Marantz RC-9500 Remote Control
Marantz America recently announced the introduction of a bold new look and feel in versatile programmable learning remote controls: the compact touch-screen RC9500. Featuring a USB interface and new full-color LCD touchscreen display, the U-shape RC9500 provides easy, complete control of every component in a home entertainment system and offers customizable programming along with a host of sophisticated control capabilities. Available later this month, the RC9500 will carry an SRP of $1,199.
Noted Kevin Zarow, Director of Marketing and Product Development, Marantz America, Inc: "The programmable remote control market is one of the fastest-growing in the CE arena, and Marantz is committed to being the number one supplier of high-end remotes. The RC9500 is an incredibly full-featured and easy-to-use remote, and it clearly establishes Marantz's leadership in the category."
The unit has a slim horseshoe-shaped design, bright LCD screen and comfortable, ergonomic controls. The full-color 240 x 320 pixel LCD touch-screen display, featuring a visually impressive 65,535 color palette, is fully c ustomizable, and electroluminescent backlighting makes it easy to read in darkened home theater environments.
![[RC9500wbase]](../../../audioholics/images/rc9500wbase.jpg/image)
In addition to its ease-of-use and unique cosmetic, the RC9500 offers greater versatility than most dedicated custom installation control systems. Because the RC9500 recognizes both BMP and PNG images, it can utilize both types of images from earlier remotes as well as new transparent images. In addition, the remote's advanced Wizz.it9 software has the same look and feel as the Wizz.it1 software utilized in the well-known RC5400.
The RC9500 features 48 MB of flash memory and a high-performance Motorola DragonBall MC68328 processor for ultra-high storage capacity and complex management capabilities. The RC9500 is USB 1.1, W98SE, WME, W2K and WXP compatible. Setup can be further customized via a PC interface and Windows PC programming software that enables users to import custom animations, channel icons and even their own graphics and photos.
Completely customizable, the RC9500 features fifteen tactile buttons that allow programming of any audio or video component selected, along with conveniently located "hard" buttons and a cursor control for most-used functions. It also features an extensive complement of additional features, such as e xclusive Jump Forward / Jump Backward commands and a programmable "Instant Surf" button that calls up any channel at the touch of a single button.
The RC9500 offers a host of convenient functions such as one-screen access to all the controls of any selected component, and macro capability that enables the user to transmit multiple-step control sequences with a single command. The remote can learn the control codes from virtually every brand of IR remote, can display hundreds of control screens and comes pre-programmed to operate a wide variety of Marantz audio and video products.
The RC9500's additional advanced features include: a setup protection feature that prevents settings from being accidentally changed; an Auto On function that automatically activates the remote when it is picked up (similar to the new Denon remote); an adjustable backlight and sleep timer; and the ability to import full-color channel icons and personalized graphics.
The RC9500 is also fully RF compatible with the optional RX-77 accessory.
The RC9500 comes with a recharging unit/docking station, USB cable and rechargeable NIMH battery, eliminating the need for constant battery replacement. Available in September of 2004, the RC9500 carries a suggested retail price of $1,199.
Additional information is available at www.marantz.com .
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