I’ve used Harmony universal remotes for over 20 years and was extremely sad when Logitech discontinued the line. In the years since, many have tried to replace them, but only one other manufacturer has come close: Sofabaton.
Sofabaton manufactures two universal remote controls — U2 — for which you can get $20 off Sofabaton right now with code BlackFriday20 — and X1Swhich is reduced from $230 to $180 when you combine the current Sofabaton sale with promo code DecSale. The devices are designed to condense all your remotes into one.
I reviewed the U2 and awarded it an Editor’s Choice award, and I’m currently using it in the CNET AV Lab to control my test equipment. I love the U2 because it’s easy to use, it’s affordable, and it’s easy to add more devices to the remote.
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The U2 remote shines with its ease of use
The U2’s remote isn’t as good as the Harmony or the more expensive Sofabaton X1S – which has activity combos – the U2 will still control almost anything you connect to it. For this purpose, the remote has more than 500,000 devices in its database. Sofabaton even manages to improve on Harmony by letting you connect the app directly to the remote via Bluetooth. No logging in or dealing with network updates or slow connectivity. The remote can control up to 15 devices at once, while the old Harmony 650 can only offer five.
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Programming the device is easy. After installing the Sofabaton app (iOS/Android), you can add new devices by selecting “Add” in the top right corner. There you can enter the device manufacturer and model number and add it to the main menu. If your device is a little more obscure, you can use the manual training mode to make your own copy of the remote, but be sure to have the original clicker handy.
Why a universal remote makes a great gift
The remote control is comfortable to hold and the indented wheel that lets you select the device you want to control is natural to use. The remote is also intuitive — my family was able to use the U2 without any training, unlike most Harmonys.
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While you can pay a ridiculous amount of money for one of the legacy Harmony remotes—hundreds and hundreds—the Sofabaton U2 proves you don’t have to spend a lot to get a great remote. With its easy setup and ability to control a wide variety of devices, the Sofabaton U2 is the choice for anyone looking to simplify their home AV system.
Are Sofabaton universal remotes on sale after Black Friday and before Cyber Monday?
Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, plenty of sales still remain. Both The Sofabaton U2 is on sale for $22 off with code BlackFriday20 and on The X1S is currently $79 off, making it just $152 with the BlackFriday codeboth are currently on sale at Sofabaton and you can get an extra 10% off when you use the code DecSale.
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