The fact that RTI's warranty is one year after I buy it just frosts me. Hey, wanna guarantee that I won't have one of your remotes in stock for an instant sale? You've found the policy to do it ! ! !

I can nock a mx980 faster than an mx880. I think a big part of it is what you get used to working with. I do prefer the button layout on the 880 and the way you can edit and move pages around compared to the 980. but I like how the 980 lets you use graphics on all pages and has a charging cradle. Also the two extra screen buttons make a big difference for keeping most sources to one page

Unfortunately more and more manufacturers are going to such policies. I know samsung does, and I think integra does too. bestbuy doesn't get subjected to policies like this. They could at least add six months to it for custom dealers to give us time to stock a few pieces and still move them as warranted

I agree that the AD-4’s leave a lot of room for improvement but what other sub $1k MSRP 4 zone controller amplifiers is it competing against? I just used a couple of them for the first time and while not perfect it was easy to control and worked perfect for background music.

things have changed.
the PMC3 is now a core series 3. it can handle many more IP devices that the older PMC2. its a lot more powerful of a processor with a modern system. it has OSD output allowing for control via display.

besides that you can now have multiple PMC3's in one system.

the PMC3 lists at $800 and if you bundle it with an MLX3 it lists at $1200
rti XP6 and T2c is at more then that, and less powerful.

I've read two of your replies and I've wondered why you suggest this. In my original post I said the guy has an Integra receiver, two sources, and a TV. He bought it all himself. Since then I've clarified model numbers. It should be obvious that even if, somehow, Crestron were the best choice for this, the price is prohibitive. He joked about his heart getting restarted after seeing the price for the installation. (To his credit, he's an attorney and he said they had a hard time restarting it because it's so hard to find an attorney's heart.) This is the guy for whom you supply the least expensive remote system that is rock solid -- so I'll use the MRF350, not the 260 -- and hand=held that can give him a Favorites list.

Going beyond that in capability is just not helpful to this discussion. I know, I know, I always tell people to be sure to back up one step to be sure that they've chosen the right approach before they ask us how to do it, but for this guy, it's this:

Remote control, one way, with RF to main unit. Period.

Ernie
To be fair your post and title were misleading. If you wanted the most robust cost effective solution you should have stated that. The title read RTI or URC todays choice as if you were looking for a direction to focus all of your future control efforts.
Motech was simply stating he felt Prodigy was better than the two options you asked about. Prodigy is not more expensive than RTI. Us reading that this guys buying all his gear= He is a cheap bastarx that deserves the bottom if the barrel is a stretch.
My 2 cents. I bet you left money on the table.

[Link: russound.com]
;)

I don't believe you can do bi directional control with any of the Abus products? If this is the case, then I don't see it as a competitor to the AD-4's.

Abus is an outdated bottom feeder....just saying...plus the keypads are the amplifiers, not a good comparison

Seriously, it was a joke!