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Killing BluRay, new Oppo BR 83

OK, I have been vocal on these forums with my opinion that BluRay is a short term media, and will not become the dominant media format. My reason:

1) There is not a mind blowing difference in BluRay quality
over the existing domintant format of DVD. That's not to say BluRay is not better, but it's not the difference between VHS and DVD, where you couldn't believe what you were seeing. Does it look and sound better, yes. Does it change your life, no. Especially with the quality of the upconverting DVD players available.

2) Given my first point, I don't think there is a big call to replace any purchased DVD's with BluRay. Any videophile who had a bunch of VHS tapes did that immeadiately with DVD, but why do it again? Basically the same disk, great sound, and small size, with excellent picture. I don't think that investment is going to be made again, and that means the market for BluRay discs is MUCH smaller for classic movies.

3) The advenet of internet based movie downloads is already available in HD. Granted, it's only 720 and no HD soundtracks, but does anyone believe that is not coming, and quickly. I love using my AppleTV to rent movies, never leave the house, and don't have to return. Honestly, I have bought a bunch of movies that way, since I have such a big network storage capacity. I think this will be the dominant AV format going forward, both movies and music. More high res video and music available faster. I believe that the rise in the market for outboard DAC's will become even greater, and they will have he ability to decode the new higher res music, and possible video soundtracks in surround. Output to analog preamps for Audiophile grade sound will become the norm for audiophiles, or hybrid HT/2 channel systems, as is becoming the norm.

I whole-heartedly believe this since recieving my new Oppo BluRay player. It is a great player, and it's the second BluRay I have had in my system so it just has re-inforced my previous hypothosis regarding the future of BluRay. Don't get me wrong, the player is STELLAR in every way. Considering the price, it's almost criminal especially on SACD and DVD-Audio (which I have not had any of the problems that the first firmware owners had). I have not gotten to use it as a CD transport yet, I am waiting on one of Paul G's (TubeAudioDesign) new DACs and the redbook CD sound on it's own was just OK.

That said, after watching several movies in both BluRay and DVD on the same player, the difference is just not that huge. It is better, but not enough to make me run out and buy any of those movies again on BluRay. It's the difference, to me, between the Magnepan 3.6 and 20.1. It's definitely better, but they are both excellent.

OK, those are my thoughts, FWIW.

I came to these conclusion
macdadtexas
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knownothing
1,578 posts
 
Macdadtexas,

We will have to agree to disagree - perhaps my old school perspective is clouding my mind. I have not fully warmed to mass digital storage and playback of my music collection because I am so dumb I need/like to have the jewel case / record sleeve to remind me what song I am listening to and who is actually playing what instrument. I use iTunes a lot on my laptop when I am on the go and even though much ancillary information is embedded with the music files, I still find it an inferior interface all around to hard media.

I also find streaming video downloads are currently too unreliable/unstable and I am not yet pleased with the sound or video quality I get even when they happen to work to specs. Maybe these technical problems will all be solved and the user base will grow large enough fast enough to put pressure on the content providers to solve their legal and logistical problems and abandon BluRay and other physical media right away (except LPs in your new world order) in favor of all digital video and audio on demand all the time - but I doubt it.

All the things you say will come true someday at a scale of use broad enough to replace BluRay as the next video "format", but I say not for a while. People are apparently still going to Blockbuster and they have replaced about 60% of their DVD selection with BluRay disks in my neighborhood store.

Only time will tell.
artmaltman
769 posts
 
It depends on size of screen and capability of audio system. DVD upsampling is remarkable these days - especially Oppo's. Nonetheless, BluRay disc has a pretty damn stunning sound. And I find Bluray via Oppo's new machine definitely stomps upsampled DVD's on my 42' plasma. I suspect that at 32' or less the difference would be marginal.

I've never been a collector of DVD's, just rent them from Netflix. I pay a buck or two extra per month for the Bluray option. Happy camper.

"Long term", who the heck knows. Even my 80 year old aunt tells me she hears on the TV news that LP records are making a comeback!
Art
edorr
714 posts
 
Have not read the thread, but I can tell you this. On the video side of things Blu Ray is worlds apart from DVD. Audio - including Tru HD is far less impressive and I frankly hear vey little improvement over a traditional DTS soundtrack. This is mainly because of limitations og high rez over HDMI I believe.
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
I've now watched several Blue Ray movies on my Oppo BDP 83.

Super short review: Image quality is best I've seen, at least resolution wise. It's speedy at accepting and carrying out all commands. Negatives: Color is not as strong as my Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD and Oppo black levels are slightly washed out.

I read somewhere (here?) that there was an adjustment for black levels and such for the Oppo. So far I have not looked into that, but I've never adjusted anything on the Pioneer Elite either.

I did not listen to the movies through my full surround, so sound comments are limited to music only. With CD the sound is slightly analytical and lacking warmth and texture, also slightly forward compared to other CD players I've had, such as inexpensive Rotel, Elite BDP-95FD and McCormack UDP-1 Deluxe.

If I can get a deal on the new Pioneer Elite BDP-09FD, I'll probably sell both the Oppo BDP 83 and my current Elite BDP-95FD.
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
I've still never seen a HUGE difference in video quality from BluRay, from any player, to DVD upconverted well. Yes it does look better, but not VHS to DVD better. Anyone who says that needs to hook up an old VHS player, and take a look.

I find it funny that the rabid supporters of BluRay state you need a HUGE screen to see the difference. The whole point of this post was that I don't think BluRay is going to make it as the next mainstream format to carry entertainment, that means for 99% of the population who don't have projectors or the latest, greatest, largest screens.

I'm sticking to my guns on this one, BluRay may overtake DVD someday, but both will fall away and downloads for movies will join music downloads as medium by which people recieve this content.

I believe the quality of downloads can and will improve enough to make the differnce in quality from a BluRay disc not worth the effort to go out and rent it.

Maybe BluRay will be a niche market for videophiles and stay relevant as vinyl has (and thrived actually) with audiophiles.

I'm going to go turn on a record while I download an HD movie from iTunes.
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