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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
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Mhconley makes a good point.

Consumer electronic technology is constantly evolving, as it has since Edison wax cylinders. It's safe to say any investment in hardware and software should be viewed as short term entertainment.

Each of us has to determine where the value point lies regarding cost and enjoyment of new technology. For some, investing large sums in equipment and software is worth a few years of enjoyment until the next big thing is released. Others seek a longer period of usefulness.

There never has been one universally applicable answer to this question.

If history is a guide, then Blu-Ray, like other formats, will be a blip on the radar.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,486 posts
 
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I've spent good money on reel to reel, audio cassette, vhs, hi-fi vhs, vinyl, fm tuners and goodness knows whatever I've forgotten......all of the aforementioned had their time in the sun before they were supplanted by newer technology and I enjoyed every minute of their use. You have to go in knowing that something new will come down the pike eventually. I bought the Toshiba flagship HD-Dvd player, an incredible machine....I only owned it for 9 moths before Blu-Ray killed it....but, I enjoyed every minute of owning it without regret. You can't wait forever for the next new thing.....do it now and enjoy it today if you have the money.

Kind of like getting married....no matter who you marry, a prettier one will eventually show up,and a prettier one still after that...but, at some point if you want to be married you'll have to eventually jump in.
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synthfreek's avatar
synthfreek
627 posts
 
Why don't you mention some SPECIFIC movies you've watched? There are some lousy Blu-Rays out there. I mean...have you seen Baraka, Blade Runner, Planet Earth or 2001? Those are discs that are VAST improvements on the regular dvds imo.
larry_s
128 posts
 
Like the OP, I'm not convinced Blu-ray will succeed like DVD. But, I think there is a very big improvement for BDs compared to DVDs. Not quite like VHS->DVD, but enough to immediately tell the difference between the two (all things equal). But it may not be big enough for the general consumer for them to jump in (plus they have to buy a new TV). If BD does not make it, I just hope it lasts long enough for me to replace my top 200-300 movies I have on DVD.

larry
classicjazz
153 posts
 
In the here and now, Blu-Ray is king for both image quality ceteris paribus if you have a screen that is large enough to show the difference. There are studies on the Web that examine our ability to discern pixel pitch. On a small screen, the pixels are very small and you need to sit close enough to see. However the original poster noted that the typical recommendation is 3x the diagonal. This is with respect to filling one's field of view with the screen. At that distance, the pixel pitch on a 50 or 60 inch plasma/LCD is too fine to discern. On a 100 inch screen the amount of information does wonders for image detail.

I had what was probably the finest DVD player made, the Levinson No. 51 with custom processing. It far surpassed my Denon 5910 and Esoteric UX1. However, the Pioneer BDP-09fd is simply better on my 110 inch screen. Plus, as another person noted, the sound is much better, essentially CD quality if listening to the higher bitrate streams.

Whether Blu-Ray survives downloads is another thing although given DRM, the confusion of having to store one's own library on HDs (I do so with my thousands of photographs on multiple RAIDs and backups= frustration). Moreover the real vs. promised bandwidth needed for short download times (my highspeed connection says up to 25 Mbps but Ive been getting as low as 3.5 Mbps recently) would indicate that the advent of digital downloads for regular programming may be a ways off yet, esp. since our market is not really reliably high speed let alone other regional markets around the world that are behind the US in internet connectivity.
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