4K digital copy or Blu-ray? - Blu-ray Forum

Zen_Amako · 01-31-2018, 01:37 AM

With streaming looking like the future, I can see a lot of catalog titles only being made available in 4K UHD via streaming. So here’s my question: given the choice, would you rather own a movie on standard Blu-ray (a physical copy on a disc) or have a UHD digital copy that you can stream on VUDU (or a similar service)?

What made me think about this is that VUDU already has a few films available in UHD that are not on UHD disc, like Sucker Punch and Edge of Tomorrow.

steve_dave · 01-31-2018, 01:47 AM

Depends on the movie for me...

I'm getting Coco in 4K on Vudu because my niece & nephews just want to see the cartoons. I have copies of Moana, Cars 3, and Beauty & The Beast collecting dust.

But Wonder Woman, I got the disc and I'll get the 4K for Thor: Ragnarok. I'm also waiting for a 4K disc for Happy Death Day.

DJR662 · 01-31-2018, 01:53 AM

I recently bought an Apple 4K striclty for selected titles that are not on UHD (yet). I must confess though I regret my decision now as streaming is just not for me. It's nice to have Annabelle 1+2 and Underworld Evolution in 4K/HDR, but a couple of movies I wanted are only available in regular HD in my country (Sucker Punch, Bad Boys, Resident Evil). The whole notion of streaming just doesn't feel right and I can't shake the feeling I'm looking at something that's inferior. Also on the audio side of things, it was definitely disappointing. Getting the Apple was something I should have thought through better I guess...

So with having said that, I would say I prefer a physical Blu-ray disc over a 4K stream.

SPIDERone · 01-31-2018, 02:03 AM

Generally.. Blu-Ray over 4K Stream.

The HDR can make a nice difference.. but the compression just doesn't hold up to 4K quality on a large screen. I just watched Blade Runner 2049 and the clarity of it was insane.. I just don't see the stream being able to hold up to the detail. This was actually a good video on the subject and compression/bitrate/being able to hold up to loads of fast moving detail:

Mixed with the cost of the stream purchases, the bandwidth required (not only speed, but also bandwidth used; most ISP's are capping monthly bandwidth)

I have a decent connection (200mbps) but still found video streams (in 4k) to start artifacting several times throughout and just not up to par with the 4k disc quality. While they may look better than a Blu-Ray at times, I prefer the consistency of the content on a disc

HD Goofnut · 01-31-2018, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

With streaming looking like the future, I can see a lot of catalog titles only being made available in 4K UHD via streaming. So here’s my question: given the choice, would you rather own a movie on standard Blu-ray (a physical copy on a disc) or have a UHD digital copy that you can stream on VUDU (or a similar service)?

What made me think about this is that VUDU already has a few films available in UHD that are not on UHD disc, like Sucker Punch and Edge of Tomorrow.

Considering most 4K streaming looks about as good as a BD I'd definitely rather have the actual disc.

brainofj72 · 01-31-2018, 03:05 AM

Maybe internet speeds and apps are affecting people's opinions here, but no BD I have ever watched has even come close in quality to Bright on Netflix in 4K HDR. Same goes for The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime. Yes, streaming compression is annoying, but its effects vary wildly from title to title and platform to platform (and even app to app within one platform!). I mean, being a longtime collector, it's very hard for me to buy a streaming version when a physical version of any kind is available. And I don't see myself ever "upgrading" a movie I own on BD to a 4K digital copy. But if a movie I love and don't already own is only available on 4K digitally? Yeah, I'm probably gonna go with that.

MassiveG · 01-31-2018, 03:06 AM

I never watch blu-rays unless I have to, following the release of UHD disks.

However, 4K streaming usually never looks good to me, more often than not the standard blu-ray looks and sounds better than the 4k VUDU counterpart. Sometimes Netflix 4K movies look pretty good though!

edit: I do have really fast internet and a good modem, but streaming just doesn't look good to me.

01-31-2018, 01:37 AM	#1
Zen_Amako Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Northern VA, USA 4K collection:257 Blu-ray collection:664 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:13	4K digital copy or Blu-ray? With streaming looking like the future, I can see a lot of catalog titles only being made available in 4K UHD via streaming. So here’s my question: given the choice, would you rather own a movie on standard Blu-ray (a physical copy on a disc) or have a UHD digital copy that you can stream on VUDU (or a similar service)? What made me think about this is that VUDU already has a few films available in UHD that are not on UHD disc, like Sucker Punch and Edge of Tomorrow.

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01-31-2018, 01:47 AM	#2
steve_dave Blu-ray Duke Member since:Nov 2008 Trading Score:21	Depends on the movie for me... I'm getting Coco in 4K on Vudu because my niece & nephews just want to see the cartoons. I have copies of Moana, Cars 3, and Beauty & The Beast collecting dust. But Wonder Woman, I got the disc and I'll get the 4K for Thor: Ragnarok. I'm also waiting for a 4K disc for Happy Death Day.

01-31-2018, 01:53 AM	#3
DJR662 Blu-ray Knight Member since:Feb 2009 Trading Score:30	I recently bought an Apple 4K striclty for selected titles that are not on UHD (yet). I must confess though I regret my decision now as streaming is just not for me. It's nice to have Annabelle 1+2 and Underworld Evolution in 4K/HDR, but a couple of movies I wanted are only available in regular HD in my country (Sucker Punch, Bad Boys, Resident Evil). The whole notion of streaming just doesn't feel right and I can't shake the feeling I'm looking at something that's inferior. Also on the audio side of things, it was definitely disappointing. Getting the Apple was something I should have thought through better I guess... So with having said that, I would say I prefer a physical Blu-ray disc over a 4K stream.

01-31-2018, 03:05 AM	#6
brainofj72 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:USA 4K collection:1036 Blu-ray collection:3611 DVD collection:817 Digital collection:150 iTunes collection:140 Trading Score:152	Maybe internet speeds and apps are affecting people's opinions here, but no BD I have ever watched has even come close in quality to Bright on Netflix in 4K HDR. Same goes for The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime. Yes, streaming compression is annoying, but its effects vary wildly from title to title and platform to platform (and even app to app within one platform!). I mean, being a longtime collector, it's very hard for me to buy a streaming version when a physical version of any kind is available. And I don't see myself ever "upgrading" a movie I own on BD to a 4K digital copy. But if a movie I love and don't already own is only available on 4K digitally? Yeah, I'm probably gonna go with that.

01-31-2018, 03:06 AM	#7
MassiveG Active Member Member since:Nov 2016 4K collection:149 Blu-ray collection:394 DVD collection:15	I never watch blu-rays unless I have to, following the release of UHD disks. However, 4K streaming usually never looks good to me, more often than not the standard blu-ray looks and sounds better than the 4k VUDU counterpart. Sometimes Netflix 4K movies look pretty good though! edit: I do have really fast internet and a good modem, but streaming just doesn't look good to me.

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