05 Jan
Blog

Savant X2 Remote Control Review: Easy to Use, Great Looks

Savant x2 Remote Review Pro screen on

"There is no better remote control for the Savant Smart Home control."

  • Nice aluminum design

  • Big touch screen

  • Solid keys with a satisfactory click / feel

  • Faster response time

  • Two programmable buttons

  • Requires frequent charging

  • No DVR button

Smart home tech is everywhere. Once a thriving tech sector, there are now more brands, ecosystems. and A.I. Integrations than you can shake a stick. This is great news for home improvement, but bad news for large smart home integrators who now need to act quickly to ensure their systems are compatible with all of these new brands and devices while remaining relevant to consumers.

When you have decided on a professional, integrated smart home system, there are only three big brands to consider: Control4, which has the most third party partners in the field; Crestron, the old installer favorite that has proven very reliable but has less innovative third-party partners; and the new favorite, Savant, which is rapidly gaining popularity with installers as the focus is on beautiful interface and hardware design, as well as a growing list of third-party providers in the field.

A couple of years ago we decided to test two of these systems in some of Digital Trends' “test houses”, which included my personal home (as convenient as I know). I chose Savant because I loved the beauty and simplicity of the user interface and the sleek design of the hardware. With Savant you have the option of using your own tablet or phone to operate the Savant software or one of several Savant devices such as Savant Touch, wall keyboards or remote controls. You can even use the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to control basic scenes.

Savant x2 remote control review per page of 2

Savant x2 remote control review Savan Pro profile

Of all of these options, I personally prefer using a remote control to access the system. Unlike my phone, remote controls have dedicated buttons and are easier to use.

Compared to the larger remote controls from Control4 or Crestron, it was clear that I would forego the interface functionality for a more minimalist hardware design. I would have to use my tablet or phone to access more detailed settings and functions of the system. This is something to think about when choosing Savant. The system is easy to use, but if you want custom, detailed settings and access, it may not be for you.

In order to use Savant Pro Remote X2, I had to update my host software to Savant 9.3.2. If you have an older Savant operating system, you can spend even more money upgrading your system to take advantage of the latest hardware and software features.

Here is a list of the devices associated with this setup:

  • TiVo Bolt DVR with Comcast cable card access (I wouldn't recommend a TiVo setup as I wasn't happy with it)
  • Two TiVo Mini are connected to the primary screw
  • Apple TV
  • Roku TV
  • Sony PlayStation 4
  • Microsoft Xbox One X.
  • Two Sony Blu-ray players
  • Three Savant music servers
  • Two Savant door stations
  • Amazon Alexa Dots / Echo
  • Luma camera system with SNAP NVR servers

Welcome improvements

Savant made a decision to simplify its system interface as much as possible – that is its value proposition and why you might choose it over its competitors. The entire system is controlled by the beautiful hardware. The Savant Pro Remote X2 is the flagship user interface. From a design perspective, I find that both old and new remote controls are equally attractive to look at – both have large, beautiful color displays, and I like the way they stand in their “cradle” docking stations. I don't think one design is particularly attractive than the other, but they are vastly different.

What I like about the older, first generation remote control is its matte black rubber finish and unconventional design – it's wide at the base and narrower at the top – which gives it a more artistic feel that sets it apart from any other remote on the market. I also like the big screen size and that it works like a TV remote first and then like a smart home remote.

Ian Bell / Digital Trends

Unfortunately there is a laundry list with things that are not important to me with the old remote control. The squishy buttons don't have a tactile click and sometimes force you to press the buttons multiple times before the system registers the action. The rubber cover on the remote started peeling off twice, forcing me to use the warranty twice to have it replaced. The old flagship remote also felt very slow and often showed a delay in the devices you wanted to control (as I understand the base of the old remote is connected to the system and the remote needed to communicate with the base). which then communicates with the host – not at all efficiently). The remote control battery life was also poor. I was lucky enough to work for two days before I had to put it back in the charging cradle. Eventually, the remote would occasionally lose connection with the host and wait a long time before trying to reconnect.

Better design

The new remote feels a bit heavier because of its aluminum body, and that's a good thing. You can also get the new remote in three different colors to match your home decor: rose gold ($ 1,200, jet black ($ 1,200), or space gray ($ 850). The X2 base station is great heavy and solid and uses a magnetic docking station to hold the remote in place while standing, this gives the remote and dock a very impressive presence with a beautiful design that calls for visibility.

Features of the Savant X2 remote control

Savant set out to fix the issues with the previous remote with its new Savant Pro Remote X2 and as far as I can tell it has accomplished that mission. The X2 is longer and slimmer, has an aluminum design and still retains the same large display. The buttons now have a solid click / feel and the button layout now includes new PG + and PG- buttons for your device manuals. There are also two buttons that can be custom programmed, or you can use one of the buttons to quickly activate an already set up scene. What is missing, however, is the DVR button, which I used a lot on the old remote control. You'll need to program one of the unnamed buttons to have direct access to your DVR guide if that's as important to you as it is to me.

To keep up with other remotes on the market, the X2 has built-in Siri voice control with Apple TV. It works when you know how to use Siri, but it's a nuisance if you don't take the time to learn Siri. The same applies to Alexa or any other hardware or software controlled by A.I. Do yourself a favor and take the time to learn how to use this feature.

Setup and use

In my testing, I found that the new Savant Pro Remote X2 is significantly faster in accessing my TV and other devices. The delay I experienced earlier seems to have completely disappeared. I found that when setting up the new remote and inserting it into the system, I didn't need to connect the charging cradle to the system, but rather that the remote connected directly to the system via Wi-Fi setup is much easier – this probably explains too the lack of delay. The Savant REM-1000 (BLE) remote control that came with my host, for example, still has to be connected via the docking station and is noticeably slower.

Ian Bell / Digital Trends

Switching between different functions like controlling a camera system and accessing a music server is intuitive – I only got lost occasionally, usually when jumping back and forth between too many screens. I found the remote to really stand out from the previous remote by controlling devices with an IR repeater. With the previous generation remote control, the delay here was unbearable for me. Controlling my Apple TV or Roku TV is now very easy and intuitive, as buttons such as "Menu", "Info" and "Instructions" are perfectly assigned.

Some things to watch out for

Not everything is perfect with the Savant X2 remote. I'm using a TiVo DVR setup for my home and wish I had either stayed with Comcast or investigated other options. Sometimes it takes a while for my TiVo device to go out of sleep mode, which causes my Savant system to time out and for example the TV to go blank. The workaround is to restart the scene activation. The good news is that this only happens after I have stopped using TiVo for a while. Is it the remote's fault? Or the savant system? Or TiVo? I'm not sure, and every technician I ask answers this question differently. Update 12/30/2020: Savants representative said that I should be able to go into the Tivo settings and adjust the time of sleep so that this doesn't happen. You can also let your integrator set a user-defined “trigger” that triggers a number of menu commands to activate the device. Problem solved.

The battery life is still not fantastic. I'd say you're lucky enough to be able to use it for 2.5 days before you have to dock the remote to charge. If you're like me and have moved from a regular consumer system on two AA batteries that lasted six months to a fancy remote control like this one with a color screen, set your expectations accordingly. This remote control is basically a small PC with a display that draws battery juice. If you combine this with a battery icon that is not on the main display but on a sub screen and you quickly forget to check the X2's battery life, have your phone ready as a backup control unit. Among other things, you can adjust the settings for the alarm sensitivity and the time at which the display is switched off. Both of these settings should help you extend the battery life, although I still found the X2 to be too sensitive on the lowest setting. When the remote control sits on a sofa cushion and a dog jumps on the sofa, the screen comes back to life!

One remote control to control them all and anyone can control them

I'm a huge car fanatic and one of the things I've always found funny is how some people complain that a luxury car doesn't have memory presets saved for the passenger seats – but even if they're saved there, hardly anyone uses them. The same applies to remote controls such as the Savant Pro Remote X2. It supports several user profiles in which you can save your channels and favorite scenes and thus control several rooms. I've spent a lot of time creating profiles, scenes, etc. for the family, but the truth is, they hardly remember changing profiles. And if you don't have a family of engineers who will appreciate those extra features, I recommend making the primary profile (yours?) As compatible as possible with everyone else in your family. For example, when you add your partner and children's favorite channels to the remote control, you are probably good to go.

Ian Bell / Digital Trends

While controlling multiple rooms with a single remote is a cool idea, I would recommend either installing Lutron custom scene light switches or using a tablet or your phone for rooms that aren't being used much. Otherwise you will be walking around with a remote control in your pocket, which will frustrate the other users in your household. Savant recently released its own lighting solution that competes with Lutron. It offers a range of cool options like WRGB full color, adjustable LED and even a special daylight mode that syncs with your daily rhythm. I would recommend considering the Savant lighting product when planning your smart home design so that you can compare it to others on the market.

Our opinion

If you are purchasing a new Savant system for your home and are considering adding the Pro Remote X2 or using your phone / tablet for control, do yourself a favor and buy the remote control. It's not cheap, but it's easy to use and looks amazing.

On the other hand, if you have a previous generation Savant remote, you probably don't need to upgrade unless you have money to burn and are fed up with the slow lag – something I can't stand. Keep in mind that you will need to update your host software in order for the X2 to work and this will add even more to the cost.

Is there a better alternative?

For a Savant system, there really is no other option outside of your own phone and other Savant remotes.

How long it will take?

Given that it has been in use for a few months, I'd say the aluminum design is tough enough to ensure a long life. The buttons on the X2 remote are so general that they can be used universally for any new device you add to the system. At the same time, the remote doesn't have any super-specific buttons for Savant OS 9 – which means the developers intended to use this remote for a long time. Savant grants a two-year warranty on the Pro Remote X2, which is above the industry average for a product of this type.

Should you buy it?

You have already spent a lot of money on a savant system. If you don't, you are buying a Porsche without a real steering wheel – you need it to get top performance.

Editor's recommendations




23 Oct
Blog

Heavy Suitcase Deadlifts Build Anti-Rotational Control and Strength

Deadlifting with dumbbells or kettlebells is pointless unless you are doing one-legged variations. Not correct.

Have you ever tried a one-armed variant instead of a one-legged one? Two legs on the floor but only one bell in one hand held by the side of your body. This is the suitcase deadlift, and in many ways it trains the same qualities as a one-legged RDL.

The difference is that you can load this exercise much heavier and have a lot more fun with it. I've included many details of your approach in this article if you need to dig deeper or have specific issues than you should read my online movement principles course.

The benefits of the suitcase deadlift

Why do we do one-legged exercises? It's easy to build one-legged strength. But that's not all. They also help improve our stability, and not just because they build one-sided strength. It's about developing the ability to trigger the core muscles that keep our hips from rotating or shifting in coordinated effort.

Our body finds stability and strength for one side of the other. Our slants on the left turn on to keep us from bending sideways when we hold something heavy on the right side of our body.

We create a force against the floor from our right foot to flex our left lat pulldown.

These cross patterns should be automatic and we should have control and strength on each side to stabilize the other, but that is not always the case.

The suitcase deadlift makes it intuitive to hone this quality.

It feels wrong to tip or twist sideways when lifting a heavy weight off the floor with just one hand. You instinctively and actively fight against it.

Should you do it

This may seem like a remedy, or beginners should practice some before doing heavy deadlifts with barbells. Still, it is just as necessary that elite powerlifters be far removed from the competition during general training blocks.

We will always have a tendency to use one side of our body more than the other in motion.

And while part of it is part of being human, too much is part of a problem that can hurt you.

You can practice a sport that uses almost exclusively one side of your body. Or, you could be a busy professional who does some repetitive tasks over and over again.

It doesn't matter what it is. Repeat the same movements over and over on one side and you will have to deal with some excruciating injury, pain, and discomfort.

Exercises like deadlifting a suitcase can keep you healthy or help repair the damage already done.

Which muscles are involved?

The movement itself works the hamstrings, quads, glutes, and even the back muscles while helping you grab and hold the bell.

However, the real benefit of adding these elements to your workout is that they improve the control and strength of the core against rotation.

The deep muscles of the trunk that stabilize the spine, pelvis, and hips, such as the transverse abdomen, psoas major, and even the pelvic floor muscles, to name a few, can be really stressed and worked harder with this exercise than with any exercise that you have the same weights in both hands.

How to do a suitcase deadlift

Place a dumbbell or kettlebell next to one of your ankles.

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abs, criss-cross patterns, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Hang down and squat, much like doing a barbell deadlift. You need to squat lower and more upright than a traditional deadlift with a loaded barbell because the bell is not that high off the floor and is placed on the side.

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abs, criss-cross patterns, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Inhale deeply, filling your entire abdominal cavity and expanding not only your stomach but also the sides of your torso and lower back with air.

Hold on and remember to drive your feet and ankles through the floor while standing. Make sure that your hips do not shoot up in front of your chest and shoulders.

  • As you stand, focus on relaxing your shoulders and sagging, but using the weight to keep the side of your trunk from diving or sloping lower than the opposite side.
  • You want your hips to stay straight all the time.
  • Fight the urge to bend your torso to the side of the weight while standing.
  • Focus on engaging your core so that your hips stay straight and you are not allowed to twist or bend to the side at all.
  • Exhale strongly at the top, then tense back and crouch in the same manner to touch the floor with the bell before standing up again

Add variation

One of the greatest ways to turn things upside down would be to use a barbell instead of a dumbbell or kettlebell.

  • Many people think of using a barbell when doing deadlifts with suitcases, but it must be viewed as an advancement to using a bell.
  • With a barbell, not only do you need to fire your trunk to stabilize yourself and not twist and turn, but you also need to stabilize the bar so it doesn't tip back or forth in your hand.
  • This takes a lot of focus on engaging your shoulders, back, and forearms to stabilize the barbell itself. If you can't fix your hips and pelvis in place first, the use of a barbell will defeat the purpose of the exercise.

First, find stability in your body with bells. Then you can also use dumbbells.

Too far too early

To train core stability and get your legs going, you need to challenge yourself with a heavyweight.

But you have to get involved.

Too heavy a dumbbell on the first day and you stabilize your muscles will likely tire too quickly and make you twist or turn.

And when that happens, nothing protects your back from injury.

For advanced

Regardless of what weight you're using – dumbbell, kettlebell, barbell – swimming reps can make this exercise much more difficult.

Begin the exercise as normal, but if you crouch down after the first rep, instead of placing the weight on the floor or even tapping it on the floor, lower it down until it is only half an inch above lying on the ground. Take a short break and get up again.

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abs, criss-cross patterns, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abs, criss-cross patterns, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Using the weight to move your entire set directly off the floor without touching it, you'll feel tired and painful like you haven't since your overzealous high school teacher. Challenge.

22 Oct
Blog

Heavy Suitcase Deadlifts Build Anti-Rotational Control and Strength

Deadlifting with dumbbells or kettlebells is pointless unless you are doing one-legged variations. Not correct.

Have you ever tried a one-armed variant instead of a one-legged one? Two legs on the floor but only one bell in one hand held by the side of your body. This is the suitcase deadlift, and in many ways it trains the same qualities as a one-legged RDL.

The difference is that you can load this exercise much heavier and have a lot more fun with it. I've included many details of your approach in this article if you need to dig deeper or have specific issues than you should read my online movement principles course.

The benefits of the suitcase deadlift

Why do we do one-legged exercises? It's easy to build one-legged strength. But that's not all. They also help improve our stability, and not just because they build one-sided strength. It's about developing the ability to trigger the core muscles that keep our hips from rotating or shifting in coordinated effort.

Our body finds stability and strength for one side of the other. Our slants on the left turn on to keep us from bending sideways when we hold something heavy on the right side of our body.

We create a force against the floor from our right foot to flex our left lat pulldown.

These cross patterns should be automatic and we should have control and strength on each side to stabilize the other, but that is not always the case.

The suitcase deadlift makes it intuitive to hone this quality.

It feels wrong to tip or twist sideways when lifting a heavy weight off the floor with just one hand. You instinctively and actively fight against it.

Should you do it

This may seem like a remedy, or beginners should practice some before doing heavy deadlifts with barbells. Still, it is just as necessary that elite powerlifters be far removed from the competition during general training blocks.

We will always have a tendency to use one side of our body more than the other in motion.

And while part of it is part of being human, too much is part of a problem that can hurt you.

You can practice a sport that uses almost exclusively one side of your body. Or, you could be a busy professional who does some repetitive tasks over and over again.

It doesn't matter what it is. Repeat the same movements over and over on one side and you will have to deal with some excruciating injury, pain, and discomfort.

Exercises like deadlifting a suitcase can keep you healthy or help repair the damage already done.

Which muscles are involved?

The movement itself works the hamstrings, quads, glutes, and even the back muscles while helping you grab and hold the bell.

However, the real benefit of adding these elements to your workout is that they improve the control and strength of the core against rotation.

The deep muscles of the trunk that stabilize the spine, pelvis, and hips, such as the transverse abdomen, psoas major, and even the pelvic floor muscles, to name a few, can be really stressed and worked harder with this exercise than with any exercise that you have the same weights in both hands.

How to do a suitcase deadlift

Place a dumbbell or kettlebell next to one of your ankles.

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, elite athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abs, criss-cross patterns, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Hang down and squat, much like doing a barbell deadlift. You need to squat lower and more upright than a traditional deadlift with a loaded barbell because the bell is not that high off the floor and is placed on the side.

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abdomen, criss-cross pattern, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Inhale deeply, filling your entire abdominal cavity and expanding not only your stomach but also the sides of your torso and lower back with air.

Hold on and remember to drive your feet and ankles through the floor while standing. Make sure that your hips do not shoot up in front of your chest and shoulders.

  • As you stand, focus on relaxing your shoulders and sagging, but using the weight to keep the side of your trunk from diving or sloping lower than the opposite side.
  • You want your hips to stay straight all the time.
  • Fight the urge to bend your torso to the side of the weight while standing.
  • Focus on engaging your core so that your hips stay straight and you are not allowed to twist or bend to the side at all.
  • Exhale strongly at the top, then tense back and crouch in the same manner to touch the floor with the bell before standing up again

Add variation

One of the greatest ways to turn things upside down would be to use a barbell instead of a dumbbell or kettlebell.

  • Many people think of using a barbell when doing deadlifts with suitcases, but it must be viewed as an advancement to using a bell.
  • With a barbell, not only do you need to fire your trunk to stabilize yourself and not twist and turn, but you also need to stabilize the bar so it doesn't tip back or forth in your hand.
  • This takes a lot of focus on engaging your shoulders, back, and forearms to stabilize the barbell itself. If you can't fix your hips and pelvis in place first, the use of a barbell will defeat the purpose of the exercise.

First, find stability in your body with bells. Then you can also use dumbbells.

Too far too early

To train core stability and get your legs going, you need to challenge yourself with a heavyweight.

But you have to get involved.

Too heavy a dumbbell on the first day and you stabilize your muscles will likely tire too quickly and make you twist or turn.

And when that happens, nothing protects your back from injury.

For advanced

Regardless of what weight you're using – dumbbell, kettlebell, barbell – swimming reps can make this exercise much more difficult.

Begin the exercise as normal, but if you crouch down after the first rep, instead of placing the weight on the floor or even tapping it on the floor, lower it down until it is only half an inch above lying on the ground. Take a short break and get up again.

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abdomen, criss-cross pattern, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Heavy suitcase deadlifts build anti-rotation control and strength - fitness, top athletes, kettlebell, dumbbells, functional strength, suitcase deadlifts, one leg, powerlifters, transverse abs, criss-cross patterns, inclines, psoas, one-sided exercises, remedial measures, core stability

Using the weight to move your entire set directly off the floor without touching it, you'll feel tired and painful like you haven't since your overzealous high school teacher. Challenge.