Philips Prestigo SRU8015 Remote Control Review
In the home theater industry, few companies have the tradition and experience as Philips. While this company is famous for the development of the Sonicare toothbrush and DVD standard, some of their finest work can be found on your coffee table. Thus, the Philips Prestigo SRU8015 universal remote is more than just an all-in-one control unit, but an entertainment command center.
Flashy and Beyond
The 8015 features a bold 2.0-inch high-resolution color screen. Specifically, the resolution is 220 x 175, ensuring that every single icon and line of text is easily readable. The remote is all-black with a silver trim that complements any stylish media room. A navigation wheel is placed in the center of the device, with a keypad and other controls below.
Resilient and More
We found that the Prestigo SRU8015 was a reliable device that rarely seized up or faltered when flipping through menus. This device is IR-based, so there were a few missed commands here and there, but overall the 10m range is great for communicating with an entire room.
Easy to Use is an Understatement
The 8015 uses an activity-based control system to manipulate multiple components at to achieve a common goal. Individual components can be adjusted if needed, but when playing a DVD for example, the remote would first turn on the TV, then power up the receiver and adjust the input settings, then finally turn on the DVD player and begin the movie.
To navigate the device, a rotary cursor is incorporated directly below the screen. This cursor functions similar to an iPod wheel, turning left and right to cruise through the longest of menus.
When in the darkness of your home theater, the backlit screen and keys make controlling the unit a breeze. In addition, the 8015 utilizes electroluminescent lighting for an even distribution and full illumination of all keys.
Battery Power: Amazing
The Philips Prestigo 8015 utilizes 3 standard AA batteries for power. While other units have complex docking ports and short charge times, the 8015 persisted for a long time. Furthermore, the remote will automatically shut itself off if left unattended.
Features: Now That’s a Long List
Perhaps one of this remote’s coolest features is the ability to set channel icons rather then enter the channel by hand. Channel logos are set via the icon library and then the lineup can be accessed by the LCD screen and rotary cursor.
To setup the device, the remote has a built-in IR code database that adds devices by a step-by-step wizard, rather than inputting a 3-digit code. If the device does not have the required code, then it can learn it manually from the original remote. This model does not use a computer to enter the codes, which can be a drawback as no updates are available and the library is smaller than other devices. Once the devices have been added and the activities programmed, the user can customize function and activity names to eliminate confusion. Specifically, the remote can handle 15 devices at one time, from TVs to Laser Disk players.
It’s Amazing!
- Electroluminescent lighting for easy control in a dark room
- Easy setup and device programming, built-in code database
- TV icons for easy navigation
- Rotary cursor
- Bright 2.0” LCD screen
- Able to handle 15 devices at one time
It Could Have Performed Better
- Uses IR instead of RF
- Learning codes manually can be tedious
- No way to update code database or channel icons
Buy Philips Pretigo SRU8015 now and Save $$$
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Philips SRU8015/37 Prestigo 15 Device Universal Remote List Price: $179.99 Sale Price: $58.88 Used From: $35.00 Average Rating:   |
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Doesn’t really work — NO softkeys!
The most important thing I need to add to the reviews here is that this remote has no ability to program keys. It DOES control multiple devices well, but once you’ve designed a key sequence (an “activity” or a “macro”), there’s no way to assign that sequence to an unused key.
Philips says you can “do anything” with a single key…but it’s not really true, because before you hit that single key you have to scroll through all your devices and macros to find just the one you want.
Just to summarize…
PLUS
–Good looking, well constructed
–Nice heavy feel
–Nice color display
–Controls a bazillion devices
–No gigantic book of codes
–Doesn’t forget programming when you change batteries
–Heavily discounted…for a reason…
MINUS
–No softkeys (you can’t program keys to do sequences)
–Critical buttons are too small, poorly located
–Can’t edit an existing macro/activity: you have to delete and re-enter
–The macro/activity programs you create are always at the bottom of a nice long list…even though the ones you just created ought to be the most useful and at the *top* of the list. You can’t reorder the list at all.
–Poor manual, doesn’t explain important remote functions
DON’T BUY THIS VERY COOL REMOTE
This remote dose not work on every converter box…and if it dose you still might have problems.
I got my package got the remote ……looked cool….worked great with my Sony tv…worked terrible with my DishPro (Dish Network Satellite box)
Sent an email to World Wide Distributors the company that sold it to me …They said “you can’t return it if you opened the case it came in” …how stupid is that.
The Chatted with Phillips…they said well that can happen we are still updating the software and adding more converter boxes” …I said what good dose that do me …He had no answer, the second time I called the company I got a very nice person how told me to send it to them ….I wrapped it up in the case it came in with bubble wrap and a detailed letter…. 2 weeks later they sent it back to me (just the remote sitting in the bubble wrap with no letter) still dose not work ….I’m SCREWED
Well Worth it!
Highs: Price, Design and easy of use, macro type functionality (activities is the term that is used by Philips), programming was a snap once you get use to working the remote.
Cons: Wanted to have the ability to move some of the major functions/commands to the top of the list on the menu screen
Easy – Peasy
I was a little concerned, at first, about programming my devices but it was easy as pie. I’m not super tech saavy and I haven’t gone so far as to program every function for each device, yet. For now, if I need to set up a recording on one of my vcr’s, for example, I just use it’s original remote but it is so nice to have one device that handles all my devices for playback etc. Eventually, I’ll have it programmed to handle every function. Don’t let the thick manual fool you into thinking it’ll be complicated. It just repeats itself in, like, 5 different languages. The buttons are a little close together for changing channels, play and fast forward, etc but if they were any bigger the remote would be too big to handle comfortably. It does feel a little heavy compared to other universal remotes but it feels balanced. The device itself guides you through it’s programming and you aren’t limited to one tv, one vcr and so on. You can control any combination of devices up to 15 in number. It’s customizable. You can adjust the backlighting brighter or dimmer and duration or turn it completely off. You can personalize the remote to fit your tastes this way as well as renaming the devices you program into it. If you have 2 tv’s, for example, you aren’t stuck with just “tv1″ and “tv2.” And it can handle every kind of entertainment device imaginable. I wasn’t even familiar with all the different types of devices this remote can control.
By Far the Best Remote You Can Find!
I have been using the Philips SRU8015 remote for a couple of months now. This is by far the best remote I have seen in the market!
The remote was a gift from my brother, who has been trying to convince me to replace the 7~8 remotes in our house by JUST ONE. I have seen lots of Logitech remote in the stores, but the PC set-up simply turned me off: why do I have to turn on my computer in order to watch a TV? And, as a “technology late adopter”, I am not crazy about computer staff in general!
The beauty of the Philips remote is that you don’t need a PC at all! Just sit infront of your TV, follow the instruction on the color screen on the remote, and the set up only take a couple of minutes! That is how a remote should work!
Despite many advanced funcitons (some are even unexpected, but really cool!), the remote are really easy to use. The set up is straight forward, the instruction on the screen are quite logical. It seems that the people who made the product have really thought it all through!
I also like the look and feel of the product: high quality color screen; cool rotary wheel that allows you to scrow down list of channels quickly, it also gives nice feelings in hand.
For improvement: the packaging was really difficult to open! Can you make it a bit more friendly experience for such a beautiful product?