD screen.
You have to just play the default choice that it lands on (usually the small 4:3 size.)
This remote simply CANNOT CHOOSE the second option, no matter how
many times you play with it, the aspect menu comes on so fast when you put the
disc in, it doesn't give the remote a chance to activate, so on the few DVDs that
require this choice, you may have to watch a movie in the small cropped TV size.
2. TV Show DVD's: if you try to choose an episode other than the first one on the disc,
when you first put the DVD in, it WON'T LET YOU pick an episode. And you know how
long it takes to start watching a TV episode on DVD - you have to go through 2 or 3 menu
screens before starting the show (episode index, episode description page, "play episode
or recap" page etc.) With Magnavox remote you have to do all of that TWICE. Suppose
you put the DVD in, but you want to watch the third episode on the disc. Sorry. Can't Do It.
You have to start playing the FIRST episode, then when it begins you have to press the
menu button a few times again back to the episode list page, then choose ANOTHER episode,
then go through the index, description, play episode, etc. all over again, then play it.

A year after I bought this remote, the pharmacy had a rebate on a new Magnavox remote
with the flip handle design, It was free after the rebate, so I bought it. I have the same problem
with the newer remote, it can't grab certain menu functions to set up or play DVDs.

I'm not exaggerating. Magnavox Universal Remotes SUCK on DVD players.

The remote worked great until after 3 months. I can still use the remote with the built in codes. But after 3 months, the learning feature stop working.

I bought this remote mainly as a learning remote to control a TV and DVR.
I was hoping I could use the learn option to assign whatever codes I wanted to buttons on this remote. Unfortunately the learn option is not good, and if you're considering buying it for this reason I would avoid. Also, the buttons are not the most accessable, so using the remote, once you have it working, is rather painful.

This item works really well and is easy to set up. I do wish that it could light up though.

Set up with a Phillips TV in less than 5 minutes. Also runs my Sony sound bar. For the price this remote rocks!

I think these are really neat gadgets and well worth the money.

I bought my first two PM725S units in '02 and then replacements in '05 and '08. They seem to last about three years under heavy usage. I get my five devices working O.K. using the manufacturer's device codes, but it is the ability to use the `learning function' to fix a few omissions or quirky key assignments that really makes it feasible to put away all the original remotes.

This current version has a much more extensive list of device codes than my older units, and my impression is that the `learning' function has been improved. It used to be pretty flaky with a high percentage of learning failures. In case you had a previous bad experience with a learning remote, you may find this version more usable.

A couple of reviews here have inaccurate information. These units have two less buttons than shown in the photo, not eight. The three batches of units I have had ('02, `05, and `08) have all been different even though they have the same model number. The picture shows my '05 model. However, I think each was/is perfectly fine - different, but neither better nor worse. Maybe the next generation will add the `point' button you need to select digital channels.

Also, `volume and mute punch through to the TV' applies only to the VCR and DVD modes. I have my receiver on the SAT button, and volume and mute work fine. (This seems so obviously the way it should work that I wonder if I misunderstood the reviewer's comment.)

This remote controller was quite a dissapointment. I am using two other Philips/Magnavox remotes that are far more convenient and operate better. This one does not look like the picture (which looks more like the 425 model). It does not cover the equipment I have (while the 425 model does), It's learning mode is flaky and unreliable, to say the least. The range is shorter then that of the 425S. Conclusion: This would make for a nice ornament (It does look nice, and, if you are lucky you may be able to control some devices.