Universal Remotes We Actually Program

Four remotes on the coffee table is a solvable problem: modern universals from SofaBaton and Logitech consolidate IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi control with activity macros - one button runs TV, soundbar, and source. We program them as part of theater setups; the picks below cover $50 starters to hub systems.

Quick note: This page contains Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through them. Our picks are based on what we see working in the rooms where we mount TVs, not on spec sheets alone.

Atlanta installer note: I’m Alex Crabinsky. Across Express Mounting’s 9,747+ installs since 2015, we’ve seen plenty of families juggling four remotes. The remotes recommended here are ones we program in real customer setups, not just unbox for review videos. Learn more about my background and why simplifying control is the most underrated upgrade in any home theater.

Universal remotes compared

We program these on real theater setups, so here is the honest lay of the land for 2026. The Harmony era is over; Logitech stopped making the remotes in 2021. What matters now is whether a remote can reach gear behind cabinet doors (that needs RF or a hub, not line-of-sight IR) and whether one button can run a full activity.

Remote	Controls	RF or IR	App/voice	Price band	Best for
SofaBaton X1S	Many devices via hub	RF to hub, IR out (reaches closed cabinets)	App + Alexa/Google	~$150-200	The Harmony replacement we install most; macros for TV, soundbar, and streamer
SofaBaton U3	Many IR devices	IR line-of-sight	App setup	~$110-130	Simple living rooms where the gear sits in the open; one-touch macros
Logitech Harmony (discontinued)	Up to 15 on Elite and Hub	IR, or RF with the Hub	App (line discontinued)	Leftover or used stock	Owners with a working unit; buy with caution, since Logitech no longer makes them
BroadLink (RM4 Pro)	Many IR and RF devices by phone	Wi-Fi hub, IR and 433MHz RF out	App + Alexa/Google	~$40-50	Smart-home tinkerers on Home Assistant or SmartThings
Sevenhugs / next-gen	Point-anywhere touchscreen	RF positioning plus IR	Touchscreen app	Scarce, used	Gadget fans; hard to buy new now, so treat it as a curiosity
GE / Philips basic	3 to 8 devices	IR only	None	~$10-20	One TV plus a soundbar, no apps, no fuss

Do you still need a universal remote in 2026?

Sometimes no. If your gear is a smart TV plus a soundbar, HDMI-CEC lets the TV remote run both, and turning CEC on costs nothing. You need a universal remote once you add a cable box, an AV receiver, or a streamer the TV remote cannot reach. That is where the SofaBaton X1S earns its price on our installs, since one button can run the whole chain.

RF vs IR universal remotes (which works behind a cabinet)

IR is line-of-sight; the remote has to see the device, so gear behind a closed cabinet door will not respond. RF fixes that, or a hub that takes an RF signal and blasts IR from inside the cabinet. The SofaBaton X1S and the old Harmony Hub both use this trick. A basic GE or Philips clicker is IR only, so keep those doors open.

Best universal remote for a home theater

For a full theater with an AV receiver, a 4K projector or TV, a streamer, and a cable box, we install the SofaBaton X1S with its hub. It runs activity macros: one button sets the receiver input, powers the projector, and drops the lights if you have a smart switch. For high-end Crestron or RTI rooms, the programming is a job for a certified dealer.

Best universal remote for a soundbar, TV, and streaming box

This is the common request, and it does not need a hub. A SofaBaton U3 handles TV power and soundbar volume from one clicker as long as the gear sits in the open, and HDMI-CEC covers the streamer. We disable the TV speakers so volume routes to the soundbar. Want voice and app control too? Step up to the SofaBaton X1S.

Atlanta installer expertise: universal remotes

Remote consolidation is the most underrated line item on a TV install. A typical modern setup has a TV remote, a soundbar or AV receiver remote, a cable or satellite box remote, a streaming remote and often a game controller doing double duty: five things on the coffee table for one “watch TV” gesture. The first fix costs nothing. Turn on HDMI-CEC and the TV remote powers the soundbar and the streamer. A universal remote earns its price once a cable box, an AV receiver or gear behind a cabinet door enters the picture.

Logitech stopped making Harmony remotes in April 2021, and plenty of homes still have a Harmony Hub, Elite or Companion on the coffee table. New units are no longer made, and an existing one keeps working only as long as Logitech keeps its Harmony app and setup service running, so we don’t recommend buying one now. If yours works, leave it alone. When it stops being easy to change, move to a SofaBaton X1S.

What we reach for: the SofaBaton X1S with its hub for theaters and closed cabinets, the SofaBaton U3 for simpler rooms where the gear sits in the open, the BroadLink RM4 Pro for Home Assistant or SmartThings homes that want phone control instead of a handheld, and a basic GE or Philips clicker for one TV plus a soundbar. In Crestron, RTI or Control4 rooms, the control-system programming belongs to a certified dealer; we handle the mounting and the IR emitter placement.

A common case: a Harmony activity that used to wake the TV, the soundbar and the Apple TV stops working after the TV is replaced. Rebuilding it on an X1S means re-adding each device, setting activities such as Watch TV, Watch Apple TV and All Off, and turning on HDMI-CEC so the TV’s power command also wakes the soundbar.

Compatibility, in plain terms

Universal remotes control almost any IR device: TVs, soundbars, AV receivers, cable and satellite boxes, and older Blu-ray players. Streaming boxes are the catch. Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, not IR, so a basic clicker cannot drive them directly. The fix is HDMI-CEC (the TV remote controls the streamer over the HDMI cable) or a hub remote like the SofaBaton X1S that speaks Bluetooth. Before you buy, check that your exact TV, receiver, and soundbar are in the remote’s database; SofaBaton and BroadLink both list supported brands in their apps.

Universal remote FAQ

What replaced the Logitech Harmony? SofaBaton is the closest thing. The X1S matches the old Harmony Elite’s hub-and-activity model (one button, gear behind cabinet doors, Alexa and Google voice) without depending on Logitech. If you still have a working Harmony, keep using it. For new buyers, we install the X1S.

Can a universal remote control my Roku or Fire Stick? Not with a basic IR remote, because those streamers use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Two fixes work: turn on HDMI-CEC so the TV remote runs the streamer over the HDMI cable, or use a hub remote like the SofaBaton X1S that pairs over Bluetooth. On installs we set CEC first, since it is free and covers most households.

RF or IR, which should I buy? If your gear sits in the open, IR is fine and cheaper. If any component lives behind a closed cabinet door, you need RF or a hub remote (SofaBaton X1S, BroadLink) that puts an IR blaster inside the cabinet. We ask where the equipment lives before recommending a remote, because that one detail decides it.

Will one remote handle my AV receiver and soundbar? Yes. A hub remote programs an activity that powers the receiver or soundbar, sets the right input, and disables the TV speakers so volume goes to the real audio. We set this on the SofaBaton X1S during theater installs. Most rooms have a receiver or a soundbar, not both, which keeps it simple.

Do you program the remote when you mount the TV? We turn on HDMI-CEC on every install so the TV remote runs the soundbar and streamer where the gear supports it, and we test power, input and volume at your seat before we leave. Programming a universal remote, such as a SofaBaton X1S with its hub, is quoted when you book. Pair it with a clean streaming device setup and the coffee table finally holds one remote.

Express Mounting installation pricing

Express Mounting installation pricing, the same in all 13 metros:

• Basic TV mount: $129 (up to 54”), $159 (55-69”), $209 (70-79”), $299 (80-99”), $399 (100”+)
• Bracket: bring your own, or add ours (flat $49 / $69, full-motion $59 / $79)
• Cable concealment: $99 per TV
• Brick / stone surcharge: +$99

Basic hookup, including HDMI-CEC so the TV remote runs your soundbar and streamer, is part of any TV mounting visit; universal remote programming is quoted when you book. Every install carries a 3-year workmanship warranty. Call (470) 777-4077 for same-day service or book online.

Ready for professional setup and programming?

Universal remotes are only as good as their setup. Express Mounting handles the TV installation, HDMI-CEC setup and remote programming in all 13 metros we serve. Mounting is $129 up to 54”, $159 for 55-69”, $209 for 70-79”, $299 for 80-99”, and $399 for 100” and up; remote programming is quoted when you book.

Call (470) 777-4077 to book your installation today.