Of all the gadgets and technology we have available to us, portable DVD players are among the coolest. While our home AV systems have a standard DVD player, or even an HDTV & DVD player, while we're on the road we like to take our entertainment with us. Whether it's keeping the kids occupied in the back of the van, or amusing ourselves with the latest comedy, portable DVD players are the way to go.
But which is the best portable on the market? Which will give you the biggest bang for the buck? There are a number of differences you should be aware of before you make your selection. The first difference you'll notice is the price difference between a portable DVD and your home entertainment center version. Home versions - basic models, that is - start at under $100 on average, while a portable DVD player starts around $300-$400 for a good quality model.
The things you need to consider when choosing a portable DVD player are picture quality, sound quality, size of screen and battery life. If you choose one that has a great picture display but muddy sound quality, you'll likely be dissatisfied with your choice. By the same token, if your choice has excellent sound features but the picture bites - you'll need to reconsider which model you want. My advice is to see your choices in person - don't buy them over the Internet, unless you choose a vendor that has a great return policy with no re-stocking fees - just in case you don't like your choice when you see it in person.
If money's no object, you may want to start with the Panasonic DVD-LX9, which will set you back about $400. The advantage to this model is that it displays the best picture currently available on its 9-inch screen. A big downside for the Panasonic DVD-LX9 is the short battery life - look for about 90 minutes of playtime for your average movie. This is not for someone looking for hours and hours of movie watching enjoyment. For the price, it may be a better deal to buy a laptop with a 15-inch screen and a DVD drive - you'd have almost comparable picture quality and many more useable features with a laptop.
Panasonic does offer another model that you should take a look at - that's the DVD-LS50 - at about $350 it comes with sharp picture quality, excellent sound, easy-to-use features and about a 3 hour battery life. The screen is only a 7-inch, but that's pretty comparable to other models in this price range. It also has dual headphone jacks, so two people (i.e. kids in the back seat?) can listen at the same time without distracting the driver or others in the room.
If you're looking for longer playtimes - RCA offers a model (DRC618N) that starts at about $200 and registers a playtime of about 3 hours and 45 minutes. The 7-inch screen displays a good quality picture, but the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired. One advantage is the carry-case it comes with - which will strap onto the back of a car's headrest. This model has a single jack for headphones.
For those looking for the lower-priced models, GoVideo offers one (DP7240) at around $200 that has decent sound and picture quality - although not on par with the Panasonic and RCA models. Battery life on this one is only about 2 hours, but the package does include a battery charger, which will extend your playtimes as long as you're driving around. With only a 90-day warranty and a 7-inch screen, the GoVideo model may be a good cheaper addition to your viewing pleasure.
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