Alba DVD108 Review

Overall Rating

Alba DVD 108 - should be good value

Can't get it to work properly - picture brightness fluctuates

Can anyone help? Having read other reviews this seemed like a pretty good buy. However the picture brightness fluctuates all the time and is often too dark, then OK, then dark again. My TV doesn't have a scart connection so it is routed through the video. I've tried different dvds and cables and even a different TV, but the problem remains. I've even had an exchange player (Argos) but have the same problem. Can anyone offer any suggestions, or is it just bad luck? Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

Members' Comments onpaddy.'s Review

• waldopepper. on 14th Dec 2002

  It's a shame that people post(bad)reviews based on a technical problem that has a simple resolution. Have you tried connecting the dvd player directly into your TV? If not, then this is almost certainly the answer to your problem. DVD (as well as VHS) have copy protection which means that when you play them through a VCR, the brightness level fluctuates from very dark to very bright - this is to prevent you from making watchable copies. If this isn't the solution then I apologise, but if it sorts your problem then maybe you should try and amend the scores you have given the player. It isn't that bad.

• Paddy. on 15th Dec 2002

  Waldopepper, thanks for the suggestion. We hooked it direct into a friend's TV (scart to scart) but still had the same problem. His own DVD player worked fine connected direct. I really have tried to eliminate all connection possibilities. I then contacted Alba helpline, explained the problem & was told to return it, which I have now done. Thanks for your advice anyway. Paddy

• chris. on 22nd Dec 2002

  well the only reason why it does not work properly is because you don't have a SCART connection at the back of your T.V like is says DVD'S and Videos have copyright on them so it makes the film horrible to watch all you need is a T.V with a SCART connection at the back and then your DVD'S will play in proper picture. If it does not however you will have a faulty DVD player

• mallers. on 28th May 2003

  This problem of the picture fading is known as 'Colour Burst' for some strange reason.
  It is common with older style VCR's and TV's that do not have Scart Sockets 'They do not use PAL60'
  in the coding and decoding.
  VCR's can have their chips changed, but this is not recomended on any machine under the value of £1000,00 IE cost of the replacement is too high.
  This could also indicate that the DVD player may have a problem on the chip.
  If you are still in warranty send it back for checking.

• Paddy. on 2nd Jun 2003

  Hi
  Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. We have recently bought a new TV with scart sockets and I'm pleased to say that we can now watch DVDs with no problems.
  Paddy

• mpendred on 21st Jan 2004

  Another point worth mentioning here regarding the picture quality is the use of SCART block connectors. I have the Alba DVD-108 and an AIWA VCR which I wanted to connect to a single SCART connector in the back of my TV. I bought a SCART block that has 2 SCART inputs and one output. Even though I wasn't trying to play the DVD through the VCR it still caused a problem because they were linked electronically. I got around the problem by buying a "switchable" SCART block. I now have great picture quality on both VCR and DVD, however the down-side is that I have to switch the swithces on the SCART block when changing from DVD viewing to VCR and vice versa.