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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
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,602 posts
 
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I have a 71" 1080p DLP television and a 240" projection screen.

As the picture gets bigger, blu-ray really shows its stuff and the differences in regular dvd and blu-ray become more apparent.

You will get more benefit from blu-ray as your screen gets larger.
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coffee_nudge
120 posts
 
It should not be forgotten that higher resolution video is not the only benefit of Blu Ray.

I am equally impressed with the ability of Blu Ray to have either uncompressed 5.1, or lossless 5.1 (TrueHD or Master Audio HD) audio. These audio formats beat the pants off of compressed DTS or Dolby, and add tremendously to the movie experience.

BTW, Playstation 3 will output these formats in PCM via HDMI, so any AVR that can handle multi channel digital input can give you great audio.

Also, one more footnote on PS3, the 40 gb model will not handle SACD.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I have a 55" rear projection LCD HDTV which is just 720P in native mode. 1080p has twice the pixels, and I look forward to the day I can upgrade to it.

Even so, once I saw my first HD DVD on my 720p display 1-1/2 years ago I decided then and there that I would *never* waste money buying another std-def DVD again. Since HD DVD went in the crapper I've gotten a PS3 for Blu-ray and my opinion hasn't changed. I rent only HD DVD and Blu-ray from Netflix and I'll rent a std-def DVD if it's the only way to see a film I really want to see, but I won't buy it.

What the other respondents say about 37" is also true; the difference in resolution becomes more evident with bigger screen sizes. With a 42" 1080p, you can't see the pixels unless you're less than a foot from the TV.
rrekstad
45 posts
 
Only the 80gb and now defunct 60gb ps3 plays sacd's.
northwoods_maine
70 posts
 
Those complaining about the cost of BD disks and players obviously haven't looked at them in a while. Blu-Ray players are currently available for $299. and under and will routinely be available after Thanksgiving for less than $200. I haven't paid more than $22. for any of the last 10 discs I've purchased at Amazon and Sam's Club. Sure, they'll be slightly more if you're buying the newest discs to hit the street - but that always applied to regular DVD too. Prices on all things Blu-Ray are continuing to drop significantly.

I also agree totally with "audionudge": "I am equally impressed with the ability of Blu Ray to have either uncompressed 5.1, or lossless 5.1 (TrueHD or Master Audio HD) audio. These audio formats beat the pants off of compressed DTS or Dolby, and add tremendously to the movie experience."

We get togther with 2-3 other couples on a Saturday night one or twice a month and watch concert video's on my 67" Samsung LED/DLP with Pioneer Elite SC-07 receiver and Pioneer BDP-51 Blue Ray player and it's wonderful. Like being there, but without all the hassles!

But I do agree with the comments above that you probably won't benefit from this technology on a 37" screen unless you get extremely close. Good luck, whatever you decide.
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