Universal Remotes - Simplify Your Entertainment Control
Nothing ruins a great TV setup like juggling four remotes. We see this constantly - beautiful mounted TV, great sound system, multiple streaming devices, and a coffee table full of remotes that confuse everyone in the household. Universal remotes solve this by consolidating control into one device that handles your TV, soundbar, streaming box, and other components. The best options today offer programmable activities ('Watch TV' turns everything on and sets inputs), voice control integration, and smartphone apps for when the remote inevitably falls between cushions. A quality universal remote transforms a complex system into something anyone can use.
Smart Universal Remotes - Full Control
Smart universal remotes go beyond basic device control - they offer activity-based programming, smartphone apps, voice assistant integration, and control of hundreds of devices. These are the successors to the beloved Logitech Harmony remotes (now discontinued). Modern options from SofaBaton and others fill this gap with similar functionality. Worth the investment for complex home theaters or households where multiple people need simple control over complicated systems.
| Picture | Product | Shop |
|---|---|---|
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SofaBaton X1S |  |
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SofaBaton U2 | |
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Logitech Harmony (Legacy) | |
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Broadlink RM4 Pro | |
💡 Smart Remote Benefits: One-button activities (Watch TV, Watch Movie, etc.) • Smartphone app backup • Voice assistant integration • Controls IR, Bluetooth, and WiFi devices • Macro programming
Browse All: Smart Universal Remotes on Amazon
Simple Universal Remotes - Easy Setup
Not everyone needs complex programming - sometimes you just want one remote that controls your TV and soundbar without apps or hubs. Simple universal remotes use built-in code databases to control common devices. Setup typically involves entering codes or using auto-search functions. These work great for straightforward setups: TV + soundbar, or TV + cable box. They're affordable, use standard batteries, and don't require internet connectivity or smartphone apps.
| Picture | Product | Shop |
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GE 4-Device Universal | |
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RCA 4-Device Universal | |
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One For All Universal | |
💡 Simple Remote Tips: Write down working codes for future reference • Keep original remotes for troubleshooting • Check code compatibility before purchasing
Browse All: Basic Universal Remotes on Amazon
Voice Control Integration
Voice control is increasingly becoming the ultimate universal remote. If you have Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri devices, you may already have powerful entertainment control at your fingertips. Many TVs, soundbars, and streaming devices support voice assistants directly, and hubs like Amazon Echo can control IR devices with compatible accessories.
Voice Control Options:
| Assistant | Native Device Control | IR Control Option | Best Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa | Fire TV, many smart TVs | Echo + Broadlink or SofaBaton | "Alexa, watch Netflix on living room TV" |
| Chromecast, Google TV | Google Home + Broadlink | "Hey Google, turn on the TV" | |
| Siri | Apple TV, HomeKit devices | HomeKit-enabled hubs | "Hey Siri, play something on Apple TV" |
Voice Control Accessories:
| Picture | Product | Shop |
|---|---|---|
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Amazon Echo Dot | |
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Google Nest Mini | |
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Apple HomePod Mini | |
Browse All: Voice Control for TV on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions - Universal Remotes
What happened to Logitech Harmony remotes?
Logitech discontinued the Harmony line in 2021, but existing remotes and the cloud service still work. If you have a working Harmony, keep using it - they're excellent remotes. For new purchases, SofaBaton is the closest successor, offering similar activity-based programming, hub options for controlling devices in cabinets, and smartphone app setup. The SofaBaton X1S is essentially the new Harmony equivalent with modern features. Broadlink RM4 Pro is another option that integrates well with smart home systems. The universal remote market has evolved, with many households now relying on voice assistants or streaming device remotes that control TVs via HDMI-CEC.
Can one remote control all my devices?
Usually yes, with the right remote. Smart universal remotes like SofaBaton X1S can control IR devices (most TVs, soundbars, cable boxes), Bluetooth devices, and WiFi devices through their hubs. The key limitation is line-of-sight for IR - devices in closed cabinets need IR blasters or hubs with IR output. Most streaming devices can be controlled via the TV's HDMI-CEC, so you might only need to program the TV remote to also control your Fire Stick or Roku. For truly complete control, hub-based systems with multiple IR blasters provide the most flexibility.
Why won't my universal remote control my streaming device?
Most streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV) use Bluetooth or WiFi for remote control, not IR. Basic universal remotes only transmit IR signals, so they can't directly control these devices. Solutions include: using the streaming device's original remote alongside your universal remote, choosing a smart universal remote that supports Bluetooth (limited options), or using HDMI-CEC so your TV remote controls the streaming device. HDMI-CEC is often the simplest solution - enable it in both your TV and streaming device settings, and TV volume/power buttons should work with the streaming device.
What's HDMI-CEC and why does it matter?
HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) lets devices connected via HDMI communicate and control each other. When enabled, your TV remote can control your streaming device, your soundbar can turn on when the TV does, and your streaming device can switch TV inputs automatically. Different brands use different names: Samsung calls it Anynet+, LG calls it SimpLink, Sony calls it Bravia Sync. Enable CEC in your TV settings and connected device settings to reduce remote clutter significantly. Many households find CEC eliminates the need for a universal remote entirely - the TV remote controls everything through CEC passthrough.
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. Recommendations come from products I’ve personally hung on real customer walls over 10 years and 7,874 installs - not spec-sheet guessing.
Atlanta installer note: I’m Alex Crabinsky, and across 7,874 metro Atlanta installs over the past decade, I’ve watched countless families struggle with four-remote chaos. The remotes recommended here have been programmed and tested in real customer setups, not just unboxed for review videos. Learn more about my background and why simplifying control is the most underrated upgrade in any home theater.
Atlanta installer expertise: universal remotes
Universal remote programming is the single most underrated line item on any Metro Atlanta TV install, and after 7,874 jobs since 2015 the Express Mounting crew can quote a four-remote-to-one consolidation in under two minutes. The pattern is universal across Buckhead high-rises, Milton estates, Sandy Springs basements, and Roswell living rooms: the average modern home theater has a 4K TV remote, a soundbar or AV receiver remote, a cable/satellite box remote, a streaming device remote (Apple TV Siri Remote, Roku Voice Remote, Fire TV Cube Voice Remote), and often a game console controller doing double duty as a media remote. That is five physical interfaces sitting on the coffee table for what should be a single “watch TV” gesture, and the in-laws will never figure out which one turns on the surround sound. Universal remote consolidation is what separates a $200 soundbar install from a $500 home theater install in customer satisfaction.
The market context is non-trivial because Logitech Harmony - the gold standard for activity-based remote programming for over a decade - was officially discontinued by Logitech in April 2021 and the cloud configuration service shut down for good in 2025. Thousands of Atlanta homes still have functional Harmony Hub, Elite, Companion, and 950 hardware on the coffee table, but anyone trying to add a new device, change a TV, or reconfigure an activity is now locked out of the cloud database that made Harmony work. The crew gets called twice a week by customers (almost always Buckhead and Sandy Springs households who set up their Harmony in 2018 and just bought a new OLED) asking why the “Watch Apple TV” activity stopped working - the device discovery service is gone, and even local activity edits often fail because they require cloud authentication. Our standard recommendation is one of two paths: (1) keep the existing Harmony hardware running on its last working configuration without touching it, or (2) migrate to SofaBaton X1 - the only modern remote system with feature parity to Harmony Elite and a non-cloud-dependent configuration model.
The hardware Express Mounting actually configures on jobs: SofaBaton X1 (1,200+ device IR/Bluetooth/WiFi support, 90-second activity setup via the SofaBaton Link 2 hub, no cloud lock-in, our default for new universal remote installs), SofaBaton U2 (lower-cost IR-only option for simpler 4-device living room setups), Broadlink RM4 Pro (best for customers who want to integrate remote control into a Home Assistant or SmartThings smart home rather than a dedicated handheld remote), legacy Logitech Harmony Elite / Companion / Hub re-programming for customers who refuse to switch (we work with the last good cloud snapshot), URC TRC-1480 / MX-990 for high-end dedicated theaters where we partner with a CEDIA-certified programmer, and Crestron / RTI / Control4 for whole-home automation jobs (we install the IR emitters and receivers, the Crestron / RTI dealer handles the programming). For the 80 percent of Metro Atlanta households who just want one remote that handles TV + soundbar + Apple TV + cable box, the SofaBaton X1 is what we configure.
A representative recent install: a Brookhaven Ashford Park customer (75-inch Sony A95L OLED, Sonos Arc + Era 300 rears, Apple TV 4K, Comcast X1 cable box, Nintendo Switch dock) whose Harmony Elite stopped responding after the May 2025 Logitech cloud sunset. The activities still ran on the local hub but any change - including renaming “Watch Movie” to “Apple TV” - failed at the cloud sync step. We migrated to a SofaBaton X1 with the SofaBaton Link 2 hub mounted in the cable run behind the TV, programmed five activities (Watch TV, Watch Apple TV, Watch Sonos, Play Switch, All Off), set HDMI-CEC and CEC pass-through on the Sony so the SofaBaton’s TV power command also wakes the Sonos Arc, and configured the X1’s macro engine to handle the Comcast X1 box’s slow boot sequence with a 4-second delay before sending the channel-up command. Total install: $79 retail for the SofaBaton X1 + $149 programming and migration package = $228, completed alongside the original mount job. We now exclusively configure SofaBaton X1 (open standard, no cloud dependency) for new installs and migrate Harmony users on demand.
Express Mounting installation pricing in Metro Atlanta {#frequently-asked-questions}
Express Mounting installation pricing in Metro Atlanta:
- Basic TV mount: $149 (up to 54”), $199 (55-69”), $259 (70-79”), $319 (80”+)
- Cable concealment: $119 per TV
- Brick / stone surcharge: +$119
- Full-motion mount: +$89
Universal remote setup is included free with any TV mounting service. Call (470) 777-4077 for same-day Atlanta service or book online.
Ready for Professional Atlanta Setup and Programming?
Universal remotes are only as good as their setup. Express Mounting handles full TV installation plus remote programming and HDMI-CEC configuration across metro Atlanta, starting at $149 for basic mount jobs and ranging up to $319 for complete entertainment system integration.
Call (470) 777-4077 to book your installation today.
Find Your Universal Remote Solution
Simplify your home theater with one remote that controls everything. Browse our recommended universal remotes for any setup complexity.