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User reviews for the Sony RM-AX1400 from Sony Electronics.
Ratings
Reviews
MSRP (USD)
Average: 3.83/5.00 Median: 4.33/5.00
4
$129.95
Sony's RM-AX1400 is a computer programmable hard buttoned remote control sporting a USB interface, a large number of backlit hard buttons, plus a compact OLED screen. It features control of 8 components, activity-based Xpress functions, macros and much more!
The reviewer has used this remote control for under 1 month.
Review 4 made on Saturday June 20, 2009 at 9:47 PM.
Also owned:
OEM of my equipment
Strengths:
Able to program any remote that I have, I thought if will give me problems with U-Verse but no problems. Software is easy to understand if you work with computers.
Weaknesses:
I got all the my components to work, but when using express function it works perfect with my laptop. Then I download to my remote and it may or may not work. I don't understand what is going on at this time.
Review:
I got all my remotes (5) and program the unit in about 1 hour. I feel before you do this you must write down how you want to display the components with the express functions. I did all my components first but made a second file with express functions first, so I could have the best of both worlds. I'm using Window 2000NT with no problems. All components work correctly. The problems is with express. I setup my laptop and send the express function to the remote and everything works correctly, but after download it will work maybe for a while and then a input function or power off function fails. I will not give up and find out what the problem is, I feel it maybe a full buffer that is not getting cleared. If you goto sony website they have an upgrade to 1.1 for the software. I can control all my components from this remote, it will be great to get the express function working correctly. I have problems with the software assigning power on commands that don't work, I edit the startup and add a Power command and it will work and then not, I feel this is a conflict by adding 2 Power commands, I know everyone will say that, but if you take one away it will not work. I have 2 Sony TVs, 1 Panasonic SC-PT960, Sony VCR and ChannelMaster 7000(note this will only work as TV when programming). I will update when I find the problem. I gave it 3 because of the software for Quality and 4 because it is very easy to use. I paid $25.00 with shipping from Amazon.
The reviewer has used this remote control for under 1 month.
Review 3 made on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at 10:34 PM.
Also owned:
HK TC1000, One for All URC-9800, dozens of others
Strengths:
HIGHLY programmable. Any key can be punched through to any other. Very versatile. Solidly built. Buttons are clearly labeled. And it's dirt-cheap, to boot. Backlighting makes most buttons easy to find in a darkened room.
Weaknesses:
Takes a while to understand the PC program. If you enjoy solving puzzles, this becomes a game rather than a chore. Only one of my devices was recognized by the remote. The other four had to be programmed manually.
Review:
Unlike many of the previous reviewers, I have no problem messing around with programmable remote controls to get them to work right. I enjoy a challenge, and I experience a feeling of satisfaction when I can get something like this sorted out. If you are easily frustrated or don't enjoy solving simple puzzles (or you don't like reading your way carefully through plenty of instructions) this is NOT the remote for you.
Don't get me wrong - the individual components were pretty easy to program in once I knew the drill, and after initial programming (and about 300 button presses) the remote was able to operate each of my components. The challenge was in figuring out the macro functions! Out of the box, the one-touch "xpress" buttons are limited in the number of components they will send a "conditional power-on" command to. At this point the easiest solution is to reorganize my home entertainment system, rather than dig through binary files to fix the problem.
So here's the down-low. If you're looking for a programmable remote control that's well built and just about infinitely programmable (to someone with a bit of geek in them) for a rock-bottom price, you'll have a tough time beating this. I got mine off Amazon for $13, shipping included. That's a stupidly cheap price for a remote this versatile, and I don't regret it for a moment.
The reviewer has used this remote control for 3-6 months.
Review 2 made on Thursday February 28, 2008 at 11:14 PM.
Also owned:
Harmony 880, OneforALL URC9910, RCA810
Strengths:
Programming, PC Interface, Backlit, Plenty of Button for controlling most devices, Buttons is well layout, Price, Good Solid Construction. Built by SONY.
Weaknesses:
Required PC to make it works. Poor Documentation, Lack of Programming Guide.
Review:
After search from net for the perfect remote control to replace my Harmony 880 with dead battery, I stumbled to this AX1400 from Sony. Thanks to the unfavorably reviews that people gives this remote, I bought my SONY RM-AX1400 from eBay for only $9.99 plus $9.95 for shipping and handling.
To be honest, I didn't expect much from it at first, but it turns out that this remote performs better that my previous remotes. I am able to squeeze 8 remotes to this AX-1400 with ease.
This remote control is designed not for novice or plug and play people in mind! You wil need to hook it up to a PC to make it works. The remote itself very well designed as most sony product, but the software and document really need major revisions. Since this remote requires the PC for setup and tweaking, User manual did not even include a single page to show people how to setup or programming using the software included. Instead it referring software help content for documentation, and it didn't help at all (informations scattered all over the places).
It is clear to me why people gives this remote such a bad reviews, some of the reviews are clearly indicated lack of patience of the users to figure the functionality of software. One review even indicated this unit is lack of macro, in reality every buttons from this remote could program to become a macro key (which Logitech is lacking, OneforAll is limited). It took me 6-10 hours to play around with the AX1400 editor to the point that I am comfortable enough .
Once I have figured it out and get everything working, this remote performs better than my old Harmony 880. It learns all remote that is not on database without a problems, I could rename the soft key labels, moving keys around, oh by the way It does have punch features! It doesn't rely the web to program the unit like the logitech harmony (this is biggest complaint beside the expensive short live lithium-ion with the Harmony880), I can backup my setup from my remote to my local hard drive and Logitech can't find and monitor what I own for Electronics Equipments.
Sony has turned this outstanding remote to become a reject product, because Sony has omits to give a proper description on the packing (i.e. it requires a PC) and put some more effort to write more comprehensive user guide.
Sony's lost is my gain (where can you buy a good looking, well built $20.00 remote control with PC inteface?)
The reviewer has used this remote control for under 1 month.
Review 1 made on Sunday February 18, 2007 at 10:01 PM.
Also owned:
Sony RM-VL600, several One for All's
Strengths:
Not many. Good learning functions. Currently inexpensive, considering it's implied power.
Weaknesses:
No "punch thru" for volmue/mute. VERY hard to program on PC. Does not consistently work. Poor documentation, online or off.
Review:
I've really got to give this thing a pretty poor rating. It just does not live up to it's potential. There is much "Sony Speak" in the manual, once you get passed that, good luck with the programing via PC. It's hit or miss. Line all the macros on Sony's "Express" buttons, adjust timing delays for the various devices, test while still hooked to USB and your PC, all is fine. Save the file you've created, download to the remote, disconnect from USB, and try again. Sometimes all the functions work, sometimes they don't.
And no, it's not a range thing, as I also have a Sony RM-VL600 that works perfectly, everytime. The VL600 is one great remote, I highly reccomend it. Both remotes are set for the same home theater equipment. But the RM-AX1400....wow, it's like it was designed by a whole other team whose main goal was collective dysfunctionality.
And no "punch thru", as I like to call it, for volume / mute? That lack of feature truly shows this particular remote design is pretty much worthless.
OK, I was impressed by the RM-AX1400's learning ability. I thru it several curves here, and it learned all the commands from other remotes perfectly.
But then there is the online manual. While seraching for "Controlling the Volume" (trying to solve the apparent lack of "punch thru"), I found the instruction: "refer to Help Menu provided in AX1400 editor". Uh, Sony, I WAS in the AX1400 Help Menu, that's where Im reading this line from......good grief....
I'm going to keep playing with it for a while, but jeeze Sony, this one really looks like a miss. Maybe that's why the price on them recently dropped so much.
Stick with the VL-600, a much better product.
Toshiba HM15A 62" dlp Oppo Digital 971 dvd Marantz SR7000 receiver Athena speaks all around (including 2.2's) Samson 120a subs (2) hundreds, really hundreds of dvd's......
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