Sharp Electronics Corporation has announced the availability of the new DV-L80U portable DVD-Video player, which boasts what the company says is the world’s largest LCD screen available. The DV-L80U delivers home theatre quality features housed in a compact design with an eight-inch view screen; 30 percent larger than Sharp’s previous model, the DV-L70U.

With a lightweight design combined with an easy-to-use graphical user interface, the portable DV-L80U gives consumers more viewing area without compromising size or weight. Measuring just 8.3 x 6.1 x 1 (W/H/D inches) – only slightly larger than a paperback book – and weighing less than two pounds without the battery (2 lbs., 13 oz. with battery), the DV-L80U makes for a versatile portable entertainment device.

The unit has a 3.5 hour battery life, a built-in Dolby® Digital Audio Decoder (5.1 channels and Dolby Pro Logic®), DVD-RW integrated technology, easy-to-use function controls and an ultra-thin, unified remote control.
Equipped with a full array of line outputs and AV inputs, the DV-L80U acts as a portable home theatre. The unit enables system building with other devices that have S-Video input, composite video input or six channel audio output compatibility, to supply top quality DVD images and sound to televisions or monitors. In addition, the portable player is able to read DVD-RW formatted titles and compact discs.

With Virtual Dolby Surround® sound (Q Surround), DTS® Digital Surround™ compatibility and a built-in Dolby Digital audio decoder, the DV-L80U provides an impressive listening experience when connected to a full-size system or just headphones. For optimum performance and superior sound, the DV-L80U is equipped with an optical digital audio output jack enabling consumers to easily match the output quality of an existing audio system.

The unit’s image quality is the result of Sharp’s proprietary Digital Gamma Correction Playback Circuit, which corrects color values in dim sections of the picture according to the brightness of the video image. In addition, the DV-L80U uses Digital Super Picture Logic to provide even greater sharpness by adjusting brightness/contrast and clarifying outlines and picture details, while reducing signal ‘noise.’

The DV-L80U is available now for a suggested retail price of $1,599.99.