Customer Reviews

Phlips PM525S 5 Device Universal Remote Conrol

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was disapointed in this remote. It will control 5 devices and has learning ability so any equipment that isn't supported can learn from your old remote. The problem is, there is no way to control an amplifier. Most people who have need of a 5 device remote use an amplifier and external speakers so they can enjoy quality sound while watching TV. The only volume control (and mute) on this remote is the one that controls the volume on the internal TV speakers. At first I thought this would be ok, I would just program the volume controls with the learning function. But this would not work - the remote has a "punch through" design that will not allow you to program the audio controls for anything other than your TV.
When I purchased this remote I assumed that one of the 5 devices it would control would be an amplifier (aux on most controls). But instead it will only control TV, VCR, DVD, Cable box, and Satelite. Most remotes put both Satelite and Cable boxes on the same set of buttons since people either have one or the other. They should have put Satelite and Cable on the same buttons and that would leave a whole set of buttons left for an amplifier.
Note: Philips has a terrible web site. There is no information there about their products, so it is difficult to make good decisions before you buy.

Just because it doesn't tell you how to do it in the manual doesn't mean that you can't control your receiver in all modes. All you have to do is hold "Code Search" press the mute button, press the receiver button, and press the mut button again. This remote works great for me with my Tivo and I love the learning capabilities. And for the price--you can't beat it!

I've got an a la carte selection of electronic devices at home. An Apex tv, RCA DVD Player and receiver, Goldstar VCR, Philips Sat Receiver. This thing works on all of them but my Sat Receiver, which I've yet to find a single remote that does other than the boxed remote with the Sat Receiver.

It is programmable which means, I'm able to access just about any Home Theater Receiver option, from Dolby option, audio input selection, even adjusting the speakers! There's nothing I haven't been able to do with this remote, except program it for my Sat receiver. I've had the remote for a few years and am very glad to have it.

I already have a primary Philips Universal remote of a different model and it works fine.
But I was about to get a cheap secondary remote for my mom to control some of my stuff.

So I got PM52S.
First of all - the manual is wrong. This remote takes 3-digit codes, but the manual says provides 4-digit codes.
Then neither it get any of my devices (a range of Pioneers, JVC player and amp, Aver tuner, Topfield STB etc) nor it was able to learn from them. So disappointing.

Still, I was able to use it with a PC IR receiver, but this "piece of art" degraded within a week - IR signal was weaker and weaker with every day, and it wasnt a matter of batteries.

When it died completely - I've opened it there were lots of signs of water damage on its circuit board. Dont know whom to blame - a seller or a manufacturer, but anyway - it is impossible to prove that that wasnt my fault.

Summary - the remote is a trash and the seller is careless on the items. Avoid both.

Gary is correct, but their is a simple workaround.

Use the TV settings screen, to set the sound to thur the Auxulary output ( Aux ).

Set the TV speakers off and Variable output on. These settings
will vary according to the TV brand.

Tweak the volume on your amplifier / cd player / receiver etc. than you should be able to listen to the sound thru the receiver while controling the volume up and down and mute thru the TV.

All this assumes that the TV has a " Aux " out connection and the receiver has a " Aux " in connection, usually connected using an RF cable.

Hope this helps,
Richard

I appreciated the heads up on the audio control problem. Get the 8 device remote at Best Buy or here at Amazon. It learned to control my stupid Aiwa reciever that Aiwa refused to give me the remote code for. Aiwa customer service sucks bigtime. BTW. The code was 585. I paid $25 and tax at Best Buy. I am tickled to death with it.