Toshiba SD-P2000 8.9 in. Portable DVD Player

I bought this "Class A refurbished" (supposedly means returned unopened by a retailer) for $570 including shipping. As expected, I was impressed with the screen size and image quality.

Had read reviews that the speakers were not good. But I am impressed - maybe because my point of comparison are the speakers on laptop computers (this DVD player has much better sound). Plus I don't use the speakers much anyway - bought an IROCK! FM modulator for $20 (can be used with any device with a stereo mini output/headphone jack) and plug into my surround sound when stationary at home.

My surround sound receiver takes digital coax, and it was hard to determine what cable was required to connect with this player (has a mini jack labeled "BITSTREAM/PCM"). The manual just refers to a "digital cable (not supplied)". Calling Toshiba did not help. So I tried a $4 part from Radio Shack (#274-378, stereo mini male to rca female) which is advertised as only "used for recording in mono from a stereo headphone jack". And it works!

As far as I can tell, the audio out jacks work if and only if video output is directed to an external source. The headphone jacks work if and only if video output is directed to the LCD screen (video cannot be directed to both simultaneously).

Otherwise the external connections are easy. I have been using the component video connection when stationary and it looks great.

The battery life is as advertised, maybe a bit longer. My kids tire of watching movies after about 2 hours, and the battery has always lasted that long. Although (after about 2-2.5 hours of play time) the battery runs out without warning. For example, after watching 2 hours and then shutting off - without any indication that battery is low - the unit will not turn on again without an AC connection.

I also use the unit with "Suspension Theater" in a Chevy Suburban. Works great and fairly easy to install (about as easy as strapping in a child car seat), but pretty pricey ($100+).