Sony RM-AX4000 Remote Control Review
Sony RM-AX4000 is Sony’s premium universal remote control. The tablet remote control is similar to many other high end remote controls. Sony included timer to remote control that can operate devices on timer basis. Like other remotes, it can execute macros to control various devices simultaneously.
Features
RM-AX4000 boasts many features similar to other high end remote controls. The remote can handle up to 16 devices via IR. The remote control lacks any RF capability. As with other remotes, RM-AX4000 can execute a macro command with push of single button. Sony calls these macros XPRESS functions. These functions can be programmed via proprietary software included with the remote control. Sony added timer function which controls devices automatically on timer. I’m not sure if this is all that useful unless you intend to use television or stereo as an alarm clock.
Design
RM-AX4000 is a tablet remote control that’s primarily operated via touch screen similar to Pronto. There are few buttons to speak of. Sony included directional pad, channel, and volume buttons along with few other menu buttons. It’s somewhat disappointing that Sony went with monochrome LCD instead of color LCD. The overall size is about 6.5 x 8 inches which is larger than most universal remote control. The remote control feels solid and well made.
Ease of programming
You can program the remote with or without PC. You can simply input codes and use it as device based remote control. But, you can do that with $20.00 remote control. Most likely you will want to fully program the remote with the included software. There are two methods of programming. First you can enter manufacture codes and have your remote “learn” the function from the other remote. The method is to program the remote using the include software. The program itself is not as easy or intuitive as the Logitech program. There is really simple wizard that guides you through the programming process. You can select the model from the included database. Although it’s easy to follow the step by step procedure, you cannot test the remote unless you disconnect the remote. This can be annoying if you have to run back and forth from the remote and your home theater set up.
Ease of use
As with other universal remote controls, the programming is the hard part. Once programming is done, the remote is pleasure to work with. The lack of color LCD didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Everything on the LCD was sharp and legible. The lack of rechargeable battery was a big letdown. A charging dock would have been welcome addition. The macros worked flawlessly. I did have to manually add code for the receiver as it could not be located in the database. Other than that, the remote is easy to use.
This remote control is very comparable to the harmony 880 or 890. The macro function and easy programming is very comparable. However, the lack of color LCD and rechargeable battery was bit of let down to otherwise a very solid remote control.
Pros
- Large LCD screen
- Macro options
- Easy to use
- No RF
- No rechargeable battery
- Programming can be difficult
Cons
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Sony RM-AX4000 Home Theater Remote Control List Price: $199.99 Sale Price: $250.00 Used From: $150.00 Average Rating:   |
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To complicated
Very frustrating device. To complicated. Go with Logitech Harmony series. Muchmore user friendly.
Bought it… Returned it…
I thought this was going to be a great idea, the price was very good at the time, I was going to be able to replace a half dozen remotes, and I usually always like Sony products. However, this just didn’t do it for me…
The main problem for me was that the on-screen button area and text are too small to read without my glasses, which I don’t wear when I watch TV, plus, you can’t feel your way around the remote like you can with the normal raised remote buttons.
The remote also does not do a good job of simulating things such as my Tivo remote. Also, while the box even said that it supported Tivo I had to go to the Sony web site and download the latest firmware for the remote before it even knew what Tivo was.
Despite the issues listed above and others I tried to use this for a while, even though the rest of my family gave up on it right away, but after about a week I gave up and returned it…
As usual, Amazon was great with their return process.
Sony AX4000
I found this to be a very good remote would surely recommend it to anyone
A great product as usual, a few glitches
I have owned and used 3 universal remotes before (2 Denon & 1 sony). As with its predecessor, this is a great piece of hardware. It can learn/present all of my IR controlled devices I have – Amp, plasma,DVD, LD, VCR, Tape (!), MacMini, lights, aircon, tower fan. In addition, it now saves all the learned codes on the PC’s HDD, so if it ever loses the volatile memory, it can reload the whole thing from PC. Don’t assume to have it working with all your equipment out of the box – it takes about a day (in my case) to learn and program this thing. The PC interface allows it to do even more than the older models, including the ability to assign a macro to every button, soft or hard. The new AirSlide is cool, and it is thinner than the old models. Its ability to record IR codes and store it as a text file is interesting – I look forward to swapping codes with others.
On the downside, there are a few glitches:
1. The lack of the component select hard buttons means changing ‘mode’ is now 2-click. You have to press “component” and then the soft buttons for Amp, DVD, etc appear. It can, however, fit more components since they are soft buttons, and the labels are now programmable.
2. In Xpress screen and Component select screen, the volume buttons don’t work. So if you movie is too loud and your remote happens to be in these 2 screens, you might fumble for a while.
3. In the 4000A model, somehow there is no setting for the hard volume button to always control the amp. The manual says it can, but the menu on the controller does not have the option. I had to get around it by setting all components’ volume control hard button to macro to the amp’s volume up/down.
EXCELLENT PRODUCT
This is an excellent product from Sony. it works, is nice and easy to use.
easy to use, forget using the usb port
This is the third of the latest of the Sony Remote Commanders I have purchased. This by far is the easiest to program and use. It took less than 30 minutes to find the codes and to insert my own programmed buttons. My first one took 6 hours, the second 2 hours. So, it’s definitely improved since 2001. My friends call it the “Star Trek” remote because of the size and design.
Not as bad as people make it out to be…
Just a quick post to tell you, DON’T USE THE PRE-SETS OR WIZARD.
Add a device. Go to Advanced. Pick the button. Learn the function. It will save you a tremendous amount of time. And, it’s really no different then setting up an older remote, like the Sony RM2000.
My only issue??? ALL OFF doesn’t work either. So, I set a macro to button 4 instead.
Great product but not for the non-technically inclined…
I was skeptical about buying this based on a few terrible reviews. But I was pleasantly surprised with how well the software works (v 1.1 running on WinXP), and how easy it is to program the buttons to do everything imaginable. It took a couple hours but now I have my whole system working perfectly with a single remote. If you’re looking for something simple that will work out of the box, look elsewhere. But if you’re comfortable with computers and like to tinker, this product offers incredible flexibility. Highly recommend.
You’ll Learn…lol
The title of my review says it all… you’ll learn!!! If you want a remote that works 5 min. out the box you don’t want this one… But if you have time to switch, change, apply, and change again this is the remote for you… i love it personally… but it took me a good 2 – 3 hours to set it up. Once you get the setup process down you’ll love it too… 1 button to watch a movie, or play ps3, or xbox, or listen to music, or turn everything off, and etc…
Good Job Sony…
Easy to Use
Would recommend to others. Easy software to use. Could be better but overall it’s not a bad remote. It’s a little heavy and unpractical but still a really good product to buy.
A Little Too Slanty to Be a Nice Coaster
The PC setup, which ingeniously uses the remotes of the various components, appeared to work according to the happy messages I was getting onscreen as I went through the steps. This was surprising, because the successive windows and choices were baffling, nonintuitive, and not explained, or barely explained, in the accompanying material (including the almost-100-page PDF instruction manual). Still, the software reported that the settings had been programmed. Great, very cool. Unhook the USB cable, turn it on, and — only the “TV” component appeared on the screen when the “component” button was pushed — same as it did when it came out of the box, preprogrammed for SONY components. Repeated attempts, same result.
OK, let’s try the non-PC method in the manual. Turn it on, press the “Commander Off” and “Muting” key at the same time as instructed, and — the menu that would allow you to enter the preset numbers for the component (which appear on a separate sheet and not in the manual, although you would never know it from anything in the instructional materials) is not the menu that the bronto-PDF says is supposed to be there when that unambiguous instruction is executed.
Result: The Commander commands absolutely nothing except our Sony TV.
I’m sure this thing works for some of the multiple-star folks here, but life is too short to fuss with it any longer. Maybe your cable guy, Geek Squad neighbor, or local wiccan can do it. Best of luck.
Eliminate 90 percent of your remote controllers with this.
Touch-screen activation of nearly every function does away with the typical failure rate associated with those pesky tactile buttons on 99 out of 100 other remotes. This device can even easily be used in total darkness with no fumbling or goof-ups. It’s a great consolidator of remote controllers. Wouldn’t want to do without mine.
evaluation
It is actually easy to use once you figure out the complex instruction. In fact, I did a lot of soul searching before I could use the software. It is not easy to use and if you accidentally do something wrong you can’t edit it and got to go to the begining. The unit itself is quite good but some keys don’t program well and you have to repeat the process.
Very frustrating
I originally had a Harmony remote, but after fairly heavy usage over a little more than a year it started to fall apart. That seemed too short a lifetime for such an expensive remote, so I started looking around and found this one.
I’ve got to admit, it looks really nice. It’s a little awkward to hold, but not intolerable. It looks like a few drops on a hardwood floor might take it out as well, but I decided we could be careful.
Getting it to work with my four components was quite easy. I could control individual components with no trouble. I had to train it with each component’s remote, but once I started doing that, it really wasn’t much of a problem.
The trouble started when I tried to program the one-button-does-everything feature. I simply never got it to work reliably. Sometimes the TV would turn on, sometimes it wouldn’t. Sometimes the DVD would be inexplicably on, and sometimes it wouldn’t turn on when it needed to be on. The approach to “syncing” from these commanding foibles was also much more awkward than that on the Harmony. I eventually decided this remote wasn’t worth the trouble.
I think if the remote were easier to hold, and had a wider IR beam (the root cause of my commanding issues, I think), it would have done really well for us. Unfortunately, Sony must not think a lot of the remote themselves, because the Amazon vendor who sold it to me said that only Sony could take it back (by Sony policy) and multiple calls to Sony indicated that Sony had no intention of giving refunds on it. The vendor, after Amazon pressure it appears, eventually refunded my money, but it left me with a very bad taste in my mouth regarding Sony products. This is the second time I’ve bought a Sony product that’s not worked well and been very difficult to return. They seem to be coasting on name recognition lately.
In short, this remote did not work anywhere near as advertised for me, and I’m going back to my old Harmony remote which, while not really well constructed, worked admirably.
Great, once you get to know it.
I got the idea of purchasing this remote from my older brother. One Christmas, my sister-in-law bought him the Sony RM-AV300 because he’s been lusting after one for a long time. He has a monster home theatre systems complete with 2 amplifiers, 2 DVD recorders, Receiver, big screen LCD etc. So for him to get all of his components on one remote was pretty much a gift from heaven. After two weeks, he finally had his remote set up exactly how he wanted it.
Now, while I’m not in my brother’s league, I have an above average home theater system in my living, and in my bedroom, and in my office. Yeah, you can classify that as a bit of an overkill, but I like it. Then I had the same problem as my brother with a million and one remotes, so I had to consolidate and choose to purchase not one, but two of these remote, one for my living room and one for my bedroom.
When I first opened the remote, I was a bit intimidate. The instructions are dense, like stereo instructions from the 1970s. I followed the quick guide which stressed choosing the PC method in configuring the remote, using the wizard. Using the wizard is an absolute mess! Don’t do it. Enter your different remote individually, because the wizard will automatically take you from each remote preset (if it can find it), and then send you through the Xpress settings (whether you want to or not) and then afterwards will it download all of the data to the remote. The bad part about the wizard is that once you get into it, you can not get out of it until you completed the whole process. It sucks! To make matters worse, after I got done with the wizard, the remote did not control any of the components.
After cussing for a solid 20 minutes, I went into the PC, totally ignoring the wizard this time, and edited each component remote. Boy, can we talk about easy. Yes you are going to have to program each button, but at least this way, you will have all the buttons you want. the remote also gives you 12 buttons that you can program and label as you want them. You can even program and use the buttons that the component preset did NOT use, although you can not label it anything you want, you can still use it. The Alias function, a function where you can operate a component when your remote is using the display for another component, is literally the click of two buttons using the PC. I tell you, I love it.
The reason I’m giving it 4 stars and not 5 is because the instructions are horribly written.
Really nice remote
I have really enjoyed using and showing off this remote. The fact that it can be connected to my PC and programed is not only fun for me but really allows me to customize it with ease. It did take me a good hour or two the first time I set it up…but then I was trying to get everything just right. The reomote does exactly what it says. I can change all my components to DVD or SAT with the touch of one button. I can turn everything on or off with one button. It is great! They only drawback if there is one is that you quickly realize that if you are using the virtual buttons on the LCD you cannot feel them and so you have to look away from the TV which can be a problem when trying to FF or RW Tivo.
Not the most expensive, but the BEST!
This remote (and the other Commanders) is simply the best. Very easy to switch between components. Totally customizalbe. Look no further…
RM-AX4000 Junk
This is not only a waste of money,but a waste of time. The set up disk wouldn’t run. After two frustrating hours on the phone with a tech who hardling knew english,and she couldn’t get this junk to work. It could not find the Sat.code, then it could not find the DVD codes, wouldn’t pair up. In fact, it took any hour to set up a Sony sound system to a Sony remote. Need a say more. WHAT A WASTE. Sony should be ashamed!
Nice Remote – Help for the electroniclly challanged
I bought this remote three months ago to help my girlfriend use my media room. After downloading the lastest version of the AX software, it only took about one hour to program the TV, surround sound, receiver, DVD, and CD Jukebox. Now with the push of one button, the amp turns on, selects the right input, turns on the TV and turns down the lights. If you want to listen to a DVD, again, just the push of one button and everything sets up automaticlly.
Great device.
More confusing than his predecessor
This model, although programmed via USB interface, is more confusing to use than old RM3000 model. It’s not easy to change from one equipment to another, and when on the same equipment (e.g.: Digital Cable controller) it’s cumbersome to move between extra options. All in all it’s better than handling several different remotes, but it could be way better.
no good doesnt work for my electronics
I would have liked the product but it didnt work with my electronic equipment
Love it- a little flaky on the programming
I started out with the model behind this one, the AV-3000 – I loved that remote… except I stupidly dropped it onto a door threshold where it landed upside down and cracked the lcd. So I got this one, I love the fact you can program it by pc or laptop. and it stores your programming so even if the remote happens to lose everything you can just restore the setting. The software is a tag tricky. The xpress function wants to assume everything is either on or off. However some hand editing of the macros makes for an easy fix. I got all my remotes (10) into this one on a Sunday morning in about 2 hours. – and with a little fine tuning that evening – all set!
So far its been fantastic on batteries and I’m using NIMH rechargeables.
This one however I don’t carry out to the garage.
“The remote to have!”
I personally like this remote. The touch screen is a cool feature and it works well. The remote is not hard to program using the code sheet. The only thing difference than traditional remotes is that it is larger and heavy. But, it is made mostly out of metal! Imagine that! It’s not some plastic pos. This thing really works and I recommend it.
Sony universal remote
Overall I was not impressed by this sony remote. I have had a few of these in the past and they seemed to be easier to set up manually than this PC interface. Once you get it working it works but trying to get it working is a pain in the butt. I also wish they would have thought about remotes that havea seperate on and off button since you can’t program the power button for both on and off. I like the remote but had I to do it over again I would have gone with something else.
The BEAST of a remote in the under $100 class
EDIT: When I first made my post I paid like $85.00 for this same remote, I see now it cost nearly double that. I bet the price jump is Sony insisting it be sold at MSRP. At $150 plus it is questionable if this unit is worth that.
Pros.
Fantastic product for the price. I found it was easy to program using the advanced menue on the included software. The only tricky part to me was I noticed the Sony wouldn’t always learn a signal unless I timed my button push to match a flashing cursor on the remote screen. Anyone with much tech savy should have complex macros and intermixed functions set up in no time.
Cons. The built in “buttons” on the touch screen have only the limited factory lables available. It’s my only real complaint and for the price I accept it. Some less computer savy folks may find the programing difficult. The auto programing feature and even the step by step set up guide kind of suck and leave the remote a bit gimped and featureless so only those who take the time to plan out and make stuff up one button at a time in the advanced menue will get much out of the remote, and at least to me the advanced programing seemed easier to understand and make do what you want then the auto set up stuff.
This remote beats the ever living pants off of anything else I have seen in the same price class.