Review: the Budget-Friendly TruTech® Silver 7" Portable DVD Player PVS12701

Our family bought the TruTech DVD Player last summer to celebrate the beginning of vacation, which would include a number of long road trips. Leary of DVD players costing more than two or three hundred dollars, we decided on the TruTech DVD Player at a local Target store. This portable DVD player is a reputable, easy-to-use machine for under $100.

The DVD player comes with a variety of accessories, including battery, TV cables, car adapter, AV cable, and remote control. We also bought an inexpensive carrying case ($10) that housed the DVD player and accessories. The case also included straps that attached to the front seat, so passengers in the back could watch from the back seat.

After doing a little research on the internet about product reliability, we realized that battery life might be a problem, especially on long car rides. To minimize battery drainage, we always use the car adapter during road trips.

The DVD player screen size is smaller, compared to more expensive models, but the resolution is more than adequate for traveling. We did have glare problems when used in the back seat of the car. I think that you would probably get this problem with any portable device.

The built in speaker worked well - when turned up the passengers in the front seat could hear the DVD playing. Standard ear phones/ear buds also worked well.

The DVD player worked well connected to a TV set, using the cables provided.

After owning the DVD player for about six months, we did notice a few problems after the unit had been running for a few hours in the car. One DVD would not work in the player, but worked fine when we tried it at home. The player occasionally skips, just like a CD player, but we've found this to be a rare occurrence. The DVD has stalled during the "reading" stage, but the issue was resolved by removing the DVD from the player and re-inserting it.

We have used the DVD player as a CD player, with similar results. The speaker and sound quality is good, although not exceptional. If you're looking for superb sound, this player is not for you.

Overall, we are very satisfied with the TruTech Portable DVD Player. It did not break the family budget, works consistently well, and offers reliable performance. If you're looking for a reasonably priced portable DVD player for under $100, this unit is calling your name.