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Sony DVP-FX820 (blue)

Manufacturer: Sony Part number: DVP-FX820/L

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$144.95 - $179.99 at 14 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: Despite a few drawbacks, the combination of a stunning high-resolution screen, long battery life, and impressive design make the Sony DVP-FX820 a winning portable DVD player.
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CNET editors' review

Sony DVP-FX820 (blue)

price range: $144.95 - $179.99

Reviewed by: Jeff Bakalar
Edited by: John P. Falcone
Reviewed on: 05/06/2008
Released on: 02/29/2008

The good: Gorgeous 8-inch screen with 800x480 resolution; full 180-degree swivel screen; includes remote control, audiovisual cable and car charger; reliable 6-hour battery.

The bad: Somewhat hefty 2.7-pound weight; no USB port or flash card reader; no support for DivX or other digital video files.

The bottom line: Despite a few drawbacks, the combination of a stunning high-resolution screen, long battery life, and impressive design make the Sony DVP-FX820 a winning portable DVD player.

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When Sony released the DVP-FX810 in 2007, the biggest complaint about the portable DVD player was the lackluster resolution of its screen. For 2008, the company has addressed that issue in a big way: the 8-inch screen of the DVP-FX820 boasts an 800x480 resolution, up from the paltry 480x220 found on its predecessor. The result is the best viewing experience we've seen on a portable DVD player in a long time.

The DVP-FX820 has a smooth plastic housing that Sony sells in a variety of colors--the one we tested was accented in dark blue. The player is one of the heaviest we've seen, weighing a sturdy 2.7 pounds. We liked the placement of the unit's battery that runs along the entire bottom of the player. It may be large, but it doesn't protrude at all, unlike the Toshiba SD-P71S, which has a small bump on the rear.

All of the DVD controls are located below the screen, making them easily accessible even if you take advantage of the swivel hinge and watch the unit in tablet mode. The screen can flip a complete 180 degrees and fold back on itself to be held in your hands. We were happy to see that most DVD controls were represented here, including the sometimes forgotten fast-forward and rewind functionality (just use move the four-way directional pad left or right during playback). The FX820 also ships with a remote control that expands on the playback options. It's among the larger remotes we've seen packed in with a portable DVD player, but there's no reason to leave it at home. The two IR sensors let the player respond regardless of its orientation.

On the right side of the unit, you'll find all the connectivity options available. In addition to dual headphone jacks, there's a switchable video in/out port (for using the player's screen as a monitor or playing DVDs on a larger TV, respectively); Sony includes the necessary composite AV breakout cable as well. Also on board is a digital audio output, for surround sound playback (when connected to an AV receiver). In addition to a standard AC adapter, Sony throws in a car charger--but the FX820 does not come with any mounting straps for mounting on a car seat.

The Sony DVP-FX820 delivered on the two most important aspects of a portable DVD player: picture quality and battery life. By doubling the resolution of last year's player on the same size screen, the FX820 delivers a much more detailed image--and it's all very noticeable, thanks to your close proximity to the screen. This was most apparent when we watched an action scene from Aeon Flux that took place in a garden. The fine detail of the grass and flowers was better than any screen we've recently tested. Battery life, meanwhile, was also impressive: the player hit Sony's rated life of 6 hours right on the nose. That falls far short of the 9 hours we got from the competing Panasonic DVD-LS86, but it should still let you get in about three full movies per charge.

So what's not to like? The Sony DVP-FX820 just doesn't boast any other additional features. You can play back MP3 files and JPEG photos burned to discs (in addition to CDs and DVDs, of course), but that's about it. There's no compatibility with DivX or other digital video formats. Also absent is a USB port or flash card reader.

Of course, none of that is going to be a deal-breaker for anyone who's just looking for a standard portable DVD player. The impressive screen, long battery life, and slick design makes for an overall winner, with the comparatively hefty 2.7-pound weight being the only notable drawback for most users. Widely available for $180, the Sony DVP-FX820 is well worth the premium over "bare-bones" portable DVD players from no-name competitors.

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Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review
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9 stars

Excellent for long airline trips

by keithianw on May 28, 2008

Pros: Video quality, Battery Life (on low settings), 2 people can connect via headsets, size, good looking unit.

Cons: I still believe battery life should be even longer then 6 hrs on higher settings.

Summary: I bought this for one purpose only, to have control over what I watch when I fly across the country to see my family. I took the suggestions of others ...

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Summary: I bought this for one purpose only, to have control over what I watch when I fly across the country to see my family. I took the suggestions of others and put the video on low. I watched for about 4 hours and still had plenty of battery left for at least another hour or so. Video was still clear except for when most of the screen is black (people wearing black at night). It probably didnt help that I was flying during the day and the windows were open. Regardless, the picture is very very clear. The size is perfect for sitting on the food tray and I love the ability to have two people connect to the device to share the viewing since the screen swivels. When the guy in front of me swung his seat back, it didn't hit the screen . I'm not one of those people who would use this at home since I have 3 top of the line big screen TVs and to me whats the point, but for flying this perfectly suited my needs. I havent used the remote yet so I have no opinion on that, sorry.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Sony
Part number: DVP-FX820/L
Description: Take the cinema on the road. Watch your favorite DVDs anytime you want with the DVP-FX820 portable DVD player. Boasting a swivel screen and rugged design, this device is perfect for people on the go. Watch movies anytime and anywhere you want with Sony's cool DVP-FX820 Portable DVD Player. With a 6-hour battery life, an 8" high-resolution swivel screen that provides a clear and crisp picture from any angle, 2 headphone jacks for sharing, and a car adapter that ensures your movies outlast even the longest road trip. And when you want more than movies, the FX820 plays your CDs or MP3s, and lets you view your personal photo albums. Control buttons are located on the screen bezel for ease of use. Skipping or fast forwarding a scene is so easy to do, either with the control buttons or with the dual-sensor remote control. This portable DVD player is so lightweight and compact that you can carry it anywhere you go. Though it is designed for adults, its durability is certainly built for kids.

General
Product Type DVD player
Form Factor Portable
DVD
Media Type DVD+R, CD, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, CD-RW, DVD-RW, CD-R, DVD+RW, DVD, DVD-R
Video D/A Converter 12bit / 108MHz
Audio D/A Converter 24bit / 96kHz
Media Load Type Top-load
Analog Video Signal Composite video
Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3
Display
Display Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 8 in - Color
Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
DVD Features
TV Screen Saver Yes
MP3 Compatible Yes
Additional Features

Sony DVP-FX820 (blue)

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