Philips SCD 589 DECT Digital Review

What the reviewers like:
Reviewers say the Philips SCD589 DECT Digital audio baby monitor has excellent clarity and sensitivity with little static or interference, since it operates a newly approved 1.9 GHz frequency (also called DECT). Owners also like its extra features; the intercom function and remote temperature monitor get especially positive feedback.

What the reviewers don't like:
Owners and experts say the biggest drawback of the Philips SCD589 baby monitor is its high price compared to others. There are also a few complaints about low volume and shorter-than-optimal battery life.

Philips SCD 589 DECT Digital review highlights

The Philips SCD589 DECT Digital gets excellent scores in independent tests and near-perfect ratings in owner-written reviews as the best baby monitor overall. The high-priced Philip baby monitor is often the last resort for parents with a house full of electronics that interfere with other baby monitors, but many find the digital Graco iMonitor (*est. $60) works adequately and costs less. If you've had trouble with other monitors, experts say the Philips DECT is the best you can buy.

Consumer Reports includes the Philips SCD589 DECT Digital in its latest review of baby monitors. The ratings at Consumer Reports are based on the results of laboratory testing and, in the case of baby monitors, each model is scored for convenience, sensitivity, interference and battery life. The baby-gear book Baby Bargains also has a good section on baby monitors, but authors Denise and Alan fields discuss the Philips line in general rather than the SCD589 in particular. For user reviews, Amazon.com and similar sites have enough posts on this model to provide a good sense of how owners find it compares to other baby monitors.

Also see full report: Baby Monitors

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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Ratings: Baby Monitors
Editors of Consumer Reports
Apr. 2007

Consumer Reports includes eleven audio and three video monitors in its latest report, ranking them according to how well they perform in laboratory testing. The Philips Digital SCD589 is included here, with ratings for convenience, sensitivity, interference and battery life along with an overall score.

2. Baby Bargains
>> Details/Subscribe
Baby Monitors
Denise Fields and Alan Fields
7th Edition, 2007

Denise and Alan Fields include a review of Philips baby monitors in the latest edition of their baby gear book. The SCD589 isn't mentioned specifically, but the similar SCD590 is discussed and rated.

3. Amazon.com
Philips Avent SCD 589 Digital Baby Monitor Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

Amazon.com is a good source of owner-written reviews of baby gear. The Philips SCD589 does very well here, earning mostly perfect scores in over 50 reviews. Many customers mention this monitor's clarity and lack of static, and several say they appreciate the intercom function and remote temperature monitoring.

4. Target.com
Philips LCD DECT Digital Baby Monitor Reviews
Contributors to Target.com

Target.com has only a handful of posts on the Philips SCD589, but these owner-written reviews are detailed and balanced enough to be quite useful. The overall score here is lower than on Amazon.com or Epinions with several complaints about Philips' lackluster customer service.

5. Epinions
Philips LCD Digital Baby Monitor with DECT Reviews
Contributors to Epinions

There are several reviews of the Philips baby monitor on Epinions. Posts here are quite thorough, and the Epinions format, which requires users to list both pros and cons, lends some extra balance.

6. Consumer Guide.com
Expert Review: Philips DECT Baby Monitor SCD589
Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Aug. 1, 2007

The SCD589 gets near-perfect scores in what ConsumerGuide.com calls its "expert review." The breakdown of ratings is somewhat useful, but it's unclear how products are chosen for review or what, if any, testing has been done.

Also see full report: Baby Monitors

Philips SCD 589 DECT Digital Review