Alva Amusement: 25" Standard Res Monitor for $199? (M825H)

[Aurich]

http://alvaamusement.com/_wsn/page5.html

From what I can tell Alva is selling a Wei-Ya 25" CGA monitor for $199. While it requires an isolation transformer that still seems awfully cheap to me. The Wei-Ya stuff has a pretty good rep AFAIK (granted I'm a total newb when it comes to this stuff, correct me if I'm mistaken).

Does anyone have any insight into this? I'm wary of deals that seem too good to be true. I'm building a scratch-built Midway-styled cab that a vertically mounted 25" monitor would be great for, and I really only need a standard res model because I just don't see the use of paying for a digital multisync if I'm mounting the monitor vertically because there just isn't PC support for that aspect ratio when it comes to games and the like. I've got the space to cram a 27" in, but it might be overkill even with some of the modifications to the design that I've made to make viewing easier. (Unlike say the 25th anniversary Ms Pac-Man/Galaga, which has some viewing angle issues with a 25" monitor.)

I'm new to arcade monitors, tell me if I understand things, assuming this monitor isn't junk: I'd need (not NEED, but would make things easier) an ArcadeVGA from Ultimarc, an isolation transformer, and I'd have to hack the cable to a VGA connection, but otherwise am I good?

Thanks for any help you can throw my way, I'll be posting pics of the cab as I make progress. It's not my first build, so hopefully there will be an idea or two worth looking at in return for the help this community has given me over the years. 

[Aurich]

Hmm, this deal would appear to not be very popular. 

All I managed to turn up in a search is people using this same chassis, as opposed to what would appear to be a complete solution, but I guess 25" isn't a particularly popular size. I know people are spending this much just to get crummy s-video TVs though, so I would think it would be a viable option.

[Ken Layton]

$199.00 for a 25" standard resolution monitor is a great price for a brand spanking new monitor!

I can never get some of the Alva Amusement pages to fully load (I'm on a 28 k dialup line). It would be important to know what mounting frame this model has: horizontal or universal. This would make a difference depending on your particular cabinet.

[Aurich]

Ya, that price just reeks of 'too good to be true' doesn't it?

Let me see what I can do to help you out with the loading issue, because I would love your input. I'll contact them myself, but I wanted a little input first since I'm so green when it comes to this topic.

The frame appears to be listed as a Type 2. From what I can tell in the generic photo they provide that is what I would describe as a universal frame (two flat metal pieces on the top and bottom with the holes). The language is vague though as it says "Suitable frame type". Maybe it doesn't include one and thus the lower price? Or, and this just occurred to me, the price is for just the tube, then you need the chassis as well? Still pretty cheap.

The page is mostly just scans from a catalog. I compressed the relevant one down as hard as could as a gif in deference to your modem speed and am attaching it.

Under the catalog image is this text:

MONITOR 25" M825H = $199.00
CHASSIS 825H = $76
CHASSIS 826H = $76

If you have trouble seeing the image you can view it directly at: http://homepage.mac.com/aurich/alva.gif

[Ken Layton]

Monitor frame type 2 is a "universal" mount. Type 1 is a "horizontal" (shelf) mount.

From the wording in their site I can only assume this is a complete monitor so that $199 is an excellent price.

[Aurich]

Thanks Ken. I'm not quite ready to order the monitor yet, but I'll be sure to report back if I purchase this one.

[Aurich]

Well I contact Alva, and here's what I can tell you:

$199 is the price, and that's a complete monitor. So if you're looking for a good price on a standard res 25" this looks like a great deal.

Unfortunately the specs on the site are either wrong or misleading, because according to the e-mail from Alva (and I wrote back to confirm) it's a Type 1 monitor. AFAIK that pretty much rules out me mounting it vertically, making it useless for me, but maybe someone else following this thread will be helped by it.

Back to square one, and trying not to be tempted to just fill the cab with a 27" I guess.

[jfh2112]

Unfortunately the specs on the site are either wrong or misleading, because according to the e-mail from Alva (and I wrote back to confirm) it's a Type 1 monitor. AFAIK that pretty much rules out me mounting it vertically, making it useless for me, but maybe someone else following this thread will be helped by it.

YES!  <sidelong glance @ empty MK2 cab>

[Aurich]

If you pull the trigger let us know what you think.

[Q*Bert_OP]

Wei-Ya is better than Wells Gardner

[Aurich]

Finding a non-WG 25" monitor with a universal frame is freaking difficult though. I can't think of a single alternative really.

[Ken Layton]

Finding a non-WG 25" monitor with a universal frame is freaking difficult though. I can't think of a single alternative really.

Seems like all I ever see is the 25" Universal frames. It's hard to find 25" with normal horizontal frame.

[Aurich]

Seems like all I ever see is the 25" Universal frames. It's hard to find 25" with normal horizontal frame.

Really? Why am I finding it so hard to locate an alternate to the K7400 then? Do you have any links you could throw my way to other 25" options? 

[Ken Layton]

Try this:

http://home.earthlink.net/~arcadeparts/index.html

[Aurich]

Ok, this is confusing. That 25" monitor you linked up (which through that sell only carries a 30 day warranty, not really in my comfort zone to be honest, thanks though) is a M825H1, which sure as hell seems like the monitor I started this thread over in the first place. For $50 less. This one is clearly in a universal frame though. Just as the one on the Alva site appeared to be before they denied it.

Is the person I talked to via e-mail @ Alva clueless?