Should I replace blu-rays with Amazon Prime streaming? - Blu-ray Forum

otranto300 · 11-20-2016, 08:08 PM

How are Blu-Rays compared to just using Amazon prime? Amazon is HD quality and sounds great. What's the diff?

solarrdadd · 11-20-2016, 08:25 PM

what kind of question is this? can the same movie on amazon streaming beat the bitrate of a Blu-ray disc playing? can it also give lossless audio or ATMOS/DTS:X audio? all at the same or better sustained rate of a Blu-ray disc?

don't get me wrong, I use them all Netflix, vudu, amazon prime and they all look good and sound good too, but, none can compare with a Blu-ray disc. also, Blu-ray will play (other than something truly wrong on the disc or player or receiver) with no dropping, tiling or pixelating. streaming will more likely suffer from all of those things depending on your isp or the source provider. also don't forget about if your purely streaming via wifi.

so, are you asking because you don't know these things or are you asking for peoples opinion on one vs the other? I ask because the question looks to be phrased like you don't know and are asking.

AKORIS · 11-20-2016, 08:31 PM

and something else to think about... cable companies are starting to limit bandwidth... Comcast just did all of a sudden where I live ....

all because of streaming and 4k......

MassiveMovieBuff · 11-20-2016, 08:34 PM

Death to streaming and instant video. Long live Blu Ray. It has the best quality of any home media format. I want to physically own my favorite films. One advantage to Amazon Prime instant video is that there are a lot of movies available for purchase in HD that aren't out on blu ray yet and may possibly never get a blu ray release but I want to hope that they do. I do use both but instant video and streaming are a back up for movies that aren't out on blu ray yet. There's also a lot of playback issues with streaming and instant video. I'm personally against streaming unless both formats can live in harmony but unfortunately with this baffling push for instant video and streaming by the Studios I have to be against it because it's screwing things up for us film collectors.

Nuck Horris · 11-20-2016, 09:00 PM

Yes.

I can dispose of your blu-rays for free.

PM me.

drmar · 12-13-2016, 06:13 PM

I will move to streaming when disks by mail are no longer available from Netflix and borrows from the library. Until then, physical media all the way. It's just better.

Abdrewes · 12-13-2016, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drmar

I will move to streaming when disks by mail are no longer available from Netflix and borrows from the library. Until then, physical media all the way. It's just better.

I used to be the same way, but there's some truly good HD content on streaming services that is not available on bluray. Just today I saw A Tale of Winter on Fandor and the quality undoubtedly has to be better than the DVD).

I get all my favorites and then some on bluray to be sure. But certain content is best enjoyed and only available on streaming services. Especially if you're into foreign or art house cinema. In addition to Fandor, Mubi, for example, occasionally offers exclusives that are unavailable or extremely pricey on disc.

drmar · 12-15-2016, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I used to be the same way, but there's some truly good HD content on streaming services that is not available on bluray. Just today I saw A Tale of Winter on Fandor and the quality undoubtedly has to be better than the DVD).

Alas, there is a fly in that ointment. AT&T, Charter, etc. will soon have an open playing field for charging more, as the FCC commissioners change to GOP majority. All this fine HD and 4K content may be available, but you're going to be paying more and more for it.

ZIROK · 12-15-2016, 02:42 PM

Problem with streaming is that the provider can pull content whenever they want as Netflix does. POOF ! your movie is gone. And with Blus you get all the extra stuff

GohanX · 12-15-2016, 02:58 PM

If it's something you really love I wouldn't, as others have said the movie can be removed at any time. If it's something I want to watch and don't necessarily want to own then sure, I'll go Amazon. I was really impressed with great the video quality was when watching Band of Brothers a few weeks back, but nothing beats having the bluray.

KRW1 · 12-15-2016, 05:49 PM

Why not just do both like everyone else?

meremortal · 12-15-2016, 06:57 PM

You could probably get away with a lot of the big popcorn flicks/blockbusters on streaming sites. Or just D2D them for a dollar each on Vudu if you have at least 10+ eligible titles and if you also have a blu ray drive. But for cult movies or anything that's even remotely obscure, it's probably best to just hang onto the disc as those movies could be a total pain to access again.

mrr1 · 12-15-2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

there's some truly good HD content on streaming services that is not available on bluray.

Which is great until they pull the title off their service. I cannot count the number of times something was removed before I had a chance to watch it. So frustrating.

floridaswamprat · 12-15-2016, 08:02 PM

Physical media is best for this one reason: when the apocalypse happens, I will still have my blu-rays. And my guns.

drmar · 12-15-2016, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floridaswamprat

Physical media is best for this one reason: when the apocalypse happens, I will still have my blu-rays. And my guns.

But probably no electricity from the powerlines. You will need a generator and gasoline.

Rottweiler30 · 12-18-2016, 07:46 PM

I've just started using Prime and have kicked off with The Walking Dead series.

Apart from the fact that I'd always want to have a physical collection the quality on Prime is nowhere near BD quality. The picture jerks every few seconds for one.

Don't get me wrong it's perfectly acceptable, especially for the free 'Prime titles' but I'll be using it to check titles out to see if they're worth adding to my Blu Ray collection.

OI8T12 · 12-18-2016, 07:51 PM

I like how people start these threads, but never come back to them.

BeastCreatureTrapper · 12-19-2016, 08:52 AM

The quality of online streaming isn't on par with physical media and there's no way (especially with Prime), that they have the type of selection you could (and most likely will) build with your own library with.

owenstar · 12-19-2016, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drmar

But probably no electricity from the powerlines. You will need a generator and gasoline.

You must be an east coaster....solar bruh!

thecalm_7 · 12-19-2016, 08:34 PM

I won't go to only streaming until it's the only way. I like owning my movies. I use prime, Hulu, and Netflix. But streaming gives such spotty results. I use bright house cable internet. It's awful but I don't like dish service. 30mbps internet, I get 13 average. I can stream in1080 but often it 286-480 it's bad at times, makes me appreciate my collection and books.

Everything has pros and cons.
Cons that I regularly see
-unstable internet speed/unstable picture
-irregular subtitles (I have hearing damage, so necessary)
-wrong aspect ratio at times
-random availability, things come and go, some return
-dubbing of foreign films/anime sometimes does not offer original language.
-power availability. I live in FL, I don't bother to set clocks, there's no point, it's a daily occurrence to lose power, cable/internet is more sketchy and while power may come back asap, cable doesn't. nope, not in the woods or the sticks, but a gated community

Pros
-better quality
-disc based extras
-yours to sell, trade, keep
-portable
-shareable
-if power goes out, laptop with blu-ray drive is available
-some have various cuts that are not available elsewhere

I don't know your situation but these are just my reasons for doing what I do.

11-20-2016, 08:08 PM	#1
otranto300 Junior Member Member since:Aug 2016	Should I replace blu-rays with Amazon Prime streaming? How are Blu-Rays compared to just using Amazon prime? Amazon is HD quality and sounds great. What's the diff?

11-20-2016, 08:34 PM	#4
MassiveMovieBuff Blu-ray Count Member since:Apr 2014 4K collection:411 Blu-ray collection:1629 DVD collection:97 Trading Score:3	Death to streaming and instant video. Long live Blu Ray. It has the best quality of any home media format. I want to physically own my favorite films. One advantage to Amazon Prime instant video is that there are a lot of movies available for purchase in HD that aren't out on blu ray yet and may possibly never get a blu ray release but I want to hope that they do. I do use both but instant video and streaming are a back up for movies that aren't out on blu ray yet. There's also a lot of playback issues with streaming and instant video. I'm personally against streaming unless both formats can live in harmony but unfortunately with this baffling push for instant video and streaming by the Studios I have to be against it because it's screwing things up for us film collectors. Last edited by MassiveMovieBuff; 11-20-2016 at 08:38 PM.

11-20-2016, 08:25 PM	#2
solarrdadd Blu-ray Prince Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Virginia Home Theater Gallery:255 4K collection:209 Blu-ray collection:1344 DVD collection:4 Blu-ray reviews: 42 Trading Score:316	what kind of question is this? can the same movie on amazon streaming beat the bitrate of a Blu-ray disc playing? can it also give lossless audio or ATMOS/DTS:X audio? all at the same or better sustained rate of a Blu-ray disc? don't get me wrong, I use them all Netflix, vudu, amazon prime and they all look good and sound good too, but, none can compare with a Blu-ray disc. also, Blu-ray will play (other than something truly wrong on the disc or player or receiver) with no dropping, tiling or pixelating. streaming will more likely suffer from all of those things depending on your isp or the source provider. also don't forget about if your purely streaming via wifi. so, are you asking because you don't know these things or are you asking for peoples opinion on one vs the other? I ask because the question looks to be phrased like you don't know and are asking.

11-20-2016, 08:31 PM	#3
AKORIS Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Beautiful Pacific Northwest 4K collection:662 Blu-ray collection:3656 Blu-ray reviews:19	and something else to think about... cable companies are starting to limit bandwidth... Comcast just did all of a sudden where I live .... all because of streaming and 4k......

11-20-2016, 09:00 PM	#5
Nuck Horris Special Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2015 Location:Valkenvania 4K collection:18 Blu-ray collection:924 DVD collection:487 Digital collection:126 Trading Score:21	Yes. I can dispose of your blu-rays for free. PM me.

12-13-2016, 06:13 PM	#6
drmar Active Member Member since:Jun 2014 Location:The Northern Plains	I will move to streaming when disks by mail are no longer available from Netflix and borrows from the library. Until then, physical media all the way. It's just better.

12-15-2016, 02:42 PM	#9
ZIROK Active Member Member since:Sep 2013 Home Theater Gallery:3	Problem with streaming is that the provider can pull content whenever they want as Netflix does. POOF ! your movie is gone. And with Blus you get all the extra stuff

12-15-2016, 02:58 PM	#10
GohanX Active Member Member since:Jan 2010 Location:Burlington, NC 4K collection:16 Blu-ray collection:337	If it's something you really love I wouldn't, as others have said the movie can be removed at any time. If it's something I want to watch and don't necessarily want to own then sure, I'll go Amazon. I was really impressed with great the video quality was when watching Band of Brothers a few weeks back, but nothing beats having the bluray.

12-15-2016, 05:49 PM	#11
KRW1 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2012 Blu-ray collection:45	Why not just do both like everyone else?

12-15-2016, 06:57 PM	#12
meremortal Blu-ray Champion Member since:Jan 2012 Location:Bedford Falls Trading Score:258	You could probably get away with a lot of the big popcorn flicks/blockbusters on streaming sites. Or just D2D them for a dollar each on Vudu if you have at least 10+ eligible titles and if you also have a blu ray drive. But for cult movies or anything that's even remotely obscure, it's probably best to just hang onto the disc as those movies could be a total pain to access again.

12-15-2016, 08:02 PM	#14
floridaswamprat Power Member Member since:May 2013 Location:Dothan, AL 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:751 DVD collection:448 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:95	Physical media is best for this one reason: when the apocalypse happens, I will still have my blu-rays. And my guns.

12-18-2016, 07:46 PM	#16
Rottweiler30 Power Member Member since:Aug 2009 Location:York (England) 4K collection:26 Blu-ray collection:716 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I've just started using Prime and have kicked off with The Walking Dead series. Apart from the fact that I'd always want to have a physical collection the quality on Prime is nowhere near BD quality. The picture jerks every few seconds for one. Don't get me wrong it's perfectly acceptable, especially for the free 'Prime titles' but I'll be using it to check titles out to see if they're worth adding to my Blu Ray collection.

12-18-2016, 07:51 PM	#17
OI8T12 Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Aug 2013 Location:Boston,MA. 4K collection:156 Blu-ray collection:1087 DVD collection:466 MA collection:23 Digital collection:234 iTunes collection:180 Blu-ray reviews: 41 Trading Score:275	I like how people start these threads, but never come back to them.

12-19-2016, 08:52 AM	#18
BeastCreatureTrapper Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2014 Trading Score:10	The quality of online streaming isn't on par with physical media and there's no way (especially with Prime), that they have the type of selection you could (and most likely will) build with your own library with.

12-19-2016, 08:34 PM	#20
thecalm_7 Power Member Top contributor Member since:Apr 2011 Location:The Gulf 4K collection:946 Blu-ray collection:6017 DVD collection:859 iTunes collection:2 Trading Score:126	I won't go to only streaming until it's the only way. I like owning my movies. I use prime, Hulu, and Netflix. But streaming gives such spotty results. I use bright house cable internet. It's awful but I don't like dish service. 30mbps internet, I get 13 average. I can stream in1080 but often it 286-480 it's bad at times, makes me appreciate my collection and books. Everything has pros and cons. Cons that I regularly see -unstable internet speed/unstable picture -irregular subtitles (I have hearing damage, so necessary) -wrong aspect ratio at times -random availability, things come and go, some return -dubbing of foreign films/anime sometimes does not offer original language. -power availability. I live in FL, I don't bother to set clocks, there's no point, it's a daily occurrence to lose power, cable/internet is more sketchy and while power may come back asap, cable doesn't. nope, not in the woods or the sticks, but a gated community Pros -better quality -disc based extras -yours to sell, trade, keep -portable -shareable -if power goes out, laptop with blu-ray drive is available -some have various cuts that are not available elsewhere I don't know your situation but these are just my reasons for doing what I do.

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