Sony DVP-FX930 Portable DVD Player - Sony DVP-FX930

Sound quality through the built-in speakers is typically dire for a portable DVD player. Spider-Man 2's normally breathtaking finale sounds like a succession of hisses and pops, with no bass on hand to give the sound any depth. As a result, we make our usual recommendation that you use a good pair of headphones instead - when you do, you're treated to rich and dynamic sonics with both movies and music.


Next we plugged in a USB stick containing a variety of test files, and unsurprisingly it wasn't interested in playing WMA or DivX HD even though the latter appeared in the menu. But regular DivX files look terrific on a screen of this size and JPEGs look nice and sharp. Files are presented in a simple folder-based menu, which also shows a graphic equaliser and bitrate when playing back an MP3 file.

Verdict

Although it's not the most exciting player to look at, the DVP-FX930 is a tremendous picture performer thanks to its hi-res 9in screen, plus the USB port, six-hour battery life, touch-sensitive buttons and nifty swivel screen are all welcome additions.

That said, at £200 it's not particularly good value for money given the lack of digital audio output and the fact that the 9in Toshiba SD-P91S and 8in LG DP391B both offer more features for less dough. The Tosh's screen resolution is lower than the Sony's but with a saving of around £70 it might be worth the sacrifice. But if money is no object and the FX930 still takes your fancy then rest assured that it's an impressive, user-friendly player that will serve you well on your travels.