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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
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.
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,497 posts
 
Macdadtexas, You must not have watched the Blu Ray on the Oppo BP 83. Also, some Blu Ray discs are not that much better than their DVD counterparts.
Sad but true.

But some , like Tom Petty Live and such can be awesome !!

For movies ,watch the Remastered Blu Ray of "The Fifth Element" or "No Country for Men "on the Oppo BP 83 and you will retire your DVD player.
Even the sound is fantastic!
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knownothing
1,600 posts
 
Macdadtexas,

You said at first:

"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."

Then you say:

"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 agree, BluRay will overtake DVDs, and then downloads will overtake both.

I disagree that Internet downloads "will be the dominant AV format going forward..." from now on as you infer in your first post.

You can't have it both ways. Its like saying a 2 year old is a "dead person" because they will die someday. There is still a lot of life left in BluRay, and it is far from peaking. If in two years BluRay is already toast, you can revive this thread and rub my nose in my general lack of prescience.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
I think blu ray looks way, way better than DVD. Much less grainy, much more crisp and detailed.

As big as the difference between DVD and VHS? No - but that is not relevant.

Streaming is annoying, there is always compression in both video and sound.
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