Review of the Panasonic DVD LX97 POrtable DVD Player with screen
As the first to launch a portable DVD player in the UK, Panasonic should have got it spot on with their flagship model, the DVD-LX97, after all they are charging a chunk for it. It’s the best of the best according to Panasonic, so once we saw what it claimed to do we threw it in the back of the car to keep the kids quiet. Design |
| Starting with a slimline and shiny design gets Panasonic off on a good foot, but they let themselves down by making the control panel look like a cockpit. With more buttons than you could get round to using in a month of Sundays, the control panel is overly cluttered. We liked the slim dimensions, at just 235.4 x 51.5 x 185 mm, and weighing in at 1.1kg including the battery, which is hidden underneath. The 9-inch QVGA LCD screen flips up but can lay flat on the device itself, making it more compact and preferable for the kids. Coming in handy for when the kids decide to crank up the volume is the well labelled and nifty remote control. All connectivity is located on the left side, and you’ll find the SD slot for viewing JPEG images or MPEG4 clips on the right side. If the kids’ idea of a reasonable volume level differs from yours, you’ll be glad to find there’s a pair of headphone jacks. |
| Features |
| To get the bad news out of the way, we’ll mention now that Panasonic have overlooked the DVD LX97 when it comes to HDMI and DVI connections. Staying on the subject of connectivity, the DVD LX97 is rather well equipped, what with an SD card slot, composite video in/out mini jack, 2 headphone sockets, and stereo/optical audio output; it’s got more than enough really. Panasonic have made the DVD LX97 ultra-compatible with discs, flicks, and all other tricks. For example, you can use all of the following: DVD-DVD-A, RAM, RW, R, +R, +RW, +R DL, Video CD, DiVX, MP3, WMA, and JPEG. So film, music and photo lovers are equally well equipped with the DVD LX97. The screen has a 320 x 240 pixel resolution which is helped out a by depth enhancer and a few picture presets including cinema 1, cinema 2 and a few others. Sonically, the DVD LX97 has been provided with advanced surround sound, extra bass, and a multi re-master. Don’t be put off by the unfriendly names we’ve just mentioned, the menu is easy to use and offers great explanations, you can get into the menu by pressing the display button on the control panel. |
| Performance |
| Starting with battery life, we managed to get four hours out of the DVD LX97 using the brightest screen option, and 6 hours with the dimmest screen setting. Listening to music with the screen off was great, giving us a massive 10 hours battery life. The extensive menu system is logically designed and nice to navigate around. We decided to watch Pride and Prejudice on DVD, seeing as it has great audio and motion scenes to put the DVD LX97 to the test. A scene where Keira Knightley is sat on a swing in the barn was perfect to test motion, which the DVD LX97 handled nicely. We saw a miniscule amount of blur, but nowhere near enough to complain about. The overall picture performance was great, with superb contrast thanks to awesome black levels. The screen provided us with the most realistic and crisp detail, supported by a splendid colour show. At this stage it’s a shame to mention the noticeable noise, but it has to be said. A few cases of fuzzy edge were brought to attention at different stages throughout the performance. The surround sound kicked in at just the right time on the audio test scene, this is where swans fly overhead, and if handed well, they sound like they are behind you. And they did, so it’s a thumbs-up for Panasonic. DivX playback was perfect, offering some smooth grooves too. The cinema settings enhance settings only slightly, and are probably not worth bothering with. |
| Overall Opinion |
| For this price we were expecting cinematic pictures, top end sound quality, and that is exactly what we got. We would have liked to see some more exciting connectivity for this price, but we suppose Panasonic need to leave something to aspire to. |
| By Lisa Malyon |
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Pros + Excellent disc compatibility + Look, watch and listen options + Extensive and easy to use menu system + Superb picture and sound performance |
Cons - No HDMI or DVI input - Cluttered control panel |
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Overall Rating 
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By Lisa Malyon
28/11/2006 at 2:37:31pm
28/11/2006 at 2:37:31pm
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