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Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Brio Bottom Load (CLBL420V2) Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A5 Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+2 more)

Brio Bottom Load Water Dispenser

$193.99 from Amazon
Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Brio Bottom Load (CLBL420V2) Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

The Avalon A5 and the Brio CLB420V2 are both full-sized freestanding water cooler dispensers that use buttons for dispensing. Both machines have ambient temperature water, while the Avalon A5 has an additional ozone function and a night light.

Other than that, the two machines are very different—the Avalon A5 having a filter and the Brio 400 needing a bottle. Even so, the Avalon A5 is far superior in both build quality and performance.

The only flaw with the Avalon A5 may be how the drip tray is attached to the cabinet door, but cold water performance hit a perfect score and hot water was a high average standard.

The Brio unfortunately revealed a number of design flaws and build quality issues. The cabinet door was poorly aligned, the buttons clunky, and the control panel icons not logically positioned. Furthermore, the cold water mechanism also failed and the flow rate was too fast. The Brio 400’s only redeeming feature was that it produced hot water.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Stainless steel panel
  • Easy filter installation
  • Cold water performance capacity
  • Hot water temperature
  • Flow rate
  • Ozone sanitation
  • Sanitary nozzle design
  • Hot water temperature
  • Contrasting color scheme
  • Drip tray attached to door
  • Cold water tank cleaning
  • Overall performance
  • Panel indicators
  • Buttons
  • General build quality

Key Specs

Dimensions WxDxH
13 x 12 x 41 inches (33 x 30.5 x 104 cm)
W12.2 x D14.5 x H40.5 inches
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
33.0 lbs (15.0 kg)
Loading Type
Freestanding Bottleless
Bottom Loading
Dispensing Mechanisms
Buttons
Buttons
Cold Water Temperature
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12 ℃)
Untested
Cold Water Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
Untested

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$249.99
$224.62
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on AvalonCheck Price on Walmart
$193.99 at Amazon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
9.6
3.2

Hot Water Test

9.0
8.0
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
23.05 fl.oz. (680 ml)
23.29 fl.oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 55 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 3 min 6 sec
Temperature
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
198 ℉
Flow Rate
1.1 fl.oz. (33 ml) / sec
1.4 fl.oz. or 42 ml / sec

Cold Water Test

10
0.0
A paper cup placed in the center on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A paper cup standing on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser below the cold water spout.
Serving Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
Not recorded
Temperature
50‒54℉ (10‒12°C)
Not recorded

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.7
5.9

In the Box

A full view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser, product box, and bundled items including the manual and leaflets.
The unboxed Brio 400 water cooler dispenser with an open cabinet door, and the drip tray plus bundled literature to the side.

Build Quality

9.0
5.0
Close up of the cabinet and drip tray of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the cabinet and drip tray of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
Side and front view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the cabinet interior of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser with a filtration system and unassembled parts.
Close up of the bottom of a water cooler dispenser with a plastic non-slip stopper.
Side view of the body of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the body of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Ventilation slats on the side body of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
A pump attached to the cabinet ceiling of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
View of the plastic base of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
Close up of plastic stopper feet on the bottom of a water cooler dispenser.
Side Body
Black metal sheeting
Gloss black stainless steel
Front Panel
Stainless steel
Gray and black plastic
Cabinet Door
Silver plastic, white inside
Silver plastic, white inside
Base
PVC plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Rear carry handle
Carry handle

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Illustrated dimensions of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
12.0" (30.5 cm)
14.5" (36.8 cm)
Width
13.0" (33.0 cm)
12.2" (31.0 cm)
Height
41.0" (104.1 cm)
40.5" (102.9 cm)
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
33.0 lbs (15.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

9.0
5.5
Stainless steel panel with working indicators shown on a water cooler dispenser.
Stainless steel panel with working indicators shown on a water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the display panel and dispensing booth of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the working panel indicators and buttons of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the working panel indicators and buttons of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the bottle indicator lit up and working on the display panel of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
Power Status
Far left
None
Hot Water Test
Second left
Middle
Cold Water Test
Second right
Left
Bottle Or Filter
Far right
Right
Others
Dual function indicators
None

Water Inlet Controls

8.0
7.5
Filter head brackets on a POU water cooler dispenser already installed on a bracket.
Filter head brackets on a POU water cooler dispenser already installed on a bracket.
Close-up of the water line input valve for a POU water cooler dispenser.
The water baffle of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser displayed above the cold water tank.
A water baffle removed from inside the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser and displayed above the tank.
A water baffle removed from inside the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser and displayed above the tank.
Inside a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser showing how a pipe connects to the top of a water baffle.
The perfectly straight water straw of a water cooler dispenser resting against the inside of the cabinet door.
Mechanism
Filter heads, baffle
Pump, bottle probe, water baffle
Materials
Plastic and metal
Stainless steel, plastic
Extra Features
Water line inlet, filter drainage port
None

Water Dispensers

Close up of three dispensing buttons found on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of three dispensing buttons found on a water cooler dispenser.
Finger indicating a hot water safety mechanism and a hot water dispensing button on a water cooler dispenser.
Three water spout nozzles found on a water cooler dispenser.
Top down view of three dispensing buttons of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
Top down view of three dispensing buttons of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding down the middle button on a water cooler dispenser to demonstrate the space between the buttons.
A view from beneath looking up at the detail of three water spouts on a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
3 buttons
3 buttons
Outflow Points
3 panel nozzles
3 recessed panel nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot water safety
Hot water Safety

Drip Tray

8.3
7.3
A black colored drip tray with a red bobble float found on a water cooler dispenser.
A black colored drip tray with a red bobble float found on a water cooler dispenser.
A water cooler dispenser drip tray removed from its bracket.
A close up of a drip tray found on a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of a drip tray found on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand removing the cover from the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing a drip tray of a water cooler dispenser removed from its slot and the cover slightly removed.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
Black
Light gray
Length
10.5" (26.7 cm)
9.7" (24.6 cm)
Width
3.8" (9.7 cm)
2.9" (7.4 cm)
Depth
2.1" (5.3 cm)
1.4" (3.6 cm)
Level Float
Yes
No

Rear Switches

All the switches found on the rear of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of two switches at the rear of a water cooler dispenser - green for the cold water tank and red for the hot.
Hot Water Test
Far right
Rear top right
Cold Water Test
Middle
Rear top left
Others
Night Light and Ozone
None

Door and Cabinet

Close up of a cabinet door locking mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a cabinet door locking mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Opening the cabinet of a water cooler dispenser from below and not from the side.
Inside the cabinet of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Water straw hanging on the hook of the cabinet door of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser while switching bottles.
Water straw hanging on the hook of the cabinet door of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser while switching bottles.
Bottle cap and water probe of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser hanging from a cabinet door bracket.
The door safety pump switch of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser. The pump is seen in the background.
Close up of the door pump switch on a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser. The pump switches off if the door opens.
Has Door
Yes
Yes
Internal WxDxH
11.5 x 20 x 10 in
10.5 x 11.5 x 18.5 in
Material
Silver (or black) plastic
Silver plastic, white inside
Extra Features
Hook for PE tubing
Bracket hook, pump switch

Cord & Plug

Close up of the three-pronged plug found on the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the three-pronged plug found on the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Man holding the electric cord across the body of a water cooler dispenser mounted sideways on a table.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser up against the front control panel.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser up against the front control panel.
A man holding the electric cord of a water cooler dispenser double folded across the body in a horizontal position.
Length
76.0" (193.0 cm)
6.1 ft (1.9 m)
Position
Rear right, 21 in from ground
Rear rt., 25.5 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B — two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.3
6.8

Dispensing Water

9.0
6.5
A top view of a water cooler dispenser showing three dispensing buttons.
A top view of a water cooler dispenser showing three dispensing buttons.
A close-up view of three water nozzles on a water cooler dispenser molded into the panel roof.
Three paper cups lined up on the drip tray of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
A paper cup resting on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser while hot water is being dispensed.
Mechanism
Push button
Push button
Water Type
Hot, Cold, Normal
Hot, cold, normal temperature
Spout Type
Molded into panel
Recessed into panel
Dispensing Height
9.0" (22.9 cm)
7.5 in

Hot Water Safety

8.0
7.5
How to operate a hot water safety switch on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up top view of three dispensing buttons on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up top view of three dispensing buttons on a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration of how to operate a hot water safety mechanism mounted on the button of a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Button-mounted lever
Mounted lever

Bottle / Filter Changing

8.0
8.0
A demonstration on how to insert a water filter into the bracket of a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to insert a water filter into the bracket of a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration of where to insert the water line into a bottleless water cooler dispenser using POU filters.
A hand pressing a filter reset button on a water cooler dispenser.
The inside of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser with the water straw with a bottle cap resting against the side.
The inside of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser with the water straw with a bottle cap resting against the side.
A water straw being placed into a 5-gallon water bottle in front of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a plastic bottle cap being placed onto a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a bottle cap on a 5-gallon water jug of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
Design
POU filters
Bottom loading
Feature
Attached filter bracket
Bottle probe, water baffle, door pump switch

Cleaning

7.7
6.3
Using a flat screwdriver to open the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Using a flat screwdriver to open the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
The inside of a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser showing the connecting tube to the water baffle.
A close up image of a water cooler dispenser’s water nozzle revealing the ease of cleaning and sanitation.
A close up image of a safety screw cap covering the drainage outlet for a water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding a spray-bottle with cleaning liquid and another a cloth wiping the front panel of a water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding a spray-bottle with cleaning liquid and another a cloth wiping the front panel of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand using a screwdriver to open the hood of a water cooler dispenser.
The opened hood of a water cooler dispenser with wires attached to an installation point.
Demonstration of how to open the lid on the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the internal design for water dispensing pipes in a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
The water drainage plug with a protective screw cap found on the rear of a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
Ozone
None
Drainage Plug
21 in from ground
Rear rt., 21 in from ground