Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro Review
As a parent, there are moments when you wish you could be in two places at once. You want to enjoy life and still keep a watchful eye on your baby 24/7. For this specific reason, baby monitors have been invaluable tools for parents.
Recently, I found myself in search of a monitor that combines convenience, reliability, and security, and that’s when I stumbled upon the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro. It’s a state-of-the-art non-WiFi monitor that packs exceptional features, and today, I’ll review it.
I’ll go through its features one by one and unveil how it meets the evolving needs of modern parents and the longing for traditional non-internet monitoring of old-schoolers!
Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro in a Nutshell
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is a dream come true for people who prioritize security. It provides a secure, interference-free connection that ensures your baby’s safety and gives you peace of mind. On top of that, it has a user-friendly interface, impressive distance range, and crystal-clear image of your little bundle of joy.
Pros:
- 5-inch high-definition display
- 720p video resolution
- Interchangeable lens
- Distance range up to 1,000 feet
- Night vision available
- Pan, tilt, and zoom camera
- Active noise reduction technology
Cons:
- Poor battery life
- Pricier than a lot of non-WiFi monitors
A Breakdown of All Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro’s Features
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is feature-packed, and I’ll tell you my honest opinion about each feature it provides.
If you want to learn more about the features you should look for in a monitor, check out my How to Choose the Right Baby Monitor guide!
Operating Method
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro comes in two pieces, a camera and a large display where you can watch your baby. Both devices connect by non-WiFi closed-loop encrypted FHSS radio signals. This operating method doesn’t need any internet connection to work, and it provides unprecedented security levels against hackers.
The closed-loop signals ensure that no interference with other nearby radio signals can take place, which means complete privacy for you and your little one. For added security, each Infant Optics camera can connect to one monitor only. So, even if a nearby parent has the same monitor, your camera won’t connect to their parent unit.
Read more: How Do Baby Monitors Work
Video and Audio Quality
The DXR-8 Pro provides a 720p video resolution, which isn’t the best out there but still enough for watching your baby comfortably. The camera provides a digital zooming option that reduces the quality a bit but proves useful if you want to zoom in on details.
As for the monitor’s audio, it scores higher on the quality meter than the video. The monitor is equipped with a 1000mW speaker that delivers crisp sounds without any static noise.
As a bonus, the DXR-8 Pro works using active noise reduction technology, which means you’ll only hear the crying sounds through it. Any background noise in the room, like wind sounds or rattling, will be filtered out so that you hear your baby clearly.
Camera
The Infant Optics monitor’s camera excels on nearly all grounds. It’s a pan, tilt, and zoom camera that has a sleek white design. Near its bottom, you can find the on/off button, just above the brand logo.
The camera features an interchangeable lens, and an extra zoom lens is included in the package. There’s also a wide-angle lens compatible with the monitor, but you’ll need to purchase it separately. To change the lens, all you need to do is unscrew the current one and put the new one in place. The process is easy and will take you only a few seconds.
While I found the original lens comfortable, the zoom lens allowed me to place the monitor further away from the crib, which was a more convenient position for me. All in all, it’s a nice addition to have in a monitor.
Display Unit
The Infant Optics display unit enhances the monitoring experience, as it’s a high-definition 5-inch LCD display. It shows you a colorful image of your baby, along with the temperature in the nursery, the time, and the battery charge.
It has a small control panel that includes five buttons to navigate directions, turn on the active noise reduction or the talk back functionality, and scroll through the menu.
Best for last, the display has a sound-activated LED bar that lights up when your baby cries, even if the sound is on mute or the display is dark. As a bonus, you can control the intensity of the light from the monitor’s settings.
Battery Life
The DXR-8 Pro has a replaceable battery that, according to the manufacturers, can last up to 11 hours on standby mode and 6 hours if the screen is on for viewing the entire time. However, when I tried it, it didn’t reach either of these numbers. It lasted about 9 hours on standby mode and 5 hours with the screen on.
Personally, I think its runtime is more than enough for naps, but it’s a bit out of depth for night sleeping. However, that’s completely fine since it can work plugged in. I used it on the battery for naps and plugged it in during the night; as simple as that. I admit the monitor features a poor battery life, but it wouldn’t stop me from buying it again.
Distance Range
The two units of the Infant Optics monitor can stay up to 1,000 feet further away from each other. However, this distance is calculated in a place with no obstacles. If there are walls or doors between the two units, this distance might go down to 800 or 700 feet. Any further away, and the sounds will come out unclear.
While the distance is more than enough for small houses, it might pose a bit of an issue in large houses, especially if the nursery is far away from your room. However, this point is expected in non-WiFi monitors, as their average distance range is 500-1,000 feet.
Night Vision
If you want to train your baby to sleep in the dark from a young age, you’ll be glad to know that the DXR-8 Pro comes with a night vision option. Even in complete darkness, you’ll get a crisp-clear view of your baby on the LCD display.
Two-Way Audio Communication
A parent-favorite feature in modern baby monitors is that they allow two-way audio communication, and the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro isn’t an exception. By clicking a button on the parent unit, you can talk to your baby, and they’ll hear through the camera.
While I don’t use this feature a lot because my children rarely calm down without me in the room, I see how it can be useful for some toddlers.
Mounting Options
The DXR-8 Pro’s camera has a free-standing design that eliminates the need for an extra mount. You can put it on any surface once out of the package without extra installation steps. While this is a positive point, I think the monitor needs more flexible mounting options.
Unlike other monitors, you can’t mount it on the wall or on a floor stand, which makes finding a place for it a bit inconvenient.
Multi-Camera Functionality
If you have twins or closely aged children, you’ll love the multi-camera functionality that this monitor offers. You can connect up to four cameras on one monitor, which makes watching multiple babies at once a breeze. Instead of looking at multiple monitors, you’ll only need to watch one.
Common Questions Asked by Parents!
How Long Does the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro Take to Charge?
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro’s battery takes about 7 hours to fully charge, which is a long time to wait if you have a baby who naps a lot. However, you can plug it in if the battery is uncharged.
What Is Included in the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro Package?
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro package includes a camera unit, a display unit, an extra zoom lens, a monitor adapter, and a camera adapter.
Is the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro Worth It?
The Infant DXR-8 Pro monitor comes packing a lot of features for a reasonable price, so yes, it’s worth it. It’ll make your parenting experience a breeze, and it’s ideal for people who don’t have a stable internet connection where they live.
The Final Verdict: Should You Buy or Pass the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro?
In the ever-evolving world of baby monitoring, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro emerges as a beacon of reliability, privacy, and simplicity. Although it has a few hiccups, I still loved trying it. It provides a high level of security for parents, accompanied by ease of use and convenient features like night vision and two-way audio communication.
In my opinion, it’s the perfect solution for tech-skeptical parents who prefer the safety of non-WiFi monitors to the modernity of WiFi ones. As a bonus, it’s reasonably priced and comes with an extra lens.
If you’re still hesitant and want to check out more options, head over to my Best Baby Monitors buying guide!