Logitech Harmony 650 remote review
By Tim Stevens 
posted March 17th 2010 11:49AM
posted March 17th 2010 11:49AM
Succeeding the One
The current generation of Harmony remotes was more or less ushered in by the Harmony One back in early 2008, fitting in toward the higher end of the product line (but below the big-screen Harmony 1100) by offering a touchscreen and rechargeable batteries. Its form factor was subtly evolved and simplified to form the Harmony 700 last year, which ditched the touchscreen and revised the button layout slightly.
Here we have the 650, the next evolution downward in price. Available for $99 (or $79 if you can do with the monochrome screened 600) the 650 looks almost exactly like the 700, but lacks the circuitry for recharging batteries internally and, curiously, has been limited to control just five devices. That's only one less than the 700, but in our case it was one too few, meaning our soon-to-be collectors item HD-DVD player was feeling left out during this testing.
The button layout, stolen from the 700, falls to hand very naturally and leaves us with easy to find volume and channel rockers, plus the play/pause button in the lower-middle feels quite intuitive too. It's also worth noting that the buttons here feel far more solid and springy than those in the older models -- like our 520, which has a few unresponsive buttons after a little over a year of use. Dedicated activity buttons up top are handy, up and down arrows make for easy paging through DVR menus, and the row of colored buttons is great for everything from console game controls to those A, B, and C buttons on Scientific Atlanta DVR remotes. Unfortunately, though, unlike the 700 the buttons themselves aren't different colored, they just have labels on them, and we had a real hard time telling them apart in the dark.
The device is backlit, though, and has a simple accelerometer that will pop on the lights when you pick it up. However, it's a little less sensitive than we've seen in previous remotes, occasionally requiring a shake to come to life. When it does the buttons and the color screen light up, though that lighting is somewhat dim. We also weren't too impressed by the LCD, which has very limited viewing angles. That's picking nits, though -- it's not like you'll be watching Avatar on there.
Setting up and configuring the 650 is just as easy or frustrating as the previous ones, relying on the same online software suite that offers a combination of wizard-like questionnaires and dizzying arrays of menu options. Setting up the 650 will take some time, but the software is comprehensive and, like the other models, this one can learn commands -- leaving us to wonder if there wouldn't be a way to sneak that woebegone Toshiba player on there after all. You can import your settings from another remote, but the Logitech software will no longer recognize that other model when you do. To avoid losing all our settings on our older 520 we had to create a new account and start from scratch.
Wrap-up
There's not much to dislike about the 650. It offers most of the features of the higher-end Harmony models but at a more approachable price. The only thing we really don't like is the curious five device cap. Other than giving the 700 a reason to exist we're not sure why the limit was made one lower here, but for many users five will be plenty, and if that's you then you could do a lot worse than picking up a 650 -- or a 600. We'd save $20 and go with the monochrome model, but if you have the means there's nothing wrong with spending a little more to add some extra color to your life.
"like our 520, which has a few unresponsive buttons after a little over a year of use." This has been my experience with Harmony remotes as well, very expensive remotes that don't work after a year or two. I bought myself a 14.99 no name brand universal, and it's outlasted the Harmony I bought and for a fraction of the price.
@nachotech It's been my experience that this has only been the case since Logitech bought Harmony. I had a 659 that was solid as a rock for 3-4 years or so.
@nachotech My experience with the Harmony remotes (albeit a few years ago) was refreshingly nice. I had an 880 that stopped charging about a year outside of the warranty period. Called them up, they shipped me a replacement without even needing to send in the original.
I suppose that's what you're paying for on the pricey models - a good, but not necessarily great product and it's replacement.
@nachotech - I bought about 10 remotes at $14.99 that all said they would actuate my LG tv, but they didn't. I found a 500 series Harmony at Wal-Mart for $65, and it works perfectly.
Although my wife constantly asks me if she should press the "watch TV" button to watch tv, or the "watch movies" button to watch tv. Makes you wonder about women's logic sometimes.
@nachotech
I paid $30 for my Harmony on a refurb special on Amazon. These things are cheap enough now that there's no excuse for buying a crappy universal remote. The Harmony is more compatible, easier to program and easier to use. I only wish the IR was a *little* stronger; sometimes it doesn't turn my TV off from the couch if I'm sitting in the wrong place (my TV is ~20' from my couch, so it's not unreasonable... just disappointing.)
@nachotech Same problem here , I'm on my second 688 and that's starting to loose buttons. I just don't know if I can trust them enough to have fixed this problem to get another one.
@FFairlane Funniest engadget comment ever!
@FFairlane Funny, I just showed my wife our harmony remote last night and she got mad at me for thinking she was dumb. Funny thing is she still manages to goof things up!
@FFairlane If she's that dumb then try renaming the activities (very easy to do in the software). You could call them "Cable" and "DVD", which might clear things up if she felt like watching a movie that happens to be on tv.
I love Logitech.
the one will always be the one for me
that picture makes my eyes hurt
@From My Cube
Hey, look! They're mating. In a few months we can expect a little remote.
@From My Cube
They obviously used the Lensbaby, which they reviewed recently.
@From My Cube
Which button do I push?
So many to choose form.
One for All, All For One!
While not perfect, the Harmony line gets the job done. I do think they should rethink their wizard. Some things are easy, and other things are a pain in the as*. For example, if you want to move a soft button function from page 7 to page 1, you have to click the "up" arrow next to the function a bazillion times to move the function through each page.
Also, have you ever tried swapping out a TV? It's hit or miss. They need a high-level function, "Swap Device", that would substitute the new device for the old device, and give you a report that shows where it couldn't find a corresponding match.
Lastly, for those of use with HTPCs, a remote with a sliding keyboard and track pad would be cool.
@Spiny Norman
I love my Harmony 525 but I think the default timings from the setup wizard are terribly slow. Using most devices without playing with the timings makes for a sluggish experience, especially when doing repeated tasks like changing channels or the volume. People I know who have tried Harmony remotes have hated them because they're "slower" than the original remotes (but only because they're badly configured by default).
I'd say the majority of the configuration for the device is painful if you really want to get it right (especially, as you mention, changing the order of buttons), but at least the result of that pain is a really good remote control.
P.S. Seen Dinsdale lately?
@sbutcher
Yes, the default timings are horrible. I guess they discovered that they get fewer support calls when the timings are set high, as there are fewer chances for conflicts.
I agree that the pain of programming it is worth it in the end.
No, I haven't caught up with my pal Dinsdale, yet. However, when I do I'm going to nail his head to a coffee table.
@Spiny Norman
The only thing I had to change when setting up a harmony one was increase the delay between powering up the TV and selecting the input. Everything else worked flawlessly.
I can see how that may through people and logitech could improve that part of the setup so it is more intuitive. Other than that... perfect remote.
If only they could be programmed in a logical manner. Let us write our own scripts. Let us set our own timings in ms for every step in a sequence. I spent far too long on tech support to get them to make changes that I should be able to make myself. It's still too slow. It still sucks.
Nothing beats the programmable remote I used 20 years ago - you could program any key to do any function, and insert little hand-written labels above every key.
@erh
Yeah - it would be nice if there were an advanced mode that allowed ms control. But.. aware as Im sure they are of this, it's also an issue of needing to not overwhelm the consumer. And if they made access to programming the units, they'd also probably enable competitors to steal some of the aggregated work of collecting the command info for as extensive a library as they have.
@ECH
I totally agree with you there. The only thing I don't like about the Harmony One is the delay to set the input after my projector fires up. Been tweaking it (like today!), but haven't found the magic bullet. Still though, it rocks hard.
What's up with the pic of the mating remotes?
Wish they made a Tivo-centric model. Hate having two softbuttons for thumbs up or down.
@DTJ They do/did. They have/had a model that include Tivo specific buttons. I don't remember the model though (sorry).
@DTJ
You could use the up/down rocker above the cursor. I use mine for lighting control otherwise it would just be another up/down arrow button.
It would be nice if they reported on the quality of the hardware. I have a Harmony 500 which creaks terribly, especially if you twist it gently.
Something like this could be easily resolved with some internal strengthening and make the product feel less cheap.
You'd be better off getting an 880 for the same price. I've bought two of them over the past few years and never paid more than $75.
The 5 device limit does blow. In most HT rooms you have (at least):
1. TV / Projector
2. Satellite / Cable
3. Receiver
In mine I add to that (4) Xbox (5) Media Center (6) Wii (7) Zune dock. Other common items include PS3 (which you would need the 890 for), Blu-Ray or DVD player, X-10 for lighting/curtains, etc. etc.
I get that the 650 isn't the high end remote on Harmony's list. I just happen to believe that many people will hit that 5 device limit. And for $100 you are paying for a premium remote control.
@bjsguess - as others have posted the 880's (Especially) have button issues after 1-2 years. I have 3 880's and only one (the one used very infrequently) does not have button issues. I bought the One to replace the 880 used in my man's room since the volume up button no longer functioned.
@wryker
I agree. I'm on my second 880, as the first started having serious button problems after a year or so.
However, as bjsguess points out, you can get 880's fairly cheaply. I think I paid $110 for my first one on Ebay, and $75 for the latest one. At that price, swapping the remotes is not cost prohibitive.
I still think the 880 has the best layout, although I do kind of dig the additional color buttons on this new model.
@Spiny Norman Yeah, my 880 died after a year as well. I replaced it with a One, which has lasted longer, but I hate the touchscreen buttons, hate the much crappier IR range, the much more temperamental IR learning, etc.
In many ways, the best Harmony I've ever used remains the 659.
@wryker
Yeah, I love my 880 (have had it for 5 years already), but sometimes nothing happens when you push a button. You just keep pushing it until something does. Are these the button problems you're talking about?
@Oghowie
Yes, those are the problems. You have to look at the top of the screen to see if the "IR" indicator, e.g. blaster-waves, comes on, which shows that a signal is being transmitted. When a button is worn, you really have to push down hard on it.
I actually keep my old remote on the end table. I try to use it when I can so that my new 880 doesn't wear out as fast. :-)
@Spiny Norman How do you keep the two remotes sync'd so that they're on the same activity? Just press the same activity button as the the other is on while covering the IR transmitter?
Somebody's got to make a remote control system that has 2-way communication so you can have an unlimited number of remotes and not have to worry about keeping them in sync. Probably a big home automation company like Crestron.
@wryker
I not only had button issues (volume up being the first to go) but also had a problem with the battery on two separate 880's. It seems like the battery expands with time, and puts a lot of pressure on the battery slot cover. If you remove the battery once it's expanded, it's nearly impossible to get the battery cover back on... this also happened to me on two different 880's.
My experience with Harmony remotes is that the software experience is outstanding... the hardware leaves a lot to be desired.
@bjsguess When did Harmony start limiting the number of devices a remote can control. I have a couple of 659s that don't seem to have any limit at all (let's see - amp, DVD, MediaMVP, TV, cable box, satellite box, X.10 IR interface. That's 7 devices on my 7 year old remotes...)
So if I can get a Harmony 700 right now for only $115 on Amazon I should do that instead of buying this one for $99? I have a 550, its' a great control, but the button layout especially the numbers leaves a bit to be desired.
@donatom3
Well for that extra $15 you can control an extra device and have a rechargeable battery.
I setup a harmony one for my parents... best remote ever.
Please stop playing with very short depth of field. It's nor relevant nor well done there. A prime lense isn't enough to make professionnal looking pictures, hire a professionnal photographer instead.
@Romano2K On a blogger's budget I doubt they could afford one on a regular basis. The staff seems competent enough most of the time, with clear images of the gadgets. We do come here for the writing mostly, not the photos, so as a professional photographer, I forgive them.
I recently replaced my 880 with a 900. It's a good remote except the touch screen needs some work. Too often I'm accidentally pressing something when I go to grab the remote.
also, they should make it capacitive, tired of buttons getting pressed by the couch.
my favorite feature of my harmony one is the rechargeable battery. i have no idea if it's cost effective, but i love the idea of not having to think about it...ever...
I do wish mine had the hard "buttons-of-color," though.
These arbitrary device limits are killing the value of Harmony remotes. My Xbox 360 Harmony model does 12. I don't understand why they're removing features in the new versions...
Please learn how to use a camera. kthx
best thing I ever bought: Harmony One.
Runs my ancient Receiver, the PS3 (with Nyko USB key), TV, Comcast DVR with 5 minute skip, air purifier (yes!), squeezebox radio, I'm forgetting something....
Need a to replace my FIOS remote....
@biggbrother Yeah, I like the FiOS Remote (work for VZ), but it doesn't do much. I replaced one with a 520, and the other in my home theater with a Harmony One. They are both fantastic