Blu-ray vs DVD

[JimShaw]

I have never heard a Blu-ray movie--this is where I need your help.

The scenario:

(The two scenario rooms are equal and the movies are the same---I understand the video can't be compared but for this thread I am only interested in sound)

a) in one room the best 7.1 equipment possible was set up to play a DVD movie…

b) and in the other room the best 7.1 equipment possible was set up to play a Blu-ray movie…


Would the Blu-ray sound be much better or would they be about the same?

[SkillzthatKillz]

it would be much better my friend, much better

[stockstar1138]

blu-ray would sound a lot better as long as the blu-ray disc had a loseless track (TrueHD or DTS-HD MA) or a LPCM track.

90% of blu-rays have these tracks on the disc, some WB discs don't.

[kefrank]

Blu-ray would sound better. The difference would be similar to the difference between MP3 and CD, if not a bit more obvious.

[ty_bo_03]

It's all about compression rates. bigger disk, less compression. less compression, better quality accross the board

[SS316SRV]

You're lows will sound a little thicker while your high tones will be more obvious and brighter. If there are explosions and loud noises, blu-ray sounds amazing. However, when it is a quiet scene with people walking across carpeting, it is that sound of the carpet under the feet, or echos from gunfire, that make so much difference.

[JimShaw]

I have been getting ready to purchase Blu-ray equipment but started thinking---because I have a 700 movie DVD library and my hot button is sound, maybe I didn’t need to go Buy-ray. Just upgrade a player with 7.1 analog out to my 7.1 receiver would almost match a Blu-ray sound.

With your input as to the sound differences, it looks like I will now need to purchase more than a player. I will now have to purchase a HDMI receiver to do it right. AND starting buying more expensive movies.

Thanks again you have been a tremendous help.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

I have been getting ready to purchase Blu-ray equipment but started thinking---because I have a 700 movie DVD library and my hot button is sound, maybe I didn’t need to go Buy-ray. Just upgrade a player with 7.1 analog out to my 7.1 receiver would almost match a Blu-ray sound.

With your input as to the sound differences, it looks like I will now need to purchase more than a player. I will now have to purchase a HDMI receiver to do it right.

Thanks again you have been a tremendous help.

make sure the receiver can handle the TrueHD and DTS-HD MA codecs.

[JimShaw]

From reading this forum my thoughts are the Marantz SR7002 and the Sony S550 when it comes out.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by ty_bo_03

It's all about compression rates. bigger disk, less compression. less compression, better quality accross the board

The discs are not bigger

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

From reading this forum my thoughts are the Marantz SR7002 and the Sony S550 when it comes out.

That is the EXACT setup I want. Waiting for 550 availability to pull the trigger.

[Lucy Diamond]

Night and day.

The imaging is truly Frightening with Blu-Ray.

You not only hear things swooshing around you, sweeping left and right and front and back....now they can stop and hand 11 inches in front of your face and to the right...it is completely freaking crazy insane like a pervert on acid!!!

[Johk]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

I have been getting ready to purchase Blu-ray equipment but started thinking---because I have a 700 movie DVD library and my hot button is sound, maybe I didn’t need to go Buy-ray. Just upgrade a player with 7.1 analog out to my 7.1 receiver would almost match a Blu-ray sound.

With your input as to the sound differences, it looks like I will now need to purchase more than a player. I will now have to purchase a HDMI receiver to do it right. AND starting buying more expensive movies.

Thanks again you have been a tremendous help.

However you don't necessarily need an HDMI receiver, you could get a Blu-ray player with 7.1 analog output and DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD codec support to feed your current 7.1 receiver... But I don't think a player that supports all of this exist yet, the new Denon DVD-3800BDCI has 7.1 analog outs but it doesn't do DTS-HD MA.

Well the easiest way is surely an HDMI receiver!

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by JimShaw

I have never heard a Blu-ray movie--this is where I need your help.

Would the Blu-ray sound be much better or would they be about the same?

For sound:
DVD = 600 Killabites per second
Blu-ray = 3-7 Megabytes per second

I calculate that as 5-12 times the audio resolution...and my ears hear it loud and clear

[Legendary]

I am deaf and can tell you Blu Ray is much better for sound

[Midnightsailor]

I'm a believer that high def sound is a bigger jump than picture. Just my .02

[cdot2four]

Originally Posted by Midnightsailor

I'm a believer that high def sound is a bigger jump than picture. Just my .02

its a tie for me

[CptGreedle]

All things except disc format being equal and of the best quality, then you will find that:
A) DVDs do not support 7.1, only up to 6.1 (most are only 5.1). Blu-ray supports 7.1
B) DVDs all use lossy compressed audio to fit it on the smaller disc capacity. Blu-ray often uses Uncompressed or lossless compressed audio like TrueHD or DTS-HD MA.
C) Blu-ray has a much higher bitrate which allows for more video and audio transfered at any given time than a DVD.
D) If you follow the trend that DVD music sounds better than CD music, BD music sounds better than DVD.

Not everyone will notice these differences if they do not have a good system. The speakers are important, the placement, the number of speakers, the quality of the wires and speakers, the capabilities of their Receiver and player.... all these and more are important factors that can make a big difference in the sound quality.

[Beta Man]

Nobody has pointed out this yet.......

forget about the sub for a moment here.....

The Best 7.1 system, playing a DVD, will only play a "Simulated" 7.1 Blu-Rays are available with 7 DEDICATED channels of audio... DVDs will only have up to 5, and a receiver, processor, and spread the two surround channels into 4, but it's not the same as Blu-Ray...

think of it this way...... a 7.1 can theoretically play 7 DIFFERENT sounds, simultaneously, from the 7 speakers, while a 5.1 DVD, played on a receiver/processor set to "7.1" will play FIVE different sounds simultaneously, and the extra two speakers will just play whatever the receiver/processor "Splits" from the surrounds to spread two sounds across 4 speakers.....


it's different.


Many will argue the "value" of upgrading etc. etc. and 7.1 etc. etc.

I just posted regarding "downgrading" because my rears were over-kill, but anyways......

"yeah" for me Audio is paramount, it's the reason I went to blu, far before video...... I still love 2-channel audio for music, but even the 5.1 audio tracks on Blu-Ray are night-and-day better than the 5.1 audio tracks on the Same DVD.........



Blu-Ray is worth the leap for audio alone, end of story.

I have a Marantz SR7001 for my main set-up, and my blu-player decodes my audio, and it's GREAT. I'm running B&W 705's/HTM7/DS7/686's (just sold my 703's ) and a subwoofer..... the difference is VERY noticeable.... so if audio is key to you, it's worth it....

by the way, I have a DVD library of 1,100 to 1,200 or so movies.... and they work JUST FINE on the the Blu-Ray Player, so it's not like getting a divorce.... it's like getting a mistress who will do things the wife won't

(p.s. I love my wife )

[CptGreedle]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

(p.s. I love my wife )

good save LOL