Yeah I considered that,
Finding a store with it on Demo is near impossible - they have the X4S on Demo - but we know they work.

Still, someone[better than me] who can do PIC micro programming could probably make a X4S work like a X5S for the empeg - simply make a base that takes a small battery, IR LED (or 2) and a PIC micro with on-board ADC, then you'd have a X5S - I think the 12C5XX series has onboard ADC - in fact that may even be the micro in the tuner unit now.

Still for I think I'll stick with my Tuner and wired stalk remote - it works well rather than mucking with the Sony X5S remote.