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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
hevac1
812 posts
 
I think movie download will have the same issue DIVX had. After a while the companies will want more money. They will start adding date codes to the downloads. People downloading will have so much time to watch what they download then they will have to pay to watch it again at a later date.
If you loose the harddrive and want the movie again you may have to pay again. If someone hacks codes the companies will start sueing people like they are for CD downloads. Keep very good records of your download purchases. All they need is your name from another computer good or bad to come and take all you have. If I have an original disk they can do nothing.
kenk168
175 posts
 
To each his own.
firedrums
85 posts
 
Holy Moly - Bluray quality kills DVD - And I'm not just talking about Video - First Thats 1080p Vs. 480i or 480p with progressive scan - BUT ANOTHER HUGE DIFFERENCE are the new AUDIO Formats - Dolby True HD & DTS Master Audio - These offer uncompressed Audio and are absolutely Fantastic - They Blow DVD Audio Out of the Water - No Question about it... You will However need a receiver or pre/pro that can decode it if you bitstream via HDMI or get a BD player with on board decoding of the new formats and run analog to your existing system 5.1 or 7.1 inputs -If you have not heard these formats - YOU SHOULD !!
artmaltman
769 posts
 
Agreed on the new audio formats. I think the difference will be obvious on even a modest home theatre.

I have Oppo bluray player - my third Oppo - and think the video is spectacular. I've always loved their upsampling on standard DVD and bluray is great bonus.

Sound is superb via HDMI to my Marantz AV receiver. (I've not tried the analog outs and don't plan to.) The sound quality of the new bluray format illustrates something to me that I tend to forget: a LOT of the money, perhaps most of the money we spend on high end audio gear is really just making up for the mediocre quality of the media and sound engineering. I think you get high end sound out of a modest home theatre when you play the bluray sound formats.
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