Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater SACD/DVD problem

OK, so the problem is the remote control. Or am I being dense?

I'd say the only good answers are to

a) get a new universal remote
b) get a reciever with a separate 6 channel input.
c) use the new thing for everything

In other words, I have no useful advice.

I think the problem is a combo of receiver and remote.

If I get a new remote I will still be controlling DVD mode on the receiver for my SACD player, and CD mode for my DVD.

I'm not getting a new receiver, I'd scratch SACD all together before doing that.

Use the new for everything was my other option, but I was looking for advice on the quality of the Pioneer vs. the Panasonic players. Is the Pioneer just as good of a DVD player?

I let this problem sit for a while, and then I was driving to work yesterday morning, and BAM! it hit me.

My remote has an audio select button, that allows the receiver to switch between using OPT1 (for DVD) and Multichannel (for SACD) mode. I can actually turn both sources on at the same time, and use that button to switch between them, even though they are both in DVD mode on the receiver.

Now, my only problem is that I can't control both DVD players through the remote, since only one can be set to the DVD mode.

I need to do one or both of these I think.

1. Return the 578a and get one that is not open box so that it comes with a remote and manual. Use that remote for SACD.

2. Buy a harmony remote. I assume this will allow me to program in multiple DVD players and manage both.

I might need the remote for the 578 either way, since when I try to use to code to have my current universal control it, not everything works. Normally you can point the remotes at each other and have the universal learn when this happens, but without the original I can't do that.

Perhaps the harmony gets around this. I believe there some setup on the computer you can do with it, right? I have to start looking into them more. My wife wants one too, to make it easier, so it might be a Christmas present for both of us Any recommendations on which one to get, with the following info in mind?

I have two DVDs, a TV, and a VCR. A new TV is in future plans, and I'm sure some type of DVR/Tivo will come someday.

I just ordered the 659 but it has not arrived yet. On the website there is a demo for programming the remote and it looks like you can program more than one DVD player into the remote. You should go there and see if the 578 is in the list: here The demo is at the bottom of the page.

I would say that you would probably want to get the 688 as it is the only on with an actual hard button for a PVR but I'm pretty sure you can program any one of them to use a pvr -- you may just have to use the LCD screen for the PVR on the other remotes.

Anyways, I will give you my impressions of the 659 when I get it, probably sometime next week.

I use the 688 w/ my Pio Elite 45TX, HD Tivo, Denon 2200, VCR, and Panny Plasma. Works GREAT for PVRs, though the button placement/size is a case for argument. A little small and close together, but still works fine for me. You can reprogram any button to any device function or use the soft buttons. You can also create separate activities, one for 2 channel CD and one for multichannel DVDA/SACD. OR, you can do what I did and w/ the CD activity, just add some of the A/V functions to toggle multichannel. But then you'd need the ability to do the same on the CD player too. User preference.

I used to use the 768 which is WAY more programmable. I had to learn XML to customize it even more. VERY powerful but take some time to learn how to get the most out of it. Personally, for PVRs, the 688 is better. The newer 676 (can't recall the exact numbers) are supposed to be a good compromise between the 688 and 659. I like my Harmony and recommend them. But I'm sure you'd get the same feedback from MX users too.

From what I hear, the Harmony is easier to use. A big part of getting a new remote is WAF, so I'm looking at Harmony mostly just for that. I might just do the 659, I just wonder if I will feel like I am missing something later if I end up with a PVR (like what just happened with my DVD not handling SACD). I'll have to spend some time with the demos on the web site and check them out.

In reply to:

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In other words, I have no useful advice.

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But you have 2,800+ posts

In reply to:

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But you have 2,800+ posts

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does that mean the 2,799 of them are useless?



bigjohn

Yeah, most likely!

OK, I think I've solved my problem, at least for now. I am going to return the 578A and get one that comes in a box with the remote and manual. They are down to $95 at the next closest best buy. I paid $75 without that stuff, but it is worth the extra $20 at this point.

I'll use the remote for the 578 when I play SACDs. I will likely plan on a Harmony remote as a Christmas present for both of us (it's nice to buy HT gifts for two )