Toshiba SD-P1600 Portable DVD Player with 7-Inch LCD
Toshiba SD-P1600 - Outstanding Value! - Reliable Brand
<br />Having migrated up through several generations of portable DVD players, starting with the original 5\\" Panasonic that sold for a whopping $1200.00 back in 1997, these devices have come a long way.  What is most impressive about the Toshiba unit is the playback quality, features and reliability you get, in spite of the under $200.00 price tag. <br /> <br />The video display is excellent and is as good as it gets with a 480x234 pixel 7\\" screen, keeping in mind this is less than one quarter the size and pixels of the same aspect ratio displayed on a 15\\" LCD monitor.  Images are clear and crisp with vivid color, and no artifacts or smearing, regardless of video input.  Saturation and brightness are independently adjustable, which is a nice touch, and there are no dead or stuck pixels. <br /> <br />Audio performance is another story... it is outstanding.  Never mind the tiny built-in speakers.  They are for convenience and the device would not be complete without them.  The unit is one quarter the size of a laptop, and so are the speakers.  If you really want to listen, plug in a good pair of headphones or self powered speakers.  Headphones will deliver a greater dynamic range if you use a decent quality, circum-aural ear cup type. <br /> <br />They best way to describe the sound is warm and wonderful, with lots of detail.  They have definitely done their homework on the audio DAC, analog circuit and headphone amplifier design.  Highs are light, clean and detailed, lows are full and clear.  No equalization is necessary.  Audio CD sound is spectacular, as good or better than most component CD decks and much better than any portable CD player.  MP3 playback is equally impressive. <br /> <br />The unit is lightweight, compact and opens like a book.  Controls are logically organized on the top panel as well as the included remote.  There are many convenience features that allow you to spend less time fiddling and more time enjoying the playback.  Unlike many other units, there are separate jacks for A/V input and output, and dual headphone jacks.  The black top panel and LCD bezel make a better viewing experience than the traditional silver found on most units. <br /> <br />Many reviews sight this unit as having a weak audio output.  This could be attributed to using headphones with low sensitivity.  I have been using a pair of Sony MDR-V600s that have a sensitivity of 106dB/mW, a frequency response of 5Hz - 30kHz, are plenty loud at normal volume settings, cost less than $100.00, are available at most major electronics outlets, and sound absolutely awesome with this unit.  (Note that every 3db down in sensitivity is one half the acoustical energy output for the same signal.  For example, headphones with a sensitivity of 94db/mW would be one sixteenth as loud and would be barely heard, even with the volume turned way up.) <br /> <br />Kudos for Toshiba.  They have done all the right things, and done them well.  In my opinion, getting the Toshiba SD-P1600 was the best $200.00 I ever spent.  Highly recommended. <br />