Philips Prestigo SRU8015

Philips' Prestigo SRU8015 universal remote is competent enough at controlling multiple devices, but it is confusing to set up and has a sometimes counter-intuitive interface.

The Prestigo SRU8015 utilises the traditional remote control form factor, measuring 5cm by 24cm. It has a very solid construction, and weighs almost 250 grams with batteries inserted.

The glossy black fascia is dominated by the 2in colour screen and the circular click wheel, which allows navigation through all the contextual menus. The screen has a resolution of 220x175 pixels, which results in a pleasantly crisp picture. Backlighting means the screen is sufficiently bright to be used in daylight and direct overhead light.

The main control of the remote is the click wheel, which is designed to make navigating through tiers of menus easier. While it's convenient and precise, it can get a little tiresome when scrolling through long lists.

You can use the Prestigo SRU8015 to control up to 15 different devices in your home entertainment setup, which should be more than enough for even the most dedicated home theatre enthusiast. As well as covering the usual range of TVs, DVD players and A/V receivers, it also has the ability to control various automated lighting and heating systems.

We tried to set up the remote to control an Onkyo Liverpool Series MS5LX home theatre system, a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player and a Sharp Aquos LC42D83X LCD television. The Prestigo SRU8015 uses a different setup process to most other universal remotes. Instead of using a PC or the device's original remote, you're able to simply aim the remote and hold down a button until the device turns off.

The up-side of this is that there is no connection to a PC necessary and a wide range of devices are stored on the unit, so the vast majority of models should be found without any hassles.

It's a quick and useful procedure when the device is recognised — but if it isn't, the procedure quickly gets tedious. You can elect to have the remote learn all the buttons of your original remote or you can scan through every manufacturer's codes — both of which can take upwards of half an hour. In the worst case scenario, you could find yourself spending an hour of your time programming a single remote if it's not in the database and is particularly complex.

The remote offers the ability to add macro 'Activities' — like turning a TV, DVD player and home theatre system on simultaneously — but the procedure for setting them up is very counter-intuitive.

Once the remote is set up, however, it's more than capable of controlling your home theatre with little fuss. If you want a non-touch-screen universal remote and can spare some time to set it up, the Philips Prestigo SRU8015 is a well-built, high quality option.