RCA DRC630N Portable DVD Player
By: RCA Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 52
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 On: 2008-07-19
Initially, this player worked great but shortly after the warranty expired (of course) it stopped reading discs once in awhile and after a few more car trips it now will not play any DVDs. Support information on RCAs website is scant and I am amazed how often the problem is being reported/complained about all over the internet with no solutions offered. This is not just a bad product, but very bad customer service.
On: 2008-07-10
Avoid this player. Weve had it several months and it will only play certain disks, and stops in the middle of most others. Its a nice idea to mount it on the backs of headrests, but it would rarely play disks in that position. Waste of money. Im going with a sony and mogo between seat mount.
On: 2008-07-07
This completely died after a few months. We sent it in to the warranty work company, figured we would give it a try instead of being out $175. Well sending it to TX was like donating it to charity involuntarily. We call and we call and we call, get to talk to people in India who read a script, we no longer support this product. Or my favorite, the person who told us what we wanted to hear . We gave them the Fedex Ground tracking # to prove delivery, they said, someone will contact you within 48 hours , that was 3 weeks ago. Big rip off. We would have kept it ourselves and popped open the seals and fiddled with it some - if we would have known they were just going to steal it from us. Sworn off of RCA for life and will tell everyone i know to never buy their products.
On: 2008-05-23
I purchased this product last summer specifically for use on a long car trip with my 6 children. We used it twice before the long trip, and on the third try, it just stopped playing DVDs. So, I sent it back to be repaired under warranty. The warranty documentation specifically said to send all of the parts back, so thats what I did. Three months later (MUCH after our long, DVD-less trip), my DVD screens finally came back with no other parts. I called Thomson (long time to even find where to call customer support - BTW) to find out what happened to all of my other parts! They said they would order them for me. Well, here we are, almost a full year later, and I have no idea if my DVD player was repaired or not, because I STILL have no car power cords to even try it out. And, I have been given the "transfer" run-around with customer support each and every time I call. Ive probably called to get a status about 5 times total since last summer. I suppose thats $200 dollars down the drain. No more RCA/Thomson, or related, products for my family!
 On: 2008-04-18
1. Easy to install.
2. Good picture and sound.
3. Wish it had a remote, but would still buy the product again.
4. Works great on bumpy roads. No glitches or jumps in the CD.
5. Good price.
On: 2008-04-16
We ordered this for my two boys. It is a lifesaver! Plug in the headsets and you hear nothing from the backseat! We tested it out the first day we had it. It plays regular DVDS, DVD+R, DVD-R, CDs, everything you throw at it! Clear screen. Great sound. The cords get in the way but you can be creative to hide them. Easy to use. My 6 year old runs it! Durable and reliable. Does not have a battery, it runs off the cigarette lighter. Not a problem for my van.
On: 2008-03-26
I bought this product in October of 2006 for my daughter for long car rides. In May of 2007 the product started malfunctioning. It would play from time to time and only when the moon and stars were aligned correctly. I contacted customer service and they suggested unplugging the power and then restart the system but all that never really worked. The next thing service said was to send the unit back and they would fix and send back within a few weeks. I sent the unit back in July/October-ish and still havent seen the product (its now March 2008). After several followup phone calls, this product from RCA was made from Thompson Inc whos recently been bought out by Alcoa (sp?). They are apparently "merging" databases and its taking a while to find the product. Ive called once a week every week to check on the status and its nowhere to be found. One three of the 10 occasions Ive called, they did locate the item and said I would received it back in 1-2 weeks....5 weeks later, I called back asking where the unit was and now they cant find it again...this is GAWD awful service and Ive never seen such poor quality in an item.
I would 100% say to NOT buy this item at all but if you do, purchase am extended service plan. There goes money down the drain. I plan on writing to the Consumer Protection Agency and the Better Business Bureau as this is now way to run a business.
On: 2008-03-11
I purchased this recently because I have 4 little kids who like to fight and scream in the car. I found that the RCA dual screen DVD player was easy to install and easy to use. Why didnt I buy this sooner?
I was able to install one of the screens on my Siennas pull down ceiling storage holder for my 18 month old twins in the front as well as one between the seats in the second row so my 3 and 5 year old boys sitting in the 3rd row could watch. The minute I plugged it in all commotion and noise ceased. My husband and I were amazed at how much our kids loved this! The DVDs have never skipped even after hitting our huge New England pot holes. The DVD player has lasted through my 5 year old opening and shutting the door 30x a day. I like that my kids can put in their own music CDs, hook up their MP3 players and change movies, all without me having to be the front seat DJ. Another great feature is that the movie does not start all over each time I unplug the cord or when the car stops. I also love how the monitors can be installed pretty much anywhere that velcro sticks. For the price, the value cant be beat. Im looking forward to some sane daytrips now thanks to this purchase!
 On: 2008-02-29
I BOUGHT THIS PLAYER FOR A TRIP TO MIAMI, IT DID WELL FOR A WHILE, BUT A FEW MONTHS LATTER IT DID NOT POWER ON. MAKE SURE YOU BUY WARRANTY ON IT.
On: 2008-02-05
I purchased this unit and like other reviewers, mine worked fine for a few weeks. Then the skipping began. Rather than go through the hassle of returning it, I just dealt with having to stop and restart the unit. I did this for a few months until one day it just never turned back on. Fried. Dead. Only six months old. We sent it in over 2 months ago for service and have never heard another word since. I finally called and was told at least six more weeks until they can tell me something because RCA was just bought out by Alcoa???
Dont buy this unit. Spend your $200 elsewhere!!!!!
On: 2008-01-17
Like many of the other reviews here, my unit also died within a few months of service. Of course, past the limited 90 day warranty period. At first, the car adapter died. Then the main unit also started skipping. I had to restart it and only once in a while it would work. Then, it completed died. This product is almost of no quality, and based on the other reviews here, Im not going to bother to deal with the bad customer service. This ones headed for the junk pile. Im guessing that the person who wrote the very lengthy positive review on this product works for RCA or some related company.
On: 2008-01-16
Like many of the other reviews here, my unit also died within a few months of service. Of course, past the limited 90 day warranty period. At first, the car adapter died. Then the main unit also started skipping. I had to restart it and only once in a while it would work. Then, it completed died. This product is almost of no quality, and based on the other reviews here, Im not going to bother to deal with the bad customer service. This ones headed for the junk pile. Im guessing that the person who wrote the very lengthy positive review on this product works for RCA or some related company.
On: 2008-01-08
This is the best thing we ever bought! My child is so enamored by the fact he can watch his shows on the road, our trips are a breeze. It is extremely easy to use and so recommended for any parent!
On: 2008-01-04
This DVD player is horrible and RCA/Thomas customer service is worse than the product. I bought this and thought it would be great for those long trips to the in-laws.
Load everything up. Stupid thing does not work!! Brand new Cars DVD, fresh out of the package, wont play!!! The only DVD it would play was a Little LuLu that I bought at the Dollar Store. So, now my kids are disappointed because Mommy got them all happy to watch a DVD and the stupid thing does not work. We go on the trip
Come home. So, after about an hour looking on the internet for this impossible number, I call RCA who is Thomas -- (you will need this number 1-800-336-1900). They say if I pay for the shipping and insurance, they will send me a new one. I say fine. I send mine back. A few weeks later, I have a new one.
Second one is crap. Actually worse than the first one. This time, it plays only Barbie Fairytopia but the connector cord between the 2 monitors keeps messing up and the second monitor will loose sound, get fuzzy or just shut off.
So I call again. I ship again. I was called by RCA before Christmas 2007 and told my product was no longer in stock and they tried giving me a regular DVD player. I told them "No" they said they told me someone would be contacting me in a few days with refund information.
Well, today, 1/4/08, I have been on the phone with 5 different people. Ray at the number listed above gave me 1-800-433-7316 which kept telling after 1 ring "all circuits are not working" and hangs up. So I called again RCA. Melissa then gave me 1-800-252-6123 which had me on hold for literally 15 minutes just to tell me they are Ventura Electronics which bought RCA and is not handling anything before 1/3/08.
So I am trying RCA again. I have been on hold for the past 20 minutes because all represenatives are busy.
LISTEN TO ME... DONT WASTE YOUR TIME. I swear, the positive opinions, had to be written by a RCA CEO. $$$
On: 2007-12-14
My player has problem with the car power cable. I have to make more than 10 times calls to the customer service and still get no replacement. The first time, they sent a wrong cable and then they promised to send another one. The cable has never been arrived. I finally found out that the cable was out of stock after a few phone calls, but the customer service always tell me that they have sent the cable. RCA has really bad unprofessional customer service, they will ping-pong you to other department until you get fed up and tired. I will never buy a product again with RCA or Thompson label on it.
On: 2007-12-04
I purchased this unit from Best Buy. It was gently used 9 times and began to skip and not read the DVDs. Geek Squad told us it was too expensive to fix and suggested we contact RCA. RCA has had our unit since 9/14/2007 and has not sent the promised replacement unit or made any decision on a refund. I have made numerous phone calls to RCA and Best Buy. Neither company is willing to help. RCA states they do not have supervisors that can assist with customer complaints, Best Buys states I should have purchased the extended warranty. I have many electronics made by RCA and would not ever buy another based on this experience.
 On: 2007-11-15
This is a really good product so far. It was very easy to set up. Good size screen for our car. My two girls absolutely love it. The only problem is the volume. It is hard to hear well when on the interstate with the volume all the way up. We havent tried to use headphones yet.
On: 2007-11-04
This worked out better than expected. I bought this at the last minute, realizing we may need another form of entertainment on what looked to be a rained out vacation in a cottage. The units came with a case and all of the wires you would need for the multiple inputs/outputs.
The video and audio were great for its size. The linking wires and power cords are long enough to keep out of way in car/mini van. Kids found the controls and setup very easy.
The bonus was the USB capable mp3 player. When the kids were done with the movie, we just popped in my flash drive and listened to the music.
I really have nothing bad to say about DRC630N Portable DVD Players performance or useability, but the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 was the lack of a rechargeable battery (really is a 9 out of 10). I could not locate a battery to purchase anywhere. I am also a video buff. It would be great, and worthwhile, to utilize the player or screen to manage my videos on the go. Even on the trails, and mountian tops.
On: 2007-10-22
The lesser known features of this product are what make it shine above other portable/headrest DVD systems. This is my second purchase of this make and model of DVD players. I purchased one set for my wifes car, and soon after bought a set for my car. Two features make this set my favorite choice.
#1. Auto resume - Your child is watching a movie/video and you turn the car off to go into a store. When you come back to the car and turn it on, the DVD player automatically starts up right where you left off. You have no idea how valuable this feature is. Other players make you start all over, watch the FBI warning, wait for previews, then start the movie from the menu, then try to fast forward to where you left off. Try doing that from the drivers seat at 75 mph and your child is screaming because he/she has to wait.
#2. - Excellent Headrest Mounts - This particular set has a very strong, steady base plate with two vertical Velcro straps to secure it to the headrest. Once the base plate is secured, you simply slide the DVD player on. Sliding the DVD player onto the base plate CAN be done at 75 mph from the drivers seat because it slides on very easily and securely.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because connecting the main player to the secondary screen requires a proprietary cable that they supply you with. I broke my first one and had to call the distributor for RCA to send me another one since a third-party replacement is nearly impossible without soldering your own custom cable. However, they were very prompt about shipping the cable to me and it cost me absolutely nothing.
Great product. I highly recommend it above all other portable systems.
On: 2007-10-12
I got a defected product. I have to send it back to the manufacture to get another one. After two weeks now, I still do not have it back yet. Your support is not helpful at all. After paying $170 for the system and have nothing to play with. this is such.
On: 2007-10-11
I got a defected product. I have to send it back to the manufacture to get another one. After two weeks now, I still do not have it back yet. Your support is not helpful at all. After paying $170 for the system and have nothing to play with. this is such.
 On: 2007-10-10
Bought the product to take on a long trip. Its a great set up with everything you need. But after a few hours of use, it no longer wants to power up. Im not sure what the problem is, but for the price and functionality, maybe it was just too good to be true.
On: 2007-10-05
Good product, no problems as far, kids like it. Good mounting kit for the car and carrying case, easy to connect, double screen; however NO internal battery, therefore is not easy to use during flights, etc.
On: 2007-09-21
I got this for my kids to enjoy in a car. At first it was working great (though, no remote made it a little hard when they want to skip a chapter or the previews), and it suddenly stop working afther 3 months(just when the warranty expired.) It doesnt recognize the DVDs it used to play before. It doesnt read any DVD at all. I would say any price would be too expensive, if it only lasts for a few months(3 months.)
On: 2007-09-20
Owned it for a few months, never had any problems with it, kids love it. Allows my wife and I to have a peaceful, non-interupted conversation on long drives...how much is that worth!
On: 2007-09-20
I got this for my kids to enjoy in a car. At first it was working great (though, no remote made it a little hard when they want to skip a chapter or the previews), and it suddenly stop working afther 3 months(just when the warranty expired.) It doesnt recognize the DVDs it used to play before. It doesnt read any DVD at all. I would say any price would be too expensive, if it only lasts for a few months(3 months.)
On: 2007-09-19
We purchased this unit after trying out the Element dual screen portable DVD player. Unfortunately the Element was missing one key feature, an accurate resume function.
The RCA is great. It does everything we need. It remembers the location of the DVD when the car is turned off and it loses power, one of our key requirements.
I also like having the second screen and being able to use it to navigate menus without having to arch my back around to see the one screen system. The unit also seems to be very well made, especially when compared to the Element unit.
Pros:
* Comes with two mounting brackets which Velcro to the headrest
* Has a great carrying case
* Has an easy to use remote
* Simple connection between the screens, its impossible to plug into the wrong jacks
* Clear picture and great sound
* Open/Close is done through the primary units screen and seems to be high quality
Cons:
* Doesnt have a battery like many single unit portable DVD players have. This is fine for our use in a car, but wouldnt work for people who like to bring a unit into a restaurant
On: 2007-09-18
We purchased this unit after trying out the Element dual screen portable DVD player. Unfortunately the Element was missing one key feature, an accurate resume function.
The RCA is great. It does everything we need. It remembers the location of the DVD when the car is turned off and it loses power, one of our key requirements.
I also like having the second screen and being able to use it to navigate menus without having to arch my back around to see the one screen system. The unit also seems to be very well made, especially when compared to the Element unit.
Pros:
* Comes with two mounting brackets which Velcro to the headrest
* Has a great carrying case
* Has an easy to use remote
* Simple connection between the screens, its impossible to plug into the wrong jacks
* Clear picture and great sound
* Open/Close is done through the primary units screen and seems to be high quality
Cons:
* Doesnt have a battery like many single unit portable DVD players have. This is fine for our use in a car, but wouldnt work for people who like to bring a unit into a restaurant
On: 2007-09-17
I have not yet used this in the car as it is going to be a Christmas present. I tried it to make sure it works. The picture is very good. Its easy to set up. The screens easily come off the head rest holders. With a 6 yr old and a 2yr old I think this is going to be GREAT on long trips! I do with it came with a remote control though (thats why the 4 stars instead of 5). Im not sure my son will be able to reach the unit from his booster seat...well have to wait and see. Although I have not actually tried the game controller I think it is a very nice bonus. The screens also have a little table top stand on the back. It comes with a nice carry bag too. All in all a very nice unit.
On: 2007-09-17
ONLY LASTED FOR 3 WEEKS AFTER THAT AND WITH PERFECT CARE.. THE MAIN UNIT STARTED TO SHOW DISC ERROR, NO DISK IN UNIT... ETC ETC... ITS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... SOME TIMES READS THE DVD ... AND SOME TIMES GIVE THE DVD ERROR.. WHILE USING THE SAME DVD. I RECOMEND PURCHASING A LESS FRAGILE DVD PLAYER.
On: 2007-09-04
I bought this dvd player so that my kids..all 3 of them, would be entertained on a 6 hour trip to Silverwood. We were 1 hour into our trip when my 16 year old son decided that he wanted to play a game on one of the units. We turned it off and hooked it up according to the directions, but no games. We finally figured out that the main unit was not getting any power, but when we plugged the power into the second unit it was getting plenty of power. I am sending it back in order to get a replacement. If the second one fails, I will be getting a refund and suggesting that nobody purchase this unit.
On: 2007-09-03
I bought this dvd player so that my kids..all 3 of them, would be entertained on a 6 hour trip to Silverwood. We were 1 hour into our trip when my 16 year old son decided that he wanted to play a game on one of the units. We turned it off and hooked it up according to the directions, but no games. We finally figured out that the main unit was not getting any power, but when we plugged the power into the second unit it was getting plenty of power. I am sending it back in order to get a replacement. If the second one fails, I will be getting a refund and suggesting that nobody purchase this unit.
On: 2007-09-03
We bought this models with two screens because allows us to watch a movie and play some built in games at the same time. We are a 4 kids family and this gadget is very usefull for those long trips, especially on vacations times.
On: 2007-08-29
Sets up easy. Works perfectly and stays cool. Doesnt overheat. Never skipped on our 10 hr. driving trips. The games are a nice bonus. Perfect.
On: 2007-08-27
I bought these dvd players a year ago and they havent worked right from beginning but we thought it was vechicle so we kept them and they did start to work but shortly after the warranty ran out they started to act up again. I finally sent email to customer service and was told I needed to call them, so I did. Got guy who didnt know much about what I was even talking about. He tried to tell me it was my car and the power outlet, but told him my laptop works using power so it wasnt that. Problem is player works for about 2 minutes then just stops. I cant even get out of my drivway for trip without it quiting. Thought maybe was some defect in design and maybe was recall on it, but no such luck. Was told they could exchange it for refurbished one, I personally dont want someone elses broken one that most likely will do same thing again. If I was looking to buy new players I would DEFINITLY NOT buy from RCA. Their customer service department sucks and they dont stand behind items. How realistic is a 90 day warranty on an item you may only use a few times during that time. It takes longer than that for something to usually go wrong, and they know it so they get you by telling you they can exchange it for like new one, at a cost of course, but come on who wants someone elses problems. I am now looking for new players and am reading all the comments I can to find one that is decent.
On: 2007-08-26
Sadly, after only 8 months, this player has died. It only has a 90 day warranty and after that you have to pay to have it fixed. After labor and S/H it will be cheaper to buy another one (different brand, of course!) Other than that, it did work fine. It had a nice picture and sound for the time we had it. It did not, however, play dvd-rs as stated in the manual. Our kids (both toddlers) loved it. We used it almost daily and on long trips to Orlando and N. Fla. I have read the reviews about this and similar products and we all seem to have the same problem. I am now thinking about buying them each their own portable player.
On: 2007-08-24
Great product that is very easy to use. Kids love it. Great for longer car trips. The kids want it to be a permanent part of the car. Have not had any problems with it at all. Would buy again and would recommend.
On: 2007-08-23
This player was bought primarily for use in a car.
It worked reasonably well but did not like being left in a car overnight till next morning(heat outside the car was about 85 degrees F.)This caused the player not to work for a while till it cooled off in the air conditioning. Some dvds would not play correctly but on a whole they played very well.If power was interrupted the player would start from the last played spot.Having the two screens worked exceptionally well and made all my kids happy.Trying to use the player for music works but the user interface/software leaves something to be desired as it will arrange any cd/dvd with music into alphabetical files and play one by one(no random setting) even if the cd i burned has random songs on it.
This player is definitely better than most of the other ones Ive seen and it did a great job over a two way 22 hour drive.
On: 2007-08-22
This unit is a very nice design. The two displays are connected with a single cable, making for an easy setup. Each display attaches to a velcro-strapped backplate that stays on the car headrest. The displays quickly and easily pop off so you can take them inside when not needed in the car - of if the kids want to watch movies in the hotel! The audio is loud enough, and the video bright enough to keep the kids entertained on a long trip.
The problem is in the quality. Our main unit stopped working after only a week. It was not dropped or damaged in any way - it just refused to power up. And without the main unit, the slave display is virtually useless. Another caution: the warranty is only 90 days!
I was concerned about purchasing an RCA product after Thompson Consumer Electronics stiffed millions of TV buyers in the 90s with the "Tuner on Board" failures. Apparently, its still cheaper to litigate away class action lawsuits than build a reliable product.
On: 2007-08-19
This product worked well for 3 months but then suddenly stopped working. No product support from RCA. Do not waste your money on this.
On: 2007-08-08
Easy to install, great picture, easy to use. Only downfall is the cords in your backseat connecting the 2 dvd and the outlet. Would recommend highly
On: 2007-08-06
This product worked well for 3 months but then suddenly stopped working. I emailed RCA about this and they never responded which is totally unacceptable.
So, basically I am out nearly $200 for 3 months use. Due to the limited warranty on this item, if i were to fix it, I would have to pay for the labor. I might as well just buy a replacement! What a ripoff!
On: 2007-07-25
It looked like a very nice set but unfortunately it did not fit on our integrated head rest. Straps only go vertical and not horizontal like I needed. Own 2002 Chrysler van.
On: 2007-07-25
Yep, does what it says, and does it well. This setup worked great for our 23 hour drive (each way!) across a significant portion of the US - saving our sanity as parents with two younger children in the van.
Yes, the included games are very simple, but I think you could get any of the "hooks to your TV" controllers and use those instead if you want different game sets.
Two minor things that came up:
1) Our van doesnt have detached headrests on the front seats, and the mounting straps are designed to wrap around the headrest - we just crossed the straps in an "X" pattern around the headrests and it worked fine.
2) Traveling mid-summer with temperatures as high as 110F outside, even with air conditioning while traveling, the units sometimes got quite warm - which seemed to occasionally affect their playback capabilities. I dont think this is really a flaw - just us using the equipment outside its target operating temperatures. All we had to do is "rest" (turn off) the units for a short time (about 30 minutes seemed to work).
On: 2007-07-09
When we first purchased the unit, it was fantastic! It is very thoughtfully designed. Very well priced. We have used it some, but not extremely heavy use. We purchased it at the end of March for spring break trip. In the last month when we use it, the children will be 1/3 to 1/2 way through the movie and it will freeze up - its almost as though it gets too hot. It remains frozen or continues to "studder" to where they cant finish the movie. What is dissappointing is the warranty is up and we have to pay for labor to have it checked out and fixed. Labor can be unbelievable! Are there any 2-screen units out there that are reliable for under $200?
On: 2007-06-22
Bought the items a few weeks ago. At first, the second display had trouble showing picture (I thought the screen was completely dead). The picture on the second screen was very very very dark-dim. If I had not done the installation at night, I would not have noticed that the picture was there -- the audio was ok though. After several tries of unplugged and plugged the cable, the picture was back to normal (not sure how it happened) but the picture on the second display is not as sharp as the primary one but good enough though. This unit doesnt play the DVD+R like it was claimed (skipping a lot) but DVD-R works well. Beside these two problems, this is a good player -- worth the $$. The feature that I like the most is it continues playing back from where it was stopped -- my kids love this feature. And the feature that I hate the most is where the power button is located -- It is almost impossible to get to the power button on both units to turn them off if you have a car that still supplies the power to the cigaret lighter after the key was pulled from the ignition. But you can always pull/plug the power cable manually and hope you dont break it.
On: 2007-05-22
I love the dual screen DVD. You cant imagine how many fights have started with my kids because one thinks the screen is tilted to the others side. This solves that problem! Now they fight about who gets to pick the movie and work the controls!!! Does it ever end???
The picture resolution is great and it is SOOOOOOO easy to set up. I especially like that one plug is equipped to satisfy three different plugs. No more wondering where this or that plug goes. Truly user friendly.
I love that it comes with its own carry bag. It makes it organized and easy to put away. It also plays MP3 and CDs, which I like too. The kids can listen to their own music on there without draining the batteries on their cd players.
The only drawback I can see is that if one child is playing the included games, the other cannot watch a movie. There is only one power jack, so if you remove the video transmission from the main unit to the secondary unit to play a game, you also lose the power. I thought it would let one play the game while the other watched because some other review here said it would, but IT WONT, so dont expect it.
Overall, I love the product. It still has a little bit to go before it is truly exceptional, but still it is the best I have found on the market today.
On: 2007-05-14
Ive been through some other portable DVD units. All have failed or were easily damaged by the kids. This RCA unit has the DVD player built into the screen. Everything is up off the floor so theres no stepping on the player itself. The kids love it and the remote works well from the front of the car.
No gripes here. Best deal price wise too!
On: 2007-05-13
We were a little leary about buying a two-screen DVD player after not seeing any great reviews about them, but this one has been great so far. We had it on all day during our road trip, and it worked fine. The kids loved that they could use one screen to play games. The setup instructions were terrible, almost nonexistent, but luckily it was easy to figure out on our own. (The game instructions are even worse.) The only other complaint we have is that the volume doesnt go very loud. The maximum level actually was perfect for parents who dont want to hear the kids video blasting throughout the confinement of a vehicle, but if you were to use the player in a larger space, it would be difficult to hear clearly. For our purposes, however, this player is everything we wanted it to be.
On: 2007-02-20
I did my homework, reviewing head-rest mounted dvd players, before settling on this one. And we are very happy with it. Our toddler daughter has never been more well behaved on car rides, even up to 4 hours long. I love that the mounts can stay strapped on, so you just have to slide the players on and off. And there is only the one wire to connect the two units, so they can both play the same movie. It is wonderful how when I unplug the outlet and plug it back in, the movie picks up right where it left off. And the outlet cord is so long it can hang down between the front seats and easily stay out of our way. My daughter is too young to work the buttons, but I can reach them from the drivers seat, while I drive, to restart her movies if I have to (once I memorized where each button is, I can just feel around for the right one). Because of the a/c adaptor we can use it in our house, so my husband can sit and watch his dvds on his own, while we watch something else on tv. The video game feature is nice, but we havent used it yet. It doesnt come with headphones or a remote, but that is fine. It does have headphone jacks, so you can use headphones of your choice with it. Ive even been able to play movies in the car in the bitter cold, without the player misfunctioning at all. But some movies dont show up very well when the screen is in direct sunlight. I think this is a problem with the movie quality, and not with the player, though. Im very impressed with this device, and Im sure well get many years of enjoyment out of it. And, I think the price is very reasonable.
On: 2007-01-14
Bought this for my wife for x-mas. It didnt play the dvd-r burned discs from a quality dvd recorder. I returned it for another one hoping that I had just got a bad one. Again, no luck it doesnt play dvd-r discs from my recorder. I use a Lite-On brand burner and burn discs of TV shows for trips. I may return it again.
I like all the features and I researched several products. The games are low quality, but no biggy. The second screen was slightly lower clarity. It plays pics, songs, mpegs from a usb drive, cool. Buyer beware, it doesnt seem like any of these DVD players are 100% satisfaction. Get the extended warranty. Good luck. I hope you get a good one. I didnt, but I may keep trying.
On: 2007-01-04
Not having been that impressed with RCAs electronics offerings in recent years, I did not have huge expectations for this unit. I was pleasantly surprised.
The RCA DRC630N (aka DRC630) is a dual screen portable dvd video system. It is designed for use at home or in the car (and includes power adapters for both). After trying out and returning a similar dual-screen system from Emerson, I decided to give this one a try. It was reasonably priced at less than two hundred. It would be put to the test on a drive halfway across the country with a 2 year old and 6 year old in the back seat.
First Impressions:
Out of the box, the unit is tucked into a compact nylon storage bag that has interior dividers to keep the components separate. Other than the two screens, there are two car headrest mounting brackets, various connection cables, a game controller, and AC and DC power adapters. The mounting brackets are well-thought out and use long velcro straps to secure to the headrest. There is an attached thick foam pad on the back of the bracket that protects your headrest and provides extra grip and cushion for the unit. The genius of the brackets is that the screen just slide onto the brackets and lock automatically. As such, the screens can be easily removed and re-installed in seconds. This allows extra security by removing the screens when the car is unattended (e.g., overnight in a hotel parking lot).
Another well-designed feature of the system is that unlike other dual-screen systems, there is only one cable to connect between the two screens. There is a unique multiple-plug connector on each end of the cable, making it impossible to get the cable plugged into the wrong holes. The cable is plenty long so that it can be tucked out of the way. So, two plugs to connect the screens and one more to connect the power source really makes the setup a 1-2-3 process!
THE PLAY:
The real test is in how the unit plays. And what it plays. All of the players controls are on the front of the main screen, and a slider button on top unlatches the screen section, which flips down to allow for disc loading. If you are using the system anywhere other than a car, there are flip-out stands on the back of each screen and the main screen also has a standard tripod mount on the bottom. Both screens have headphone jacks for private listening. In short, the unit played everything I threw at it. Commercial discs, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD DL. All played without a hitch. I was especially happy about the Dual Layer because the other system I tried choked on DL. Video and color quality was quite good compared to most other systems Ive seen. The audio is about what you would expect from the small speakers, and volume was adequate for our uses. Even on bumpy roads, there were no indications of skips or pauses. My 6 year old could easily navigate the DVD menus with the buttons on the unit. I noticed that if a movie was playing while I turned off the car (which killed power to the system), when I turned the car back on again, the system powered up and resumed the movie from the point it had stopped.
A few other notables:
-The system is a progressive scan player and includes the cables for hooking up to a TV or monitor. You will have to settle for composite video quality, however.
-The system has a TV Guardian feature, that when activated can apparently monitor the subtitle text and mute the sound when offensive language is detected. (I didnt test this feature).
-The main screen has a USB port that allows the connection of an MP3 player or flash drive, and will play stored pictures in slideshow or play digital video files. So the system could be used as a digital picture frame as well. (I didnt test this feature).
-The system comes with a game controller for use with the 30 games stored in internal memory on the secondary screen. The system allows for a movie to be playing on the main screen while games are being played on the secondary screen. (I didnt try out the games, so I cant report on their quality or attraction).
-The system does not come with a remote, which could be a negative for some people. A remote has limited usefulness in the car anyway, since one can just reach out and use the on-unit buttons. And its one more thing to keep track of.
-While there is a connector on the back for a battery pack, the RCA website does not mention one and there are no obvious ones for sale.
Overall, Im impressed with this system. It was thoughtfully designed, is easy to use, and works like it is supposed to. Ill be keeping this one for other long trips. Ive only had it for two weeks (of heavy use), so I cant attest to its durability.
On: 2007-01-03
Not having been that impressed with RCAs electronics offerings in recent years, I did not have huge expectations for this unit. I was pleasantly surprised.
The RCA DRC630N (aka DRC630) is a dual screen portable dvd video system. It is designed for use at home or in the car (and includes power adapters for both). After trying out and returning a similar dual-screen system from Emerson, I decided to give this one a try. It was reasonably priced at less than two hundred. It would be put to the test on a drive halfway across the country with a 2 year old and 6 year old in the back seat.
First Impressions:
Out of the box, the unit is tucked into a compact nylon storage bag that has interior dividers to keep the components separate. Other than the two screens, there are two car headrest mounting brackets, various connection cables, a game controller, and AC and DC power adapters. The mounting brackets are well-thought out and use long velcro straps to secure to the headrest. There is an attached thick foam pad on the back of the bracket that protects your headrest and provides extra grip and cushion for the unit. The genius of the brackets is that the screen just slide onto the brackets and lock automatically. As such, the screens can be easily removed and re-installed in seconds. This allows extra security by removing the screens when the car is unattended (e.g., overnight in a hotel parking lot).
Another well-designed feature of the system is that unlike other dual-screen systems, there is only one cable to connect between the two screens. There is a unique multiple-plug connector on each end of the cable, making it impossible to get the cable plugged into the wrong holes. The cable is plenty long so that it can be tucked out of the way. So, two plugs to connect the screens and one more to connect the power source really makes the setup a 1-2-3 process!
THE PLAY:
The real test is in how the unit plays. And what it plays. All of the players controls are on the front of the main screen, and a slider button on top unlatches the screen section, which flips down to allow for disc loading. If you are using the system anywhere other than a car, there are flip-out stands on the back of each screen and the main screen also has a standard tripod mount on the bottom. Both screens have headphone jacks for private listening. In short, the unit played everything I threw at it. Commercial discs, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD DL. All played without a hitch. I was especially happy about the Dual Layer because the other system I tried choked on DL. Video and color quality was quite good compared to most other systems Ive seen. The audio is about what you would expect from the small speakers, and volume was adequate for our uses. Even on bumpy roads, there were no indications of skips or pauses. My 6 year old could easily navigate the DVD menus with the buttons on the unit. I noticed that if a movie was playing while I turned off the car (which killed power to the system), when I turned the car back on again, the system powered up and resumed the movie from the point it had stopped.
A few other notables:
-The system is a progressive scan player and includes the cables for hooking up to a TV or monitor. You will have to settle for composite video quality, however.
-The system has a TV Guardian feature, that when activated can apparently monitor the subtitle text and mute the sound when offensive language is detected. (I didnt test this feature).
-The main screen has a USB port that allows the connection of an MP3 player or flash drive, and will play stored pictures in slideshow or play digital video files. So the system could be used as a digital picture frame as well. (I didnt test this feature).
-The system comes with a game controller for use with the 30 games stored in internal memory on the secondary screen. The system allows for a movie to be playing on the main screen while games are being played on the secondary screen. (I didnt try out the games, so I cant report on their quality or attraction).
-The system does not come with a remote, which could be a negative for some people. A remote has limited usefulness in the car anyway, since one can just reach out and use the on-unit buttons. And its one more thing to keep track of.
-While there is a connector on the back for a battery pack, the RCA website does not mention one and there are no obvious ones for sale.
Overall, Im impressed with this system. It was thoughtfully designed, is easy to use, and works like it is supposed to. Ill be keeping this one for other long trips. Ive only had it for two weeks (of heavy use), so I cant attest to its durability.
On: 2006-12-19
On the way home from another long car ride, I knew I needed to share how much I love this machine! It doesnt have a battery backup, so you have to plug it in, but thats not a big deal for us since we have several outlets in our van. It works perfectly for us, with one child watching a video and the other playing the video games it keeps them both satisfied in the backseat. It also has worked time after time for us. Weve owned at least for a year. Now, the video games are not xbox or ps2 quality, but they work just fine for us. One of the best features is the way that you set up the headrest mount which each unit slides in and out of very easily, which makes switching videos easy and taking just the machines inside the hotel so that theres no risk of anyone stealing it out of the car. Our previous Durabrand machine was low quality and you had to set it up EVERY time you wanted to play it. Also, switching the secondary unit from video to video games is a breeze!
On: 2006-12-18
On the way home from another long car ride, I knew I needed to share how much I love this machine! It doesnt have a battery backup, so you have to plug it in, but thats not a big deal for us since we have several outlets in our van. It works perfectly for us, with one child watching a video and the other playing the video games it keeps them both satisfied in the backseat. It also has worked time after time for us. Weve owned at least for a year. Now, the video games are not xbox or ps2 quality, but they work just fine for us. One of the best features is the way that you set up the headrest mount which each unit slides in and out of very easily, which makes switching videos easy and taking just the machines inside the hotel so that theres no risk of anyone stealing it out of the car. Our previous Durabrand machine was low quality and you had to set it up EVERY time you wanted to play it. Also, switching the secondary unit from video to video games is a breeze!
On: 2006-12-16
For the first few weeks it worked fine, however, it started skipping and stopping DVDs after two months. I called customer service on 85th days after original purchase date and been told to send the unit for replacement since it was still under warranty, no case number was given at the time. The unit was shipped via UPS and received on 92nd days from the purchase date, and they charged $50 for warranty service since it was received two days after warranty expired. I called customer service again and the representative declined waiving charges because I dont have case number issued within warranty period. In addition, please keep in mind that their service fee includes returning handling and shipping fees as well. Next place for my DVD player? Trashcan *sigh*
Go buy another brand with 1 year warranty unless you purchase extended warranty along with this unit.
Pros:
Cheap
Dual screen
Comes with gaming pad
Detachable screens which is very easy to use.
Cons:
Sub LCD screen isnt sharp as main, I thought it was defective for the first time.
All the games are outdated
On: 2006-12-15
For the first few weeks it worked fine, however, it started skipping and stopping DVDs after two months. I called customer service on 85th days after original purchase date and been told to send the unit for replacement since it was still under warranty, no case number was given at the time. The unit was shipped via UPS and received on 92nd days from the purchase date, and they charged $50 for warranty service since it was received two days after warranty expired. I called customer service again and the representative declined waiving charges because I dont have case number issued within warranty period. In addition, please keep in mind that their service fee includes returning handling and shipping fees as well. Next place for my DVD player? Trashcan *sigh*
Go buy another brand with 1 year warranty unless you purchase extended warranty along with this unit.
Pros:
Cheap
Dual screen
Comes with gaming pad
Detachable screens which is very easy to use.
Cons:
Sub LCD screen isnt sharp as main, I thought it was defective for the first time.
All the games are outdated
On: 2006-11-08
I think its the best in its catagory, but had a little glitch during first startup (didnt play on the first attempt). No problems since then. Im nervous about its lifespan seeing as how many reviews for various auto dvd players dont last beyond their warrenty expiration date. Well see. But so ar we ar very happy with it.
On: 2006-10-15
Ill keep this short. It does/did what we want...keep out kids happy while driving. However, my units just a hair over the 90 day warranty and its already starting to flake out. At first we assumed it was a scratched disc, but new or old the skipping was so bad to stopped using it on the last trip. In addition this doesnt include a battery and though the "manual" (large piece of paper) mentions a slot for a battery expansion I cant find this magical battery for sale anywhere. Even the official RCA site lacks any mention of it. *sigh*
On: 2006-09-03
We always tried to use our laptops dvd player to watch movies on long road trips, but it was a huge pain to change a movie, start a movie, or make sure all 3 kids had a good view.
This dual dvd player is the one!!! Very lightweight so if you dont have the moveable headrest to velcro it to (our suv has the one piece driver/passenger seat) you can be creative so it will attach and it doesnt fall down. The one piece cord to link both screens together is long enough to put one screen behind the driver/passenger seat and the other screen behind the middle rows seat--and you can tuck the cord in between the seats so its not in the way. The volume is okay--they could hear it comfortably when it was all the way up but you can also listen to it through your car stereo and the problem is solved (if you need it louder) One simple button to change a movie, PLUS it has a parental control feature to edit foul language in movies+++++++, comes with a car adapter and an a/c adapter to plug in anywhere. Havent tried the built in games.
The price was unbeatable, all 3 kids (toddlers) are happy, traveling is great again.
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