When it comes to portable DVD players, few companies do as well as Philips. Philips has offered quality portable DVD players for years now, and the question you have to ask yourself is not whether or not to buy a Philips portable DVD player – the question is which one you should buy. To help you answer that question, we’ve put together a comparison of three of Philips’ best portable DVD players.
The DCP951/37 has a 9-inch LCD and the capacity to dock your iPod right into the system. It supports CD, VCD, DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, JPEG, DivX, and MPEG-4 discs and filetypes. It can also function as a digital video frame, for photos or videos that you want to display in your home. Some users thought that the build was not as solid and reliable as it should be, but overall, its many features and its excellent style make it a good value for your money.
The DCP850 has an 8-inch LCD, making it slightly smaller than the DCP951, but it also has iPod docking. It supports input via memory card, DVD, AV-in, DivX, or iPod. It also supports AV-out, so you can use it like a regular DVD player when you’re around a television. Like the DCP951, it can also function as a digital video frame. There are two headphone jacks on this device, easily allowing for multi-person enjoyment. Its 180-degree swivel screen makes it very portable, although this feature is not particularly sturdy. Overall, though, it’s a reliable player with good features for the cost.
The PET741B/37 has a 7-inch LCD screen, making it the smallest player of the three. It does have built-in speakers, in case you don’t have headphones to work with or want a lot of people to enjoy a DVD together. It also has a car adapter and AV cables so that its battery can last on long road trips and it can be used with a regular television. Most users reported 2 hours of playback with its rechargeable battery, but it can also be used while plugged in, so with the car adapter, you’ve got no problems on the road. It is handy and portable, and many users praise its user-friendly programming. Several say that it withstands moisture, extreme weather, and roughhousing by the kids. Others report defective batteries that last no more than 30 minutes and claim it has poor button controls. Overall, though, most reviews are positive, making it the best buy of the three, especially if you have kids, unless you’re really into the versatility and screen size of the other options.
Philips makes quality portable DVD players. Pick the one that’s best for you!
