Customer Reviews

Sony RM-AX4000 Home Theater Remote Control

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Added to original review on 5/11/2007. **THERE IS NO VISTA USB DEVICE DRIVER FOR THE RM-AX4000** Upgrading our home computers to Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition has rendered this remote control useless.


I recently purchased a RM-AX4000 to replace my existing Sony RM-AV3000 universal remote and hopefully *FINALLY* have a single unit to replace my seven currently used remote controls...

The remote control itself is well designed, has a nice display with a blue backlight, and is well built with a silver brushed metal front panel and rubber buttons.

However, the included software works reasonably well but could be a lot easier to use.

Initially I setup the unit without using the PC based software by inputing the four digit preset codes for each component. This worked but gives basic functionality and no macros (which Sony calls "XPRESS Functions").

Using the included software to configure the remote requires that you run a wizard which steps you through configuring the unit. I found that it worked better to use the preset codes rather than trying to have it learn from each individual remote.

However, once I did this and downloaded the settings to the remote, the "ALL OFF" button (which is intended to power off all of your A/V components with a single button press) stopped working properly. I have an A/V system consisting all recent model Sony components and for some reason I can't quite fathom the "ALL OFF" button powers everything off, except for the receiver. The "ALL OFF" button on the existing remote which came with the receiver works fine.

After spending two days messing around with the configuration of the RM-AX4000 I was unable to resolve this issue. Also, you must run another initial wizard in order to configure the macros. This whole process requires you to teach it, using the existing remote control for each component. This takes time, and the resulting macros needed tweaking to get them to work properly. This whole process could have been better.

After spending two days learning how to configure the RM-AX4000 using the software I have a single remote which works well......

Overall, I rate this item 3 stars because of the poorly implemented PC software.

Update - a new version of software, AX Remote Editor 1.1, is available for downoad from the Sony Website. You are now no longer forced to run the initial setup wizard !

Update II - the AX Remote Editor 1.1 software seems to run OK on Windows Vista, but THERE IS NO VISTA USB DEVICE DRIVER FOR THE RM-AX4000.

I recently purchased and RETURNED the RM-AX4000. Initially I was excited to have found a newer Sony remote (currently own the RM-AV3000) that could be programmed using my PC versus the traditional method of "head-to-head" learning. The RM-AX4000 looks and feels great; however, the PC program just doesn't cut it.

Additionally, with the exception of my television (Samsung) all other components are Sony and the PC software required that I place the original remote "head-to-head" and press the power button to correctly identify the Sony product. Also, the PC software could not identify the power button on the Samsung remote and required that I learn every button.

The included instructions indicated that you cannot use both methods to set-up the remote, I found this to be true and extremely frustrating, as you may encounter an issue while using the remote, and therefore you cannot correct or change a macro on the remote itself, you must return to the PC, attach using the included USB cable and then correct the problem. Also, if you want to test your changes, you must download the new information to the remote and then return to your living room to test. I experienced many round trips between the living room and PC, and ultimately decided that programming the RM-AX4000 should be done on the remote not the PC.

Finally, unless you have a clear line between the new remote and all of your components (which I don't) functions such as "all off" don't reach their target (I did notice that if I point the remote at the ceiling, it worked fine). With that being said, you may have a macro to turn the system off at a specific time, however, unless you leave the remote in a specific location, on a coffee table for example, it doesn't work that well. I don't know about you, but my remote can usually be found laying on the couch or chair, not on the coffee table.

I much prefer my older RM-AV3000. It performs all the same functions, requires the same amount of learning, has a larger infrared area on the front (which is probably why I don't have problems with the macro functions) and works fine.

I purchased the Sony RM AX4000 to replace my existing Sony remote commander, the AV3000. What I really wanted was a way to backup the settings in the AV3000 that worked reliably (via a computer). The AX4000 accomplishes this, although in less-than-ideal manner. The beauty of this is that if someone pulls the batteries out, reloading the settings is a matter of minutes instead of a matter of hours.

Like the AV3000, the AX4000 has two huge selling points for universal remotes - macros and user-defined buttons including a 7-character custom description. The macros are awesome for complex systems where multiple devices need to be powered-on and correctly set to watch or listen to the desired content. For example, I have a macro button called "TV" which turnes on the receiver, the VCR, and the TV, turns the receiver to "VCR1" and sets the audio mode to stereo. The user-defined buttons will be well received by everyone, especially those who have used other "learning" remotes and have toiled over which button to use for special functions based on the descriptions available on the remote, and then trying to remember that later during use.

The AX4000 has two modes for programming - with the remote directly via manufacture codes and head-to-head learning, or through the PC based software. You can't do both, which is unfortunate.

Since I wanted the computer backup functionality, I chose the software method. The software is a bit clumsy and at times counter-intuitive, but functional once you get the hang of it. The wizard is lame and you should get through it as fast as you can (I recommend picking one dummy device to configure and delete it from the advanced tab when done). The software allows you to quickly select codes for your equipment from pull-down lists. Then, with the remote connected via USB, you can test the codes from your computer with the emulator mode. This is really only useful if your computer is in the same room as your AV system, or you have a laptop you can bring into the room. You can test the codes and if they don't work, try another (there are multiple codes for most manufacturers). Whatever functions do not work or are not available in the standard template can be learned by the software through the remote with head-to-head learning.

I have a somewhat complex arrangement with 10 components to control, and a few that are less common.

Yamaha 3-Zone AV Receiver
P-M TV
Magnavox VCR
Magnavox DVD
Sony 200 CD Jukebox
Omnifi DMS1 MP3 Streamer
Hauppauge MVP Video Streamer
X10 Light Controls

The preset codes worked for quite a few of the components, but the receiver zones 2 and 3 and the Omnifi and Hauppauge units weren't in the list (not surprising), so all of those keys had to be taught. The AX4000 had trouble learning some of these keys, and I had to repeat the learning and test them several times. Numerous times it would say "learning complete", but the function would not work. Varying the distance between remotes as well as the time the button was held seems to be important for some functions. I had little-to-no trouble learning these same functions with my AV3000, so the AX4000 seems to be a step backwards in this category.

I probably spent 3 hours installing the software, putzing with options, and loading the configuration for the above components. I then spent probably another hour or two over the course of a week or so "fixing" the buttons that did not work on the first learn attempt (I didn't test every button initially). I think the only button I haven't been able to make work yet is the eject button for the DVD player.

One of the disadvantages of this unit vs the AV3000 is the loss of the physical component buttons on the remote. These are now on the touchscreen. While this isn't a make-or-break item for me, I definitely preferred the physical buttons.

The screen on the AX4000 is larger than the AV3000, and the image is sharper with better contrast. If the remote is asleep, the backlight and screen comes on when the screen is touched once. The problem is that if the display is still on, it will perform whatever function is under your finger. There is a "light" button, but I haven't become accustomed to using this yet. Like the AV3000, the AX4000 is big. One-handed operation is difficult at best, unless you rest it on the arm of a chair or sofa (that's what I do).

The software has it's share of bugs. The setup wizard is poorly done and should not be used. The user defined buttons within the components cannot be rearranged. The components in the system list can be rearranged with an intuitive drag-and-drop. Seems like that should apply at the component level also. In the learning mode, the software skips some of the user-defined key positions (depending on the component), making these buttons useless. I've found that you can teach the function to an unused key and then 'alias' the user defined key to the defined key, but the original learned key cannot be deleted. For this I've made a "junk" device to keep these learned function without creating confusion during use. Klugey but effective.

I recommend this unit for those who are comfortable figuring out and using new computer software and don't mind spending time getting things setup. Don't expect this to be a 15 minute job or you will be disappointed. The only shot you would have at this is if you have all Sony components which have been on the market for a while.

In summary:

Pros:
PC Backup of Configuration, reloads in seconds
Big, crisp touch screen
Macros and User-defined keys

Cons:
Clumsy software
Some user-defined buttons can't be taught
Trouble learning some functions

OK, it's 8 p.m. FedEx showed up with this remote at 5:30. It is now happily controlling a Pioneer Elite THX-certified receiver, 52-inch JVC HDTV, Toshiba DVD Recorder, and Sonos Digital Music Distribution system.

No pain, no problems, one visit to the Help file, no looking at the complete user manual -- only the quick start sheet, a lot less complicated than configuring Outlook 2007. (Of course, designing the Taj Mahal was probably less complicated than configuring Outlook 2007.

Seriously, I have read more absolute tripe about this remote than I can believe. If the bad PR hadn't driven the price down to nothing, I would have been scared away from it. For example, someone said you can't move the settings from one computer to another. Couldn't they find the "save as" command in the file menu ... all you do -- as with almost all software -- is save the configuration to a folder, copy the folder into your new computer, install the AX4000 software and copy the old setup into it?

What could be simpler than that?

And what could be simpler than learning codes by pressing the appropriate buttons on the old remote and a screen shot of the AX4000? It sure beats having to fool with the buttons on both remotes almost simultaneously. Sony has made it almost impossible to get the fast forward and reverse backwards -- something I always do with traditional learning remotes.

True, the pre-programmed codes are useless ... they're always useless unless your system is so uncomplicated you don't need a universal remote anyway. If you've got any kind of HDTV with a zillion aspect and color settings and/or a surround system with hundreds of presets, parameters and setup options and you want to use a single remote to operate the system, you're going to have to spend a few hours programming the remote or settle for reduced functionality. (Unless you've got a Harmony, in which case you'll spend a few hours TRYING to program it, give up and throw it out.)

One thing you should know (it's probably documented in the manual, but I didn't read it and had to waste some time figuring it out.) Both the Component setup window and the XPRESS setup window have multiple blank lines ... logically you would think you put your first component (or Xpress setup) on line one, the second on line two etc. Wrongo, wrongo, it's doesn't (and won't) work that way. Each of the blank lines is supposed to hold four items. So instead of going to line two, after setting up the first thing, you have to click on the blank line to the right of your first entry ... which makes a red rectangle for the second item magically appear ... and so on for three and four and than, finally, you can move on to the next line and start over again.

OK, it ain't intuitive and putting empty boxes on the screen instead of blank lines would have made it all perfectly clear, but it's still not rocket science and, probably (maybe, perhaps) it is very clear in the documentation.

One last thing, my unit arrived with AX Remote Editor version 1 on a CD. I downloaded the latest version (1.1.00.05190) from the dedicated AX site and used that, it is possible that the earlier software is just as bad as other people say it is. All I know is I've used and reviewed remotes ranging in price from $8.95 to $599 and this is the best I've ever had in my hand ... actually, my two hands ... the critics are right about it being big ... but that makes it 20 times easier to use than the Harmony would be if it were usable at all.

*EDIT* After about 2 years of use, the bottom buttons stopped working. The LCD panel still worked great though. I could no longer use the directional buttons which for my cable system are the only buttons worth using. So sadly I had to throw this away and buy a Harmony One remote.

I keep reading all these reviews on this remote about how people can't program it because either the software is buggy or the codes didn't work.

Yes the software could be better, but it's not that hard to figure out how to program this remote. People who can't set the correct time on their VCR might be better off with a $30 ten button remote you can get at your local supermarket. This remote is for the hardcore people who want total command of everything they prgram into it.

Took me 2 hours to program 6 devices. After I was done, I didn't need to program anything else. Remote works great. Had to program each key in though. The wizard should NOT be used... go straight to the advanced settings after you go through the first wizard.

Overall I like this remote. It's big, sturdy, feels solid like it wont break if I drop it on a wood floor. Rubber buttons and the touch screen works great. If you have fat fingers, you might not like the touch screen as the buttons might be a little small for you.

I do not use the Xpress buttons or the system control buttons as I have no need to. I don't use the ALL OFF button either because I mostly leave my DVD player off while the rest of my stuff is on. If I press that, my DVD player turns on while the rest of my stuff turns off. So I created a motion sweep to turn select units on and off. One finger glide turns what I want on or off.. another finger glide turns other stuff on or off.


Get this remote if you know what you're doing. Do not get this remote if all you can do on a computer is turn it on and surf the web.

This is a great remote, but the software that comes with it is some of the worst I have ever seen published by an international company.
Be SURE to download version 1.1 of the software as the remote still ships with 1.0. It is slightly less painful to use.

[...]

I received this remote for christmas and fell in love with it. I first started programming the remote with the 4-digit codes which worked great but with no macros. Then I tried to add the macro functionality on top of the preprogrammed codes but the software does not work that way. The software must recognize the remote/devices you want to control by head-to-head learning. This is my one disappointment and the reason I did not give it 5 stars.

I was fortunate enough to be able to use a laptop to do the programming right in the living room - no round trips. Once I got the AX4000 to recognize everything programming this remote to do anything with either component was blissful! The XPRESS functions work great but in some case do require tweaking as some devices are slower to recognize their own infrared commands. I added a few delays in the macros and things were fine.

One feature people may have problems with is the AX4000 memorizes the commands it has sent to a component and uses this to determine whether or not to send the command again. For example, "ALL OFF" only turns off components that the commander remembers turning on. Sony has added the "Sync Up" button to to do just that. Once it is sync'ed with the components these functions work properly.
As for the timer functions, I think it a nice feature to have but it doesn't seem practical. Plus as one customer stated the remote MUST be in the right place at the time for it to work.

Thank you Amazon for the awesome price. Again, Great Remote. By far the best I have ever used. It would be nice however if the sofware could accept the 4-digit codes.

In the final analysis, I was able to put all my remotes away! This one was able to replace all and give me more function because of the macro system built into the remote. However, the journey to get from multi remotes to this one was extremely difficult. You can program the remote without the software that comes with it, but you will not be able to unlock all of the power built into the unit. You cannot do part of the programming directly on the remote and partly with the software. You must choose one or the other. I highly recommend the software, but get ready for a difficult learning curve. I read other reviews of this product and most users have trouble with the software. There is a reason for this. Basically, Sony has decided that you need to use the software in a specific way. Not only is that 'way' not well documented, it is hard to use and does not accomplish what you want. I am referring to the wizards that you are forced to use. The best way is get thru the wizard as best you can which can take some time and then delete most of it. Then, go thru the easy-to-use edit functions and do what you want. Why Sony forces you thru a useless wizard is beyond me. However, in the end I was able to accomplish exactly what I wanted. It is now a simple task to make a change to the programming and download it to the remote unit. In a previous review, someone mentioned that he was able to get all that he wanted except the ability to open the tray in the DVD player. I too had that problem until I notice that there is a 'time to hold button' paramater automatically set to 2 seconds on this button. That function is not documented but is in the software. What it means is that you need to hold the eject buton for 2 seconds to cause the function to happen - probably a good idea. The 2 second default is changeable, but not documented. Therein lies another problem with the software - the poor documentation.

If you are ready for a difficult annd frustrating learning curve using the software, you will find this remote terrific. If you want to avoid this, don't use the software, but you will have lost some of the rich function that is only available with the software.

As to everyday use of the product once it is programmed: the buttons are easy to use, the backlight is excellent, the size is fine. The infra red beam seems to be very narrow. You need to be able to point the remote at all the units that you want to control - no coffee tables in the road. It seems to be limited this way more than any other remote that I have used.

I am satisfied with the product now that I know how to use the software. Shame on Sony for writting such user unfriendly software. Reminicent of the software written by another companty we all know and love.

This remote does its job well. I had eight remotes to control the gear in my living room, and this thing took the place of all of them. I no longer lose them in the couch or forget where I put them last...and it no longer takes me five minutes to set up just to watch a movie or listen to music. Macros allow one button press to turn on (or off) all required equipment and set them to the correct mode. The backlight is pleasant, I like the audio feedback of button presses, and the sheer size of the thing feels good in my hands and prevents misplacement.

That being said, this thing was a royal pain to get working properly right out of the box. This may be because I have some less mainstream A/V equipment, but the previous reviews do not exaggerate the PC program interface with its endless mouse clicking. Even the so-called "wizard" has multiple mouse clicks for one simple button, which can get very tedious if you have a remote with 40 buttons on it, like for a reciever.

Here's a recommendation: skip through the initial wizard as fast as you can, then make a new profile and start out in advanced mode. Even if you go through the wizard, most of your time will probably be spent in advanced mode anyway, because you have to tweak alot buttons to get them working. This may save you much time and headache. This is also where you program macros, the shining star of this remote.

Software installation is straightforward. The interface, aside from the points mentioned above, is relatively simple. You can drag and drop components to pick the order you want them to show up on the screen. Everything is clearly labelled and easy to read. Macros are simple too, but only after you get the buttons working properly.

It took me a couple of hours to get it to do all Dish Network remote commands. After manually programming each button for the DVR, I had to make a macro to get to "My Recordings" with one button press, and it took a few tries to get it to do page up and page down when browsing the guide.

The remote itself has a nice finish, and weighs about like a largish paperback book in your hands. The touchscreen is large enough to poke at it without worrying about hitting the wrong button. The physical buttons are responsive and do not feel cheap or "clicky". After some use, fingerprints show up on the touchscreen, especially when eating popcorn. However, the display is bright enough when backlit that they aren't really a distraction. The menu tree is easy to learn and get used to as well.

This remote would get five stars if it weren't for the subpar PC interface and sparse documentation. The actual remote is fantastic however, and well worth the time and effort it takes to get it up and running. Just make sure you burn a CD with a copy of your profile once you get it going!

Bottom line, once you learn the software, this remote will do anything you want. The software isn't as complex as the other reviewers stated, but I would recommend to spend some time learning the features. The only thing I don't like about the software is that you have to complete the setup wizard before doing anything else. The only function I didn't like was the XPRESS features, I decided to use the system buttons for macros instead. There is so many features with this remote you will be amazed. I think the problem with other reviewers is that they didn't understand the software enough because it will do any function from any remote you own.