Product review (5 stars): The Avalon is a great little fridge that keeps drinks mega-cold AND has separate freezer / veggie compartments ...
<div id="video-block-R2IBCKHT57J6SA" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1qPb1OYVMS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91Ofau8ZgvS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">&nbsp;Im no newbie to the small, compact fridge because I have had to purchase a couple for home and dorm use.  Neither one of these, however, had a separate freezer compartment or vegetable / fruit drawer.  The Avalon has a great look and at first glance appears to be a scaled-down model of a standard fridge right down to the inside light.  The freezer compartment is rather spacious and can hold a fair amount of food.  I was surprised that a whole box of Schwanns ice cream bars could fit in there with room to spare.

The surface temperature readings were surprisingly close to a regular fridge, better in fact.  While working with the Avalon, we discovered that the other fridges main compartment needed to be turned up for safety reasons.  The main compartment of the Avalon clocked in perfectly at 36.  There won't be much food stored in the freezer, but those cubes froze rapidly and were ready for use within an hour.  The temperature of this fridge can easily be adjusted and tailored to anyones needs.

Most people will want to use this type of fridge as a beverage cooler (particularly for beer) and / or one to store a lunch or small amounts of food.  One thing I have learned from my own fridge is that if I overload it, theres a tendency for some foods is the main storage compartment to freeze.  I suspect the same thing holds true for the minis.  Now, with the Avalon, when I cranked up that thermostat, I got some mega-cold drinks.  Just don't put fruit or veggies in there and expect them not to freeze.

I would recommend experimenting a bit before continued use. This is where the tailoring, if youd call it that, with the temperature.  If I want a mix of foods / drinks, I learned to moderate the thermostat.  In the hot summer months (like now), Im less inclined to want to store fruit and want those mega-cold drinks.  If I had the Avalon in an office setting for lunch / drinks, Id use a more moderate setting, one which gives me cold drinks and keeps my lunch at a safe, cool temperature around 36.  This is within the safety zone for food storage.

The Avalon has a lot more going for it than the couple of dorm fridges Ive had, but its a bit pricier.  You do get what you pay for and the extra bucks are worth it to me.  I did a comparative price check and the price appears to be in line with what Im seeing out there.  The reversible door (right or left) is a definite plus as is the estimated yearly energy cost of approximately $32.  I thought it was going to spike my electricity bill and I was quite pleased to find it to be affordable, not outweighing a lengthy decision as to whether to buy or not for most people.

  PACKING:

Packing was superb with both Avalon refrigerators and there were no outstanding issues.  They are double-boxed and had sufficient packing material to protect the refrigerator.  There were no dents or scuffing.  The strapping made it easy to move.  Obviously Id recommend not removing the strapping until you get it where you want it, especially with this model.  Remove the strapping, pull up the outer cardboard, then the inner.  The fridge is very well-packed, something I appreciate totally.  Attention to detail is what I like.

  ASSEMBLY:

There is virtually no assembly as the Avalon only needed to be unpacked and plugged in.  We did like the positioning of the door so didn't have to change the swing.  There are three extra plastic plugs included for those just-in-case moments weve all had.  Losing a plug or breaking one can be some irritating.  We only had to remove some packing materials that were used to protect the shelves, doors, freezer compartment, etc.

FEATURES:

  Adjustable Thermostat
  Reversible Door (Right or Left Swing)
  Interior Light
  Convenient Racks on Door
  Adjustable Legs
  Separate Freezer Compartment with Cover
  UL Certified
  Manual Defrost
  Estimated Energy Cost $32 (Average 12 Cents per Kwh)
  UL and Energy Star Certified

  LEVELING / CLEARANCE:

Now, there is obviously refrigerant in the fridge that needs to settle, but you can set everything up and wait to load.  The Avalon, however, can be plugged in while waiting.  We did have a level spot in mind and didn't have problems with setup.  It is necessary to level the fridge so the door and the magnetic seal alignment will work properly.  There are two leveling legs on either side on the front of the Avalon.

Take a carpenters level and place it on top of the Avalon and work with those legs.  You will need adequate clearance (2 to 3 inches) around this refrigerator.  There are many cautionary notes in the instructions, but as I always say, common sense goes a long way.

  TEMPERATURE  /  THERMOSTAT CONTROL:

The surface temperatures in this Avalon are surprisingly consistent with both my mini fridge and the fridge in use on the premises.  The owner adjusted the main compartment to her satisfaction on medium and the temperature was 36.  To touch, all of the beverages were quite cold and frosty.

Adjusting the thermostat will give you those mega-cold drinks. One cautionary note from experience tells me that if you are storing your fruit or a lunch, you might now want to set the Avalon on the lowest setting.  I did freeze an apple and things like cukes or lettuce wouldnt fare much better.  A little experimentation will help one tailor the temperature to personal needs.  The temperature will drop approximately 1 to 2 when the door is opened, but it has a rapid recovery time.

The main compartment is sufficient to hold food or drink for two or more people, but of course thats dependant on what one wants to stuff in there.  As I mentioned, overloading won't do this any favors and will freeze things in the main compartment.  Make sure you keep the seal clean to make it a long-lasting one.  Theres sufficient information in the Avalons Users Manual.  Its not lengthy, but well worth the read.

SPECS:

  Model:  A1-3.1CFDDBLK
  Voltage:  115V-
  High Side:  60 Hz
  Low Side:  150psig
  Rated Current:  60psig
  Refrigerant:  R600a. 1.20 Oz
  Volume:  3.1cu ft.
  Temperature Range:  32 to 50F  (approximate)
  Weight:  53.8 pounds
  Dimensions:  34.3 x 22 x 21

CERTIFICATIONS:

RoHS

Operation of the Avalon fridges, large or small, are intuitive.  Many people have had a smaller fridge at one time or another either for dorm or personal use.  A friend claimed that many have them for their beer, but this larger one can hold quite a bit more.  Its the type that can be used as an overflow for home use, but I see it as a very nice complement for office use.  There are many cautionary notes that Id recommend reading first.  Once again, Im seeing many specs that are quite similar to that of one higher end beverage cooler I have.  I consider this a good sign in the longevity department.

Looks-wise, this fridge doesnt look like someone one would find in the Ritz, but its perfect for many other settings.  One thing that was mentioned was that because the Avalon is black, it doesnt stand out.  When it was first set up, people walked right by it and didn't notice it (home setting).  The new owner loves everything about this fridge, especially the consistent performance.  The only complaint was the difficult of getting sodas out of the door rack.  The would have preferred an easier method, but I was able to get them out.  Make sure you follow energy-savings guidelines or your yearly energy cost could jump.  Ive checked out several on the Internet and would recommend anyone considering purchase do the same.

Sample provided for review.