In-car DVD Players Tested

A DVD player is the ideal way to keep passengers entertained in the car. We try eight of the best.

Auto Express Car Reviews

December 2009

In-car entertainment for rear seat passengers has come on in leaps and bounds in the past few years. Long journeys can fly by with the right portable DVD player on board to keep those in the back entertained. And you don’t have to spend thousands of pounds to have a permanently installed system for your motor, either.

The latest portable units, meanwhile, cost a fraction of the price, and can be easily transferred from your car for use indoors. They play more than DVDs and CDs, too, as most devices come equipped with USB slots or memory card readers that allow you to play files directly. This also saves on space, as you don’t need to carry a wallet full of discs or leave DVD cases cluttering up your motor.

So, which in-car player is the leading light of entertainment on the small screen? We hit the road with eight devices to find out.

The Test

Apart from a choice of sources and formats, we also wanted to see an infra-red (IR) transmitter for cordless headphones, plus mains, car and on-board power sources. On the move we tried various types of DVD and CD, checking for picture and sound break-up on bumpy roads. Video and audio files on USB and SD cards were also tried, while fit, finish and functions were checked to ensure they worked as they should.

Contacts
* Amazon (Philips) www.amazon.co.uk
* Car Stereos 4 U (Veba) 0208 558 8111 www.carstereos4u.co.uk
* C-KO 020 8863 8333 www.automotivestyling.co.uk
* Digitech Electronics (Panasonic) 020 8577 1200 www.digitechelectronics.com
* Halfords (NextBase) 0845 057 9000 www.halfords.com
* MNC Group (NextBase) 01752 310310 www.mynewcheap.co.uk
* NextBase 01276 855641 www.voyager-systems.co.uk
* Panasonic 0844 844 3852 www.panasonic.co.uk
* Philips 020 7949 0069 www.philips.co.uk
* Regent Range (C-KO) 020 8863 3383 www.regentrange.co.uk
* Veba 01420 476767 www.armourautomotive.uk.com

Verdict

For ease of use, practicality and a good price, the NextBase Click 7 Duo is a superb car-based product that could also be enjoyed in the home. The Philips PET744/05 is a great battery-equipped all-round player, which can easily be used in the car.