Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The Pyle Home PDH14 plays DVDs nicely, with great clarity and the size is large enough that several people can watch together without being huddled around it in a tight semicircle. For those exclusive characteristics, I would give 5 stars. However, this is a PORTABLE DVD PLAYER, and must be evaluated as such. After the initial charge (took several hours), the player was shut down and detached from the charger. The next day, 7 hours later, I tried to use the player, but it would only turn on momentarily, then shut immediately off. After several attempts, I realized the battery was nearly dead. It would play unremarkably while connected to the AC adapter, except the remote wouldn't work (more on that later). So, I referred to the owner's manual again, and discovered that there is a switch on the right side of the player that must be in the off position in addition to shutting it off with the standard power button (momentary switch, circle with line through it icon). So I reconnected the charger, waited until it indicated it was again fully charged, and powered the player down ensuring the side switch was also off. Three hours later, I powered the player up only to discover the battery was nearly dead again!? After repeating this cycle two more times, it became apparent that the battery was not going to hold a charge, or there was a parasitic drain on the system that would not allow it to be unplugged for more than a short while without discharging. Bottom line: when immediately played after disconnecting adapter, the player could be watched untethered to a wall outlet for 57 minutes--SCRATCH PORTABLE FROM THIS PLAYER. Second problem with the player I received was the remote was inoperable. Albeit, a minor problem with this player since no control features were exclusive to the remote, and all could be accesses through the player's MENU interface. It should be noted the player did not come with batteries; so, I installed new batteries, ensured correct polarity, and... nothing. With batteries in remote, I tested voltage into the remote and it was 3.31 volts. I then viewed the remote's LED while operating with my IR camera that visually reveals function of remotes--also nothing. At that point, I didn't bother attempting to further disassemble the remote (split the case) as the major problem with the player's ability to be portable had already been discovered. In all honesty, had the player worked as stated regarding portability (been able to watch a full movie while not connected to a wall receptacle), I would have overlooked the bad remote. I contacted the selelr (Quality Car Audio), repackaged, and return-shipped at my expense, and was refunded the price of the player. I've since read more than a handful of reviews stating remotes weren't working. I'm always looking for a good deal and I'm very pragmatic/frugal--but this Pyle Home PDH14 DVD Player wasn't it. I cannot recommend the PDH14 based on my experience with it.