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Universal Remote Control’s MX-6000
The MX-6000 has Wi-Fi built in, which gives it a path to the Internet. Down the road, the company promises RSS feeds such as news headlines, sports scores, weather and stock quotes directly to the remote. These can be read on the 4-inch display. The feeds weren’t available for our review at press time but are due by the beginning of the year. The Internet connection should also enable dealers to send product updates directly to the remote so that every time the cable company changes channels, dealers can remotely make the changes without making a house call.
I did experience the Wi-Fi in action with URC’s PSX-1 iPod dock and enjoyed the benefit of two-way communication. The MX-6000 has a scroll wheel that mimics the functions of the iPod wheel, but Novak also included buttons on the touchscreen to simplify access to music.
I’m particularly fond of the iPod shortcuts URC developed. Instead of tapping through numerous screens to get to the shuffle settings, for example, I touch the SHUFFLE button on the touchscreen, and up pops a palette full of shuffle options: album, artist, playlist, genre, all songs and jukebox songs. Thanks to the Wi-Fi network connection, I can see track, album and artist information—along with cover art—from the touchscreen.
The only device I’m not able to control via the MX-6000 is the Sony PlayStation 3, which uses a Bluetooth remote. At press time, URC was testing a prototype product from IR2BT that converts Bluetooth commands to IR, so there’s hope.
The MX-6000 is a valuable addition to an audio/video system and prices out accordingly. The device itself is $1,499, but with the programming and support gear required to make it run as smoothly as possible, the tag shoots closer to $3,000. You need an RF base station like the URC MSC-400 ($599) for RF control so you don’t have to be in line of sight of the components. And the PSX-1 iPod Personal Server is a must add-on at $349. Programming costs make up the balance.
According to Eric Johnson, vice president of technology at URC, there’s a correlation between age and the perceived value of a universal remote control. Buyers in their 20s and 30s tend to spend 10 percent of the price of home theater on remote control. Buyers in their 50s may spend as much as 30 percent of the total cost to simplify operation. Most people, we think, will find the MX-6000 to be worth its weight in gold.
Product: Universal Remote Control MX-6000
Price: $2,100
Pros:
- Controls almost anything
- Programmable touchscreen
- Wi-Fi connectivity
Cons:
- Hefty price tag
- No Bluetooth control for PlayStation 3
Thanks AVResce,
That was the information I wanted, and probably should have been in the original article.
Just to reiterate, to Electronic House I think the sort of information you provided should have been mentioned in the article itself. I couldn’t see why I would want a $3000 remote from the article, now I can. It looks like I should consider this for the new house, as we are planning on getting a complete home automation solution built with it, and now I know why my Harmony won’t cut it.
Paul,
What I’m trying to say is URC has remotes in the price range of Harmony as well. This is the MOST expensive. As far as features the 890 doesn’t have: Wi-Fi, Customizable Touch screen, 2-way iPod info, Whole House Control (not just 1 room w/Lights, Thermostat, Alarm, I.P Cameras, and Internet DVR), Multiple RF Addressable Base Stations ($150-$600)(RS-232 & Video Sensing on the MSC-400). This remote is meant for the Automated home, not just a living room. A typical installation for us with this type of remote would also include several other remotes around the house in the $300-$600 range. This is a CUSTOM product, not for a consumer to take home. I’m not trying to bash Harmony, we sell those as well. The MX-6000 approaches the customer who wants Crestron like features without a hefty price tag.
AVRescue:
Sorry friend, but on reading the review, I have to agree with Mysimplemind. This article did not remotely (bad pun) convince me to to buy $3,000 worth of remote and programming vs my $300 harmony 890.
Perhaps the problem is that the article is short on system details, but I think I have a more complicated AV setup than Rebecca, and I can control my system flawlessly.
I am having a hard time getting a sense of a ‘typical customer’ for the Universal MX-6000, as I can do everything with my harmony 890 except control my Nintendo Wii: which I couldn’t do with the Universal remote either.
I get RSS feeds from my Ipod Touch, and my iPhone, and my blackberry, and my pc….. so I don’t really see that as a feature worth getting on a remote. I can even do most/all of the iPod functions through my AVR’s iPod dock.
I’d like more information as to what this remote can do that most can’t do before I’d totally discmiss it, but again the article didn’t clarify it for me.
Harmon isn’t even in the same league. Please don’t compare a remote based on $. That’s like saying a Civic is better than a C430.
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Nyko makes an IR remote for the PS3 called “Bluwave”. It retails for $20.00 or less, it can be found on amazon.com, I picked one up for $12.00 at Circuit City’s liquidation sale. The Bluwave is an IR remote that come with a USB IR dongle. Get one of these and have your universal remote learn the commands from the IR Bluwave remote and now you can control your PS3 with your IR universal remote.