|  Portable
DVD players have flooded the consumer market over the past few years with prices
dropping rapidly. Most of them offer fairly large screens to maximize picture
quality and the viewing experience, but this often results in a large chassis
design. Coby has introduced a new portable DVD player (TF-DVD550) designed for
kids that features a small 3.5 color TFT screen mounted on the front of the unit.
Rather than focusing on a large screen, the TF-DVD550 is geared for convenience
and portability while providing a durable housing. The unit measures 5.5"
wide, 6.25" tall and less than 2" thick and weighs about 1.5 pounds
with the battery pack attached. The protective rubberized trim helps to protect
it from impacts. The unit includes a variety of useful accessories for both home
and travel with a full function remote control. The detachable battery pack has
a built-in stand. The unit fully supports DVD/DVD±R/RW/CD/CD-R/RW/MP3 and
JPEG formats. Like most DVD players, this portable unit supports multiple viewing
angles, subtitles, slow and fast motion play as well as zoom. The IR receiver
window is located on the front, making it easy to control with the remote.
 Features
The
TF-DVD550 is a simple looking unit, but has many features. The front has standard
Play/Pause, Stop and Chapter control buttons. The Chapter
control includes navigation controls that also function as chapter search and
chapter scan controls. The Setup button is used to access configuration
such as screen controls, language, TV type, etc. The LCD ON/OFF button
is used to access the main menu on a DVD as well as toggle the LCD display to
save power. The two built-in speakers on the face are small, so fidelity is limited
especially with lower frequencies. The screen is only 3.5", yet has 336,960
pixels according the specifications. As a small portable unit, the TF-DVD550 works
quite well. The left side of the player has a switch for power and a second switch
for locking the controls. The locking switch prevents accidental button pushes
from interrupting playback of a movie or music — a common problem with portable
equipment. The power input jack is also located here and is common for either
the AC or DC power adapter. The detachable battery pack has an LED indicator (lower
left in the picture) that turns red when charging and changes to green when fully
charged, which is a convenient way of knowing when the unit is ready for portable
use.
 The
right side of the player has the audio and video output jacks in addition to the
headphone output. The audio jack has a line level output, so the volume control
has no affect on the output level. The same audio jack can also output an optical
signal with the appropriate cable for interfacing with today's digital home theater
receivers. The built-in speakers automatically mute when the headphones are inserted
into the player. While the overall sound is rather thin due to the small speakers,
Coby has cleverly placed speaker vents on the back of the unit that help create
a more spacious sound.
 Accessories
The TF-DVD550 comes with several useful accessories including a full featured
IR remote, headphones, carrying case, AC and DC power adapters and a set of A/V
cables. The remote resembles the type included with many of today's video camcorders
and provides the user with a complete set of controls for the player. The two
power adapters offer maximum flexibility allowing the player to be used indoors
or while on the go. The AC adapter operates from 100-240VAC on either 50 or 60
Hertz making it compatible with most countries. The cables provide connectivity
to a regular television or audio system so everyone can enjoy it. The carrying
case is padded and zips shut to help protect the unit when it is not being used.
In addition, the back of the case has an adjustable Velcro strap.
Conclusion
The Coby TF-DVD550 is a great value for parents looking for an inexpensive travel
companion for their kids. The portable design lends itself well for use in the
car, on planes, or anywhere in between. The battery pack lasts several hours and
even longer when the display is not being used (CD or MP3 music). Screen size
and resolution is limited, but the kids never complained about it and the size
and portability justify the tradeoff. The anti-skip electronics worked well and
we didn't experience any problems during our review period. The included accessories
proved to be useful, allowing us to take the unit on long trips with the AC and
DC power adapters. The housing appears to be more durable than many portable DVD
player and less likely to be dropped. Overall, the product is a real value and
the kids love it. -
Kevin Nakano |
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