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Just in time for Christmas, the new Sony DVP-FX1
Just in time for Christmas 2000, Sony has released it's long-awaited variation on the same theme we've seen for quite some time. Panasonic, followed by Pioneer Toshiba, among others, were the first out of the gate with portable DVD players within a year or two of DVD's introduction. Notably absent from this portable market was Sony, who were perhaps trying to gauge public demand for these little critters.
The DVP-FX1 is a full-featured DVD player with an integrated 7-inch 16:9 LCD screen. The entire unit is exactly the size of two DVD keepcases stacked atop one another -- including the thin battery pack which easily slides on and locks into place under the unit, becoming its base. I've personally wanted to play around with one of these kinds of portable DVD players ever since I saw one, but they've been difficult for us to come by from the manufacturers for review. I guess they reason that after all, we're The "BIG" Picture, and how could we possibly be interested in a puny 7" screen when we typically watch our DVD content on 120" screens. How, indeed!
With a retail price of close to $1,300, it's difficult for most people to justify the cost of one of these portables, but after spending some time with the DVP-FX1, I must admit it makes a lot of sense from a practical standpoint, particularly if you travel and find yourself cruising on a plane, train or some other form of public transportation for any length of time. Or if you like to take the kids on those long car trips to aunt Bertha's or whatever. Heck, even if you want to live out your own James Bond fantasies, this player will go wherever you want to take it. While laptops with DVD-ROM drives are another good option, they cannot beat something like this dedicated player for size, convenience and staying power.
The DVP-FX1 lets you live out your James Bond fantasies...
or at least keep the kids out of your hair during those long road trips.
I've seen lots of new cars offering flip down LCD screens that connect to VCRs but very few that incorporate DVD into the optional accessory profit margin. Big mistake. Here's another one. Sony only provides one headphone out, clearly aiming this unit at the business traveler rather than the twin terrors sitting behind you while you drive. Just as well perhaps, as we don't want sticky little fingers gumming up our LCD screens, now do we? When there's a will, there's a way. Radio Shack sells a 1/8" mini stereo plug splitter, allowing two viewers to enjoy the sound at the same time if that's what you want to do.
Speaking of which, the DVP-FX1 offers Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS out for the audio, along with PCM stereo. The internal speakers are serviceable, but understandably a bit tinny sounding. How wide a frequency response can you expect from 1" speakers, after all? A switch to enhance stereo separation is available to get the most out of those tiny speakers.
As far as picture quality is concerned, the built-in LCD display does have it's limitations and suffers with some source material from a bit of over-sharpening. This effect is diminished satisfactorily however, if you watch the display from a reasonable distance -- say, 18" to 2 feet away.
The quality of the source material makes a gigantic difference, of course. Several aspect ratios are offered and easily accessed from a recessed button on the right side of the display. The only other video control is the brightness levels, which I kept turned all the way down. The picture displayed from the active matrix screen is plenty bright, under any lighting condition.
Man, where was this thing (and DVD for that matter) during all those hours when I sat in my car waiting for my 7-year-old son to finish his 90-minute long baseball practices twice each week? Color saturation and tint cannot be controlled or adjusted, but I have no complaints. The best picture was obtained by slightly tilting back the viewing screen from my line of vision. Black levels deepened to a very pleasing level. Wisely, the screen itself is masked with a flat black color, enhancing the perception of contrast, which is quite good. Colors are sharp, clean and bright.
The DVP-FX1 sports S-Video out, as well as optical video and audio digital outputs, a line out or in selector, and a DC 5v output jack, which I'm assuming is to trigger an external device, like a motorized screen relay in case you're starting out big and using this little gem as your primary DVD player. Along the narrow front edge, there's a softly backlit display readout to show you that fascinating timecode data that very few of us are interested in (since we're usually busy watching the movies), battery charge 
indicator, angle, DTS and PBC indicators, etc.
All the pertinent controls are within easy reach for chapter jumping, fast searching (both in either direction, of course), pause, play and stop. There's a very small dimple on the top half of the play button, presumably so you can easily identify the play button in the dark. I have medium sized fingers and hands, but found no value in this little bump. Perhaps if I could read Braille, this little detail would be useful, then again, if I could read Braille, I'd strictly be using this unit as a CD player...
I was curious as to whether or not this player could read Video CD's and so I popped one in to try it out. I had assumed not, as there were no markings on the player itself to indicate that it does (and I'm ashamed to admit, I rarely read owners manuals). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the answer is affirmative -- this player will in fact play VCDs, but the lack of color balance and saturation controls were sorely missed during VCD play. 
Fortunately, I have very little occasion to fire up a VCD. Why would I with all the great DVD's available and more coming each week?
Atop the large, flat horizontal surface of the player (with the screen flipped up) you'll find the recessed button to open the disc door and on the opposite corner at the front right, a recessed controller that contains the DVD menu, display, title and directional enter buttons.
The full featured IR remote is compact and relatively easy to use, but since we used this unit primarily as a portable device during our evaluation, the remote didn't see much use. A battery charger/AC adapter and connecting cables are included in the package. The included 10v battery lasts a good 4.5 hours, which works out to a good two movies you can view per charge. The charging time is 8 hours, which would suggest that a spare battery is probably more of a necessity rather than a luxury.
Powering up the player kicks in the motor, which vibrates slightly as it picks up speed. Within seconds, however, the player is rock-solid smooth with no vibration or operational noise whatsoever. The build quality appears first rate and solid. The recessed controls insure that when the lid is closed, the DVP-FX1 can be easily slipped into a purse, briefcase or backpack without any worries of accidental battery discharge. The "Hold" switch along the side of the player guarantees it.
Connecting our DVP-FX1 via S-video to our projector yielded very nice results, but I think I would be tempted to use this one more as a vacation or camping portable. Aw heck, the more time I spend with this thing, the more uses I can find for it. Entertaining someone who's sick in bed; bringing it along for those long waits at the doctor's office; taking in a movie from the comfort of -- anywhere. Poolside, on the deck, in a lawn chair, wherever!
As stated previously, the best results are obtained on the integrated screen when viewing higher quality DVDs. Case in point: The video quality of GLADIATOR was extremely impressive on this unit. During the opening battle sequence, the tiny flames from the volley of arrows being shot at the Germanian hoards was clearly visible, quite a feat since they are so small to begin with.
Non-anamorphic material requires you to go into the player menu and set the display to 4:3, otherwise the output can appear a bit blocky. Once this change is made however, the picture is as acceptable as the program source will allow it to be.
By the way, it should be noted that the screen images depicted here are actual screen displays from the DVP-FX1 and have not been simulated. They have however, in the interest of fast-loading page graphics, been compressed by 40% from their original size, which results in some distorting artifacts. That being said, not bad, eh?
For more questions and the best pricing on the Sony DVP-FX1, contact the company we trust to take care of our readers: Medical Video Systems.
Be sure to tell them that The BIG Picture sent you.