Shinco SDP-1731A

A few years ago a portable DVD player wouldn't have given you change from £1,000. Times change, and now Shinco is offering a portable player at a reasonably priced £200.

The quality of the 7in screen is good and the internal speakers are powerful enough for its size. However, as you might expect from such a cheap unit, the build quality leaves a little to be desired, although it can take a few knocks without looking like it's going to fall apart. Both the external looks and the user interface are very far from the polished stylings of the big-name manufacturers, though.

It will play MP3s and photos from a CD and the remote control can come in handy when navigating the menus. Plug it into a TV and hi-fi and you can see that while Shinco hasn't put much into the player's looks, its performance is certainly up to scratch. Colours and contrast are good, images are sharp and general picture and sound quality is well up to budget-player standards.

This player has a limited market - put-upon parents, gadget-heads, and perennial travellers - but it's superb value if you find yourself in need of music and movies on the move.

Contact: Firebox 0870 241 4289
www.firebox.com