The Best of Both Phone, and Tablet
As far as connectivity options go, the Panasonic DVD-LS91's selection is pretty standard. There's no component-video output; however, most people will make do just fine with the composite-video out when they need to hook the player up to a TV. The newly added AV input will allow you to use the included breakout cable and watch any source that can output composite video. In addition, the DVD-LS91 has a digital audio output for connecting to an AV receiver, as well as dual headphone jacks so that two people can watch a movie at once.
The player's screen is nothing special, but it's a step up from many of those featured on budget-priced models from second-tier manufacturers. We backed down the color and brightness settings a couple of notches to make blacks a little darker and skin tones a bit more natural looking (read: less red). If you sit back about 2.5 feet, the picture appears pretty decent with reasonably accurate color reproduction. But if you get too close, you'll start to see the spaces between the pixels, and it essentially looks as if you're watching a movie through a screen door.
While the Panasonic DVD-LS91's screen certainly doesn't measure up to that of the Philips PET1002, its battery life does. We're used to seeing players with 9- and 10-inch screens eke out barely 3 hours or so, but the DVD-LS91 kept chugging for more than 5 hours, though falling a bit short of Panasonic's claimed 6-hour battery life. Nonetheless, this is impressive, and you should be able to easily watch two movies on just one battery charge.
In the final analysis, while the Panasonic DVD-LS91 lacks the Philips PET1002's high-resolution display and can't match its feature set, it will appeal to buyers looking for something a little more portable than the Philips. The DVD-LS91 is a good, solid DVD player with excellent battery life--but if you're looking for a better picture, go for the Philips.
