Blu Ray Versus DVD

[Schulze]

With TD's concert in Tenerife soon to be released on Blu Ray it got me thinking about the issue of Blu Ray versus DVD.

I don't personally own a Blu Ray player and I've been quite happy with the 5.1 DVD system that I've had for the last couple of years as it provides excellent picture and sound quality.

My question is.... Is Blu Ray really a significant improvement in terms of picture and sound quality over DVD?

Any thoughts /opinions ??

[sparrow]

I've only watched one Blu Ray and didn't see much difference between DVD and BD ..I don't have a blue ray player and won't buy one right now as I don't really have to. They are quite cheap now though a half decent one can be bought for £100.

[GlynRichards]

Yes, it is a big difference if set-up correctly. But.. it does depend on how the disc was done in the first place. I've got blu-ray discs that look worse than some of my DVDs upscaled to hi-def via the player. But if you get a 'good' blu-ray, then you should notice it straight away. If not then you either need to have you equipment checked or have your eyes checked. The sound is less of a difference, especially if you have a good amp to start with. I've got a blu-ray with seperate audio outs which feed into individual inputs on and old (but very good) 5.1 anp and this sound quite good.

[Marakesh]

I'm looking forward to playing the Tenerife concert blu-ray on my cheap Sony player and it sounds awesome as it is connected to the Arcam Rdac

[Schulze]

I've only watched one Blu Ray and didn't see much difference between DVD and BD ..I don't have a blue ray player and won't buy one right now as I don't really have to. They are quite cheap now though a half decent one can be bought for £100.

I'm kind of thinking the same as yourself Sparrow in that I only bought my DVD 5.1 system just over 2 years ago, so I can't justify upgrading again so soon, not while my current system is running just fine (he touches some wood).

My next system will probably be a Blu Ray, but i guess by then Blu Ray will be old hat and there will be a newer format on the block...

Bring back Betamax !!!

[T4N63R1N3 DR34M]

Yes, it is a big difference if set-up correctly. But.. it does depend on how the disc was done in the first place. I've got blu-ray discs that look worse than some of my DVDs upscaled to hi-def via the player. But if you get a 'good' blu-ray, then you should notice it straight away. If not then you either need to have you equipment checked or have your eyes checked. The sound is less of a difference, especially if you have a good amp to start with. I've got a blu-ray with seperate audio outs which feed into individual inputs on and old (but very good) 5.1 anp and this sound quite good.

All good points, which I can't add anything to.

I don't presently have a 5.1 set up in the living room so am using the sound via my hi-fi through 2 Sharp speakers,
which is nowhere near as good as a 5.1 system would be, but is a vast improvement over the stereo speakers built into the TV.

[Schulze]

I don't presently have a 5.1 set up in the living room so am using the sound via my hi-fi through 2 Sharp speakers,
which is nowhere near as good as a 5.1 system would be, but is a vast improvement over the stereo speakers built into the TV.

That's exactly the same set up I used have until my DVD player finally bit the dust a couple of years ago and I took the plunge with a new 5.1 system.

It certainly makes a difference....

If i was doing the same thing today, based on what people are saying about Blu Ray, I would certainly go for a Blu Ray system, but as my current 5.1 DVD system is so new I can only imagine half of the grief (in 5.1 surround sound) I would get from my other half about upgrading again so soon...

[Insvims]

I bought a Blu-ray player last autumn. I must say that some movies has a much better sound and picture quality. Really great differences. But other movies don't have any significant improvements in comparison to the DVD.

[Chris Monk]

My DVD player is ancient. It cost quite a bit when I bought it but it's more than made up for it. So I may well be getting a Blu Ray player soon.

[har]

Bought a Sony Blue Ray Sysytem when we moved here in December.

The totally ridiculous situation is I haven't set it all up yet. Just using DVD and Sky plus. Getting the finger out this weekend as my young lad is coming home after a year abroad. He is film mad.

Blue Rayd up by Saturday

[Marakesh]

Different releases of a film vary; I prefer Region 1 DVDs for films produced in the USA as they are usually uncut unlike the British releases of them and they are also better picture quality than Region 2.

[ant]

Why can't you use a Blu Ray player with your current 5.1 system. You don't need to upgrade - I didn't. You only need to upgrade if you want to increase it to 6.1 or 7.1 and all that means is buying another speaker or two.

[hansx]

Of course it is an significant improvement. Maybe not in sound, but certainly in movie. Real HD is much sharper than the uploaded dvd's.
I certainly will choose for BR instead of dvd.

[exit81]

Perhaps a far more pertinent question would be....does the increase in picture quality actually make you enjoy the film any more? After all, isn't that the most important thing of all? I would rather watch a great film on VHS than a poor one on Blu-Ray.

[Marakesh]

Perhaps a far more pertinent question would be....does the increase in picture quality actually make you enjoy the film any more? After all, isn't that the most important thing of all? I would rather watch a great film on VHS than a poor one on Blu-Ray.

Although some VHS were of a high quality, I would rather watch a great film on BD than a great film on VHS. I agree that the quality of the film is, by far, the most important but I really do feel that the best possible picture quality is also important.