Netflix PQ versus BD disc PQ?

[oppopioneer]

I've never used Netflix or any online streaming to get access to movies to watch from an outside source, all my BD viewing is from regular bd discs I put into my bd player. Is there a difference in PQ between Netflix and other online streaming videos on demand versus a bd disc put into a bd player?

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Originally Posted by oppopioneer

I've never used Netflix or any online streaming to get access to movies to watch from an outside source, all my BD viewing is from regular bd discs I put into my bd player. Is there a difference in PQ between Netflix and other online streaming videos on demand versus a bd disc put into a bd player?

Simple answer yes. The problem with streaming online videos is the bandwidth allotted to carry both audio and video presentations. There isn't enough of it yet, and compression runs ramped in the video and audio. The end result is a video and audio presentation with a significantly less bit rate than that found on a disc.

[brewp13]

Streaming Netflicks HD is usually worse than DVD quality, and sometimes a little better than DVD depending on the show but its never anywhere near BD quality or even HD cable quality.

[myklipschoath]

The streamed HD PQ is still pretty dang good, just make sure you have broadband, otherwise you'll be receiving that, adjusting the quality to your speed message..

[riseagainst]

Streaming Netflix is closer to VHS than it is to Blu-Ray. It's not even close to the quality of a DVD. The HD rentals through Amazon On Demand look much better -- I haven't rented a movie, but the preview looks consistent with broadcast HD.

[lifevicarious]

Originally Posted by riseagainst

Streaming Netflix is closer to VHS than it is to Blu-Ray. It's not even close to the quality of a DVD. The HD rentals through Amazon On Demand look much better -- I haven't rented a movie, but the preview looks consistent with broadcast HD.

I agree the standard def from Netflix sucks, I pretty much refuse to watch them. But I am more then happy with the HD streams from Netflix. While not BR, I feel they are better then DVD, am I alone on this?

[Ruben Rybnik]

Standard def is almost unwatchable in my opinion. TV shows are what I mainly stream in HD are acceptable. Seems to be slightly better than dvd but depends on the show. Not as good as broadcast tv though.

[avstraq]

This is purely based on my experience:

Netflix HD streaming on my LG BD Player has always been better than DVD quality. I have good bandwidth and I stick with a wired Ethernet connection. It will never equal BD quality until bandwidth substantially increases 5- to 10-fold.

On a PC or Mac, Netflix downgrades their HD streams and it always comes out sub-DVD quality. (I think that will all change this year.)

I try not to watch SD streams unless I really have to (i.e., can't wait for the BD/DVD).

[EricJ]

I only watch on a PS3 (and only a 720 HDTV), and while any streaming isn't 100% BD PQ, Netflix HD IS visibly brighter, clearer and more broadcast-HD than their SD prints.

Only problem is, as long as you don't fool with the stream, such as fast-forwarding or rewinding, at which point the streams seem to revert to 480 SD prints.
But when it comes in as uninterrupted HD, it looks up to quality.

Originally Posted by avstraq

I try not to watch SD streams unless I really have to (i.e., can't wait for the BD/DVD).

Apart from some of the TV series and a few vintages, the movie selection isn't...prime:
Seems to be only in the last few months that studios have been brave enough to license current "real" movies, like "Year One" or "Julie & Julia"--instead of the usual streaming selection of backyard C-horror, gay-niche indies and leftwing indie micro-documentaries--and for a while seems as if the only mainstream studio movies on NF:S have been either what Sony pictures Crackle.com was showing, or whatever Starz Play had in rotation that month.

But instead of sitting down and watching one 90-minute movie every night, I like to use the auto-bookmark feature to watch one half-hour of three different movies each, and keep a running smorgasbord to click back and forth upon.
Which has reached the point that I often don't have time for my hard-copy NF rentals anymore, and had to cut them down to a 2 or 3-out plan....Sacrilege!

[groove93]

Anything with a "Starz" logo, AVOID!!! The SD quality is horrible, and because of the nature of Fix pixel displays, they will exploit every anomaly in the picture. Like others have stated, if you have a decent broadband connection, the HD Shows and movies are decent to watch, but not close to Blu Ray quality. Some of the Indie films available in HD look very good.

[ubertaffy]

I've been happy with the amazon hd quality, though for my purposes, i download them first to my PC and then watch on my TV from there. I'd had issues in the past where if your connection (while streaming) doesn't stay consistent it just gives you a much lower quality so as to "keep it running smooth". Now, that may no longer be the case, plus recent tests have shown that I'm getting continually around 12 mbps (comcast) which is (surprisingly, and finally) what I am paying for...so perhaps i should try netflix again?

[that1guystudios]

I have a super fast internet connection, and I love HD netflix. However, 95% of the stuff on there is SD, and looks like crap. If I'm watching something on there it's only for the convenience factor. However, I Love that the entire library of 30 Rock, The Office and LOST are available on there.

[raygendreau]

With a wireless connection to my PS3 @ 6 mbps with HDMI to a Samsung UN40B6000 1080P LED-LCD TV the PQ is just as good as a 720P broadcast with an HD movie selection. Display info from the TV indicates 1280x720 during HD streaming. (SD streaming is only 720x480). Audio quality is marginal, but using PLXII processing through my 7.1 Sony receiver it is acceptable with a reasonable amount of activity in the surround and surround back channels. I have been watching TIN MAN, a SciFi channel 3 pt miniseries most recently and I see no difference between Streaming and Broadcast HD TV PQ. I won't watch the SD movies. (Been watching BD and HD Broadcast too long and just can't stomach the stepdown to lower PQ.

[oppopioneer]

I have a few video rental stores in my area so I'm happy just renting the bd discs. I won't start a bd collection and buy any, I did that with vhs and dvd and 90% of the time those vhs and dvd's are sitting around collecting dust and it can get quite expensive if you're in the lower middle class.

Is it fair to say that people who mostly use online streaming to watch movies don't have any rental stores near them or don't have transportation?

[SillyMammo]

Originally Posted by that1guypictures

I have a super fast internet connection, and I love HD netflix. However, 95% of the stuff on there is SD, and looks like crap. If I'm watching something on there it's only for the convenience factor. However, I Love that the entire library of 30 Rock, The Office and LOST are available on there.

I've only watch a couple of movies, but we've been catching up on alot of TV series (i.e. 30 Rock, The Office)

[Audiophile1178]

Originally Posted by Sooner_Blu

I just upgraded my internet speed to 10Mbs.

You just upgraded to 10Mbs? My cable company gives me a standard of 15Mbs and I just upgrade to 30Mbs for an extra $10/month. I was looking around at what they offer and you can get 110Mbs from them. I'm not sure how much it is but I think it's around $100/month for that speed.

[Ghasta]

I just started using Hulu and Netflix instead of my DirecTV subscription. Dont get me wrong....DirecTV was awesome...just too expensive for me right now. I've been watching season 5 of The Office in "HD" from Netflix...and the PQ looks pretty close to the HD broadcast from DirecTV. The sound is what sux....2 channel for everything. The PQ of most things when streaming from Netflix takes a min to "catch up" I guess...but if you keep watching the quality does get better. I've enjoyed the instant stuff from netflix so far, and I like the fact that if the wifey is watching something on TV...I can just move over to the computer and watch some mindless comedies.

[groove93]

Originally Posted by Ghasta

I just started using Hulu and Netflix instead of my DirecTV subscription. Dont get me wrong....DirecTV was awesome...just too expensive for me right now. I've been watching season 5 of The Office in "HD" from Netflix...and the PQ looks pretty close to the HD broadcast from DirecTV. The sound is what sux....2 channel for everything. The PQ of most things when streaming from Netflix takes a min to "catch up" I guess...but if you keep watching the quality does get better. I've enjoyed the instant stuff from netflix so far, and I like the fact that if the wifey is watching something on TV...I can just move over to the computer and watch some mindless comedies.

I did the same thing a few months ago. Direct TV was no longer in my budget so I got rid of it. I dropped my Verizon Mobile Broadband and I'm now using a Cable modem along with my Xbox 360, Playon, Tversity, and Netflix to stream media from the web. Add an OTA Antenna and I'm not complaining a bit about missing anything. The more you get into this kind of content viewing, the more you wonder how much money you can save in the long run.

I also enjoy Streaming from Netflix. Some of the HD content is subpar but Many of the TV shows look great. My son and I just watched The Matrix Revolutions and it was a decent image, however I know the Blu Ray would run races around the streaming version of the film. But hey, it beats getting up to go to the local video store to rent a disc, so I'm content with the trade-off.

[gnphiker]

I've got all new Cat6 cabling from my Linksys router to both Blu-ray players in the house. My Comcast broadband is pretty consistent for a fast connection. Netflix works really well in SD and even better in HD. Wouldn't say its 1080p good but its decent enough until they provide better service in the coming future.

I can get Vudu via my Samsung BD player and have been absolutely pleased with the PQ from their service.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by Audiophile1178

You just upgraded to 10Mbs? My cable company gives me a standard of 15Mbs and I just upgrade to 30Mbs for an extra $10/month. I was looking around at what they offer and you can get 110Mbs from them. I'm not sure how much it is but I think it's around $100/month for that speed.

im stuck at 3mbps best that u can get where i live lol. And even more odd its DSL and thats faster then the local cable service


But just look at the math, whats the AVG bitrate of a blu-ray? now compare that to your internet speed (and if you want to be real nit picky look at the max bit rate for a movie and see if that is lower or higher then your connection speed) Broadband isnt really just fast enough for streaming blu-ray and wont be for the general public for a while yet