NTM-910YLW - Sony Baby Call Nursery Monitor
by Sony
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List Price: Our Price: $30.99 You Save: $19.00 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $30.35 (click here) Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of NTM-910YLW - Sony Baby Call Nursery Monitor
Customer Review: When it's good its good, but when it's bad....
Summary: 4 Stars
I actually have two of these monitors. The first one was given to me off my baby registry and I was really not impressed with it. I'd read such glorifying reviews about this model and yet mine acted as if it belonged as a cheap toy from a fast food kid's meal. The battery would not hold a charge and I couldn't go more than 20ft (!) without the range sensor going off. Mind you, I live in an average house, no concrete or lead walls. I was so frustrated with this one that I literally almost threw it out the window. My husband reminded me that if I did that, then Sony might not be so keen to fix it. I'm calling Sony to see if they'll honor their warranty and take that unit back for repairs on their dime.
Now, I recently bought the second one of these (crazy, I know) because I just couldn't get past the numerous positive reviews, so much that this model appears to be among the top of the list for baby monitors. The second one works flawlessly! It is everything I hoped it would be. I can not only go into another room without the range sensor going off, but I can make it out to check the mail while my daughter is sleeping and hear every breath she takes in the process. The battery held its first charge for a very long time too! Sony has redeemed itself with my second set. Rest assured, you have a slim chance of getting a bum unit BUT Sony should take action to fix it IF you call them.
UPDATE:
I contacted Sony to get the defective unit serviced. Since I did not have a receipt they would not endorse the 1 year warranty but said I could pay them to fix it. After a bit of persuasion they did offer to exchange the unit for $51! So, lesson learned, even if it is a gift from someone, keep your receipts no matter how long! I also give Sony's tech support a low grade as they weren't too helpful.
Customer Review: excellent sound quality
Summary: 5 Stars
I had a First Years baby monitor for about 4 years, and it worked just fine. The audio had a bit of static and tended to be very location-dependent (turning it sometimes let loose a roar of static), but I got used to it. Finally, it died recently and I got the Sony BabyCall. At first, I was concerned about the static and the sound of a small, repetitious ticking sound, probably a result of the many other wireless devices on all frequencies working within our house. I thought that maybe I had to fiddle with the frequency selectors, however, I then noticed that the volume was turned all the way up. After turning the volume down to a normal level, the sound quality difference was absolutely striking. No static, no ticking sound, and the audio was extremely clear, more like a stereo component rather than a cheapo baby monitor. The voice-activation feature, which turns on the speaker only when noises over a certain volume have been heard, is very nice but not entirely necessary given the near non-existent amounts of static at normal volumes.
The frequency selector is another nice bit of work - it uses three color-coded selectors, each with a value of red, yellow, or green. That way, you can remember the frequency as a combination of three colors - red, red, yellow, for example. If the frequency selected on the receiver does not match that on the base, it helpfully beeps. On other models, mismatching frequencies only gives you static, which doesn't tell you whether it's mismatched frequencies or just plain interference causing the problem.
All-in-all, I'd say the price was well worth it for the BabyCall. If you don't mind static and more fiddling around with placement, go ahead and save some money by getting a cheaper brand, but if you want better quality, this is the one to get.
Customer Review: The best of a mediocre range of choices UPDATED 4 of 5 stars...
Summary: 3 Stars
My wife and I did a lot of research on baby monitors before deciding that we wanted a Philips. However, it had been discontinued in the U.S., so we were down to our second choice - this Sony.
It does have some pros:
* clear, once you find a good channel.
* rechargeable and lasts a long time.
* NOTE: It does offer replaceable batteries - I have read a few reviews that the batteries are not replaceable, but you only have to find a cordless phone 2.4V 700 mAh NiCD battery from what I understand.
BUT... it...
* Does not offer multiple base stations for more than one child or to be able to monitor two different rooms without moving the "sending" transmitter. We realize that it isn't the end of the world to pick it up and move it, but we'd like base stations in both our play room and her bedroom that can stay put, and we'll take the receiver with us. REVISION - Apparently, if you want two monitors or have >1 child, you can use two Sony 27 channel monitors together and they will not interfere with each other... Haven't verified ourselves, but have been told this by a few people and have also read it on-line.
* sends "chatter" from time to time... occasionally we'll get a "gunfire" interference noise. However, judging by the other reviews I have read, this one is better than most.
* no two way ability - sometimes the person with the receiver would like to be able to respond... If you could push a button and talk back, that would be convenient. Still wish it had an intercom.
* no battery capability on the base station.
The bottom line comment - Why can all these companies make a cordless phone that can take out the garbage (just about) but don't offer the same capability on monitors.
Customer Review: Best monitor on the market!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me just say that this is by far the best monitor out there, we LOVE it. With our first son we had a safety first monitor and there was just so much static that I couldn't stand to listen to it through another child. We got this one as a gift and it is totally silent. It has a setting where it only kicks on when it hears a sound so there is absolutely NO static at all. We almost always have it on this setting and I'm amazed how well it works. We have it set up by the crib and it kicks on at the slightest sound my son makes but while he's napping, I don't have to listen to a loud annoying monitor. If you do choose to keep it on the regular setting, it's so sensitive you can hear your child breathing. I'm amazed when I go over to my in-laws that they can stand to use thier monitor. They have to turn it down almost all the way so that they can hear each other over the static, but what's the point because then you can barely hear the baby! And they paid the same amount for theirs! Like other reviewers, I've also had a couple instances where the reciever has beeped out of range. Each time this has happened I've adjusted the one in my son's room and it fixed the problem. I think there's only one thing about this product that I would say is kind of unnecessary. There really isn't any need for all the channels. We have never changed the channel in the 4.5 months that my son has been here and I doubt we ever will. Sony has another monitor with only 9 channels and I'd probably save the extra $10 if I had it to do over again. But overall, this is an awesome monitor and one of the best baby products we have. Oh and as an added bonus, as far as monitors go, I think this one looks a lot better than most of the other ones out there.Customer Review: Great, except for the outrageous BEEPING!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
We purchased this monitor in July of 2004 - I had an old (7 years old) Fisher Price Monitor that was so-so and got lots of static, so I decided we needed a new one. I did lots of research, and this one seemed to be the tops. It was, until it continued to Beep. I read and re-read the manual and it says that the beeping is due to it being out of range. Well, it only beeps when it is plugged in, in my room, and it shouldn't be out of range then. It doesn't beep ALL the time, only intermittently. Sometimes it beeps, if I am in my closet, or in front of my dishwasher (mind you-IT is still on my dresser). It is crazy! Often times it wakes us in the middle of the night with the beeping, or the super-static, buzzing noise.
I even contacted Sony earlier this year, and they recommended that I send it to be repaired. I couldn't be without it, while it was "repaired," so I put it back in the original box, found my receipt, and exchanged it for a new one. NO difference. I can't believe that I got two "deffective" ones.
I live in an average neighborhood, 20 miles from the city, so powerlines, and such shouldn't be an issue, we also have underground utilities in most of our neighborhood. Our main floor of the house is about 1800 Sq Ft, so that shouldn't be it, either (especially since it doesn't beep ALL the time). I have no idea what causes the beeping and the crazy static.
I have to continue to use it, because after paying that kind of money, it's not like I am going to go and purchase another one!
The sound and clarity is great, I just want to throw it out the window when it starts beeping. I would NEVER Recommend this monitor - sorry, Sony, but you have got to do better!!!