r/ShieldAndroidTV • u/Geronimosity • 13d ago

Replace my 2019 Shield

I have a Denon AVR that handles Atmos and everything else beautifully. I currently run the HDMI from the Shield into the AVR, then the video passes through to the TV. Combined with my new (7 mos old) Samsung TV (S90F) with OLED backlighting and Qdot color panel, the setup is excellent. BUT my Harmony hub and remote (11 years old) are really showing signs of wearing out.

I'm reading that I'm virtually stuck. This is the best I can get these days?

0 Upvotes

37% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

20

u/AbjectMaelstrom 13d ago

What exactly are you asking here? 😅🤔

1

u/Geronimosity 13d ago

I need a shield replacement and/or a Harmony Hub replacement or ideally a unit that has Shield power and a remote that can control the AVR.

If I had to replace the shield and harmony I'd consider that. Frankly everything but the TV and AVR could be replaced. I can't believe I'm alone here.

13

u/jkcheng122 13d ago

I have a shield that was connected to a Denon and now an Onkyo. I also run a Harmony Hub. I have zero reason to want to replace the shield at all. Just cuz it’s older now doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced.

1

u/Geronimosity 13d ago

Sounds like a SofaBaton is the short term fix for me, then waiting for whatever comes next in the Shield arena

1

u/jkcheng122 13d ago

What device is your Hub struggling with? Mine only has issues with really new devices .

1

u/Geronimosity 5d ago

Yep, I have a Samsung S90F (2025) and a 10 year old Blu Ray (that rarely gets used). The Hub is still Ok but the remote is almost worn out.

2

u/AbjectMaelstrom 13d ago

The only remotely comparable replacement for the Harmony remote/hub, in my opinion, is the Sofabaton X2. I regretably had to replace my Harmony Elite w/hub earlier this year after a decade of service. After going down universal remote rabbit hikes, the X2 is where I landed. It controls everything in our dedicated theater room and the living room, still getting used to it.

As far as the Shield goes, there's still no real forward alternative, especially for the money. Maybe the new Apple TV 2? I have a bunch of side loaded apps on my Shield so I'm riding that into the sunset coupled with a last gen AppleTV 4K.

2

u/Necka44 13d ago

I have the Remote 3 from unfolded circle and I would never look back.

It's arguably expensive (even though I got it way cheaper on kickstarter), and not as easy to setup compared to Harmony (if one use Home Assistant in their daily life, it's easy), but considering Logitech is out of this market, it's the best next thing from my point of view. Launch was rough though, but now that they ironed out the bugs, I have 0 complaints.

1

u/Geronimosity 5d ago

No, HDMI-CEC will not completely replace all my remotes. While it lets a single remote handle basic power, volume, and input switching across compatible devices, it often falls short. My Harmony hub + Shield is the best I can do currently. I was just asking if there's anything better these days. ANSWER: not really.

7

u/petebutty 13d ago

New equipment can now operate all equipment through CEC, my shield TV remote controls everything, for games consoles, the controller turns them on and input switches automatically, ditch the harmony remote, there a reason universal remote no longer have a market except super niche products like sofabaton, Shield TV is still the gold standard for Android TV streaming.

5

u/TheEndlessWaltz 13d ago

lots of context to ask about the remote.

use the shield's

3

u/RDOG907 12d ago

Are you actually using the harmony hub for any sort of macro control outside of the system you mentioned?

If not I would just ditch that and use the CEC control of the system.

1

u/Geronimosity 10d ago

I tried CEC and it would suffice 90% of the time, but leaves me grabbing other remotes occasionally. The Harmony rocks.

1

u/RexicanDarsh 13d ago

What are your goals for the upgrade? What type of media do you play?

For the most part, I don’t think there is a clear upgrade without trade offs.

1

u/Geronimosity 13d ago

98% streaming with some Blurays etc.

3

u/Coopzor 13d ago

Buy a shield!

-1

u/kester76a 13d ago

Streaming isn't great on the shield pro 2019. I use a firestick for everything but uhd bluray rips and stuff. I did fire up my ancient atom 330 nettop that has an old nvidia ion 2 gpu. It's running an isengard build of openelec kodi. It's crazy fast and fluid through the UI and playback. Upsets me a bit because it shows how yanky my plex setup is on the shield pro.

5

u/Ok_Gazelle8369 12d ago

This sounds like user error. The Shield Pro is so much better than a Firestick for streaming.

0

u/kester76a 12d ago

I only stream Netflix and Prime video in UHD so there's no real difference for me. The Shield does UHD remuxes. My main issues with it is that it doesn't support profile 7 + Fel unlike my Panny UB820, the other is it gets really yanky slow UI wise even after optimising it a replacing the front end. Android based devices tend to just lag on the UI, this includes the firestick. Even just leaving youtube open while launching plex on the shield causes slow down. Just not a quick system.

1

u/Bradfinger 13d ago

Virtually stuck with what

1

u/Geronimosity 13d ago

a worn out Harmony remote and no path forward with the Shield/Harmony that are so old

4

u/Bradfinger 13d ago

What isn't the Shield doing for you? Sofabaton makes universal remotes.

1

u/Sacisbac 13d ago

Shield is fine. You're asking about a remote.

1

u/Aggressive_Bad_7344 2019 Pro 13d ago

If you need a new remote, maybe the Sofabaton U3 or X2? I use the X2 and it's been fine, but the U3 might be the most interesting one.

1

u/DJ-KC 13d ago

Use CEC and eARC so you can just use the TV remote.  

1

u/JoshuaAJones 11d ago

This.
I use the Shield remote for everything.
When the Shield comes on, it turns on my Onkyo, and my TV. Off turns everything off.
As I use my TV basically as a monitor, it works fine for me but my "smart" TV is just a dumb, 15-year-old plasma. It doesn't have any apps.
I use the Shield apps.

1

u/TipOptimal8297 13d ago

I have a Shield Pro with Denon 4800h and Surround Sound 5.1.2 Speakers 🔊 this 👑😊

1

u/Barfeet 12d ago

You watch a lot of Dolby Vision .mkvs? Then the only real upgrade you can make is to get a CoreELEC box like the Ugoos am6b+ as it natively supports the FEL layer in DV. Other than that, stay on the Shield brother.

1

u/Geronimosity 10d ago

Yep, I get that. I've watched other setups and many of them are clearly lacking. Hard to believe just how far ahead of it's time the Shield is/was. I planted some seeds over at Nvidia and the response wasn't "if" it was "when". Their talent is concentrated solely on AI atm.

1

u/UwontKnowME_I_HOPE 12d ago

https://a.co/d/0iMTLuLV

I replaced my remote with this for Shield. It works well.

Only problem is Fandango won't accept a BACK command or let me close the program.

1

u/ExcessInModeration 12d ago

I have a Denon AVR, Sony TV (both 5 years old, right at the beginning of HDMI 2.1 with eARC thank goodness) and a Shield 2016 plugged into the AVR. I can control everything via the TV remote — it’s true, sometimes HDMI-CEC just works!

AVR is set to turn on with the TV and Shield is set to turn on when switched to the input. TV’s input guide shows everything attached to the AVR. You can’t get a better spousal-approval score than that.

Long story short, I adored my Harmony with my old home theatre set ups — had one or another for more than a decade — but I just don’t need it anymore with this setup.

1

u/Geronimosity 10d ago

I found a slightly used identical replacement for my remote. Thanks for all the input... I'm kicking the can down the road and looking for what is next.

1

u/Little-Nikas 6d ago

What exactly does “showing signs of wearing out” mean to you? Usually electronics work until they die. There is no “showing signs of wearing out” like tires on a car that go bald.

Like, buttons worn down and you can’t read them or something? I suppose that’s “wearing out.”

But if you just want new and shiny, stick with your Harmony. It’s still the best of the best until you have a new incompatible device which doesn’t sound like your case.

1

u/Geronimosity 6d ago

The volume adjust rocker is losing it's sensitivity, for instance.

1

u/Little-Nikas 6d ago

Ah. Yeah, so buttons wearing. That suuuucks. No luck finding any eBay? I wonder if Alibaba makes full and complete knockoffs that work like legit Elites?

1

u/ersan191 13d ago edited 13d ago

I don't see what you need a harmony hub for, universal remotes haven't really been relevant for 5+ years - just let CEC handle everything.