Blu-Ray vs HD

Sonny · « **on:** 1 Feb 2008, 05:52 pm »

So, which is the winner???
I know Warner is releasing, as of April 08, all on Blu-Ray, but which is better to have?
I bought a Samsung P1400 and the picture is great, but I've heard that the HD format is even better and the Toshiba players are even cheaper...what should one do?

Thanks
T

mca · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Feb 2008, 05:55 pm »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=45772.0

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Feb 2008, 05:56 pm »

The same. I have a Panny BD30K and a Tosh XA2. Same picture, same quality of sound. Bought 11 new movies today and 8 were BR of the bunch. But I have almost 70 HD DVD's and need to build up my BR library.

Sonny · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Feb 2008, 06:26 pm »

thanks for the quick feedback...
So, is it the norm to have both format players???
is there a universal player out there that can do both BR and HD?

Sonny · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Feb 2008, 06:27 pm »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 1 Feb 2008, 05:56 pm

The same. I have a Panny BD30K and a Tosh XA2. Same picture, same quality of sound. Bought 11 new movies today and 8 were BR of the bunch. But I have almost 70 HD DVD's and need to build up my BR library.

How do you like the BD30K?

PhilNYC · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Feb 2008, 07:42 pm »

Quote from: Sonny on 1 Feb 2008, 06:26 pm

thanks for the quick feedback...
So, is it the norm to have both format players???
is there a universal player out there that can do both BR and HD?

Both LG and Samsung have players that play both BR and HD

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Feb 2008, 07:56 pm »

Quote from: Sonny on 1 Feb 2008, 06:27 pm

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 1 Feb 2008, 05:56 pm
The same. I have a Panny BD30K and a Tosh XA2. Same picture, same quality of sound. Bought 11 new movies today and 8 were BR of the bunch. But I have almost 70 HD DVD's and need to build up my BR library.

How do you like the BD30K?

Love it. Easy set up, easy to use, no idiosyncrasies. I have both units running thru an Onkyo 885 processor. Gotta love DTS MA and DD+ and DTHD!!!

Ears · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Feb 2008, 10:48 pm »

Quote from: Sonny on 1 Feb 2008, 05:52 pm

So, which is the winner???
I know Warner is releasing, as of April 08, all on Blu-Ray, but which is better to have?
I bought a Samsung P1400 and the picture is great, but I've heard that the HD format is even better and the Toshiba players are even cheaper...what should one do?
Thanks
T

I would not reccomend buying into hd dvd at this point.

Since the Warner announcement here are a few more studios that have changed their stance.

Warner starting June 1-08
New Line Blu effective immediately
HBO Blu effective immediately
Constantin Films Blu March 1-08
Senator Home entertainment Blu 4-1-08
RB Films Blu exclusive immediately
FS Films Blu exclusive immediately
National Geographic Blu exclusive immediately
Magna Films Blu exclusive immediately
BAC Films Blu exclusive immediately
Highlight Films Blu exclusive immediately
Digital Playground neutral (Porn)
Adam and Eve neutral (Porn)

There are also several Euro store chains that have said they will sell only Blu-ray from this point on, and TDK has announced supporting only Blu-ray and abandoning hd dvd recordable media production/sales.

You can expect this list to grow by the week up until Paramount goes Blu, forcing Universal to eventually go Blu also.

Sonny · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Feb 2008, 11:05 pm »

Thanks!

Woodsea · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 12:17 am »

At this point, I am not going to get a blue-ray either. Because, even as we speak we know there are better formats around the corner. I am not blowing smoke either. Plus, it to expensive for the software, and the most upgradeable machine out there is the PS3. Which I am not a fan of, or rather not a fan of the manufacturer.

Ears · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 03:44 am »

Quote from: Woodsea on 5 Feb 2008, 12:17 am

At this point, I am not going to get a blue-ray either. Because, even as we speak we know there are better formats around the corner. I am not blowing smoke either. Plus, it to expensive for the software, and the most upgradeable machine out there is the PS3. Which I am not a fan of, or rather not a fan of the manufacturer.

Never understood how anyone can hate a CE but???

What better format is around the corner thats actually viable or will be here in the next 10 years?

This I have to hear.

RAW · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 04:02 am »

Having both players Toshiba HD A3 and a Philips BDP9000 Blu Ray player.I can say out of 21 people we had over one night to watch the new Pirates.We have both formats and using the same cable switch between the 2 pictures on our Pany plasma and out of the 21 people over only 19 picked the blue ray over the HD.

And now the players from Toshiba dropped in the last BB flyer again.

samplesj · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 01:48 pm »

Quote from: RAW on 5 Feb 2008, 04:02 am

Having both players Toshiba HD A3 and a Philips BDP9000 Blu Ray player.I can say out of 21 people we had over one night to watch the new Pirates.We have both formats and using the same cable switch between the 2 pictures on our Pany plasma and out of the 21 people over only 19 picked the blue ray over the HD.

Ummmm????? All of the pirates movies are blu-exclusive. This isn't a test of blu vs hd dvd but rather blu vs normal dvd upscaling.

Of course the blu is going to be a better picture than than a normal dvd.

Woodsea · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 02:11 pm »

Here are two clues that another format will soon be coming.
How about cheap internet versions of the same films but on an even cheaper of hardware http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/09/china-announces-ch-dvd-a-new-high-definition-dvd-standard/

I already alluded to this one (in previous thread), coming from Japan. This isn't a format per se, but if you build it they will want it. Coming out in 2015, which is within your stated 10 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7205338.stm

I was all for HD, but I am cannot afford to replace all my DVD's to BR and then to something else entirely in less than 10 years. I have a nice upconverting DVD player, and satellite and/or cable gives great HD to my LCD.

Woodsea · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 02:52 pm »

The copy infringement is a joke, even BR is able to be partially hacked into now. I was just putting it out there that legally cheap DVD's will be able to be bought over the internet that are every way as High Res as BR. Right now, you can go to China and get legal copies of Bollywood and Hollywood dvd's for around $3.
I personally believe that downloadable content will be the way to get the best priced HD content.
Glad to see that you will not wasting your money as well on this format, Marbles.

ctviggen · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 03:29 pm »

Quote from: Woodsea on 5 Feb 2008, 02:52 pm

The copy infringement is a joke, even BR is able to be partially hacked into now. I was just putting it out there that legally cheap DVD's will be able to be bought over the internet that are every way as High Res as BR. Right now, you can go to China and get legal copies of Bollywood and Hollywood dvd's for around $3.
I personally believe that downloadable content will be the way to get the best priced HD content.
Glad to see that you will not wasting your money as well on this format, Marbles.

You mean illegal copies of Hollywood DVDs, correct? China is not known for its protection of intellectual property. (Although I for one lament the cost of DVDs -- do they really need to be $20?)

Woodsea · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 03:46 pm »

No, they now sell legal copies in China to fend off the 10RMB copies you get on the streets. The Chinese nationals and tourists get real copies from Hollywood instead of bootlegs of questionable audio and video.
Is it fair? No, but we pay for higher prescriptions to off-load the costs and demand by the stock holders, so 3rd world countries get cheaper pills. Is that fair?

RAW · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 04:11 pm »

Quote from: samplesj on 5 Feb 2008, 01:48 pm

Quote from: RAW on 5 Feb 2008, 04:02 am
Having both players Toshiba HD A3 and a Philips BDP9000 Blu Ray player.I can say out of 21 people we had over one night to watch the new Pirates.We have both formats and using the same cable switch between the 2 pictures on our Pany plasma and out of the 21 people over only 19 picked the blue ray over the HD.

Ummmm????? All of the pirates movies are blu-exclusive. This isn't a test of blu vs hd dvd but rather blu vs normal dvd upscaling.

Of course the blu is going to be a better picture than than a normal dvd.

My bad.
Sorry we compaired the pirates BR to a upscaled dvd then Harry BR to HD with the BR on top.

Ears · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 Feb 2008, 11:33 pm »

Quote from: Woodsea on 5 Feb 2008, 02:11 pm

Here are two clues that another format will soon be coming.
How about cheap internet versions of the same films but on an even cheaper of hardware http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/09/china-announces-ch-dvd-a-new-high-definition-dvd-standard/

I already alluded to this one (in previous thread), coming from Japan. This isn't a format per se, but if you build it they will want it. Coming out in 2015, which is within your stated 10 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7205338.stm

I was all for HD, but I am cannot afford to replace all my DVD's to BR and then to something else entirely in less than 10 years. I have a nice upconverting DVD player, and satellite and/or cable gives great HD to my LCD.

Your first example will get no hollywood studio support and your second says 2025 and is not even a format?

I don't plan on buying every dvd I ever bought on Blu-ray either, but the fact is that the P/Q is far superior over any upscaler and the audio upgrade is phenominal which you would think would be important on a site like this.

Have you heard Uncompressed PCM. DD-THD and DTS-MA, or even seen a Blu-ray played on a 1080p/24 display?

Downloads at 1080p are more than 10 years away for most of us, and they will never have HD audio and may always be limited to 720p when they do become viable.

Woodsea · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Feb 2008, 01:30 am »

Ears you are in dream land if you think we are a decade away from HD downloads. It was 2015 and not 2025 with regards to the Japanese Super HD
Hollywood would have to have blinders on by not selling to over a billion up and comers in China, let alone India. Even if they pay buck on each movie they sold it would make up for ANY weak US sales.
Look at these numbers
India 700,000,000 persons between 15-64 years of age
China 900,000,000 persons between 15-64 years of age (All from CIA world fact book 24 of January 2008)
US of A 202,000,000 persons between 15-64 years of age