Do I Really Need a BluRay Player?

[Poobah]

You need a Blueray player...

Sure some blueray titles can look like crap... usually the older titles recently made into bluerays(but not always.. 2001 and bladerunner are awsome). But new blueray titles can look absolutely incredible, and I simply can't live with the DVD version in most cases...

Not to say that DVD can't be done right and look remarkable good... like Fifth Element superbit edition being a prime example... The blueray of Fifth Element was dissappointing..

But generally Blueray, kicks butt.

[Uberbrown]

Originally Posted by jprice

To paraphrase what I asked, "Is BluRay worth the hassle?" In the posts to this thread, I think this question has been answered.

Ok...
YES, Blu-Ray is VASTLY superior to DVD.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Ivan.......For your generous monthly contribution to the Save Julian Fund you will receive a hand written letter from Julian twice a year telling you all about himself and his interests, including multicolored crayon drawings of his sound system that you can hang on your refrigerator. PLUS, you will receive a full color signed photograph, suitable for framing, of Julian in the pool house enjoyng the comfortable and secure lifestyle you are providing. Don't let this opportunity pass by. Julian, like so many other needy audiophiles around the world, is patiently waiting for someone to care. Please, let that someone be you. Don't allow this golden moment to slip away. Write that check right now.

DAN, YOU ARE A HOOT. REALLY FUNNY!!!!!

My new family!

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by jprice

DAN, YOU ARE A HOOT. REALLY FUNNY!!!!!

Julian.......I know you've seen the late night television commercial I produced. It's running between episodes of Cops. Then again, perhaps not. Really old people go to bed early.

The camera slowly zooms in on poor Julian sitting in the shade on his pool deck. The sun is much to intense for his old, and withered face these days. Julian, eyes cast down, is not smiling. As the camera finally frames his face full screen, the announcer's voice begins, "Yes, we have seen this face before, and we all know there are multitudes of disadvantaged audiophiles, just like Julian here. Waiting, worrying if they are the only one, hoping that a benevolent sponser will step up to the plate and show he cares. Julian, for all his years as a hifi enthusiast, has never been fully appreciated, and at no time has he ever known the comfort and security that comes from a caring sponsor's loving monthly cash contribution. Won't you please help? Look at that face. You can help make this sad and lonely audiophile's smile return. A simple monthly contribution is all it takes. Please, make the commitment. Join the many others that have heard Julian's story, and have gained the satisfaction that comes from lifting a poor, beaten down audiophile's spirits. Don't wait. Please, write that check right this moment. Your monthly contribution to the Save Julian Fund will create a warm glow in your heart knowing that you are helping a lonesome, aging audiophile to find that long lost smile before it's too late. Remember, only you can write that check. Please do it now,.....for Julian." Fade to black.

I did my best. Hope to see the checks rolling in soon.

[1KW]

In a word yes.
I am guilty of using a $300 Sony blu ray player with the video and digital out going to my MX120 and it blows away any DVD player I have seen . The picture and audio is in a word superb !

[-E-]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Julian.......I know you seen the late night television commercial I produced. It's running between late night shows of Cops. Then again, perhaps not.

The camera slowly zooms in on poor Julian sitting in the shade on his pool deck. The sun is much to intense for his old, and withered face these days. Julian, eyes cast down, is not smiling. As the camera finally frames the face full screen, the announcer's voice begins, "Yes, we have seen this face before, and we all know there are multitudes of disadvantaged audiophiles, just like Julian here. Waiting, wondering if they are the only one, hoping that a benevolent sponser will step up to the plate and show he cares. Julian, for all his years as a hifi enthusiast, has never been fully appreciated, and at no time has he ever known the comfort and security that comes from a caring sponsor's loving monthly cash contribution. Won't you please help? Look at that face. You can help make this sad and lonely audiophile's smile return. A simple monthly contribution is all it takes. Please, make the commitment. Join the many others that have heard Julian's story, and have gained the satisfaction that comes from lifting a poor, beaten down audiophile's spirits. Don't wait. Please, write that check right this moment. Your monthly contribution to the Save Julian Fund will create a warm glow in your heart knowing that you are helping a lonesome, aging audiophile to find that long lost smile before it's too late. Remember, only you can write that check. Please do it right now, for Julian." Fade to black.

Reminds me of the South Park episode when the boys are caught downloading mp3's, and the feds take them to see Britney Spears and how, due to illegal downloading, must now fly in ONLY a G4 instead of a G5. Poor thing...

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Julian.......I know you've seen the late night television commercial I produced. It's running between episodes of Cops. Then again, perhaps not. Really old people go to bed early.

The camera slowly zooms in on poor Julian sitting in the shade on his pool deck. The sun is much to intense for his old, and withered face these days. Julian, eyes cast down, is not smiling. As the camera finally frames his face full screen, the announcer's voice begins, "Yes, we have seen this face before, and we all know there are multitudes of disadvantaged audiophiles, just like Julian here. Waiting, worrying if they are the only one, hoping that a benevolent sponser will step up to the plate and show he cares. Julian, for all his years as a hifi enthusiast, has never been fully appreciated, and at no time has he ever known the comfort and security that comes from a caring sponsor's loving monthly cash contribution. Won't you please help? Look at that face. You can help make this sad and lonely audiophile's smile return. A simple monthly contribution is all it takes. Please, make the commitment. Join the many others that have heard Julian's story, and have gained the satisfaction that comes from lifting a poor, beaten down audiophile's spirits. Don't wait. Please, write that check right this moment. Your monthly contribution to the Save Julian Fund will create a warm glow in your heart knowing that you are helping a lonesome, aging audiophile to find that long lost smile before it's too late. Remember, only you can write that check. Please do it now,.....for Julian." Fade to black.

I did my best. Hope to see the checks rolling in soon.

Dan, Thank you so much. The checks have indeed started rolling in - - to the extent that our local post office called to say that they are not able to handle such a high volume of mail. Several 18 wheeler truckloads came in just this morning. The folks at the PO are moving my box to Grand Central Station, where, apparently, such high volumes may be handled more easily.

I've had to hire a team of mail sorters and handlers just to open and sort the hundreds of thousands of letters, and I hired a couple of armed guards to watch the sorters/handlers because so many people are sending cash.

Dan, the TV network called to say that they would like to have a three hour telethon to highlight my plight, and made it a condition that you direct and produce the thing. Thinking is, that it may well turn into a mini-series. Also, they would like for us to have a dozen or so infomercials, ready for the summer/fall market and one for the Super Bowl.

There is talk about an ADDY award for your original commercial, and I think a Golden Globe and an EMMY are very likely in the offing for your "shows".

Dan, you are the best! Thanks. (By the way, your share of the loot is under the table, out by your barn)

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by jprice

Dan, Thank you so much. The checks have indeed started rolling in - - to the extent that our local post office called to say that they are not able to handle such a high volume of mail. Several 18 wheeler truckloads came in just this morning. The folks at the PO are moving my box to Grand Central Station, where, apparently, such high volumes may be handled more easily.

I've had to hire a team of mail sorters and handlers just to open and sort the hundreds of thousands of letters, and I hired a couple of armed guards to watch the sorters/handlers because so many people are sending cash.

Dan, the TV network called to say that they would like to have a three hour telethon to highlight my plight, and made it a condition that you direct and produce the thing. Thinking is, that it may well turn into a mini-series. Also, they would like for us to have a dozen or so infomercials, ready for the summer/fall market and one for the Super Bowl.

There is talk about an ADDY award for your original commercial, and I think a Golden Globe and an EMMY are very likely in the offing for your "shows".

Dan, you are the best! Thanks. (By the way, your share of the loot is under the table, out by your barn)

Julian.......I think we make a good writing team. We could probably pull this off.

[jdubbs]

All else being equal, Blu-ray discs give you substantially more accurate picture and sound than DVDs. Their video resolution is 4x that of DVDs, and their audio is lossless unlike the compressed audio formats available on DVD. It is true that the occasional disk has been authored with less-than perfect video codecs, but these have so far been limited to a handful of titles. The Fifth Element was the most prominent among them, especially given that in DVD format it was considered a reference quality disc (it has since been re-released on Blu-ray with improved video, and there was a trade-in program).

Given Blu-ray's added resolution, what you see on your display will look closer to the original source material than is possible on DVD or another SD format. For movies shot digitally (or on modern filmstock) and edited digitally, this invariably translates to a pristine image, as though you're looking out your freshly-Windexed window on a beautiful, sunny day. For movies shot in previous decades, you're going to see more of the character of the film stock... this can mean more grain for instance, and/or differences in luminance, saturation and hue unique to the era of the movie or the director's artistic choices. Some people are very vocal in their opinion that these films look "worse" on BD than on DVD because a) perceived "defects" like film grain get washed out on DVD and b) people expect Blu-ray to magically convert movies shot in the 60s, 70s, and 80s (and even 90s) to newer, more transparent filmstock. On the other hand, most film buffs would argue that differences in grain and color timing are what make The Godfather uniquely The Godfather, The Graduate uniquely The Graduate, etc. and that color correction and digital cleanup should be used only to remove dirt and corrosion from a film's negative, not to try to make movies from the 70s look like last summer's blockbuster.

It's also worth pointing out that despite the added resolution available in BD discs, the human eye can only resolve so much detail at any given distance. If you sit 8 or 9 feet away from a 50" display (even if it's 1080p), DVD and Blu-ray are going to look pretty much indistinguishable no matter what player you're using or how good your eyesight is. Likewise, the subject matter of the image being presented (irrespective of grain, etc.) will benefit from the added resolution to varying degrees. For instance, a romantic comedy, in which most of the shots are closeups of human faces, will look very much the same on DVD and BD. There's just not enough detail in a perfectly-lit, heavily made-up face to present a problem for DVD, even when scaled up to a 50-60" display. Long shots, action sequences, detailed scenery, etc. are where Blu-ray has the greatest advantage.

When watching DVDs via a BD player, your mileage will vary, esp. depending on the other components in your system. If your display, DVD player, or HT processor already up-converts SD video to an HD resolution, your BD player may do little if anything to improve playback of a DVD disc. And despite what you see in almost any episode of 24, CSI, etc., you can't take an SD image and endlessly zoom in/"enhance it" to expose more and more detail; DVD resolution is fixed, and whether you view it on a BD player or a DVD player, whether you up-convert it or not, you are ultimately bound to that limitation.

Finally, and this is not at all intended to impugn your display, but a rear-projection set may not be the best choice to show off Blu-ray's added resolution, even if your set supports 1080p. Light tends to bleed together when projected over any distance, which may make scaled-up DVD images appear smoother, while softening the crisp detail of a BD image. You can view this as a good thing or a bad thing, depending on whether you're looking to stick with DVD or make the jump to Blu-ray.

Oh, and yes, every Blu-ray player I've tried is slow as molasses compared to even the junkiest DVD player. It's all the extra BD-Java-Live crap that they load up.

[markc2]

I have a sony playstation 3. If the record studio...oops I mean movie studio, took the time on the blu-ray to redo it right and there are lots of instances they haven't. The 5th element is one, they actually had to do a re-release of it after the first time out. Same thing with 300. They did the new improved. I hope this isn't the trend.

I never had state of the art dvd player, but the PS3 is quick and updates thru my wireless router quite easily. Being able to play COD 4 when the mood strikes is always good.

I think the picture is clearer overall, details while there aren't forced for the most part. Colors are just a bit more too.

There is a web site just for blu-rays with reviews of individual discs by guys that are just as crazy as we are over audio on that site.

Mark