Pioneer PDV-LC10 7 in. Portable DVD Player

I am a ravenous movie fan, and recently made the move from VHS to DVD. I considered a home DVD unit, but I travel a lot, and the ability to take entertainment with me in airports, on planes and in hotels seemed worth the premium price you pay for a portable device.

The Pioneer is a great little piece of equipment.

The 7" screen is vivid and clear (except in very bright environments, when the LCD washes out). The difference between 7" and the only slightly smaller 5" screen on many players may not sound like much, but it is all the difference in the world. The matte black finish on the inside of the player and around the screen also cuts down glare and enhances the picture quality immensely. (Other manufacturers should take note.)

Sound, when listened to through stereo headphones, is superb. While obviously not audiophile quality, the sound through the built in speakers is also quite good. Dialogue is clear. Symphonic scores sound full. There is even a little suggestion of stereo separation for sound effects. It won't stack up to against your stereo or home theatre, but is immensely superior to the sound in your typical TV set. When the setting allows it, I tend to forgo using the headset.

This is definitely a one viewer system. There is only a single jack for a headphone (although adapters are available) and viewing angle is important to picture quality.

While the unit is loaded with features, basic operations are simple and intuitive. I had no difficulty sampling a range of DVDs in a variety of formats and with different "special features" right out of the box, without recourse to the owners manual.

There is a very easy to use "set up wizard" that walks you through the basic set up features. Most of the more complicated settings are only relevant if you want to connect the device to other audio/video components. The manual is extremely comprehensive, if somewhat densely written.

The unit will double very nicely as a component in your home audio/video setting. All possible connecting cords are provided. A credit card sized remote gives you access to ALL features and functions. It works beautifully in this set up, but you pay a premium price for the portability. If you aren't looking to travel, you can probably do as well for much less money.

The battery pack is a little bit bulky. But that's a quibble. Even with the battery pack attached, the entire unit is small enough to carry in my brief case. (About the size of a Franklin Planner.)

The unit has a password feature that controls access to DVDs based on content. There are eight levels, so don't ask me what rating system is used! You can set what level of content you want to trigger requiring the password. Unrated DVDs (such as special "Director's Cut") will always prompt you for a password, even with the unit set for the highest level of access. A minor inconvenience, but it would be nice to be able to shut off this feature altogether.

The only other thing that I would change would be to combine the battery pack and recharger. (They are two separate components). I will probably end up buying a second battery for travelling.(One for the flight out; one for the flight home. It can run on AC in between)

All in all, a great device that will get a lot of use. While it can double as a home system player, even at home I generally find myself in an easy chair with the unit in my lap, using its built in screen and speakers very enjoyably.