SofaBaton U2 Universal Remote (with Backlight), All-in-One Smart Universal Remote Control with Customized APP for TV/Soundbar/DVD/Blu-ray/Projector and More, Macro Buttons & Extended Infrared Range

This is a pleasant upgrade to the already excellent Sofabaton U1. I especially like the lighted buttons on the new model -- much more usable in a dark A/V setting. This device consolidates a basket of other controllers, as well as offering the ability to create custom controllers with macros that control several devices. Disclaimer: Sofabaton offered me a full rebate on my U2. That's important for a reader to know. Also important is that the reason they did so was probably that I was happy with the U1 that I purchased four years ago. The U2 is even better.I found the setup intuitive, especially for the power and flexibility offered. I had an easy time downloading the data for my TV, Blue-ray, digital radio, Sonos, Apple TV 4k (3rd generation), and old Nakamichi receiver. The hardest part of that was tracking down the exact model numbers of some of my components.I didn't always meet with immediate success. For example, there were two models that seemed close to the model of my LG TV, and the first one had the volume up and down backwards for my TV. So I tried the other profile, and all was well. You can test the buttons in the phone app, and it's easy to download a different profile or customize individual buttons. When I bought my U1 about 4 years ago, some of my components didn't have entries in the Sofabaton database. But their customer support folks were very responsive and helpful, and immediately added the devices I needed.My old Nakamichi TA-3A receiver was recognized, but the buttons didn't all work correctly. It was a simple matter to customize those buttons. You get a layout of the Sofabaton's buttons displayed in the Sofabaton phone app; press the button in the app, and then select an option to set its function. You can either look up the selection from the database, or select the option to learn from the existing remote. Then point the remote at the Sofabaton, and press the button on the remote. I did that to set buttons for the main four inputs on the receiver, the tuner track up and down, and tuner seek back and forward. Works like a charm. You can also simply customize a button's function from the database, which might have been easier. I did that for some of the other functions I added.With about 30 seconds of playing around, I figured out how to create a macro. So I downloaded a second profile for my Oppo Blue-ray player, but named it OppoNakCD. Then I set the power button to be a macro to which I added actions to: power on the Nakamichi receiver, select the "CD" input on the receiver, and power on the Oppo Blue-ray player. I made another button into a macro to reset the receiver's input to "Video", power off the receiver, and power off the Blue-ray player. I also set the volume up / down buttons to control the receiver's volume, and I set the "input" button on the control to be the Oppo's disk eject button.When you add multiple commands to your macro (just hit the "+" and select the device and then the command to add), there's a default pause added between the commands. Just tap on that pause, and you can change the interval to whatever you want. I did this between my receiver's power-on and input selection, because it takes a couple seconds before it's ready. Very cool. Now it's as if I had a simple, all-in-one CD player with dedicated remote control.I just discovered a Sofabaton video explaining a lot of this, but it turned out I didn't need it. I think I'll want to review it anyway, because it seems to include tips beyond what I've been exploring tonight. In case it helps someone else, here's the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLT6MJQVDY

This is a great programmable multi-device remote especially considering it's price. Over the years I have had several programable multi device remotes for $150 or more. This one outperforms all of them on ease of use, flexibility and price. It's great for just the causal user as well as the advanced experienced user with complex function needs.Easy for the beginner to program. Find your device in the extensive library, name it in the X2 remote and in 30 seconds or so it is installed and ready to use. Add all your devices and then the X2 becomes the one remote for all your devices. No scrambling to find that rarely use remote when needed. Just scroll to that device on the X2 and you quickly have its functions at your finger tips. There is practically no limit to the number of separate remotes you can include in the X2.For the advanced user wanting a more custom experience the X2 fits the bill.1) If in the rare event the X2 library does not have a specific device or specific function for a downloaded device, you can "read it" in directly from another remote.2) You can mix commands from different remotes onto a single X2 entry, e.g. you want to control volume from a different device than the video device. Instead of picking up another remote or even scrolling to another device, you can put them together.3) You can create macros on a specific device and pull functions from multiple other remotes to perform any common but complex sequence of commands.4) One available technique I use is to download all my remotes to X2, hide them on the X2 and then create a custom X2 device that pulls commands from any downloaded device. Instead of having to scroll to several devices, I can create task oriented commands or macros using any of my devices. Sweet!The X2 will satisfy the basic user and well as having the flexibility and functionality desired by the most advance uses. Of course, but rarely, the may be a command or device missing from the X2 library, but there customer service is responsive and very likely can soon add whatever missing to their library. The library is not set in stone but grows as device and their features expand.