SL-50

• Expert Rating

  3.50 / 5

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• Price

  $ 299.00 (AUD)

Matthew Overington Good Gear Guide 01/09/05 Follow @pcworldau

Pros

• Accepts external AV input

Cons

• No support for DivX, XviD or WMV formats

Bottom Line

Though it doesn't include support for MPEG-4-based video formats, Voxson's entry-level SL-50 offers a clear, bright screen with Dolby Surround support. And you can even plug in an external input.

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The SL-50 can handle a range of media formats and had no problem with burnt discs during testing. Supported formats include DVDs, Kodak Picture CDs and audio CDs, or burnt discs containing MP3 or JPEG files.

Voxson has made every attempt to simplify setup and installation and has bundled a Quick Guide with the SL-50 to help cover basic operation. It gives examples (with diagrams) of functions like how to play a DVD, or connect to a TV or charger, and is a handy inclusion for anyone not comfortable with this technology.

The machine measures 21 x 16 x 41cm and ships with a car adapter. The bundled rechargeable battery proved good for nearly 3 hours of use away from a power source. The battery features its own power connector, so you can charge it while watching a DVD (provided you have two power adapters).

There's also a small silver remote control, although given that most portable DVD players (including the SL-50) sport 7" screens, it's rare that you would watch a movie from further than arm's reach away. It would come in handy for times when the device is connected to a TV to play back in a lounge or hotel room.

Both NTSC and PAL formats are supported, and the machine can handle progressive scan playback.

One relatively unusual feature is the ability to plug in an external AV source for playback on the SL-50. In testing, we connected up a game console for a few quick frags, and it worked flawlessly.

The SL-50 offers a clear, bright screen with Dolby Surround support. It's let down by a lack of support for video formats like DivX or WMV, but it's acceptable for an entry-level model. Add a game console and car adapter, and you could keep the kids quiet for hours on a long trip.