CyberHome CH-LDV 712 7-Inch Portable Progressive-Scan DVD Player , Silver
Solid, Versatile Player-- Mediocre LCD Screen
The 712's a real heartbreaker. In every respect but two, it's a superior player-- unbeatable versatility, good design, long runtime on battery power, and plays anything, but with compromised picture quality on its built-in LCD and mediocre sound on its built-in speakers. Similarly-priced players by Initial and Mintek have much better picture and sound quality but can't do all the tricks the 712 can do.       The 712's screen is dim and unsharp when compared to the others, although judged by itself the quality is acceptable-- good color, smooth outlines (no &amp;amp;amp;quot;jaggies&amp;amp;amp;quot;). But a small change of viewing angle will send you lunging for the brightness control. Yet the dimness of the LCD means the battery lasts longer. A tradeoff.       The speakers are a real weak point. My left speaker rattles and has since new, but that's better than reports I've read of speakers quitting altogether. They're shrill and there are no tone controls to help the situation. Sound through headphones is fine.       You can connect the 712 via any sort of video or digital audio output you'd find on even the most expensive DVD players and bypass the indifferent built-in audio and video displays, but then why buy a portable player?       On the positive side, the 712 will play DVD+R, DVD+RW, mp3 burned to DVD+R/W (a whole road trip's worth of music and then some, all on one disc), CD-R/W, VCD, SVCD.. you name it. It can do audible fast search through mp3 tracks. It can do reverse slow motion on DVDs. All controls are electronic rather than mechanical, which means all functions can be controlled by the remote, including power and volume. That's rare on portables.       One of the 712's best features is the way the battery connects: on the bottom, where it's completely out of the way. But there's a constant current drain when it's attached. A spare costs at least $100. And you can't charge it with the car cord, which is included, as are all other cables and adapters except a fiber-optic cable for Dolby Digital audio.       Even with all the little quirks, if it weren't for the 712's crippled LCD screen and screechy speakers, this would be a great player and a heck of a deal. A real heartbreaker. You'll be happier with a player made by Initial. Minteks are similar but will not play burned DVDs.