LG DP781 8-Inch Portable DVD Player
See it at Amazon.com for $119.99Average Customer Rating
(4.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
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(5 out of 5)Best Screen Resolution for the Money
My old Polaroid DVD player went out unexpectedly and I found myself neck-deep reading reviews and trying to figure out how to replace it with a newer model. I use this at home in bed and for travel, both work-related DVDs and entertainment. I looked extensively at several Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Toshiba models all in the $150 to $250 range. I first bought the Toshiba S1900, but just couldn't hack the grainy screen resolution. It also wouldn't play one of my home-made DVD formats, so I took it back to Best Buy. Meanwhile, I read some more reviews and other consumers have raved about the LG Screen Resolution ... an impressive 800X600 for this unit. When I looked harder at them in a side-by-side comparison at the store, it became obvious that no other portable DVD player was even close. (The specs for the others I reviewed are about half the screen res of this unit.) Also, the store salesman I talked to told me that LG makes all their own parts, and also sells components to all the big-name brands, specifically LCD displays, and that they have been doing so for years. So far, so good. This unit does in fact play all the DVD formats I have. Also, I got it for $149 at Best Buy ... $40 less expensive than the Toshiba I returned. The remote control works well, including a power on/off switch which was missing on the Toshiba model and others I have reviewed. The only thing I don't like about it is the exterior casing only comes in white; I would have preferred black or silver, but that's a small tradeoff overall. I am slightly hard of hearing, and was not overly impressed with the on-board speakers of any of the units, however this one seemed to match the 8.5 inch Panasonic unit that was my number two pick. My headphones and earjacks work well in this unit and provide ample sound for me. I am pleased with this purchase and recommend it.
(5 out of 5)Great picture
This dvd player has a very nice picture!
I bought this after returning an audiovox unit I was very unhappy with.
The second time around I was very cautious and read dozens of reviews before purchasing this machine. although it costs a bit more ($15 or so), it has double the resolution of other players in the price range!
If you are looking for a cheap unit for your toddler, you might opt to save the few extra $ (and in that case, I'd opt for the coby over audiovox...much more solid), but if you care about picture quality, isn't it worth a little more?
The build quality is very good, it has a swivel screen like many high end units, and my teen is most impressed with the touch pad (controls).
The only con I can think of is that it does not have some of the bells and whistles of some of the new units (e.g., an ipod doc).
If versatility is more important, consider some other units (like the phillips), but if your primary use is watching movies, or viewing video, this is hard to beat.
(5 out of 5)BEST portable DVD I've have ever seen.
This DVD player has the best LDC unit on a portable device and quality components to go with it. Black levels are very good and the de-interlace is incredibly good. There are no signs of any kind of jagged edges period. Color balance is also excellent. USB port is a nice to have. Has one AV input. At this price level it is an incredible bargain specially when compared to other units I've paid as much as $450.00. Grab one, you will be very happy.
(2 out of 5)Great picture, but you can't hear it
While I certainly concur with other reviews that this unit has a great picture, I cannot get over the fact that no reviews I read mentioned the poor volume. You cannot hear this player. When I was in the room alone, with the volume at its highest point, I could hear it fine. With other people in the room -- occasional chatter, movement, etc -- I couldn't hear it, could not turn it up to the point that I could hear what was being said. The worst moment came when we went on a trip and none of our kids could hear a thing, not a thing, in any of the headphones we own or even without headphones. They could hear nothing in the car on the highway and absolute silence while on the plane. We tried different DVDs, then I called LG, as I thought we received a unit with a problem. Surprisingly I was told that this particular unit is not very loud. That's it. I was stunned and of course we returned it. What good is a great picture if you cannot hear it? If you are planning to use this unit anywhere that may have background noise, beware, you will have a very hard time hearing it.
(2 out of 5)Sound is really bad
We used this LG DP781 8-Inch Portable DVD Player on the plane and even with a good headset, could barely hear the sound. How frustrating is it to have to press the head set tightly against your ears and still not catch the dialogue. Visuals are fine but without the audio that it should deliver, there's no point in having the machine.