Under Cabinet TV
A Space Saving Option For Any Home Kitchen
An under cabinet TV is a television specifically designed to hang underneath a kitchen cabinet. Unlike a regular TV that might sit on a counter top, the under cabinet kitchen TV floats above the work area, seemingly floating in mid air. This unconventional approach offers a level of convenience and space saving features that has proven increasingly popular in recent years, especially with small modern kitchens.In addition to TV viewing, many models now come with other useful features, such as AM/FM radio, clock timer and DVD player. And with the addition of a remote camera it is also possible to monitor a child's room from the kitchen while making dinner.
Product Summaries
Venturer KLV39103 10in Undercabinet Kitchen TV/DVD Combo
The 10 inch screen of the Venturer KLV39103 under cabinet TV sits comfortably between its 8 inch and 15 inch siblings. But is it just right for your kitchen?
Venturer KLV3915 15.4in Kitchen TV/DVD Combo
For an under cabinet kitchen TV the KLV3915 offers one of the most compelling feature sets we've seen. And the 15.4" LCD screen is just the beginning.
RCA SPS36123 15.4 in Kitchen TV/DVD Combo
With the RCA SPS36123 under cabinet TV you get a big 15.4" screen, ATSC tuner, DVD player, AM/FM radio and a chef friendly clock/timer.
Philips AJL750 Undercabinet Kitchen TV
From the outset Philips have tried to make the AJL750 as simple and easy as possible, concentrating on the most useful features and foregoing everything else.
Coby KTFDVD1093 LCD TV/DVD Combo
For small to medium sized kitchens the Coby KTF-DVD1093 features a 10.3" screen, doesn't take up much space and is convenient and simple to use.
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.
RCA SPS36073 7in Kitchen TV/DVD Combo
The RCA SPS36073 is the latest entry in the under cabinet TV market. It comes with a 7in screen, ATSC tuner and DVD player.
Audiovox KLV3913 12 in. LCD TV/DVD Combo
Looking for the Audiovox KLV3913 under cabinet kitchen TV? The bad news is they're no longer available. But we do have some good news...
Coby KTFDVD7093
The Coby KTF-DVD7093 Kitchen TV comes with a small, but practical, 7 inch LCD screen that swivels 360 degrees and folds up into the base unit when not in use.
Audiovox VE727 7-Inch LCD Drop-Down TV
It's nice to have a little entertainment while preparing meals, and the Audiovox VE727 packs a lot into one compact device. It features a TV tuner, built-in DVD player, and AM/FM radio for those times when you would rather listen than watch.
Westinghouse PT16H610S 16
A 16" LCD HDTV might be a bit big for most kitchens but the innovative design and multitude of connection possibilities make the Westinghouse PT-16H610S unique.
Venturer KLV39082 8-In Kitchen TV/DVD Combo
If you're looking for a space saving kitchen entertainment option that wont break the bank the Venturer KLV39082 will make a welcome addition to any kitchen
GPX KL858S
The GPX KL858S is a slim under-cabinet kitchen TV with an 8.1 inch flip down LCD screen, digital tuner, AM/FM radio and digital clock with timer.
Coby KTFDVD1560 15.6-Inch Under Cabinet TV/DVD Player
As under cabinet kitchen TVs go the Coby KTFDVD1560 is a nice blend of features, screen size and easy of use.
GPX KCLD8886DT
The KCL8886DT is an slim under-cabinet TV with an 8.1-inch LCD screen, AM/FM radio, clock, alarm and full function remote control. Overall this model has had serious reliability problems, and as such we cannot recommend it.
Pandigital PANTV1512 Kitchen Technology Center
The Pandigital PANTV1512 should have been the kitchen TV equivalent of the iPod. Unfortunately, it suffers from too many shortcomings to make it the success it deserves to be.
GPX KCLD8887DT
GPX KCL8887DT 8.4" LCD TV Screen DVD, DVD+R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW JPEG disc player, digital dual TV tuners - HDTV off air tuner and 181-channel cable-ready.
GPX KL1008S
GPX KL1008S 10.1" Under Cabinet LCD TV from GPX offers a digital tuner, AM/FM stereo radio, a clock timer, remote control and auxiliary audio/video input jacks.
GPX KCL8807DT
This 7" Under Cabinet LCD TV from GPX offers a digital tuner, AM/FM stereo radio, a clock timer, remote control and auxiliary audio/video input jacks. Overall the GPX KCL8807DT has had serious reliability problems, and as such we cannot recommend it.
Polaroid FDM1000A
Since the Polaroid FDM-1000A does not have an ATSC tuner you are really limited to DVDs or AM/FM radio. To watch TV your only real option is to hook it up to a cable converter box.
Memorex MVUC821
Memorex MVUC821 with 8" Swivel Widescreen LCD Display, ATSC Digital tuner, DVD Player, Fold-Flat Design. The Memorex MVUC821 does not accept standard cable TV input. Your only options are to install an antenna for OTA broadcast channels or use your cable company's converter box.
GE 75500 7in TV DVD Radio
The GE 75500 has a sleek modern design that would look great in any kitchen. It also has some nice features like a "membrane" style control surface that makes cleaning a snap. Unfortunately is is very prone to failure.
Philips DCD778
At the time of its introduction the Philips DCD778 was the only under cabinet kitchen TV that came with a built-in iPod docking station. Unfortunately we found it almost an afterthought. All you can do while playing music is advance, rewind and pause.
Philips AJL700
Philips AJL700 is a stylish under-cabinet LCD TV combo with a 7" inch wide screen display, DVD player, AM/FM radio, remote control and clock timer.
Sony ICF-CD555TV
Since the Sony ICF-CD555TV does not have an ATSC tuner you are limited to AM/FM radio or CDs. To watch TV your only real option is to hook it up to a cable converter box.
Sony ICF-DVD57TV
Since the Sony ICF-DVD57TV does not have an ATSC tuner you are limited to AM/FM radio or CDs. To watch TV your only real option is to hook it up to a cable converter box.
How Does A Under Cabinet TV work
In the standard configuration the under cabinet TV consists of a base unit and a hinged flat panel screen. The base unit remains attached to the underside of the cabinet and contains most of the electronics and controls that operate the TV. The hinge mechanism allows you to flip the LCD screen from a horizontal to vertical position for viewing. It usually has an additional joint that allows the screen to swivel left and right so as you can adjust it to the desired viewing angle. When finished the screen can be easily returned to its closed position out of the way until it is needed again.
This arrangement has some obvious advantages for anyone who wants a TV in the kitchen. Firstly, in the closed position an under cabinet kitchen TV is out of the way and does not need to occupy any valuable counter top space. In most cases the screen fits into a recessed section of the base unit for added protection against spills and splatters. The base unit itself is seldom more than a few inches thick so the overall profile is unobtrusive.
To watch TV the screen can be quickly flipped into the down position and swiveled to the right angle for easy viewing. Interestingly, this gives the illusion of the TV screen floating in mid air which can be very eye-catching and adds to the product's 'cool factor'.
Many under cabinet TVs also come with a clock timer which many home chefs find useful when preparing meals.
For best results it is vitally important that you choose the right location. If you plan to install your under cabinet TV in a existing kitchen then the biggest problem will probably be wiring. At a minimum you will need a nearby power outlet and if you intend to use cable TV you will also need a jack Things are much easier if you are in the middle of remodeling as you can plan for the necessary hook ups in advance.
Think about where you spend most of your time in the kitchen. Will you be able to see the TV from that position without having to crane your neck? Most models have a screen that can rotate to enable you to get the best viewing angle, but make sure that that degree of swivel will be able to meet your needs.
Once you have the location pinpointed and have figured out the wiring connections the next thing is to carefully measure the available clearance. Pay particular attention to the distance from the inside edge of the cabinet to the back wall. Most under cabinet TVs will fit but some leave more room than others. You will need an inch or so clearance for the plugs and cable connection.
If your cabinet has a valence or overhang you will need to add some spacers to the mounting screws so as the front controls of the TV are not obstructed. In most cases these are included with the mounting kit that comes with the TV, but if your overhang is deep you might need extra ones.
Since the screen flips down from underneath the cabinet make sure your cabinet is high enough above the counter so as the screen can be fully extended. This is especially true if you had to add additional spacers when mounting the base unit.
The widespread use of LCD flat panel screens has made the under cabinet TV a practical option for just about any kitchen. Although installation can be quite involved, once done many home chefs find them indispensable.
Tags: drop down, DVD, flip down, kitchen tv, undercabinet,