Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control - RM-VLZ620

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

Although no special handling was requested the remote control arrived one day later. The ease of prgramming and operation was as expected from Sony

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

The remote is great, I bought it after buying my home theater system. Took a little bit to learn how to program it but after getting the concept it took only 10 minutes. Currently have it controlling tv, set-top box, home theater. Wish it had bluetooth functionality so that it could also control my PS3 system.

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

From this one control, I control a cable box, television, DVD/VCR combo, BlueRay player, DVR, and 400 CD music changer. Easy to program but follow the instructions carefully, particularly "press and hold the Device Select button you want to program for more than 3 seconds". If you do - perfect, If you don't - failure, but you won't understand why. Ideal product, well designed with good instructions.

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

Works well except for two devices: the only Sony device I have, a CD changer, and a fairly rare Daewoo DVD changer. The Daewoo was somewhat expected by the Sony device where the Remote claims to work for out of the box is disappointing. To lean commands you definitely need brand new batteries in this remote and in the remote you learn from. Even almost new batteries will not work, only brand new.

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

The other review that mentions this made me laugh - because it's completely true. I am generally tech savy but could NOT make this work at all. I even wondered if they had their codes messed up in the manual and tried all the other codes but NO! Nice remote but if you want a remote that can learn button functions look elsewhere.

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

Hold Set for 3 sec
Press Select and Set
Enter 9 - 8 - 8
Press BD
At this point you would press something on your other remote to teach the Sony, but the Set button just flashes a couple times and then quits.
So aggravating. I know this thing was cheap, but there are 6 pages in the manual which are completely pointless.
Try with new batteries: check
Try in a pitch black room: check
Try in a room with no other devices: check
Get super mad: check
Yell at plastic remote: check
Write bad review on Sony site: check

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

I only gave this 3 stars for reliability because I have owned it just a few days. Based on the look and feel, it appears to be a solidly built product. The buttons have a nice rubbery feel, and it even has a rubber strip running around the center of the remote body to give it a little extra gripping power.
With 60 or so usable buttons X 8 devices, and I believe all buttons can be learned if needed, that's a total of over 450 commands that can be learned, on a remote under $30! Plus 12 macros, although it takes a little too long for macros to execute on the component buttons when you hold them down. Luckily the macros execute instantly on the 1-4 system control buttons. Most people will only need 4 main macros anyway.
This remote controlled my new Sony Blu-Ray player after I put the batteries in it, no code input, learning or anything, and worked with the very 1st codes I tried for my non-Sony TV and receiver. Although it doesn't have dedicated PIP or Aspect buttons, you can learn them (or any other command) onto any other key you want. Once you do the programming procedures a few times, it's not really too bad, but still might be tedious enough to frustrate some non tech-savy users. Chances are if you can't figure it out yourself, you can get help online somewhere or have a techie friend easily do it for you.
I stayed away from Sony remotes in the past because of poor button layout, but it looks like they have steadily improved this with each new model. A lot of the keys are now easy to find by feel, making it easier to use the remote in the dark.
Yeah it would be nice to have backlit, or at least glow in the dark keys, and it would also be nice if the A-D keys were macro capable. But at this price, I'll take it!

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

The automatic power on feature has worked in the past with system controls but he no longer seems to work. With that feature working this remote has tons of value. Since it does not its no better than any other remote. I want a RMVL600 with Blu-ray device button all would be solved!!!

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

We have an all Sony home theater set up (except for the satellite receiver) and this remote, after programming, will turn on all the right components and set the inputs correctly only about two thirds of the time. Frustrating for the less tech savvy members of the family. However this is marginally more accurate than a much more expensive Logitech programmable remote.

Comments about Sony Black Learning Universal Remote Control:

I've tried several universal remotes, including a Pronto and a Harmony 880. But it wasn't until this remote that I was able to get my system down to one remote, without dedicating hours of time to set the remote up. What's even better, I am running a SageTV server setup, and am using one of these remotes to control my primary television, and another to control my secondary television. Being able to control two different television setups with the identical remote control is a dream come true! And you certainly cannot beat the price.

The most important buttons are all there, but it could use a few more buttons for completeness (check out most DVR remotes). Backlighting might have bumped it up to five stars...