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Accessory Reviews
Harmony Elite and Pro 2400 Remote Control Systems Review
Kris Deering  |  Sep 23, 2020

Harmony Elite
Performance
Ergonomics
Value

Harmony Pro 2400
Performance
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $350 (Harmony Elite), $550 (Harmony Pro 2400)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Easy setup and system integration
Cloud-based control and backup
Controls via IR, TCP/IP, and Bluetooth
Minus
Lacks Apple Siri support
Pro 2400 limited to custom installation channel

THE VERDICT
Harmony remotes offer the convenience and customization options of high-priced control systems, but without the intensive support requirements that come with them.

The biggest complaint I hear from clients when I'm out in the field doing video display calibration work involves problems with remote control systems. You'd think this would be because they have a stack of them to shuffle through, or they had bought some cheap off-the-rack universal remote at Walmart. On the contrary, the complaints are always about some high-end home automation system. As a happy Logitech Harmony remote control user, I've managed to avoid that direction. For the last few years, my remote of choice has been the Harmony Elite, which this review will focus on alongside its new cohort in the custom installation market, the Harmony Pro 2400.

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The Connected Life
Voice Control: The Good and The Bad, Part 2
John Sciacca  |  Sep 23, 2020
In my last blog, I touched on the exciting world of voice control using widely available voice assistants from Amazon (Alexa), Google (Assistant), and Apple (Siri) embedded in smart speakers and other devices. But what if your home has an advanced automation control system from a company like Control4, Crestron, or Savant? This time we look at the limitations of voice control in today’s smart homes.
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A/V Veteran
Protecting Your Gear From Natural Disasters
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 22, 2020
I sort of expected it when I moved to Florida 5+ years ago, so when the eye of hurricane Sally struck about 100 miles west of here last week, it wasn’t really a surprise. It was Tuesday when the heavy rain started, and it continued through midday Wednesday. There was some wind, enough to drop a few trees within a mile of me, but heavy rain caused much of the damage. Over 20 inches fell in this area. They could have used that 20 inches on the west coast to kill the fires there; that’s something like eight years of rain at my former Los Angeles address! I hope no readers were seriously impacted by storms or wildfires on either side of the country.
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New Products
Arcam Introduces ST60 Network Audio Player
SV Staff  |  Sep 21, 2020
Britain’s Arcam has announced the ST60, the company’s first network audio player.
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The S&V Interview
Nick Mason Spills a Saucerful of Secrets
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 18, 2020
Two words I'd never dream of associating with Nick Mason would be "idle hands." If anything, the longtime co-founding Pink Floyd drummer has always liked keeping himself busy, whether it's been behind the drum kit or handling the respective steering controls of exotic cars and/or flying machines (a.k.a. airplanes, in everyday parlance).
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CEDIA 2020New Products
CEDIA Expo 2020: New Gear Highlights
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 17, 2020
Welcome to the age of virtual trade exhibitions. CEDIA Expo 2020 officially got underway on Tuesday as it has every year since for the past 30 years but unlike past events the only thing you needed to attend was an internet connection and your device of choice. More than 100 “exhibitors” introduced new products, including a healthy selection of audio/video and home entertainment products. Here’s a sampling.
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CEDIA 2020
LG GX 3.1 Soundbar Sets a Slim Standard
Al Griffin  |  Sep 17, 2020
One highlight of LG’s CEDIA Expo Virtual 2020 booth is the GX 3.1 soundbar, a model that the company rolled out in July to accompany its GX Gallery Series TVs such as the 65-inch 65GXPUA that Sound & Vision recently reviewed.
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CEDIA 2020
Monitor Audio Showcases Gen-6 Bronze Speakers
Al Griffin  |  Sep 16, 2020
The centerpiece of Monitor Audio’s packed CEDIA Expo Virtual 2020 booth is its new Bronze speaker lineup, which we had previously reported on in early July. These handsome speakers, now in their sixth generation, have been designed to deliver dynamic, attention-grabbing performance, and feature an 8-ohm nominal impedance to allow pairing with a wide range of A/V receivers and electronics.
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CEDIA 2020New Products
Epson’s LS500 UST Projector is Ready to Beam
Al Griffin  |  Sep 16, 2020
Back in 2019 at in-person (not virtual) CEDIA, we reported on Epson’s new LS500 Laser Projection TV. It’s taken a while, but that model is officially available as of today.
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CEDIA 2020
Samsung Launches Ultra Short Throw Projectors, Expands The Wall
Al Griffin  |  Sep 16, 2020
Samsung is using CEDIA Expo Virtual 2020 to show off its growing portfolio of custom installation-centric display solutions. Included in this group are The Premiere 4K ultra short throw laser projectors, The Wall MicroLED displays, The Terrace, and the lifestyle-oriented The Frame TVs. Samsung’s full lineup was covered in a press conference on Tuesday and is now being exhibited virtually in the company’s virtual booth.
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