Category: Uncategorized

The Outrageous Samsung UNS9 Series

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TVs and remotes like this just don’t come along very often. The UNS9 series is outrageous and huge. It’s the new 85-inch 4K Ultra HDTV from Samsung. This TV carries the latest technology — but at a cost — $40,000. Not for the average Joe, this TV is a staple for the ultra-rich. As of the moment, it is one of the few 4K TVs on the market.

The TV has an unusual look, with an artist-easel-type stand. On it, the TV can pivot up or down. It looks different from the average television, and the stand makes it look larger. One bit of good news is that this TV has the new OneConnect box. This box allows for easy repair of the TV, just by replacing the box. It offers a great picture for the money and has full Smart TV features.

The TV has the new Smart Touch Remote. It is a sleek, silver remote with a touch pad in the center. The remote contains a microphone, which allows you to communicate with the TV. Yes, you can talk to this new television. Its voice control is pretty good, allowing you to navigate apps.

Pros:

  • Great, deep blacks and no issues with deep black and white
  • Still images look great
  • LED backlighting
  • Excellent app selection
  • Smart TV

Cons:

  • Price
  • Some color inconsistency

Bottom Line:

If you have the money sitting around, buy this TV. For all the average Joes out there, wait for other new 4K TVs to come out. Regardless, though, this is one heck of a television.

For more information on TVs and their great remotes, contact Replacement Remotes.

Founder: Controlling our World with Remotes

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It seems we have a fixation with remote controls. There are remote controls for TVs, VCRs, Stereos, Garage doors, Cars, Model toys, Ceiling fans, House lights, Door locks, Thermostats, Computer mice, and Video games just to name a few. Many people call us with stories of why they need a replacement remote. Some stories include reports of stomping on them, throwing them, spilling drinks on them, being eaten by their dogs, children flushing them down the toilet, birds chewing the buttons off and I once had a guy tell me that they had their house broken into and the thief left their set but stole the remote. Many remotes are simply lost. A good place to find most remotes are in the couch or chair were they will migrate to the bottom. Dogs love to chew them because of the smell of their owners on the remote. They will carry them off and sometimes even bury them.

I was self employed working in local flea markets selling reconditioned customer returns, TV’s, VCR’s & Stereos from major stores and would hardly ever get the remotes to sell with the units. One day I came across a huge box of misc. remotes left in a warehouse, purchased them and then sat on them for 2 years not knowing how I would ever get rid of so many remotes. Knowing little about the internet decided to offer them for sale. So I started Replacementremotes.com. I was the first to offer scanned pictures of the remotes so people didn’t have to know the model numbers, they could view the one they wanted and email me for price. After several months I was getting hundreds of emails a day asking for prices and how to purchase them. Eventually I added prices and an on-line ordering system to take credit cards.

Our company based in North Carolina has supplied hard to find original remote controls to customers nationwide since 1999. We have been quoted in the New York Times, Satellite Guide, Charlotte Observer and more recently in On-Sat magazine; among others. We have sold over a million remote controls and have shipped remotes as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

We carry new, used and hard to find remotes and can also do repairs on your original, for more information regarding repairs go to our Repair Service Page. To contact us please go to our Contact Us Page.

Newest Smart TV: The Sony KDL

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Sony’s newest Smart TVs come from the KDL series, which, along with their wedge shapes and two remotes, are a curiosity. An expensive one, at that. This new series of TVs are large and in charge with pricing upwards of $2,200 for a 55+ inch TV. However, even with the high price and strange design, Sony’s got something right.

This TV series offers an amazing picture for the price point, and almost no issues with picture quality. It performs well in a bright room, an issue that many plasma and LCD TVs have. The sound quality also hits high marks. The TV is strange, as it is wedge shaped, with the top being much thinner than the bottom. When looking at it from the front, you can’t tell. From the sides, the shape is blatantly different.

The TV remote is similar to other Sonys from last year. It offers a pleasing color array of buttons. All buttons were easy to press one-handed, and they were clearly marked. A new key was added allowing you to pull up thumbnails of videos and TV shows. The second remote is a touchpad clicker, which is optional.

Pros:

  • Great picture quality
  • Deep black levels and great bright-room image
  • Excellent video processing
  • Excellent sound
  • Great features within the Smart TV apps

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Poor 3D quality

Bottom Line:

If you just aren’t that into a 3D picture and have the money, this TV is worth it. The picture is better than most LCDs that are the same size.

To find out more, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Streaming Stick: Streaming TV with a Small Footprint

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For such a small streaming stick, it sure has a large TV remote. All joking aside, the Roku Streaming Stick offers something new and different to the world of streaming TV. This compact device is very small, similar in size to a USB flash drive. It connects to an HDMI port on the back of the TV, making the Roku stick invisible. However, some users report that they have to use an HDMI adapter with the Roku Stick.

The stick retails for $50, $15 more than the Chromecast, manufactured by Google. One of the main differences includes the remote, a better interface, and over 1,200 apps to choose from. The remote is the same one offered with the other Roku devices – simple, yet effective. However, users do question the included Blockbuster shortcut button.

Pros:

  • 1,200 apps to keep you busy
  • Compact, takes up no space
  • Has a great interface
  • Has a real remote, and a remote app for the smartphone
  • Great performance in apps
  • Smartphone control

Cons:

  • Some apps load very slowly
  • Remote lacks popular features from previous Roku boxes, such as the headphone jack
  • The Roku Stick requires power, through a USB port or power adapter, leading to cord clutter
  • Does not work with universal remotes

Bottom Line:

Considering the price of the Roku Stick and what you get with it, the price is worth it. The streaming device does far more good things versus the drawbacks. Even many of the drawbacks are nit-picky, other than the speed issue.

For more information about devices and remotes, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

Sony STR-DN840: The Best Low-Budget AV Receiver

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With a remote that challenges most remotes for AV receivers and TVs, the Sony STR-DN840 offers a lot for less than $450. If you can look over how clunky this receiver is, you will see a great value with a great brand name. This device hits all marks when it comes to price, performance and features.

This AV receiver offers wireless features that some of the competitors just cannot match. It comes with standard built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay. No other receivers offer all three of these abilities at this price. Use your smart phone in place of the remote to turn the device on and select inputs. More advanced features and settings still require the button-packed remote. It does sit nicely in the hand, but many of the additional buttons just are not needed. Remember, less is sometimes more.

Pros:

  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Many streaming options
  • Six HDMI inputs
  • Great value for the price
  • Three digital audio inputs
  • DLNA compliant, supporting streaming services
  • 7.2 channel receiver

Cons:

  • Remote is too busy with all the buttons and functions
  • No MHL inputs
  • Sound quality is not as good as others
  • Device is bulky

Bottom Line:

If you can get past the large, bulky box, this AV receiver is the best value you will find for the price. It offers every feature you could ask for and great wireless connectivity. Many features included are only available at price points over $600. This makes it a great buy from a great electronics manufacturer.

For more information about remotes and their devices, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

Try Out the Marantz NR1403 for Simple Surround Sound

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When you think of surround sound systems, you might not consider their remote controls. However, this one component is as important as the features of the audio receiver itself. For a basic audio receiver, the Marantz hits high marks for its ease of use, great remote and low price.

This device is purely no frills, as it does not have advanced features, such as Wi-Fi or smartphone control. With the lack of features, it does make up for it with six HDMI ports and excellent sound quality. The thin profile of the device makes it valuable for saving space in your entertainment center.

Pros:

  • Low-profile
  • Many HDMI ports
  • Excellent sound quality comparable to big budget systems
  • Remote offers all critical buttons without too many extras that are not needed
  • 5.1 channel receiver
  • Three year warranty

Cons:

  • Few features
  • No Wi-Fi or Ethernet
  • No Bluetooth
  • No video inputs
  • No analog video up-conversion

Bottom Line:

Most of the downsides of this device are features that most people would not use or find useful. For the low price point of under $400, there is not much more you can get in an audio receiver. The six HDMI ports alone make this device worth it, as most competitors only offer four. Many audiophiles will rejoice over the fact that this device is not as clunky as others are, and it has a pleasant, minimalistic design. If you are looking for a device with streaming, try something else with internet connectivity and a good interface, such as Apple TV.

For more information on universal remotes for your audio devices, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Coby TFDVD

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The Coby TFDVD is a good budget TV for small places. The remotes offered with the TV/DVD combo are surprisingly large and are not at all awkward to hold. Getting back to the TV: it offers a small amount of features that are refreshing to see in an LCD TV that costs less than $300. However, the TV is only 22 inches, which makes it very small compared to a majority of TVs on the market.

For a cheaper LCD TV, the performance and versatility of the Coby TFDVD is excellent and unexpected. It offers a good picture quality and accepts several different DVD formats. It can also play CDs. The playback quality of DVDs is excellent, but it still cannot match that of a Blu-ray disc, which is to be expected. The remote is large, but sits well in the hand. It has a nice curved design, which looks better than most budget TV remotes. On it are the TV and DVD controls, with the playback buttons sitting right in the middle.

Pros:

  • Good picture quality
  • Good sound quality
  • Compatible with several DVD formats
  • SD memory card slot and USB port

Cons:

  • Limited file support with SD and USB
  • Non-swivel stand
  • Low sound when in DVD mode
  • Only 1 HDMI port

Bottom Line:

Overall, this LCD TV offers a good value for a small TV. It works best in small spaces, and its sound competes with larger TVs. It does not offer many features, but for a cheaper TV it does offer a lot. The picture quality is good, too. If you need a smaller TV, this represents a great value for both a TV and DVD player.

For more information on remote controls, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Mitsubishi WD-73640

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The Mitsubishi WD-73640 is a budget rear-projection TV with a budget TV remote control. For a low-priced TV, it does have a very large screen and a decent picture. It is also 3D ready, which is great for anyone who wants that feature, but cannot afford to spend the big bucks on a LCD. Though the pros are worth it, some of the cons of this TV might give you pause.

Mitsubishi is the last brand manufacturing this style of TV. Though the technology is old, it still creates a decent picture for little money. However, the lack of features is a sticking point for many potential buyers. The TV does not support smart TV, and it does not offer advanced picture controls. The factory remote is also lackluster. It is a black monolith with few buttons, which has been reviewed as clunky. Most buyers would benefit from a replacement universal remote that offers more features.

Pros:

  • Low cost for a large 73″ screen
  • Decent picture
  • 3D ready

Cons:

  • Lack of features
  • Rainbow effect
  • Lamp replacement is common and expensive

Bottom Line:

If you place importance on screen size over features, this TV is for you. However, most buyers generally do not feel this way. The picture is good for the price, but if you end up with the rainbow effect, the TV will end up unusable. There are significant issues with this particular line of TVs, but not as many issues as some LCD/LED models.

For more information on TVs and remotes, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Sharp Elite PRO Series HDTVs

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The Sharp Elite PRO series HDTV is a great higher budget TV that offers picture, features, and an excellent TV remote control. This HDTV has LCD display technology with active 3D technology. The 120Hz refresh rates with dejudder processing offers a smooth picture, even during intense action scenes.

The bezel of the Sharp Elite series is a slim 1.25 inches. It looks like a black monolith with a perfect rectangle shape and black stand. The series comes in 60 and 70-inch models, both of which are exactly alike. The remote offers up a decent amount of keys, but it is not cluttered with the addition of a flip up cover on the bottom end. It has a dedicated Netflix key and three other programmable keys.

Pros:

  • 3D technology with 2 sets of 3D glasses
  • Local dimming LED backlight that actually works
  • Built-in Wi-Fi with Aquos Advantage Live
  • Great black levels and excellent contrast
  • Superior picture viewing from all angles
  • Excellent video processing
  • Great shadow detail
  • Excellent feature selection
  • Energy efficient

Cons:

  • Overpriced
  • Less accurate color than expected
  • Screen creates too bright of reflections

Bottom Line:

This is a great TV to own, but the price makes it a less worthwhile purchase. For such a large amount of money, you could purchase a TV with more features, or a larger screen. However, it would be hard to match the picture quality. Even with the high price, a lot is offered with this HDTV. It is a good consideration for a television if there is nothing else comparable in the market, but with new TVs slated to come out in the summer, waiting might be the best option.

For more information on the latest TV and remote trends, contact us at Replacement Remotes.

The Sharp LC-LE757U Series HDTVs

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For a middle of the road HDTV, the Sharp LC-LE757U series LCD TVs offer a mixed bag of features along with a handy TV remote. For under $2,000 for a large HDTV, you really cannot expect a lot, especially with all of the new 4K TVs rolling out later this year and next. However, this TV does do a pretty good job and offers some great features, but there are also a few small drawbacks.

The series offers HDTVs in 60, 70 and 80 inches. The TV’s design is sleeker and nicer than most of Sharp’s other TVs. It is also a very thin TV, thinner than most others are. The TV remote is a thin wand that offers up many buttons. There are shortcut buttons for the Smart TV and Netflix, and three others that you can customize.

Pros:

  • Active 3D playback
  • Smart TV service
  • Extensive list of apps
  • Picture management settings
  • 4 HDMI ports

Cons:

  • Poor picture quality for the price
  • Inaccurate colors
  • Black levels too light
  • 3D picture quality is worse than most competitors

Bottom Line:

The TV offers a lot of great settings, but the picture quality is not reminiscent of the price you pay for it. Great settings are not everything, and this TV makes it abundantly clear. Watching TV on it is difficult due to all the ghosting, the blue tinge and less than perfect black levels. Many other competing HDTVs offer better performance at even lower price points than this model. Alternatively, since you are spending the money, go for a TV at a little higher price point to really enjoy the marriage of great picture quality and features.

For more information on HDTVs and remote controls, contact us at Replacement Remotes.