Niles IC2 Replaces Flagship IntelliControl Universal Remote

Way back when, the IntelliControl home theater controller from Niles was the mother of all "universal remotes." The large all-button, no-touchscreen controller sat on a tabletop and communicated via RF with a control box that operated the connected A/V gear.

Status sensors, relays, and IR outputs enabled seamless multi-device macros, even when the A/V gear lacked discrete IR codes.

The IntelliControl has always been considered a nice cross between a low-cost universal remote, and a high-priced touchscreen-based control system.

Some 12 years after the product's introduction, some dealers still love the IntelliControl for its simplicity. Meanwhile, the product has remained largely untouched by Niles. Until now.

At CEDIA, Niles will introduce the next-gen IntelliControl, the IC2. "What we heard from dealers is, 'Wake up, we still sell this because we have aging customers and they don't want touchscreens,'" says Mike Detmer, vice president of sales and marketing for Niles. "'They want buttons. But could you make the buttons a little bigger?'"

The IC2 maintains the simplicity of the original IntelliControl, but with a more modern-day form factor and feature set. Niles stuck with the hard-button theme, but rearranged the layout to accommodate new sources such as TiVo—a product category unheard of back in the early days of IntelliControl.

The IC2 remote communicates with the "main system unit," the HT-MSU, which features eight outputs for either IR or RS-232 control.

The company also improved the radio in the IC2, opting for ZigBee technology, which is at the heart of the company's wildly popular ICS control system. Because the RF technology is based on ZigBee, theoretically it could control other ZigBee products in the Niles line, but at this point such cross-communication is not supported.

Using the IC2's wizard, dealers can program an IC2 system in 10 minutes, Detmer says.

"We know we're going to sell a bunch of them," he adds. "It's mostly a home theater controller for people like me who just want to push a button."

The IC2 and HT-MSU will retail for $999.

About the Niles IC2

The Niles IC2 Home Theater Automation System is an affordable, versatile and powerful product that can automate a variety of modern home theater components, sources and devices and provide true one-touch operation of the most complicated home theater systems. It consists of a “Main System Unit” (MSU) and “Big Button Remote” (BBR) that can synchronize, control and automate up to 16 devices. The system can also be used with multizone systems, such as Niles’ IntelliControl® ICS, to integrate whole house audio sources into a home theater with a single unified remote control and reliable one-button operation.

Representing the next generation in technology, design and ergonomics, the IC2 replaces the popular IntelliControl system, considered by many AV enthusiasts to be a true triumph of system design and engineering. IC2 takes the idea behind IntelliControl to the next level and features upgrades that reflect today’s changing home theater dynamic, incorporating several new sources, including DVRs, cable boxes, media servers, lighting, drapes, DVD players and Media Center PCs. Other upgrades include the ability to control up to eight home theater devices via RS-232. Eight additional sources can be controlled via traditional IR. There is also more flexibility over relays and 12V trigger outputs and the MSU features an Ethernet port for outside communication and future upgrades.

The remote has eight Master Keys which can power on/off all of the connected home theater products. Each Master Key can be programmed with a sequence (macro) of up to 10 steps to automate complex functions with a single button press. Communication between the Big Button Remote and Main System Unit travels on a reliable wireless Zigbee® network where a single button press is transmitted from the remote to the main system unit which then issues the commands or macros to automate the system. Line of sight control (as with an IR remote) is not required.

IC2 will be released to the market in September 2007.


Integrators can program up to 10 favorites (FAV button) for each source (left buttons). For example, press Sirius, then FAV 1 to get right to the Golden Oldies.


The ZigBee-enabled Main System Unit (MSU) ensures that components stay in sync. The system knows if the TV is on or off, for example. Macros are stored here, so all it takes is the press of a single button on the RF remote to activate a complex scene. No need to aim the remote.


The Original IntelliControl keeps on ticking after some 12 years.