I would like to make Direct Bypass the default when I power up. How do I do this?

Jay

From my experience with the 950, I'm afraid that this is not an option.

My solution when using the 950's remote was to create a macro (I think I used "M3" for it) that allowed me to switch to stereo bypass mode while controlling any device - without having to go to the "AUD" mode on the remote and then back to the device in question. Since I upgraded to an MX500 remote, I put a button for "bypass" on the screen for the CD mode that I hit when I want to listen to CD's.

Thanks, Gonk for the response... It's a minor nuisance. Using three remotes (for the 950, the Cineza projector and the dvd/cd/sacd player) makes me very important in my household. No one else understands how to work the thing!

Jay

No problem. At one time, I had been able to get the 950's remote set up to pretty smoothly operate all of the components (the 950, TV, DVD player, cable box, and VCR), but I think the $100 I spent on the MX500 remote was the best received upgrade I've made as far as my wife is concerned - there are still cases where she can get a little lost, but by and large it works fine.

Gonk,

You've piqued my interest. I've done a little research on the Universal Remote MX500 which is available for about $70 now. On their website, they have a similar model URC-200 with a $15 rebate for about $115 (after rebate.) Are they similar? Do they have the Outlaw 950 code built into 'em? Any other comments before I jump?

Jay

I've now used a couple different Universal Remote products (the 950's remote is an SL-9000 with the LCD display removed) and have been consistently pleased with them. I even wrote up a review of the MX500 last year, if you are interested. The URC-200 (and its siblings the 100 and 300) are Universal's fairly new line of "consumer" remotes (unlike the Home Theater Master remotes like the MX500 that were theoretically only sold to custom installers). Remote Central has a review of all three URC remotes that may offer you some good info on how they differ from the MX500 and its siblings. Are they similar? Oh, yeah - Universal just tweaked the basic concept to preserve the MX series as a more "high end" line while retaining pretty much all the strengths of the MX's. I have a possibly biased preference for the MX500, but the URC-200 is still a pretty slick looking remote. The URC remotes do include a code for Outlaw (it's 342, to be exact) that I would expect to get most or all of the 950's commands covered - since that's the same code included for Atlantic Tech (whose only pre/pro or receiver product is a 950 clone) and Fosgate Audionics (whose FAP-T1 is based on the 950 chassis), it's most likely that this code has been developed primarily for the 950. I don't know if current production runs of the MX remotes also include this - the two families look to share the same code database, so it's very possible that new MX500's today would include the 342 code. Either way, I've relied mostly on learning commands for my MX500 rather than using the code library.

Another remote you might want to check out is the Harmony SST-659 (now logitech). I've had the MX 500, the Philips Pronto and the Marantz RC5000 and this is by far my famiy's favorite. It groups activities to specific buttons such as "watch tv" or "watch a movie" and you program everything via the net. Also uses "smart state" technology so it automatically remembers if a device is already turned on so your marcos don't mess up.

Best of luck.

Well, Gonk, based on your excellent review and the $71 price from Bluedo, an authorized dealer w/ a two year warranty offer and a promise of the latest version, I've ordered the MX-500 remote. I too have a 950 used with a Pioneer universal player, a Sony Cineza 20 front projector,an lfm-1, and five Mackie monitors. I'm hopeful that codes will work with this stuff but, I know I can "teach" the remote everything I need. I'm really looking forward to creating macros. After I switch on the Brick power supply I'll press Macro 1 which will power up the 950, Pioneer and Sony, switch each to the correct input and allow me to control the transport functions and volume with ONE remote. Yippee! (It may even allow my family to use the ht without my presence!)
This is gonna be good. Thanks for your advice!

Jay

I think it's a good choice, especially at that price. Enjoy it.

JMS- Got your MX-500 running yet? I am about a week behing you, placing an order this morning. I am counting on the WAF for this unit to be high, too. My wife watches tv a lot and feels limited to juat the options available on the Sony tv remote.