Kurt
On August 20, 2007, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation, announced they would no longer be supporting the Blu-ray Disc format. Citing HD DVD's lower consumer equipment and disc replication costs (due to its similarities to the standard DVD format), all future Paramount/Dreamworks titles will be released exclusively on HD DVD. Together, Paramount and DreamWorks are currently the 2007 box office leaders, and their first two HD DVD-exclusive titles Shrek 3 and Transformers are both poised to be top sellers during the 2007 holiday season. In an interview with PC World, Alan Bell, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Paramount Pictures, stated the exclusive support for HD DVD is currently indefinite. Blu Ray exclusives are found on HD DVD in defferent regions under different studios, and vice versa for HD DVD exclusives but HD DVD players are not restricted on playing them as Blu ray can't.
Answer
I don't think it matters.
The "format war" has now gone on so long that -- considering the reasons for this, and the implications -- there is a high probability that:
- neither HD DVD nor Blu-ray disks (HDM) will ever be more than a niche format ... reserved for the minority that want and can benefit from 1080p HD (similar to Criterion Disks in the DVD world, or SACD and DVD-A in the audio realm). Neither disk format is likely to "win" -- rather dual format players will appear that satisfy both sides and since this will be a niche market the higher price ($500-$700 and up) won't be a deterent for those who choose to support HDM.
- HDM disks will remain higher priced than DVDs (or even increase in price) to reflect their premium status (and much lower sales volume).
- the majority of consumers (and even videophiles since it is unlikely the 80,000 title DVD catalog will ever be available on HD disk) will continue to watch DVDs (probably via upscaling DVD players, including HD DVD and Blu-ray players) and, for an increasing proportion, some form of lower HD quality (i.e. less than 1080p) video on demand or download service (this will be partially enabled by ever more efficient video codecs and, analogous to MP3 in the audio realm, reflect the higher priority most consumers put on convenience than on quality).
- in the longer term -- once digital TV has been implemented so that backward compatibility is no longer a constraint -- there will be a gradual move to replace Blu-ray and HD DVD for high end home video with a higher HD resolution format (e.g 1440 or, possible but less likely, 2K (D-Cinema)), but certainly based on a broader colour space than BT.709, say xvYCC with 4:2:2 or even 4:4:4 sampling and 10 or 12 bit pixel depth . This would solve the problems with HD DVD and Blu-ray re. banding and limited colour range. The HDMI 1.3 specification already includes support (e.g. Deep Color), and 2K display devices already exist. The disc format is difficult to predict, but based on storage and bitrate demands possibly some form of DHD (digital holographic disk).
So ... it doesn't matter which format you buy. Either HD player is currently backward compatible so you can play DVDs on your HDTV in "good enough" video quality. A greater choice of dual format players -- including some form of universal player to handle HD DVD, Blu-ray, DVD-ROM, DVD-R (etc), SACD, DVD-A and CD -- will appear that will allow consumers to buy/rent and play the media of their choice according to the capability of their audio and video system.
Gradually, people will replace DVD players with universal players, but neither HD format will "win" ... they will simply coexist.
I don't think it matters.
The "format war" has now gone on so long that -- considering the reasons for this, and the implications -- there is a high probability that:
- neither HD DVD nor Blu-ray disks (HDM) will ever be more than a niche format ... reserved for the minority that want and can benefit from 1080p HD (similar to Criterion Disks in the DVD world, or SACD and DVD-A in the audio realm). Neither disk format is likely to "win" -- rather dual format players will appear that satisfy both sides and since this will be a niche market the higher price ($500-$700 and up) won't be a deterent for those who choose to support HDM.
- HDM disks will remain higher priced than DVDs (or even increase in price) to reflect their premium status (and much lower sales volume).
- the majority of consumers (and even videophiles since it is unlikely the 80,000 title DVD catalog will ever be available on HD disk) will continue to watch DVDs (probably via upscaling DVD players, including HD DVD and Blu-ray players) and, for an increasing proportion, some form of lower HD quality (i.e. less than 1080p) video on demand or download service (this will be partially enabled by ever more efficient video codecs and, analogous to MP3 in the audio realm, reflect the higher priority most consumers put on convenience than on quality).
- in the longer term -- once digital TV has been implemented so that backward compatibility is no longer a constraint -- there will be a gradual move to replace Blu-ray and HD DVD for high end home video with a higher HD resolution format (e.g 1440 or, possible but less likely, 2K (D-Cinema)), but certainly based on a broader colour space than BT.709, say xvYCC with 4:2:2 or even 4:4:4 sampling and 10 or 12 bit pixel depth . This would solve the problems with HD DVD and Blu-ray re. banding and limited colour range. The HDMI 1.3 specification already includes support (e.g. Deep Color), and 2K display devices already exist. The disc format is difficult to predict, but based on storage and bitrate demands possibly some form of DHD (digital holographic disk).
So ... it doesn't matter which format you buy. Either HD player is currently backward compatible so you can play DVDs on your HDTV in "good enough" video quality. A greater choice of dual format players -- including some form of universal player to handle HD DVD, Blu-ray, DVD-ROM, DVD-R (etc), SACD, DVD-A and CD -- will appear that will allow consumers to buy/rent and play the media of their choice according to the capability of their audio and video system.
Gradually, people will replace DVD players with universal players, but neither HD format will "win" ... they will simply coexist.
Can anyone recommend a Blu Ray player which can also be a receiver?
Jordan X
I currently have a 5-year-old Samsung DVD player/receiver with five-speaker surround sound. The DVD player isn't working, so I want to but a cheap replacement (under $350). I figure it'd be a good idea to get a receiver that can also play Blu Ray discs. I also want something that will allow me to adjust the levels on the various speakers individually. With the old Samsung DVD/receiver, the center channel was too low, but it was a cheap model, so there was no way to specifically increase just the center speaker's volume.
Any recommendations?
Also, do I need to buy new speakers, or can I use my old speakers and just buy a new Blu Ray receiver?
Answer
Basically you are describing a HTIB (Home Theater in a Box). That is what you have now, and more recent versions incorporate a Blu-ray player rather than a DVD player.
You have a bit of a dilemma since any improvement on your current receiver that has a Blu-ray player is going to cost more than you want to spend (and would come with new speakers you don't need). On the other hand your current receiver and speakers probably don't perform that well and it's questionable whether keeping them is the best choice.
In reality, the most cost effective thing to do is simply buy a Blu-ray player and plug it into your existing setup. Alternatively try selling your current system (or give it to someone who needs it) and
aim to buy a new HTIB or (better, but more expensive choice) a separate Blu-ray player and A/V receiver (and, at least for now, keep your existing speakers).
That all said, do you have an HDTV? If so, is it at least 32"? If not, there is no point in a Blu-ray player ... simply buy a cheap DVD player.
See the links for some HTIB recommendations and A/V receivers.
Basically you are describing a HTIB (Home Theater in a Box). That is what you have now, and more recent versions incorporate a Blu-ray player rather than a DVD player.
You have a bit of a dilemma since any improvement on your current receiver that has a Blu-ray player is going to cost more than you want to spend (and would come with new speakers you don't need). On the other hand your current receiver and speakers probably don't perform that well and it's questionable whether keeping them is the best choice.
In reality, the most cost effective thing to do is simply buy a Blu-ray player and plug it into your existing setup. Alternatively try selling your current system (or give it to someone who needs it) and
aim to buy a new HTIB or (better, but more expensive choice) a separate Blu-ray player and A/V receiver (and, at least for now, keep your existing speakers).
That all said, do you have an HDTV? If so, is it at least 32"? If not, there is no point in a Blu-ray player ... simply buy a cheap DVD player.
See the links for some HTIB recommendations and A/V receivers.
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Title Post: blu ray or HD DVD?
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Author: Yukie
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Rating: 100% based on 998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Yukie
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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