just curious now that i have a nice hd tv what is the standard
resolution from a regular dvd player compared to the new blu ray of 1080p.
I have a nice sony 5 disc changer now and wondered if it is worth getting
the blu ray....also have seen an upconvert?

Jim

 

I think a standard DVD is 480p. Someone correct me if im wrong. I picked up a bluray player after thanksgiving and it looks awesome. It also is an upconverting player and standard dvds look very good as well. I would probably spring for the upconverting player, you can pick one up for around $100.

 

Get a WD Media Player and a USB hardrive and start downloading

This little box is amazing

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=572

 

Standard DVD is 480P. Some players do up convert to 1080P. However after seeing DVD up converted to 1080P and a Blu-Ray at 1080P, there is a noticeable difference. To me the up converted DVD just doesn't cut it. Have had Blu-Ray player for over a year now, and am slowly replacing my DVD collection with Blu-Ry as they come out.

 

Standard DVD looks like absolute CRAP on any modern DLP, LCD, or plasma TV. If you have never seen a true 1080p picture, then you may not notice much of a difference, but take a good look at any modern action movie or even cartoon movie in 1080p and tell me you would be happy with a cheapo $100 or so DVD player.

I've got a HD DVD player in my bedroom and the BluRay downstairs. Even the woman notices a huge difference when we watch a standard definition DVD. Everything looks very blurry, rough edges on people and scenery, just all around not that good in comparison.

If you have a TV that will support the 1080p, no reason not to get a player that will take advantage. If you can afford the TV, then the $250-$300 player shouldn't be that big of an issue

 

Plus the HDMI cables, which can run another $100-$125..

Just like everything, wait. It all comes down in price. Might as well wait while they stock up the blu-ray selection, anyways.

 

i definitely reccomend getting a Blu-Ray. If you haven't seen a good blu ray movie, check out a demo or ask someone at a best buy or circuit city to show you blu ray in true hd.

another common misconception is that blu ray players dont play standard dvds. this is NOT TRUE. blu ray players can play dvds, but they will not be in 1080p. they make look a tad clearer, but wont be blu ray quality. i have a PS3 and a magnavox blu ray player. i got the ps3 for gaming and blu ray and the blu ray for...welll blu ray. whats great about the ps3 is that 75 - 80% of all games on the ps3 are rendered in at 1080p. for instance, gran turismo 5 is rendered 1080p at 60fps. In other words, that game looks like live action television. if you are going to drop 300+ on a good blu ray, i reccomend the playstation route.

but if not, remember that blu ray still plays dvd's, so you will not be losing your dvd collection!!


also, when you are connecting a blu ray player or ps3, i highly reccomend an HDMI cable. just one straight plug, easier on you, better quality video and audio.

 

Incorrect. If you buy into the 100+ dollar HDMI cables you are getting bent over the hood and raped w/ no lube.

Digital signal cables such as HDMI cables are just that. Digital. On or off. There is no in between. They either work or they don't. There is ZERO difference in the BS 100 dollar cables they sell and the 20-25 dollar cables I recommend to anyone and use on both of my home theater setups.

Get on Ebay or NewEgg or various other sites and you will find very reasonably priced HDMI cables. No need for the retarded Monster cable crap that they try and feed you.

 

i agree with TJ, no you dont need to drop 100 for a good HDMI cable.


monster cable does have high quality wiring and are very durable cables, but your not going to be roping cattle with your cables.


i have a monster cable instrument cable that has been through hell and back and still looks new. they aren't overpriced, you get what you pay for. but in this case, you dont need to pay for it

some blu ray players include HDMI, check on the box of the one you get, the ps3 doesn't include HDMI

 

this leads to another question then. if HDMI is for sound and sight....how do they hook up? I don't have HDMI on my reciever which is what i run for surround (actually all the time). so just from blue ray to tv then?

jim

 

We just bought a Sony upconvert for $70 at Best Buy. I picked Sony because it got great reviews. The lower priced Toshiba and Samsung were getting bad reviews.
We've only watched a couple of movies on it. So far we like it.

Buy the HDMI cables online for $5 each. They work fine. If you need it now, go to WalMart. I hate WM, but they do have the best price locally.

 

That is really cool. I might have to consider this in the future.

 

I have an optical cable going to my reciever to take care of the audio. I dont use the reciever for video switching.

 

First off dvds are produced in 480p. An upconverter adds pixels to make it look as if its 1080p. Blueray is actually 1080p and doesnt have to make up pixels. Bluray has ~35gb of info on the disc versus the dvd's ~5. The blue laser enables it to fit more pits on the disc enabling more info.

This is the best way ive figured out to describe it:
Watching a DVD is like watching a movie
Watching a blueray is like watching a play, or actually being there.

And cables are worth it. There is a reason that the cables are more expensive and better. The cheap cables are thrown together and get the job done. But the monster cables are designed to prevent mixed signals, and give you the clearest and fastest picture availiabe.

Even if you have surround sound a HDMI is worth it just for the picture and no audio, then you can get a good fiberoptic cable and use it for your sound.

Also make sure your tv is capable of playing a bluray to its full potential. A 1080p television with 120hz refresh rate, or plasma, will get you the best picture achievable.

 

I am pretty pleased with my cheaper HDMI and optical cables that I bought from monoprice. They are good quality cables. I have seen high dollar cables in action and I personally dont think they are worth the money. Ill spend the difference on other toys!