Blu-ray for SD

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SirVitale

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#60896 5-May-2010 11:54

My current cheap DVD player has stopped working (as they all seem to do after a couple of years) so I'll be getting a replacement.

I've got a couple of options, either replace it with another cheap player (might as well be a cheap one as the expensive ones seem to wear out just as quickly). Or get a blu-ray player instead.

I'm still using a SD 29" CRT TV and won't likely upgrade to HD LCD for a couple of years. Is there any noticable improvement at all in veiwing blu-ray on a SD TV?

I have quite a few Region 1 or Region 0 DVDs. How are Blu-ray players, in general, on playing out-of-region DVDs?

Would I be better of just getting another $40-$50 DVD player and wait until I get the LCD to upgrade to blu-ray?

Thanks
Peter

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#326851 5-May-2010 12:06

Get a cheap dvd player. By the time you want to upgrade to a LCD tv etc there will be new standards that todays bluray players will have issues with (for example the Avatar bluray, older players are unable to play this).
Also current bluray players will be unable to play the 3D blurays that are in the near future.. 1.4hdmi spec is required, current players are using 1.3, this is not software upgradeable.

semigeek

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#326857 5-May-2010 12:14

Unless you have a PS3 which will be supporting 3D Blu-Ray

michaelt

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#326861 5-May-2010 12:18

Go for a cheap DVD player, unless you're planning to start building up a BD collection for the future.

If your TV has component inputs though, get a DVD player with component output (or S-Video as a second choice).

Kiwipixter

246 posts

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#326876 5-May-2010 12:45

Yep, get a cheap DVD player and upgrade when you move to HD.

SirVitale

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#326888 5-May-2010 12:58

Thanks for that, will do.

Pete

Buttonmash

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#326902 5-May-2010 13:28

Considering Blu-ray players can be had for $199 these days I'd recommend grabbing one. That way all discs you buy from now on can be 1080P so you're future proofing your library even if your SD TV hangs around for a while yet.

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smarsden

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Master Geek
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#327113 5-May-2010 21:20

I have quite a few Region 1 or Region 0 DVDs. How are Blu-ray players, in general, on playing out-of-region DVDs?

As others have suggested, under your current circumstances you're probably best just to get another cheap DVD player.

As far as Blu-ray players playing out-of-region DVDs, you need to make sure that the player has either already been region-free'd at the time of purchase, or check with the shop (or manufacturer directly) that it can be done after purchase. Panasonic offer it as a free service on their Blu-ray players once you've bought it. Which reminds me that I must get mine done! :-)

Dunnersfella

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#327125 5-May-2010 21:47

Grab a multi-region Blu Ray, and start buying discs now.
Just my opinion of course... but I'm in a similar situation and plan on doing the same thing in the near future.

rumpty

66 posts

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#327842 7-May-2010 22:02

I would suggest that you get a Blu-ray player. Recently bought a BD-60, and the quality playing standard DVDs is definitely better off that than off my old Philips machine. The BD-60 is more tweakable on its playback settings than the old one too - degree of sharpening, for instance.

Must admit that I changed from a component to an HDMI interconnect at the same time. That may have improved the quality a bit too.

lchiu7

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#327918 8-May-2010 11:16

Both - the firmware releaseas are the same

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bazzer

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#327927 8-May-2010 11:59

The fact they use the same firmware doesn't mean they have the same functionality though (e.g. SACD, PS2 BC, OtherOS, Bitstream HD audio).

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lchiu7

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#327953 8-May-2010 14:13

No some of those features were removed in later versions of the hardware. But the firmware remains the same across them all. Best version in terms of functionality is the original US 20 and 60g versions which had hardware support for ps2 games,s sacd support and other good stuff.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

bazzer

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#328012 8-May-2010 19:04

That's my point. You say the firmware is the same therefore they'll both do 3D. I said that's not necessarily the case and gave examples of differing functionality even though the firmware is the same. OK, maybe they'll all do it, I haven't reseached it. But just saying it's because of the firmware isn't enough, in my opinion. Look at bitstreaming, maybe there's a hardware reason why the old PS3 won't be able to support 3D?

kyhwana2

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#328017 8-May-2010 19:34

Don't bother buying a BD player if you only have a SD TV. Buy a cheap DVD Player.

Ignore the other people telling you to buy a BD player now, since by the time you upgrade your TV, BD players will be cheaper/have more features, etc.

lchiu7

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#328025 8-May-2010 20:14

bazzer: That's my point. You say the firmware is the same therefore they'll both do 3D. I said that's not necessarily the case and gave examples of differing functionality even though the firmware is the same. OK, maybe they'll all do it, I haven't reseached it. But just saying it's because of the firmware isn't enough, in my opinion. Look at bitstreaming, maybe there's a hardware reason why the old PS3 won't be able to support 3D?

There was a lot of debate when the PS3 first came out whether the HDMI chip in it could do 1.3. Turns out that while it was HDMI 1.3 is was slightly ahead of the spec so could not bitstream lossless audio. Hence Sony issued firmware that decoded lossless audio in the PS3 and output LPCM over HDMI. The only downside to that is those who have HD receivers didn't get to see their TrueHD or DTS HD Master lights come on.

The slim can send lossless over bitstream as well as internaly decode since they did upgrade the HDMI chip.

The new firmware that supports 3D TV is now out (well it seems to be out) and I did see it on a Slim in the Wellingotn Sony store playing 3D TV on a preproduction 3D LED TV. Looking at the Sony site there are no different firmware versions for the fat or slim so I presume the fat will also do 3D.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

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