Sofabaton X1S Universal Remote Review

When Logitech announced in 2021 that it would discontinue its Harmony remote line, including the popular Harmony Elite, it left a bit of a void in the universal remote market. This decision bewildered many enthusiasts who relied on these remotes to manage their home entertainment systems without investing in pricier, complex systems like Control4. Since then, several companies have attempted to step into the gap, but with mixed success, struggling to balance functionality, ease of use, and affordability.

With the recent release of Sofabaton's X1S, it's stepping up to try and fill the gap left by Logitech's Harmony line. But will it manage to balance simplicity and advanced features at its affordable price?

Specifications & Design

The Sofabaton X1S is a universal remote designed to simplify the control of various devices. It features an accompanying app for setup, API integration, and a scroll wheel for swift navigation between devices. The X1S also includes a Hub that provides 360-degree control with an infrared range extending up to 40 feet, as well as two IR blasters to cover potential blind spots.

Compatibility extends to major platforms and devices including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Roku, Philips Hue, and Sonos, handling infrared and Bluetooth connections—though it does not support RF devices.

The design of the X1S remote is ergonomic, fitting comfortably in the hand. It features a backlight for visibility in low-light environments and a raise-to-wake function which is a very nice feature. The remote's interface includes a 2-inch OLED display, though it is not a touch screen. You can navigate via the scroll wheel which also serves as a button.

At the top of the remote, you’ll find an off button as well as a back button for the screen. A directional pad and standard control buttons—such as play/pause, fast forward, rewind, a channel switcher, and volume controls—are positioned beneath the display. There’s also a dedicated space for shortcuts at the bottom.

The built-in battery charges to 50% in just 30 minutes and has a massive 45-day battery life. From my personal experience over the past three weeks, the battery has only dropped to 75%, using it for about 2-3 hours per night, which is impressive compared to other remotes that typically only last a few days.

The remote control measures 7.48-inches tall, 1.81-inches wide, and 0.59-inches deep, weighing roughly 4 ounces. The accompanying Hub is a compact cube, each side measuring 3.94-inches with a depth of 0.89-inches, and it weighs about 3 ounces.

Setup

For this review, I set up the Softabaton X1S in two different setups: a simple configuration with a Sony TV as well as an Apple TV and a soundbar and a more complex home theater system with multiple devices which I’ll discuss in more detail below.

Setting up the Sofabaton X1S is a critical process that can be a little time-consuming, and will determine whether you like the device or not. The initial setup involves configuring both the hub and the IR extenders. The placement of the hub and extenders is crucial; I initially positioned them too far back in my rack, which resulted in them not reaching the projector. After moving the hub to the front, I didn’t have that issue again.

Once the hub is plugged in, you'll need to download the Sofabaton app, where you can create an account or log in if you already have one. The app will then automatically locate the hub, allowing you to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. After this step, you can start adding and managing devices.

Adding a device to the Sofabaton X1S system starts by tapping the plus sign in the top right corner of the app. You are then presented with three options for device types: Infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Selecting one of these gives you two further choices: searching the company's database or having the app learn from an existing remote.

Searching the database is generally easier; once you select a brand, the app displays a list of devices. Selecting a device brings you to a command list where you can test button functionality directly from the screen. After testing, you can name the device and choose an icon for it. Once confirmed, the device settings are uploaded from the database, and the setup is complete.

In my home theater setup, adding the first two devices, a Sony 1100ES Blu-ray player, a R_volution 8K player, and a Kaleidescape Strato player was straightforward and required no additional button configuration. Both integrated seamlessly.

The process for adding a JVC NZ8 projector was a bit more involved. After the initial setup from the database, I needed to adjust the power settings. The projector powers on with a single button press, but powering it down requires a prompt from another screen. I went into the device power settings in the app, which guided me through several screens to adjust how the power commands are configured. The JVC remote has separate buttons for on and off. Once I specified this in the app, I was able to adjust the power-on and power-off sequences. For powering down, I added an extra command with a 2-second delay timer, which functioned perfectly.

Adding an Apple TV involved a slightly different process due to its Bluetooth connectivity. Instead of selecting the infrared (IR) option, I chose Bluetooth during setup. The steps were similar to setting up an IR device, but after adding the Apple TV to the system, I needed to go into the Apple TV settings, navigate to the Bluetooth section, and pair it with the Sofabaton. I found using the Sofabaton remote more convenient than the Apple TV's own remote, particularly because I tend to fat-finger the trackpad.

The next device I set up was a Trinnov Altitude16 processor. Since my setup includes an amp connected by a trigger cable, I only needed to configure the processor. I was pleasantly surprised to find Trinnov in the company's database within the app.

Configuring a receiver like the Trinnov is slightly more complex due to the multiple sources that need to be managed. Once the processor was added, I accessed the source configuration settings. The prompt asked whether input switching was necessary, to which I chose accordingly. The source switching menu offered three options, depending on whether the device uses a separate button for each input or a single source button that requires scrolling through options.

I chose the recommended direct input switching method, which led me to a screen where I could select the desired inputs—I used inputs 1-4. Although the inputs were not in sequential order, which was a bit frustrating, they were all available. The following screen displayed a list of sources, allowing me to assign each device to its corresponding input.

Configuring activities such as turning devices on and off was generally straightforward, although I encountered some challenges with the Trinnov processor. Due to its longer boot-up time of about a minute, it wasn't possible to switch inputs immediately after starting the processor. However, the configuration settings in the app allowed me to set a delay, which proved useful. I configured it to turn on all devices and then wait a minute before switching the input to the processor.

The app also offers power management settings. For instance, if I switched from watching content on the Kaleidescape to streaming on Netflix, I could set it up so that the system would power down the previous device, switch the input on my processor, and adjust the input on my projector. There's also an option to leave devices on if preferred.

Adding an activity, which is what you will be using on the remote itself, involves selecting the devices to include via the app. After setting up the devices, I noticed that not all buttons functioned as expected. Fortunately, the app includes a repair feature. Within the device settings, under the add/repair command section, there's a list of all functions.

For example, when the volume up/down button on the Trinnov processor wasn't working, I simply used the repair function by pointing the Trinnov remote at the hub and pressing the problematic button. This process needed to be repeated for a few devices but was overall straightforward.

The app successfully learned all the remotes in my house, except for the MadVR Envy Extreme. Initially, I thought the issue was due to the Envy remote being set to RF, but switching it to IR did not resolve the problem. Hopefully, it will be added to the database in the near future.

Once the setup is complete, transferring all the configuration details from the app to the remote is the next step. In my case, the activities did not automatically sync to the remote. I initially tried using the 'sync remote' function in the app, but it did not work as expected. I then opted to use the 'pair with a new remote' option which seemed to do the trick. The process of syncing the remote took about a minute to complete. From there, I was good to go.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Sofabaton remote functioned well throughout my testing. Most of the time, I experienced no issues with powering devices on or off and controlling them as intended. However, there were a few isolated incidents where the remote failed to activate a specific device, though this only occurred a couple of times over the course of three weeks.

One feature I particularly appreciated was the raise-to-wake function, which simplified the process of activating the backlit buttons. Instead of having to press a button to wake the remote, simply lifting it was enough to illuminate the controls.

Navigating the remote's interface involves a slight learning curve that took a couple of days to get accustomed to. The screen presents three main options: activities, devices, and settings. The activities section simplifies the process of turning devices on, while the devices section allows for the control of individual devices directly. I frequently found myself instinctively trying to touch the screen to select options before remembering to use the scroll wheel instead.

Similarly, adjusting to using the back button at the top of the remote for the display, rather than the back button in the middle of the remote that controls the devices themselves, took some getting used to.

As someone who frequently swaps out review units, I typically don't rely on a universal remote. However, using the Sofabaton over the past few weeks has led me to reconsider its convenience. The remote boasts a premium feel, fitting comfortably in the hand, and offers impressive functionality.

Its ease of use has even won over my wife, who previously avoided watching something in our movie room due to the sea of remotes on the armrest. Now, she can easily choose and control any device herself. Since setting up the X1S, she has used it several times and seems to appreciate its simplicity perhaps even more than I do.

Conclusion

While the Sofabaton X1S does exhibit a few minor bugs to be worked out of the system, the overall ease of setup and the performance of the unit are impressive. Its design and functionality stand out in a market that's often cluttered with overly complicated alternatives. The fact that all these features come at a price of $189.99 makes it an even more attractive option for those looking to streamline their home entertainment systems without breaking the bank. Given its performance and value, the Sofabaton X1S earns an AVS Top Choice for 2024, marking it as a recommendation for both tech enthusiasts and everyday users alike.

If you're interested in trying out the device for yourself, we've partnered with Sofabaton to offer our readers an exclusive 20% discount. For purchases made directly through Sofabaton's website, use the promo code AVSForum. If you prefer to buy from Amazon, you can apply the code AVSForum20 at checkout to receive the same discount.

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FAQ

What’s the difference between an IR and a Bluetooth universal remote?

An IR (infrared) remote requires a direct line of sight to control devices, while a Bluetooth remote can control devices without a direct line of sight and often supports more advanced features, including integration with mobile apps.

What features should I look for in a universal remote?

Look for features like backlighting, the ability to control multiple devices, programmable activities or macros, touch screens, and compatibility with smart home devices.

What are the benefits of using a universal remote?

A universal remote consolidates multiple remotes into one, reducing clutter and simplifying the control of your home entertainment system.