VTech DM221 Review

Founded in Hong Kong in 1976, VTech has grown to become a global presence, reaching more than ten regions worldwide. The company's mission encompasses designing economical, innovative, and high-quality electronic products. VTech's North American operation has become one of the top three producers of cordless phones. VTech also manufactures a variety of monitors for babies.

Sound Clarity

Compared to top-ranked sound monitors, DM221 has one of the highest scores for sound clarity.

With a maximum volume of 103.4 dB, the DM221 is one of the loudest parent units in our review. Even at this high volume, the audio is clear, though bright. Parents will have no trouble hearing what is happening in the baby's room, and deep sleepers are sure to wake when the baby cries. At a lower volume setting, 82.8 dB, the audio remains clear but slightly shifts between sounding somewhat muted and then clearer. It's worth highlighting that both the sound filtering and voice activation work well, and this monitor is silent when the baby is silent. When it comes to sound from the baby's unit with two-way communication, it's remarkably good and not distorted or robotic sounding, so your baby will hear your voice and nothing else.

Ease of Use

The DM221 is average for ease of use. The inclusion of multiple features often results in products being harder to use. This doesn't mean they are challenging, just that they are more complicated than their bare-bones counterparts.

Setting up this monitor is a breeze; plug it in and turn it on to get started. Since it offers more features than some simplistic rivals, it can be a bit more complex to operate. However, the real problem is the button layout, as most of the controls are clustered together on the front of the parent unit. This arrangement might lead to accidental late-night button fumbling, especially in a sleep-deprived haze. The front interface includes the power, menu, select, and volume buttons. Inside the menu, you can set the sound sensitivity, sound alert, vibrations, night light, language, and other default settings. On the bright side, navigating the menu is easy. But, compared to bare-bones options, the DM221 is more advanced, and it might take a bit more effort initially to get everything programmed just right.

Range

The DM221 offers an average distance range between the baby and parent units.

According to the manufacturer, this monitor should have a range of 1000 feet when in a line of sight. This distance isn't that useful, given you are unlikely to place a baby in a field, but it came close to our test results of 1325 feet. This monitor started beeping out of range at about 1000 feet, but the sound was still fine. The connection got choppy around 1200 feet, and the connection was lost entirely at 1325 feet.

The indoor range stated in the manual is 160 feet. We couldn't get this far from the baby monitor, but we managed about 90 feet through 5 walls. We still had a connection at 6 walls, but the parent unit started to beep that it was out of range. We lost the signal completely after the 8th wall. Ninety feet is probably enough for many homes, and this unit would work for most families as long as their home isn't too big.

Battery Life

The DM221 excels in this particular metric thanks to its rechargeable battery, a component we prefer.

The DM221 has a rechargeable battery in the parent unit and no battery backup in the baby monitor. The manufacturer claims a run time of 18 hours before recharging, but our tests indicated an average run time of 46 hours! Which is far longer than any parent should need, even if they monitor all day and night. Of course, we recommend plugging in the unit when possible so you don't lose connection in the middle of the night, but it is good to know it can last so long if necessary.

Features

The DM221 offers popular features desired by parents.

The DM221 has adjustable microphone sensitivity and sound activation; both features work well and help a monitor stay relatively silent when the baby is silent. These features can translate to an easier time falling asleep and staying asleep as long as the baby does. We think this is really important, and sound activation is one of the features BabyGearLab believes should be at the top of the list for parents who have trouble sleeping.

This monitor also has two-way communication with the baby, so you can talk to the baby from another room. Talking to your baby could mean you don't need to go to the baby's room. Many parents feel this feature is mandatory, though we would consider it a “nice to have.”

This product also has the following features:

• Remote-controlled night light
• Out-of-range alarm
• Sound level meter
• Vibration alarm
• Belt clip
• Low battery indicator
• Sleep mode
• Mute
• Parent unit paging abilities

EMF

The VTech has an average EMF reading of 3.11 V/m at 6 ft from the unit. This reading is one of the highest in the group.

However, keep in mind that the further you get from the monitor, the less EMF you are exposed to. Placing the baby unit for this product as far from your baby as possible will decrease EMF, and the monitor should still pick up every little noise you are hoping to hear.

Should You Buy the VTech DM 221?

Considering all the baby monitors, we think the VTech DM221 is sure to please almost any family, boasting exceptional sound clarity that stands out in the group. This monitor strikes a reasonable price point for most and has the features you need instead of all the bells and whistles you will probably forget. We think it is an excellent choice as a primary baby monitor but can also work well as a backup to a favorite movement monitor.

What Other Sound Monitor Should You Consider?

The VTech DM1211 is a trusty monitor, delivering a well-rounded performance that includes two parent units for added convenience. For tech-savvy parents who appreciate all the bells and whistles, the Hatch Rest+ is compelling. It works via WiFi and offers unique, extra functions beyond sound monitoring. If you're watching your budget, the TimeFlys QQ Portable gets the job done. It's an affordable option that doesn't skimp on performance.

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