Answer: TVs and other video display devices such as projectors and LCD monitors are everywhere. In your home, in your car, at school, at the office. And DVDs are everywhere. You can pick up the latest flicks and features, for less than the price of a few movie tix, at any chain store. Nevertheless, getting the two together at the same time still eludes many! The era of the omnipresent DVD player, while fast approaching, still hasn't reached many people in the places they live, work and play.

Pioneer's PDV-10 is an excellent attempt at answering a question more and more DVD fans are asking: how can I watch my DVD material when I'm away from my home i.e. home theatre? Sure, computer DVD drives have gone a long way to making DVD watching possible in more places, but what if you're not anywhere near a computer or don't want to lug one around? What if you just want the slickest, smallest, lightest, most compact player to carry - in the car, on the road, to your next presentation, the hotel, your in-laws or on your next vacation? What if you don't want batteries, tiny LCDs or your prized Powerbook G4 and company secrets rolling around in your travel bag or vehicle when all you want to do is catch some entertainment while you're away from home or civilization in general?

Pioneer understands that executives, road warriors, moms, dads and lucky college kids will want to have high quality DVD, CD (and VCD) sound and video in a portable unit they can connect to a video display device virtually ANYWHERE they go.

I picked mine up brand new for less than $300. These days you can get one for much much less. This player works flawlessly to pull high-res video off the DVD disc. The sound this unit provides is way beyond the capability of the average Discman. It has a high-bitrate, high bit precision (24 bits @ 96kHz) digital-analog converter (DAC) section, versus the CD standard of 16 bits at 44.1kHz. The video resolution tests beyond what many display devices can actually reproduce at over 500 horizontal lines, and looks great even on my 42" 1080i capable HDTV. The top plate-mounted control buttons have a positive-engagement click that exudes quality and eludes a lot of off-brand import portables flooding the market even in 2003. The remote works great and the menu-driven control system gives you command of aspect ratio, subtitles, multiple angle, default audio selection and all other DVD controls. Basically, this is a full-function player that is small, it's no less capable than the component-sized units.

This Pioneer player does lack the progressive-scan video output that is becoming more common these days, but in 9 out of 10 cases the TV this player will be connected to will lack component video inputs and progressive scan capability anyway, and the 3-cable component video cabling is not inherently portable anyway. Remember, this unit is generally going to be used when AWAY from the home theatre.

Only other criticism that can be leveled at the Pioneer is that it must have an AC power source. But power inverters are cheap and by plugging into an inverter (in turn plugged in to a cigarette lighter 12V socket in the car, boat, plane or RV), you can use the PDV-10 on the road with a LCD or TV to great effect. I did just that and enjoyed great video and sound that could hide in my glovebox. The buttons are so well laid-out that you can play, stop, and skip tracks without looking at the unit, a great plus when trying to entertain backseat passengers and drive safely. Remember, distracted drivers are dangerous drivers!

The included accessories, a remote control and a compact AC adapter, are high quality and functionally top notch. The player itself is made of good quality plastics, metal and a glass lens and has a sturdy though not bulletproof DVD transport and optical assembly. The PDV-10 spins DVDs and CDs up quickly and without drama and during normal operation is effectively silent. There is a thoughtful red/green LED for power on/standby mode which also reminds you not to step on it or forget to pack it when you leave for home! The built-in volume control for the standard mini-stereo headphone out is noise-free and offers plenty of juice for your current-hungry exotic headphones or powered speakers. I used AKG K340 studio monitor headphones and found the performance on par with my home setup. There's also a line-level mini audio out and both it and the headphone can be used simultaneously. Pioneer's even provided a digital audio output for external audio processing - though I question how many will need it, it's a thoughtful touch, esp. considering the 24 bit 96kHz audio DAC that's built into this unit is overkill for 95% of users. If you're a movie producer or sound engineer, this unit will enable reference-quality playback in the field or on location without requiring a bulky player.

That said, this player is more than sufficient for watching your friend's favorite flick at her place or enjoying 10 minutes of "Tomb Raider" in the office lunchroom.

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 299