Audiovox VE927 9" Undercabinet TV/DVD
If the space saving convenience of an undercabinet kitchen TV appeals to you, the Audiovox VE927 serves up a full menu of entertainment options in a compact and stylish package. And despite a few reliability hiccups, this is one kitchen gadget that you really will want to use everyday.
Sporting a 9" widescreen, DVD player, AM/FM radio and clock/timer, the VE927 is an all around kitchen appliance that can slice and dice its way through most audio/visual chores, while freeing up valuable counter top space for other tasks.
A 9" screen might not seem like much these days, a fact further compounded by the wide border around the screen's outer edge making it appear smaller than it actually is. You could be forgiven for thinking you've been short-changed on pixels, but it's just an optical illusion. A screen of this size can actually be an advantage, especially in kitchens where space is at a premium. It's still big enough to see clearly yet small enough to be out of the way when you've got your hands full preparing dinner. For the average sized kitchen it offers a good trade-off, despite the annoying frame.
Unfortunately, one screen characteristic not so easily overlooked is the glass-like surface that is prone to glare and stray reflections. Depending on your kitchen layout and viewing position you may need to fiddle with the tilt angel in order to see the screen image clearly. Not a deal breaker but a non-glare coating would have been a more convenient solution.
The screen can rotate a full 270°, which should make it simple to get a good viewing angle from anywhere in your kitchen. In the unlikely event you find yourself with a blind spot you may have to pick a different install location. Be sure to check for this before you start.
The VE927 has a spotty track record with regards to reliability, and the 90 day warranty from Audiovox does not exactly inspire confidence. Paying for repairs outside of the warranty period is unlikely to be cost effective and can often be more than the price of a replacement.
The best way to avoid any headaches down the road is to take out a separate extended warranty
. They don't cost much and are a smart choice for a specialized product like this. We also recommend you test everything out BEFORE you start the install. Undercabinet TVs are permanent fixtures and will require that you drill mounting holes in the bottom of your kitchen cabinet. Post installation is not the time to find out that you have to send everything back because the DVD player doesn't work. Speaking of installation, in the box you will find a paper template that is used to mark the position of the holes needed for mounting. Unfortunately the template does not always exactly line up with the screw sockets on the top of the TV. To eliminate any alignment issues take your own measurements so you won't end up drilling 2 sets of holes. This template issue has been around for a while and should have been fixed by now.
Also pay special attention to cabinet positioning. With the TV flush against the outside cabinet edge check that you have enough room at the back for the connections. A L-shaped 90 degree coax adapter will make hook ups a lot easier in these situations. You can find them at most electronics stores.
The included mounting hardware comes with a good selection of spacers that should fit most cabinet designs but you might want to replace the supplied round headed bolts with counter sunk. This will stop the bolt heads from interfering with items on the bottom shelf of the cabinet.
The built-in NTSC and ATSC TV tuners can handle either broadcast or cable inputs and you can skip channels you don't want and relabel cryptic channel numbers with something more memorable. Changing channels is very slow, but this is a common complaint with today's digital tuners. Picture quality is good providing you're using a digital source (i.e. ATSC or DVD).
The built-in DVD player can be a bit sluggish, especially when you first put a disc in, but it can play both CD-R and CD-RW audio discs, although not MP3 files. You can also display JPEG images and create your own slide show. The full function remote is magnetic so you can have it handy on the fridge door. The buttons are on the small size and don't always register cleanly. Sometimes it can take several attempts to get the TV to respond as required.
Sound is adequate and the audio can be easily heard over a running faucet. But the volume control itself is very coarse with only a handful of settings. Finding a happy balance is not always easy. A finer control with more levels would be better. Sound quality is a bit tinny but there is an audio out jack if you want to connect a separate amplifier and speakers.
The AM/FM radio can be programmed with a number of radio station presets but the process is very clumsy to use. Before you go through the trouble be aware that everything will be lost in the event of a power outage, including the clock time. If you live in an area with frequent power interruptions you may find it's not worth the trouble.
Specifications
- 9 inch drop down TV-DVD, 16.9 Aspect Ratio
- NTSC and ATSC Digital Tuner
- Built-in AM/FM Clock Radio
- Built-in Stereo Speakers
- Plays DVD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
- A/V Output
- Magnetic remote control
- Mounting accessories and instruction manual included
- 90 day warranty
The Audiovox VE927 packs a lot of features into a small package that is conveniently there when you need it, but not when you don't. You can catch up with the weather and traffic in the morning and never miss your favorite show preparing dinner. Either way, the VE927 has you covered.
Suggested Alternative Under Cabinet TVs
Coby KTFDVD1093 10.2in TV/DVD Combo
RCA SPS36073 7in TV/DVD Combo
Venturer KLV3915 15.4in TV/DVD Combo
Useful Links
Audiovox VE927 Product Page
Audiovox VE927 Owner's Manual
Audiovox Customer Service
Tags: 9in screen, DVD, flip down, kitchen tv, undercabinet,