CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 11/29/2007
- Released on: 04/15/2006
Editor's note: This 2006 product has been replaced by a pair of very similar 2007 models, the Panasonic DVD-LS80 and the Panasonic DVD-LS82.
Sure, there are plenty of run-of-the-mill portable DVD players that'll do an adequate job of playing back DVDs on screens ranging from 7 to 10 inches diagonally. But only a few models stand out from the crowd, and they tend to cost a bit more than the usually generic competition. Count Panasonic's DVD-LS91 among this select group. The LS91 is a near duplicate of its 2005 predecessor, the DVD-LS90, but it adds the AV input that was missing on the earlier model.
Weighing 2.75 pounds with battery and measuring 2.06 inches tall by 9.25 inches wide by 7.22 inches deep when closed, what sets the Panasonic DVD-LS91 apart is the swiveling armature design for its 9-inch screen. It allows you to easily adjust the angle and height of the display to cut down on glare--and you can fold the screen down to where it's almost flat, though not flat enough to truly qualify this model as a tablet-style portable.
Because of that armature, which meshes with the detachable battery on the back of the unit, the player looks a bit funky when closed, but when it's open, it's one of the more stylish portables we've reviewed. Its buttons are also well placed, with the main transport controls (chapter forward and back, repeat, stop, play, and pause) lined up along the front of the player where you sometimes might see speakers. The DVD-LS91's speakers are further back, near the armature's base. The player ships with a cigarette-lighter adapter and a nicely designed remote that's a cross between a standard-size DVD remote and a credit card-size model.
Unlike the Philips PET1002, the Panasonic DVD-LS91 doesn't support playback of MPEG-4 or DivX video files, but if you happen to be an aficionado of Panasonic's DVD-RAM format, you'll be happy to note that it offers support for that rerecordable disc type. You can also play back CD-Rs filled with MP3 and WMA audio files or JPEG images. And it's worth mentioning that Panasonic has thrown in a few faux-surround modes that slightly augment the listening experience. The player cranks out a decent amount of volume through both its internal speakers and connected headphones.
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