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After fortuitously winning the recent MHF competition for the Alden TV,I thought I had better do a review on my initial findings,bear in mind I have only had the TV for a week,so only a short term one.
The mobile/leisure TV market seems to be increasing with more 12 volt TV's coming on the market.Previously m/homers had several options when buying a new tele,get a 240 v set and use an inverter,or if it has a transformer in line use it with a voltage stabiliser(amperor)or buy a 12v specific set.
The 240v teles are generally cheaper,a decent TV/DVD combo typically being between £150-£200.The Alden weighs in at 1p short of £400,a hefty price in comparison,so is it worth it ?
First impressions straight out of the box is how lightweight and slimline it is,yet it has a 16'' screen,significantly smaller than my previous sets,a 240v Toshiba 15'' LCD and an Avtex 153D,also 15''LCD.The Alden weighs only 2.4kg is 6.5cm thick and L:400mm W: 280mm.
As can be seen in the photos,I have used the vesa fixings and a drop down bracket with a quick release,I always store the tv in a padded bag for travelling.
The Alden is jam packed with features-DVD player,digital and analogue auto tuner,HD ready,usb slot to record or pause live digital programmes(not skytv)with a memory stick,connectivity for a pc and video camera,scart and hdmi sockets,CI slot-the list is endless.
The most important thing for us who wild camp and don't rely on ehu is that it consumes a remarkable low 18w,that's 1.5A @ 12v.I think that must be the lowest ever,and a boon for those that are constantly watching the leisure battery SOC.
The picture is excellent with stunning clarity and definition,the best I have seen in all of my m/home tv's.Viewing angles are also good,I had to lay on the floor and look up at the screen to get the dreaded dark spots,so it will be perfectly clear almost anywhere in the van-just don't lay on the floor
DVD player is very good with all the usual features,I have tried the analogue auto tuner which works very well,I have no reason to doubt the digital tuner will be just as good.It is possible to group favourite sets of programmes and also put them in your preferred order,and it also has an EPG.
The Alden is supplied with a fixed stand,so no adjustment is possible for the screen angle,I like the drop down bracket though,you can alter the horizontal and vertical angles and also bring it closer if required.
The speakers are ok,but I find that all 15 LCD's have a tinny sound,the Alden is no better or worse than other makes.One thing I wished it did have was an audio out,so I could go directly to my hard wired FM modulator with phono cables and listen to the sound through the radio speakers,which are better quality.I have got round this by getting a scart audio break out cable from Maplins which does the job.
As with all new tv's the instructions leave a lot to be desired,I think something is lost in translation,for a set with all these features the manual barely scratches the surface.
So is it worth the extra money?If the TV is important to you when you are away and you are not short of a bob or two then a definite yes,if TV is low down on your list of priorities then perhaps not,there are some lovely 240v sets available.
If I hadn't been such a lucky b****r and won the Alden,then I would have definitely bought one anyway
This is an independent review,I am not a trader and have no connections whatsoever with Alden or their UK distributors.
______________________________________________________________ cheers Steve
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