Written on: 23/03/2005
VCD's will not play, and neither will DVD-R. Discs that do play are 'stuttery' and mainly unwatchable.
When I tried to contact Alba, on their 'customer service' number a terse recorded voice tells me to hang up and dial an 0870 number instead. As these numbers are premium rate (in all but name - the biggest con in telecoms) I will bin the DVD player and buy another make.
Steer clear of Alba....
Written on: 30/12/2004
Bought an Alba DVD45 as a Christmas present last year out of Argos because of the price. As soon as I used it I could tell I would not like this DVD player, the tray took a long time to eject and I thought this was a bit wierd but just part of the players function. It played retail DVDs quite well for its lifespan, but struggled with most DVDR media and I do not like the fact it did not play VCDs. After one year and one week of use it broke down, it now gives "Incorrect Disc Format" error with any...
Read full reviewWritten on: 18/09/2004
Bought 1 of these DVD 45S in January worked fine -- for six days then started to lock up, jump to different places on the film, come up with wrong DVD format (on disks that previously played OK) right oh bought from Argos so took it back for replacement. Everything work great for 6 months then suddenly same thing again locking, jumping etc.
Spoke to Argos about another replacement and was told "We'll have to look at it" What does that mean? we might change it if we fell like it?
I supose...
Written on: 27/01/2004
If (like me) your budget doesn't stretch to a full on surround sound home cinema system, you might be tempted to get one of these cheap Alba DVD 45 dvd players from Argos or such like.
Fair play, I did. But, when does paying 'only' £30 for something mean you have to get something rubbish? I bought this a few days ago, first there were no leads so I had to go back and fork out a fiver on a scart lead. No worries, still only £35 spent, lets plug it in and...! oh. Incorrect Disc...
Written on: 07/06/2004
I work for Argos, and can tell you that NONE of the DVD players we sell have Scart leasds with them anymore - that includes SONY, PHILIPS and PANASONIC - and Scart leads are only about £3.75 from us.
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<br>This unit plays Multi Region out of the box, and if it doesn't it requires only a 4 digit code to be entered. Multi Region for £30? I'd like to see many other DVD players manage that.
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<br>Argos offer a totally fair 16 day guarentee - we would be sorry that you received a faulty item, but if you produced proof of purchase, it would willingly be replaced! Even SONY goods come back as faulty, so thats hardly a reason to say that 'Alba are crap'.
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<br>I'm sorry you didn't have much luck with your DVD45, but I know MANY people who have.
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<br>BarcrestBenito
Written on: 06/07/2004
Well I agree with Matzu that this DVD is a waste of £30 when you can buy one in Asda for £34 that will play anything (Pacific Brand). The Alba 45 will not play any DVD disc unless it was hired or bought, it would not play my children's cartoons recorded from the television on CD-R and I think it is a total non starter as DVD players go. My Rating -5 cheap and nasty.
Written on: 04/08/2004
??
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<br>The Alba DVD45 plays all my DVD+-R/RW?
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<br>It won't play SVCDs or VCDs, I agree, but does play copied DVDs.
Written on: 20/08/2004
I also have one that won't play nothing but bought ones I have been told it needs a code typed in, where do I get one?
Written on: 26/12/2004
I have had the Alba DVD45 for over a year now. It is only a 2nd player for the bedroom but it has only misbehaved once
Written on: 30/12/2004
I have had the alba dvd45 for over a year now. 1 week over a year and it is now totally knackered, "Incorrect Disc Format" error for ANY disc, including shop dvds. I have always been pretty unhappy with this product, due to the very slow ejecting dvd tray and incompatibility with a lot of dvd-r/+r media, and the fact it doens't play vcds added to this unhappiness. I have now replaced this dvd player with a Durabrand one from Asda, £25 and it plays anything i put in it. I can safely say i will never buy another Alba dvd player, or any other Alba product at all, after having my Alba DVD103 pack in after 2 years.
Written on: 12/01/2005
Hate to disappoint you, but I would be surprised if the Asda one lasts any longer than the Alba!
Written on: 13/01/2005
:O barcrestbenito? from fruit-emu.com? :P. I'll take the Asda one back after 11 months anyway to meake sure it doesn't do what the Alba did.
Written on: 10/01/2004
The Alba DVD 45 wont play no dvds and dunno what to do about it. error message wrong dvd format! taking it back this weekend as the box was open and is it suppossed to have like a red colour?...
Read full reviewWritten on: 18/02/2004
Dunno if you have the same DVD, the picture above is different.
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<br>But I bought my Alba DVD 45 from Argos for £30 and after having a MUCH more expensive DVD player(Panasonic) stolen in a burgalry, I find it BRILLIANT value for money.
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<br>The ONLY trouble I have is on dual-layed DVD's and some special features, but for £30........ I've paid more for that for a 'round'!!!!!
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<br>For what it cost's, it is very good value for money. It has played all my DVD's(saying that they are clean as in not scracthed, original etc).
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<br>So, if you want a cheap DVD player that does the job then you can't go wrong(IMO).
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<br>I must have got a good-un from the factory, because as I said, apart from the dual layered DVD pause thing, it works great.
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<br>But, I wish I had my Panasonic back ;(. Next buy will be a new compute with DVD record, playback and SVHS or RGB socket.
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<br>I don't know why people are moaning so much. You get what you pay for, and it play's DVD's well enough.
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<br>I guess they are so mass produced you get a few dodgy machines. Well, do what I do and buy from Argos, if it does not work, take it back, get a refund or a new machine.
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<br>But I am happy with mine, while I have it until I get my new PC!
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<br>julianbryant1975@hotmail.com
Written on: 19/02/2004
hi ya its ok now we took the dvd player back as its faulty or it probably been labelled wrong like region2 when it shouldof been another regin snd it wouldnt play region 1 or 2 dvds so prob some other countrys dvd came to the wrong country. thanx for yr review.
Written on: 14/03/2004
i tell you why people moan, because it may be cheap but do you not want one that WORKS?
Written on: 30/12/2004
I have owned one of these dvd players for one year and one week now, and it is now doing exactly what you say in your review. I just wish it had done it when it was still under warranty although I bought another dvd player from Asda for £25
Written on: 31/12/2003
Ok let me start by saying ALBA DVD 45........WHAT!!!!
I would never of thought that I would be putting finger to keypad in order to praise an Alba product but here goes.
I was after a cheap and cheerful DVD as a second unit for the bedroom so all the big brands were out as I set a max budget of £60.
I have a 2 year old Samsung 511 as my main unit and playing the Alba back to back with the Samsung the colours are more vivid a deep on the Alba.
Function wise, ok the Alba only...
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