I'd like a portable DVD player. In the normal course of things, I'd
buy a Panasonic. But I was very disappointed by the picture quality of
their models when I had a look at them.

The only ones for which I've seen a recommendation have been made by
Philips. But my past experience of Philips equipment has been that
it's terribly unreliable - it usually seems to die on me very quickly.

So can anyone recommend a decent one, please? Must have:
1. Good picture
2. Decent sound quality
3. Headphone socket (automatically cutting out any built-in speakers
when in use - it needs to be usable on trains etc without irritating
other people)
4. As large a screen as practicable

Budget is about £200, but willing to stretch it a bit if there's good
reason.

Thanks.

Peter.

Peter wrote:
> I'd like a portable DVD player. In the normal course of things, I'd
> buy a Panasonic. But I was very disappointed by the picture quality of
> their models when I had a look at them.
> 
> The only ones for which I've seen a recommendation have been made by
> Philips. But my past experience of Philips equipment has been that
> it's terribly unreliable - it usually seems to die on me very quickly.
> 
> So can anyone recommend a decent one, please? Must have:
> 1. Good picture
> 2. Decent sound quality
> 3. Headphone socket (automatically cutting out any built-in speakers
> when in use - it needs to be usable on trains etc without irritating
> other people)
> 4. As large a screen as practicable
> 
> Budget is about £200, but willing to stretch it a bit if there's good
> reason.
> 

I'm afraid I can't help, but if multiregion is an issue for you don't 
forget to add that to your list of points. Don't wait until after you 
but, then ask "ok, now how do I play Region 1 disc?"
It can't be done on some/many of them.

I know I'd never consider buying a non-multiregion player now. ...Which 
is probably the main reason I haven't bought into Blu-Ray by now.

  -Kevin.

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:34:46 +0100, Gunther Gloop
 wrote:

>I'm afraid I can't help, but if multiregion is an issue for you don't 
>forget to add that to your list of points. 

Fair comment. You weren't to know it, but I did think about this
aspect before I posted my question. I wouldn't dream of getting a
locked machine for my living room, but I can live with R2-only for
this portable. I intend and expect only to use it for playing TV
shows, either recorded off-air at home or bought in this country.

>I know I'd never consider buying a non-multiregion player now. ...Which 
>is probably the main reason I haven't bought into Blu-Ray by now.

Were you aware that although no multiregion Blu-Ray players are
(AFAIK) currently available, some can be hacked to multiregion for
'ordinary' DVDs? I know that this can be done to the Panasonic
DMP-BD30 (see, for example,
http://www.weymouthhifi.co.uk/website/panasonic/panasonic%20DMPBD30.htm).
Mine, bought from these people, is quite happy with region 1 and 2
DVDs.

Peter.

Peter wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:34:46 +0100, Gunther Gloop
>  wrote:
> 
>> I'm afraid I can't help, but if multiregion is an issue for you don't 
>> forget to add that to your list of points. 
> 
> Fair comment. You weren't to know it, but I did think about this
> aspect before I posted my question. I wouldn't dream of getting a
> locked machine for my living room, but I can live with R2-only for
> this portable. I intend and expect only to use it for playing TV
> shows, either recorded off-air at home or bought in this country.
> 
>> I know I'd never consider buying a non-multiregion player now. ...Which 
>> is probably the main reason I haven't bought into Blu-Ray by now.
> 
> Were you aware that although no multiregion Blu-Ray players are
> (AFAIK) currently available, some can be hacked to multiregion for
> 'ordinary' DVDs? I know that this can be done to the Panasonic
> DMP-BD30 (see, for example,
> http://www.weymouthhifi.co.uk/website/panasonic/panasonic%20DMPBD30.htm).
> Mine, bought from these people, is quite happy with region 1 and 2
> DVDs.
> 

Hmm. That's nice to know, thanks. And no, I wasn't aware.

Still, I'll wait til the cheapo Chinese ones come out that are at least 
half that price and fully region-free.

They might never happen I know, but Blu-Ray will die before I buy otherwise.

  -Kevin,

>So can anyone recommend a decent one, please? Must have:
>1. Good picture
>2. Decent sound quality
>3. Headphone socket (automatically cutting out any built-in speakers
>when in use - it needs to be usable on trains etc without irritating
>other people)
>4. As large a screen as practicable

On multiregion I have whittled it down to

Hitachi PDV-313 multiregion
Goodmans GDVD70 Multiregion 
Nextbase SDV77-BD multiregion
Optronix PD-070 Multiregion
Panasonic DVD-LS86 multiregion 
Nextbase SDV685-AM multiregion 
Shinco SDP-1735 Multiregion 
Shinco SDP-1250 multiregion 
Xoro HSD 7100 multiregion 
Shinco SDP-2002 multiregion
Shinco SDP-1720 multiregion 
Nextbase SDV17-A 
Shinco SDP-6820 multiregion 
Hitachi PDV302 multiregion 
Panasonic DVD-LS83 multiregion 
Xoro HSD 7500 multiregion 
Nextbase N2 Multiregion 
Hyundai HPD719 Multiregion 
Yamada PTV-708X Multiregion
Shinco SDP-1280 multiregion 
Philips PET730 multiregion  
Panasonic DVD-LS80EB-K multiregion 
Centurion PPBDVD6 
Hitachi PDV512 Multiregion

but beyond this, I dont know what fits your criterion.

Stephen Howe