We had considered getting a portable DVD player for trips- especially on planes, where the provided video entertainment is frequently unusable for a small child. And, we considered this might be a good thing for longer road trips, which the Western US has a way of forcing on people (The county we are in is bigger than 5 states). But the bulk of the DVD players we saw were usually bulky, poorly made, and had limited battery life. The Sony DVP-FX810 is a different story from the rest with rugged construction, solid features, magnetic latching, a 180 degree rotating flip screen, and six hour battery life. Best of all, it plays 2, 4, and 6 hour format DVD-RW disks generated by the
Samsung DVD-VR357 DVD Recorder / VCR Combo. Note, this unit comes in black and red. The version we got is Sony DVP-FX810R, which has a metallic red exterior.
The Review
The mission for this machine is pretty simple for us; Play DVD movies and videos. Especially on travel, this can be a good break for the family and children. I am not a fan of just leaving kids in front a TV for their entire childhood, but at a moment when the car seat has gotten old, it can serve as a change of pace and something familiar when there is nothing but flatland going by out the window.
We consciously decided to set aside really large screens, built in video games, and iPod docks. The main idea would be to have something fairly compact which could do the basics really well.
The Sony DVP-FX810 is a trim and compact unit with an 8" letterbox screen which defines the width of the unit. The screen has a modest border around it and a clear protective layer to help resist impact. The bottom border of the screen has the speakers and a mini version of the DVD controls, including a tiny puck controller on the right for navigating DVD menus. When it is reversed and folded down, the profile of the entire unit fits within the screen's silhouette.
The base of the unit has a lid for the DVD player which is the full size of the deck under the screen. The rest of the controls and all of the plug connections are around the edges, including a volume control knob and an unusual multifunction video in/out plug which switches between these functions with a selector on the side. There are two earphone outlets. It comes with a video out cable with RCA plug ends so this unit can either provide signal to a TV set, or to a second LCD monitor with its provided equipment.
The image quality appears to be governed by the remaining resolution on a standard DVD with the image at a 16:9 ratio. As a result, there is no higher resolution to be seen when used with a 4:3 standard image. It also means the full resolution is easily visible if you get very close to the screen. The viewing angle is reasonably large, but does not have the extreme panoramic visibility of some flat screen televisions. The player automatically detects the input image and adjusts to have properly proportioned elements.
The screen is held down by a magnetic latch when it is closed, so there is force holding it closed, but nothing to break if it is forced open. The screen only swivels to the left when open. There is a stop which means it cannot swivel to the right, but it can stop partway in this arc. When it reaches 180 degrees from the start, there is a second stop which prevents further rotation of the screen. It then can fold against the back, and the magnetic latch will hold the screen down in this orientation. The total depth of the unit without the battery is about 1.25", but to install the battery, it has to get deeper. The proprietary battery is a second base which increases the thickness of the player by about .25" This gives it the ability to play 2 full length films on a charge- handy for a flight.
The unit has a regular sized remote control, and the IR sensor is on the base. When in tablet mode, the IR sensor is on top, so, for example, it is possible to reach around a car seat and still activate the unit remotely. The front of the screen has a complete set of controls, including the controls for the powerful back light and all video parameters.
This unit comes with everything needed to plug in to an AC outlet or the 12V power system in a car, and either mode will charge its battery while plugged in (this is automatic). The unit can be used without the battery when plugged in, so it can be thinner and lighter. The power input is just an ordinary DC adapter plug, so a 3rd party power source could be used if needed.
The sound system is interesting because the stereo speakers under the screen actually produce surprisingly good sound, but only limited volume, so it is resistant to the old problem of starting up with the volume turned all the way up and blaring at full volume, or blowing the little speakers. When on headphone output, where the sound quality is governed more by your headphones, and is clear with full stereo.
There is no mounting adapter for a car with this player, and its smaller form factor does not appear in most DVD player holders found in stores. I am considering just putting a patch of velcro on it and sticking it to the top of the center console with the screen reversed. This way, the remote will work with it, and it is safe from swinging feet and reaching hands.
One nice feature is the ability to play other DVD formats, including DVD-RW disks written by the
Samsung DVD-VR357 DVD Recorder / VCR Combo. So, for example, 6 hours of you children's favorite programs from PBS, Noggin, or Disney kids can be recorded for a trip, with one disk able to hold enough for a day of travel. The unit automatically loads the disk, and shows the separate recording sessions as programs in a grid.
Conclusion
The Sony DVP-FX810 is a solid entry into an area of electronics which has produced a lot of poor quality products. Unlike the usual fragile and poorly thought out DVD units, this player is built to last and is very practical in its layout. To put it succinctly, it does what it does well. The video resolution is limited, so don't expect a mini-HD experience. On the other hand, it it has full color and excellent contrast. The limited volume means you won't be a theater for the whole airplane, but can hear sound in private without difficulty. All in all, a very satisfactory movie machine.
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