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Blu-ray format... Do you like it compared to DVD?

Before I get to my questions.
I would like you to know this is our first ventcher into boob tube home entertainment.

We have just replaced our Sony tv with a new Panasonic 37 inch LCD.
Prior to the purchase we were given a used Sony 6 channel surround with "small cube speakers" and a subwoofer, which B.T.W. passes my wife's approval.
A few days ago I mounted the speakers and had it up and running using our Sony tv.

That evening we watched a movie and the both of us enjoyed the added feature of the surround sound in our home.

The both of us are not complete strangers to home theater, we have watched movies in friends home.

Through out our marriage the both of us have never really been interested in spending hours on end in front of a tv.

I recall once having a bumber sticker many years ago that read..."Shoot Your T.V."

Anyway, here we are now.

Last night we watched two dvds on the new Panasonic tv.
Blue planet documentary and a movie called Layer Cake.
The dvds were recommended and lent to us for the weekend.

We enjoyed both of them ,however we were going to spread the time for watching the dvds for Friday and Saturday night, didn't happen, however I borrowed more.

My question to those of you that own a Blu-ray player, how do you like this format compared to standard dvd?

Which brand of player are you using also would it be worth buying into this format at this time?

The current dvd player we are using now is on short term loan.

Basically I would like to experience what this highly rated Consumer Report Panasonic tv can do.


stiltskin
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,868 posts
 
Audiojedi:

"I am always amazed to hear that some people don't see a dramatic difference between standard DVD and Blu Ray."

I watched "Into the Blue" (Paul Walker & Jessica Alba) on my upsampling player and saw a damn fine picture (for a DVD). It was extremely close to Blu-Ray quality.

Blu-Ray is a lot better with complex scenes e.g. the overhead shot of Madrid (with the bull ring) in "Bourne Ultimatum".
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
OK, I'm still going to save this thread and come back to it in 2010 when I think we will all be discussing what our download speeds are, and how good are the DAC's we use to decode our AppleLossless/WAV/FLAC files (and vinyl still of course), and BluRay will be a distant memory. But..... I actually didn't know that Playstation 3 also supports SACD, in fact, it was not easy to find that on the internet. Since it does, I may sell my 1 yr old BluRay player that I never use and buy a PS3. I'm not a gamer, but I have 3 kids who would love it, and I could play DVD's/SACD's/BluRay/Games/CD's that sounds pretty good.

I am assuming since it's a Sony the SACD play back is good? Can I use just the R & L analog outputs for SACD or do I have to go through the HDMI cable?

Thanks!!
cruz123
586 posts
 
I don't buy many discs, I'm more of a Netflix guy. But the costs of discs have dropped a lot recently. If you keep an eye on Amazon, they have a lot of 40-50% deals on Blu-ray discs, including new releases.
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
"Has anyone noticed that 720p TVs seem to look slightly better on hi def TV
and regular DVD? "

It is an issue of pixels. If you have a TV with 1920 x 1080 pixels then it will
display HD 1080P as perfectly as possibly. If you have a different number of
pixels then it must interpolate and it will create blurring.

The reason many people find DVD's look better is that they may have a native
pixel resolution better suited to it - such as an EDTV. I find EDTV works very
well
with cable HD TV (which for me is all at 720P, so far) and DVD's - perhaps
even
better than a full 1920 x 1080 TV with the 720P signal or an upconverted
DVD,
however, neither are as good with a full 1080p signal from a BD disc when
playing to the proper 1920 x 1080 pixel TV!

I hope this clears up why people have different opinions...a lot of it has to do
with the pixels and how they match the source signal....
stiltskin OP
499 posts
 
Back to my original question...

What are your top choice's of dvd's and Blu-ray disc's that stand out on your screen's?...

Also has anyone done a direct comparison of one of your favorite dvd's played through a good dvd player then the same disc played through a good Blu-ray player?

I should also include reissue Blu-ray disc's compared to a dvd of the same documentary, movie or what have you played through a Blu-ray machine of course.
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