I'm getting quotes from 3 different companies regarding setting up my AV system. I'm finishing my basement and adding an open theater room and 2 other video zones with 4 audio zones in the basement. I want to integrate my first floor which has 3 video zones and 4 audio zones.

What I want to know is which has the best product? I care about the ability use video the most and being able to use the multiple inputs easily. Like choosing Apple TV or cable and just turning it on quickly. The interface is important and ease of use. The cost difference in the quotes is not very different.

Currently I have a simple urc set up with the mx1200 remotes with one touch all on and ready to go. I like it that way!

The other stuff like lighting and security is all similar and not very important to me.

It sounds like you need to see each interface and the remotes.
But just as important is the company that is doing the install.
Crestron, control4 and elan will ultimately do the same thing here and if they are all close in price, then it will come down to the competence of the installing party more than the product in question.

Which company makes you feel the most warm and fuzzy?

Ask each company to show you an example of their remote programming style. Show them your MX1200, giving your comments about it's good and bad features. Their response to this will give you a hint about their flexibility and willingness to give you what you want (or what you need if you can't express what you want). For some companies it is one size fits all, others are truly custom. I welcome this discussion and I'll start the discussion if the customer does not.

A remote similar to the MX1200 offers hard buttons, the other extreme is a pad/phone based remote that (should) offer very flexible screen layout (this where the programmer style matters), but one must first launch an App before one can control anything. Personally, I would recommend against the MX1200 style for your installation because the screen real estate is so limited. In my opinion the user interface will be clumsy to work with as you navigate from zone to zone. True, you could dedicate a physical remote to each zone, but there will likely be endless "wrong zone" incidents requiring you to track down the appropriate remote. In-wall keypads is another approach for some or all zones.

Dialog between you and the company is key.

They are all solid platforms. I'd future cost isn't an issue for you go with your favorite company. Just keep in mind future changes with crestron will likely be much more expensive than with the others.

I tried being a crestron guy, but the learning curve was too much for me at the time. Great product if done properly. I've been happy with C4 for the last year or so and have no hesitation about specing it for 90% of my jobs

I couldn't disagree more. He stated that his most important requirement is easy control of video zones. An app is a TERRIBLE control platform for a video zone. A wand style remote wins 100% of the time for this purpose. Ultimately a mix would be best. I'm pretty sure all the platforms give you ability to control everything from any interface, but not having experience with everything could prove me wrong. We are a TC dealer and control is easy from amy interface, but I always insist on a remote in video zones and clients have been very happy with the results.

As stated though, go with the right company, as all the mentioned systems will do what you want when properly installed/configured. Any of the mentioned systems will be terrible when inproperly installed/configured.

Harmony

Thanks for the input guys! Sounds like all are very similar and the company and programmers are the most important. It's really what I needed to know. I like all three but the companies are pretty different in how and what they do. The UI is important as well as I want my wife to be able to easily ise the system !

It is easy to make Crestron into a complete disaster. Well done, it will also be better than the other two platforms. Unfortunately, well done also costs more money than the other two options. Weigh your choices carefully.

If you are a fan of the MX1200 approach to controlling you AV gear then you should probably focus on the remotes offered by each company.

They all can do the job but you may prefer one remote to another.

I happen to like the Elan g! remote. I include one per zone and have had no problems with them wandering off into another room. Folks seem to quickly learn to leave them where they found them.

Not to sound like a homer, but if I am going to be using the remote primarily I would choose Elan. The HR200 and TSR-302 are (in my opinion) head and shoulders above the SR-260. They are also significantly more expensive, but I think the price is justified.

Based on what you are looking at I think that Crestron would be overkill. Control4 is more than capable, but I think the remote and media interface of Elan might be a better fit.

Personally I like certain remotes and I would note be happy to get stuck with a control4 remote, its just not customizeable enough for me. I have a crestron system with 5 different remotes 3 URC (980, 880, 780) and two Crestron (ml600 and mt1000). I enjoy having the option to buy any URC or crestron hand held controller and for that reason I recommend Crestron.

That being said, your system is only as good as your programmer and Crestron is the easiest system to program badly. Make sure you know what you are getting.

Elan has the best remote, hands down. But other than that, all three brands do what you want. The question you should be asking is which company is the best. A control system is only as good as the company that puts it in. If they are a shitty company, then you are going to get a shitty system.

Not necessarily. They could be a great company, but have a so so or crappy programmer and the results will be negative. If you can do your homework, see some samples of their work then you'd be better prepared to select the right company (we have clients that will allow us to bring potential clients over so these clients can see a real, usable system and not just a demo system)

Well, I figure a company is only as good as their programmer.

Crestron is capable of delivering the best system but is like everybody explained is very dependent on the programmer. I would ask if they are using system builder or simple. You want them to program in simple windows

Control 4 has a great product but the handheld remotes don't have touchscreens so if you are using TiVos there isn't a button labeled thumbs up or down.

Control 4 works they way it works. So once it's programed there isn't to much flexibility vs crestron programed in simple. If your wife complains I just want it to work a certain way the programer can customize it to the way she wants it.



I have never worked with élan g. But I was told it programs closer to the way control 4 programs.