Why Blu-ray?

[xberto]

I bought my first HD player, the Panasonic BD30, because of its compatibility with my Panasonic HD camcorder and the AVCHD format. That and the fact that, I knew HD DVD was on its way out, were basically the only reason i went BD.

Just wondering if someone could summarize why the BD format is better. Friends tell me that, in general, HD DVD movies look and sound better.

[scragham]

your friends are full of crap.

given the exact same video and audio encode, a movie on blu-ray and HD DVD will sound identical.

the difference is that blu-ray has advantages in terms of higher capacity (i.e. how many gigabytes a disc can store - 25gb single-layer, 50gb double-layer) as well as bandwidth (i forget the numbers for BD vs HD DVD, but this means how much data the player spec is capable of dealing with per time).

this means that, theoretically at least, a movie company, if they were so inclined, could make a BD of a movie that had higher bitrates and took up more gigabytes to create a better looking and sounding movie than the same movie on HD DVD.

there are some movies out there (the harry potters come to mind) where warner has used the same video encode, but chosen to include lossless audio on the BDs because of space and bandwidth limitations.

then there are some movies where the studios stiffed BD owners by encoding for a 30gb DL HD DVD and then cutting out stuff for BD to make it fit onto a 25gb SL BD.

to wit: your friends are full of crap.

[MOONPHASE]

Hd-Dvd movies do not look or sound better thats a complete lie but as to say if Blu-Ray looks better thats kind of hard to say but Blu-Ray does have better audio options then Hd-Dvd. Blu-Ray discs hold more information (up to 50GB of data as of now on Blu-Ray and Hd-Dvd can only hold up to 30GB of data as of now). So when you add it all up Blu-Ray discs have more space for better audio, more language selections, more space for extra stuff, and more space for tv shows. Dvds can only go up to 9GB of data so 50 GB makes it worth getting so you wont have to have all of those dvd discs that only have like 4 episodes per dvd. Also more studios are backing Blu-Ray because they also think Blu-Ray is better.

[PeteS]

Originally Posted by xberto

Just wondering if someone could summarize why the BD format is better. Friends tell me that, in general, HD DVD movies look and sound better.

Blu-ray is better because:
1. Blu-ray discs hold more data and allow a higher peak bit rate. This equates to better overall video quality and audio quality (i.e. lossless audio). (For a director's opinion on this search for Michael Bay Blu-ray on this forum or his.)
1a. So on Blu-ray we see true 1080p, lossless audio, lots of space for HiDef extras, near perfect detail in high motion scenes, etc.
2. Blu-ray has broader industry support. The BDA is not just Sony - that's FUD. Broader support has meant better hardware and more titles with higher quality.
3. Blu-ray uses Java for interactivity. Java is more versatile than HD DVD's HDi which is a derivative of Microsoft's WinCE and XML. Plus BD-Java is not tied to any one company - like HDi is to Microsoft.
4. Blu-ray is more open to future developments because it is not as tied to DVD production tech. A good example is BD-50 (50GB discs) which arrived quickly and is here now used in about 51% of titles.
5. Blu-ray is less proprietry. HD DVD was pushed by Microsoft because each of their players was effectively a PC. Too much Microsoft can be hazardous to your future.
6. Blu-ray has a broader destiny as the high capacity optical media of the future. Blu-ray came from Pro-Video roots. It is or will soon be used for HD camcorders, computer archiving, HiDef player-recorders, HD media servers, desktop and notebook software and data delivery, custom HD video discs and more and more.

In summary, Blu-ray IS better - no FUD - no confusion - stark elementary truth.

[MOONPHASE]

to add Blu-Ray players have better quality then Hd-Dvd players. Besides when you say Hd-Dvd it sounds like a Xbox 360 game where its on a dvd disc but can just play in high definition except just only can be used on an hd-dvd player unless you do that dumb combo disc thing on hd-dvds. oh and almost forgot Blu-Ray discs are stronger so that means its scratch resistant

[PeteS]

Originally Posted by xberto

Friends tell me that, in general, HD DVD movies look and sound better.

btw. Welcome to Blu-ray.com
Experts agree that Blu-ray closely approaches reproducing original master quality. The best argument for that, I think, can be found at
http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/
look for the videos from Panasonic Hollywood Labs about peak bit rates and encoding quality.

[xberto]

Originally Posted by scragham

your friends are full of crap.

lol, I let the guys know what you thought of them and informed them of some blu-ray agvantages. They can not dispute the technical advantages of blu-ray, however both friends own both formats and still insist that the HD DVD movies tend to have better PQ. Being a subjective view, you can't really argue with them. scragham' explanation of certain studios stiffing the BD by cramming the movie onto a 25gig SL makes sense and perhaps could have attributed to their perception. Hopefully with the grim future of HD DVD, the studios will take full advantage of BD capability.

I've only viewed a couple of BD movies, in my player, thus far and was happy with the PQ. Ill be borrowing a HD DVD player soon and comparing the two myself.

Thanks for the welcome and all the input

[Anthony P]

lol, I let the guys know what you thought of them and informed them of some blu-ray agvantages. They can not dispute the technical advantages of blu-ray, however both friends own both formats and still insist that the HD DVD movies tend to have better PQ.

well then full of crap was putting it extremely mildly.

Being a subjective view, you can't really argue with them

but it is not a subjective view. There is a master, there is an encoding what ever encoding matches the master closest is the one with better PQ. A story, more interesting, more funny is subjective, but PQ can be quantified because in the end it is comparing two things and how far or close one is from the other.

My guess without knowing your friend is that they bought their HD DVD players first and this BS of better PQ is all about them trying to justify their bad decision “I bought HD DVD because it is better but now stuck with BD”

[TIki_Guy]

If someone had both on the same TV could one be HDMI and the other Component?

Would the quality of the cables matter?

What is the color settings were different?

I see this is store displays often, a really crap 720p with a responsible color, contrast and brightness settings, sitting next to a top of the line 1080p TV with really bad settings, and people saying stuff like "Oh the daewoo looks so much better then the Sony".

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by xberto

I bought my first HD player, the Panasonic BD30, because of its compatibility with my Panasonic HD camcorder and the AVCHD format. That and the fact that, I knew HD DVD was on its way out, were basically the only reason i went BD.

Just wondering if someone could summarize why the BD format is better. Friends tell me that, in general, HD DVD movies look and sound better.

You need to get some new friends, mate. <in failed Jack Sparrow accent/voice>

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

well then full of crap was putting it extremely mildly.



but it is not a subjective view. There is a master, there is an encoding what ever encoding matches the master closest is the one with better PQ. A story, more interesting, more funny is subjective, but PQ can be quantified because in the end it is comparing two things and how far or close one is from the other.

My guess without knowing your friend is that they bought their HD DVD players first and this BS of better PQ is all about them trying to justify their bad decision “I bought HD DVD because it is better but now stuck with BD”

Sounds like Red Ants disguised as Purple Wannabees.

[scragham]

Originally Posted by Ratdaddy

Welcom to the forum xberto


Why is it when someone ask's a simple question ,half of you feel the need to belittle him/her, you
need to educate not degrade them by saying thier friends are full of crap . Most of us are here to
learn more about the different formats so we can make an educated choice...

his friends are full of crap, pal. a spade is, as they say, a spade.

[U4K61]

When you buy a computer, you get the one with biggest hard drive you can afford. So why would it be any different for optical storage. Blu is 50gig, DUD is ... nuf said.

[pokerface]

I don't think they are trying to belittle anyone, the guys they are talking about have their heads in the sand and want to stay in the red cult. They did try to educate and listed reasons and technical specs.

Truth of the matter is they are both good formats but just based on technical specs blu-ray is the better of the two. FACT !

[scragham]

Originally Posted by xberto

lol, I let the guys know what you thought of them and informed them of some blu-ray agvantages. They can not dispute the technical advantages of blu-ray, however both friends own both formats and still insist that the HD DVD movies tend to have better PQ. Being a subjective view, you can't really argue with them. scragham' explanation of certain studios stiffing the BD by cramming the movie onto a 25gig SL makes sense and perhaps could have attributed to their perception. Hopefully with the grim future of HD DVD, the studios will take full advantage of BD capability.

I've only viewed a couple of BD movies, in my player, thus far and was happy with the PQ. Ill be borrowing a HD DVD player soon and comparing the two myself.

Thanks for the welcome and all the input

glad to help. keep in mind that pretty much any movie that you can compare directly (such as harry potter, 300 etc - i.e. from neutral studios or formerly neutral studios) uses the exact same video encode and therefore should and will look exactly the same.

[mightypen]

The only way that my a3 is superior to my bd30 in video/audio playback is in upscaling dvds. Any hd/blu ray comparisons that I have personally done, blu comes out ahead, sometimes only marginally, but most are much better-not with the same movies, but overall my general impression. Anecdotes for the loss.

Perhaps your friends are using hdmi for their blu and composite for their red?
whoops, I see tiki guy said this, I don't want to steal his lines.

[U4K61]

Originally Posted by TIki_Guy

If someone had both on the same TV could one be HDMI and the other Component?

Would the quality of the cables matter?

What is the color settings were different?

I see this is store displays often, a really crap 720p with a responsible color, contrast and brightness settings, sitting next to a top of the line 1080p TV with really bad settings, and people saying stuff like "Oh the daewoo looks so much better then the Sony".

It's hard to judge a TV when we see it on a store sales floor. Sony has great TV's, but like most sets, they are not ISF calibrated out of the box. They come from the factory at their brightest setting, or torch mode in the hope that the vibrent oversaturated colors or a contrasty image will over power the store lights and attract buyers. They are known as a 'Hot TVs' and will not deliver an image as the 'direcor intended'. Some people will notice that something is wrong, such as some sets that have a bluish or reddish cast. I point out that when you bring it home and calibrate it, it will deliver a more accurate picture. It's only by reading reviews do I know for sure it is a good set before I buy.

The Display Wall:

• How Retailers Use Lighting To Confuse Buyers - xtop
• The Disney Magical Tour - user friendly

Originally Posted by TIki_Guy

Would the quality of the cables matter?

If you are using HDMI, no. Cables from MonoPrice are fine. Tons of info in HDMI FAQ.

Back to Getting Started HD POST

[radagast]

Originally Posted by xberto

lol, I let the guys know what you thought of them and informed them of some blu-ray agvantages. They can not dispute the technical advantages of blu-ray, however both friends own both formats and still insist that the HD DVD movies tend to have better PQ. Being a subjective view, you can't really argue with them. scragham' explanation of certain studios stiffing the BD by cramming the movie onto a 25gig SL makes sense and perhaps could have attributed to their perception. Hopefully with the grim future of HD DVD, the studios will take full advantage of BD capability.

I've only viewed a couple of BD movies, in my player, thus far and was happy with the PQ. Ill be borrowing a HD DVD player soon and comparing the two myself.

Thanks for the welcome and all the input

Sometimes friends can be sharing hearsay from what they've read, rather than what they've actually seen. If, on the other hand, they are using a combo unit like LG or Samsung, then there is always the possibility that those units aren't the best for playing Blu-ray. It's also possible that if they are watching a movie that is in BOTH formats, like some Warner and Paramount titles, that those particular releases didn't take advantage of the higher bit-rate and storage possibilities of Blu-ray.

[xberto]

Originally Posted by Ratdaddy

Welcom to the forum xberto


Why is it when someone ask's a simple question ,half of you feel the need to belittle him/her, you
need to educate not degrade them by saying thier friends are full of crap . Most of us are here to
learn more about the different formats so we can make an educated choice...

Thanks Rat but NO offense taken here. I've spent some time on the internet and realize people can be rather blunt. Absolutely no worries here.

[Anthony P]

Why is it when someone ask's a simple question ,half of you feel the need to belittle him/her, you
need to educate not degrade them by saying thier friends are full of crap . Most of us are here to
learn more about the different formats so we can make an educated choice...

no one is belittling him. many gave many reasons. But when his friends go back to him and say they can't dispute the technical reasons given but that magically HD DVD is still better there is nothing else to do but point that they are full of crap. It is like someone still insisting the world is flat. You just can't educate some people and the only thing to do is point to their friends that there is just no reason to discuss such stuff with them because crap is all you will get back.