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Philips avent Digital Screen Baby Monitor w/ DECT Technology | 
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| Brand: Philips Avent
Category: Baby Product
List Price: $149.99
Buy New: $119.95
You Save: $30.04 (20%)
New (5) from $119.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Color: White
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.6
Dimensions (in): 12.1 x 5.3 x 7.4
MPN:
Model: SCD520/00
UPC: 075020005465
EAN: 0075020005465
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Zero Interference DECT Technology | | • | Crystal clear sound | | • | Room temperature sensor and lullabies | | • | Sleek parent unit | | • | Simple to use and easily mobile |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
DECT Baby Monitor with Digital Screen
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Nice in many ways, but not enough functionality and versatility for general use December 5, 2008
QUICK TAKE: This Philips Avent monitor has a lot of nice features, design and functionality (as discussed toward the end of this review). But at two to three times the cost of other audio monitors, the added features don't add enough value to earn a recommendation. And even setting aside price, the very low volume on the parent unit limits the usability and versatility of this product for general use.
The biggest issue is that the volume on the parent unit, even when set to the maximum (and with the baby unit sensitivity at maximum), isn't loud enough for everyday situations. For example, with the parent unit five feet away while feeding a not-very-noisy two year old. And so forget about the flexibility (which other monitors have) to turn it up loud enough to hear a child crying while you're in the shower, or during even a quiet-ish get-together. To be really useful, a monitor should go from very quiet to very loud, with lots of steps in between. But unless you keep it next to you and are in a quiet room, the Philips Avent is just not loud enough.
If you only want a night-time monitor, or otherwise always keep it close to you in a quiet situation, this works well. Also, if you have a toddler, who needs less frequent monitoring and can make herself heard when needed, this may work. (Though at the right price the Philips Avent Basic Baby Monitor w/ DECT Technology, without the temperature feature, may be the way to go.) But as a real-life, wide-range-of-situations monitor - this Philips Avent doesn't make the grade.
Another issue is the thermometer, which is not very useful for two reasons: First, it always reads 5-7 degrees high, which is at a minimum annoying, and also hard to explain to a babysitter, and can run into the pre-set limits to the temperature range alarm feature. Second, the temperature reading unit is on the back of the monitor. That of course assumes you want to measure the temperature in the same place the monitor is - but depending on the your setup, that is often not the case. The temperature on a high shelf five feet from the baby (where you want to put a monitor) might be very different from the temperature where the baby is. If they really want to offer this feature, it should be accurate and ideally use a separate unit for reading the temperature (and humidity, as on their top-end monitor). (We use the Oregon Scientific BAR638HGA Weather Forecaster with Temperature & Humidity, it works well.)
That being said, there are lots of things to like about this monitor:
+ It uses DECT technology to transmit, which is a secure, static free digital technology with great sound quality, not robotic like some digital audio. (The best new cordless phones use this, too.) It operates at 1.9Ghz, so it won't conflict with anything in your house. It connects well and stays connected (though we don't use it over long distances).
+ The ability to adjust, from the parent unit, the sensitivity of what sound gets picked up in the baby's room is a very nice feature.
+ The parent and baby units are smaller (and more attractive) than you'd guess from the photo. The parent unit is 2+" wide by 4" high by 1+" deep.
+ The battery life on the parent unit seems very long.
+ The nightlight is appropriately dim for a baby's room, maybe the first time I've seen one that wasn't too bright.
+ The music on the baby unit is the first I've heard that I like, though the fact that you can't turn it on and off from the parent unit limits its usefulness.
+ The ability to talk from the parent unit to the baby unit is a nice feature, both to talk among parents and to let a toddler know you're on the way.
There are also some negatives. In addition to the major issues with the volume and the temperature, and not being able to control the music from the parent unit: The power LED on the front of the baby unit is too bright. (I'm getting a lot of use out of that roll of white electrical tape.) And the menu system is a little cumbersome.
I can definitely understand the issues people have with the screen. We just don't use it much, since the temperature readout isn't useful, so it hasn't been an issue for us except when using the menu system for the controls.
It is important to fully charge and discharge the NiMH (nickel metal-hydride) batteries the first couple times you use it.
As far as alternatives, I've used several other audio and video monitors, but none I'd really recommend. There are two others that seem to get good reviews, and may be next on my list to try: For an audio-only monitor, the Safety 1st High-Def Digital Monitor. Or, if you're going to pay $100 plus (or give a gift), a better option might be to jump to a video monitor, like Safety 1st High-Def Digital Video Monitor. Video monitors turn out to be more useful than most people would think.
Is it worth it? December 4, 2008
If you're shopping for baby monitors, you've probably discovered that there is a pretty wide range in terms of price and features. I think the most helpful review I can offer is a comparison between this monitor and the one that we've used on and off for almost six years. This is it: Safety 1st Crystal Clear Nursery Monitor As you can see, it's a very basic, no-frills (ie cheap) baby monitor. How does this more expensive one stack up?
Sound quality: The Safety 1st monitor does have some quiet static. It has never bothered me. It has also had occasional problems with interference, which creates loud static with mild feedback noises and it's pretty difficult to hear a baby through that. Usually, I can turn off the source of the problem and everything is fine, but there have been a few times (a few times over years of use) where we couldn't figure out the problem. Based on the reviews for that product, it's possible that you could have something in or near your house that causes this interruption more long term, making the monitor fairly useless. For us, it has been well worth the money. This Avent monitor has better sound quality, no question. I tried turning on the microwave and a few other things that have occasionally caused increased static on our old one, and had no problems with this one. But the Avent monitor is much quieter in general. Even with the sound and the mic sensitivity on the highest setting, it was hard to hear my daughter talking if the parent unit was across the room from me. Now if she had been crying, that would be a different story, but isn't the point to pick up on what is going on in the child's room before he or she is screaming? Of course, both units light up when they hear noise.
Portability: Both monitors can work with batteries. The Avent is more convenient if you plan to move it around a lot, since it has a rechargeable battery pack and comes with a charger, while the Safety 1st uses a 9-volt. However, because the Safety 1st is much louder, you can hear it if you simply find an outlet in some central location.
Other features: Based on the product description and what is written all over the box, the thermometer seems to be the biggest selling point of this Avent monitor. A constant readout of the temp in the child's room is the primary function of the LCD. Personally, I don't understand this. My house keeps a fairly constant temperature and if the child's room feels comfortable when I put him or her in there, I'm really not going to be concerned with it while I'm gone. If the temp is an issue for you, this monitor will be very comforting. It lets you set a range and will alert you if the temp in the child's room shifts outside that range. The Avent monitor also has a night light and plays soft music. Neither of these can be controlled from the parent unit and, to me, makes them not all that helpful. The music is obviously closer to the monitor than the baby and will muffle the baby's noises on the parent unit. And you can't turn off the music once baby's asleep without going back into the room. The point of a baby monitor in the first place is to avoid going into a sleeping baby's room. The last feature, and the one I like best, is the talk button, which lets you [try to] comfort the baby from a distance (or perhaps a spouse who has run out of wipes in the middle of a diaper change.) None of these features are available on the basic Safety 1st monitor, but with such a significant price difference each parent will need to decide how valuable these added features are. Also consider that video monitors start becoming available at about the same price as this Avent one.
For me, this monitor wouldn't be worth the price, but different families and different environments want different features. This one is very nice if it has what you need.
 Philips Avent Baby Monitor December 2, 2008
I like most of the features.
The sensitively feature is very easy to use. Sound is very clear, if you have it adjusted properly.
I like being able to talk to an adult in the room, or an older child, if I'm in another room.
I like the small sleek size of the portable unit, it's easy to take with you.
I like being able to use the base unit, using batteries, or the included electric plug.
The carry strap and belt clip are great.
I like the lullaby feature.
I like the 1000 foot range, useful if you have a large yard, or in the garage.
I like the room temperature feature. You can't let the baby get too cold.
Over all it's very good. However it might be a little expensive, for new parents, at $149.00 list price, shop around and you can get it cheaper. Would be a nice gift from the grand parents.
Crystal Clear, Nice Options, Poor Screen December 2, 2008
Thenonly reason this product isn't getting a 4 star rating is on account of the display on the "parent unit" (aka the remote receiver). When an alarm sounds (when the temperture in the monitored room goes above/below certain thresholds) the screen lights up ... it's very difficult to read in a dark room, especially when you are half asleep.
Aside from that, the design of the both the base station and receiver are pleasing and the handheld receiver is very lightweight. The base station has a built-in nightlight and can also play lullabies. We live in a very tall townhouse and have not had reception issues in any part of our home.
Overall, I would recommend this receiver, it's really worth the money!
Great reception and other features; needs to be louder December 1, 2008
My "baby" is now almost two. We still use a monitor with him because his bedroom is downstairs and we are upstairs. Up to this point we have been using an:
Graco Digital Deluxe iMonitor Baby Monitor
This monitor picks up sound great and is very loud, but has some trouble staying connected even though our bedroom is directly above my son. I also like that it has lights that show how loud the sound is.
When I was offered the Philips Digital Screen Baby Monitor through amazon Vine; I thought I would order it and see if we could get a monitor that would actually stay connected more consistantly.
This monitor has a lot of pros:
- It was very easy to get and keep connection with the room unit even when the parent unit is moved around the house.
- The talkback feature is absolutely awesome. Especially with a toddler. When he starts yelling for "Mama" at 3am, I can tell him to go back to sleep or let him know I will be there in a minute.
- Monitors room temp.
- Unit in baby's room can play lullabies and has a nightlight built in.
- The parent unit is small and comes with both a belt clip and a lanyard to hang it around your neck.
- Both the in room unit and the parent unit can be run off of normal batteries or charged.
- There are lights to display the sound level on the parent unit.
The biggest cons were:
- Even at full volume we can only hear if our baby cries, any other sounds in the room are muted. So it's hard to here if a cat snuck in or if he is coughing. This is at night when it is quiet, so hearing anything in a loud room is impossible.
- For the parent unit, when the back lighting is on it is very hard to read the digital temp. It's like the display doesn't have enough contrast between the two.
Personally, so far, we like this better than the Graco iMonitor. Even though it is soft, it stays connected. Our toddler is also old enough that mainly we are interested in loud noises anyway (crashes/crying) so it's not that big of a deal. The talkback feature is a huge plus; it is wonderful to be able to talk to our toddler from upstairs.
I guess if I had a younger baby I would be more concerned about the volume not being loud enough. I know with the iMonitor I could hear my son breathing and that was a comfort to me when he was really little. As for the extra features (temp, music, nightlight) we don't really use any of them because we already have stuff that does that in his room. It could be useful though if you don't have a CD player and nightlight in the room already.
Overall I am pleased with it; too bad they couldn't up that volume though...
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