Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Lee A Stewart]

It's too bad that Binaural Recording never made it to disc as a soundtrack. Puts surround sound to shame. No comparison.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Boccaccio

Yes, of course I know. It was just the thought alone of watching a movie like this.
Wouldn't even cross my mind. And if I couldn't make any noise for some reason, I'd rather just wait and watch it later.

I have a surround sound system, but I use headphones to watch movies and TV sometimes after my wife goes to bed.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I believe part of the reason that poster and others with similar setups post here and say the things they do is because they have no idea of what many users have. They have their fairly simple setups and are content with them so they do not understand why everyone else can not be like them. They just can not relate to home theaters like some of these here.

I fully appreciate that people have different set-ups. My set-up is the max I can accommodate given the space constraints I have living in an apartment. I would imagine for those of you with full home theatres the difference in quality comparing physical and streaming is significant. Whereas on my 55 inch OLED the streaming quality, at least on iTunes, vs the disk is insignificant.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Admiral

I fully appreciate that people have different set-ups. My set-up is the max I can accommodate given the space constraints I have living in an apartment. I would imagine for those of you with full home theatres the difference in quality comparing physical and streaming is significant. Whereas on my 55 inch OLED the streaming quality, at least on iTunes, vs the disk is insignificant.

That’s never the argument here. What I (we) have a problem with is people claiming there is little to no difference between the formats when that is a big fat whopping lie. The regular Joe is not going to notice a huge difference on their tv hanging on the wall compared to a HT, but then again, the average Joe doesn’t care. HT owners are not the average Joe. We have took our passion to the next level in the mission to replicate the cinema at home.

By th3 way, I can still see a considerable difference between digital and Blu-ray/UHD on a 55 inch OLED living room tv also.

That’s before we get to ownership and related issues. That’s another ball park.

[bhampton]

With bad playback gear there is little to no difference with the steaming.

On my phone the steaming looks better than UHD BD ...

Bluetooth audio of any sort does away with the lossless advantages. You can not assess the benefits of lossless Audio via bluetooth.

The good news is you can upgrade to better and better exists.

[bhampton]

iTunes phasing out music purchases now that they have successful subsection service.

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/201...sic-downloads/

I have seen several articles about this and Apple denies this is true for now. I expect there's some truth to it though.

In other news, Apple has a new video subscription service which they are bolstering with original content that can't be taken away by other studios.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I believe part of the reason that poster and others with similar setups post here and say the things they do is because they have no idea of what many users have.

Well, I took a peek at your 'high end home theaters,' and all I found was the past.

Not that there's anything wrong with the past, other than it should never be confused with the present, and certainly not the future.

In other words, it's perfectly okay for someone to say they prefer the past to the present, and let those who prefer the present to enjoy things as they are, which is pretty fine.

After all, what 'high end home theater' projector system can provide infinite contrast to deliver perfect blacks.

Doesn't take long to answer that question.

At the other end of the spectrum, what home theater can replicate the scale and immersive experience of a Dolby Cinema or IMAX Laser?

Same as above.

Today you can walk into a store, swipe a bit of plastic on a 77" OLED, add a Samsung or Nakamichi sound bar along with an Apple TV, plug in a few wires along with GigE and in less than an hour, have the best of cinema at your fingertips thanks to a slew of streaming options.

Top that.

With 8K sets and related AI processing thousands 4K HDR streaming titles at the click of a button for a few bucks per month, the bottom line is that the world has moved on from the 1980s.

It's 2020.

There's a fact we can all agree on.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Today you can walk into a store, swipe a bit of plastic on a 77" OLED, add a Samsung or Nakamichi sound bar along with an Apple TV, plug in a few wires along with GigE and in less than an hour, have the best of cinema at your fingertips thanks to a slew of streaming options.

Top that.

.

You had me till the steaming giving the best part. Anyone can own a pair of speakers and a amp that has direct (non bluetooth) connection and gives you the best quality available. You do realize there is something called lossless audio tracks ?

You don't get the best from steaming.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

[Show spoiler]Well, I took a peek at your 'high end home theaters,' and all I found was the past.

Not that there's anything wrong with the past, other than it should never be confused with the present, and certainly not the future.

In other words, it's perfectly okay for someone to say they prefer the past to the present, and let those who prefer the present to enjoy things as they are, which is pretty fine.

After all, what 'high end home theater' projector system can provide infinite contrast to deliver perfect blacks.

Doesn't take long to answer that question.

At the other end of the spectrum, what home theater can replicate the scale and immersive experience of a Dolby Cinema or IMAX Laser?

Same as above.

Today you can walk into a store, swipe a bit of plastic on a 77" OLED, add a Samsung or Nakamichi sound bar along with an Apple TV, plug in a few wires along with GigE and in less than an hour, have the best of cinema at your fingertips thanks to a slew of streaming options.

Top that.

With 8K sets and related AI processing thousands 4K HDR streaming titles at the click of a button for a few bucks per month, the bottom line is that the world has moved on from the 1980s.

It's 2020.

There's a fact we can all agree on.

I have to disagree with you if for no other reason than to respect tradition.

This is a forum predominantly visited by enthusiasts; many of us do not care what most of the world prefers. Most people do a lot of things that I would never do; at one time most people smoked in this country. I'm sure glad that I didn't follow the herd on that choice, either. Today, most people here are fat and that's another herd choice that I am happy to say that I did not make.

Streaming has never been the quality choice; it is about cheap and convenient. It conveys no real ownership and no control over what happens to the content. Many of us care about the best quality possible and actually owning what we buy in a permanent and unalterable form.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have to disagree with you if for no other reason than to respect tradition.

This is a forum predominantly visited by enthusiasts; many of us do not care what most of the world prefers. Most people do a lot of things that I would never do; at one time most people smoked in this country. I'm sure glad that I didn't follow the herd on that choice, either. Today, most people here are fat and that's another herd choice that I am happy to say that I did not make.

Streaming has never been the quality choice; it is about cheap and convenient. It conveys no real ownership and no control over what happens to the content. Many of us care about the best quality possible and actually owning what we buy in a permanent and unalterable form.

Amen.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

You had me till the steaming giving the best part. Anyone can own a pair of speakers and a amp that has direct (non bluetooth) connection and gives you the best quality available. You do realize there is something called lossless audio tracks ?

You don't get the best from steaming.

Coupling a 77" OLED with a soundbar, as he suggested, is a crying shame and topping that pathetic pairing is easily accomplished. I wouldn't take any home theater advice from someone that would recommend a soundbar be used with a $4500 TV.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Well, I took a peek at your 'high end home theaters,' and all I found was the past.

Depends on your point of reference. We were doing several things in digital video in the 80's (Ampex Zeus; D2; ADO, frame stores, etc.), in the 90's we were streaming video between facilities and the late 90's we were streaming our main program channel to the internet. If one has the money, Christie can do things most other projectors can not. So a lot of those home theaters represents the past, present and future.

BTW, I have a Nivida Shield Pro 2019, Roku Ultra 2019 and Sony UBP-X1000 for streaming. If Apple gets 24 fps right on their next gen then I will add one of those to the mix.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Just in case , for sometime now some enthusiast have used a HTPC for video playback using madVR software. Now madVR has a standalone VP, info here.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Today you can walk into a store, swipe a bit of plastic on a 77" OLED, add a Samsung or Nakamichi sound bar along with an Apple TV, plug in a few wires along with GigE and in less than an hour, have the best of cinema at your fingertips thanks to a slew of streaming options.

Top that

Your joking aren't you? Everything you suggest is like going to BB and getting a cheap setup and proclaiming it can't get any better.

Such naivety exists still I guess with a lot of people that haven't walked in a store and at least listened to the best soundbar out there versus some set of bookshelf speakers paired with a smaller powered subwoofer.

Soundbars were meant for flat on wall installations where you have no space for anything else. They distort easily. Instead speakers should be equal in importance compared to that 77" TV you desire.

The example your suggesting is like honed for someone that watches sporting events only, not movies.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Coupling a 77" OLED with a soundbar, as he suggested, is a crying shame and topping that pathetic pairing is easily accomplished. I wouldn't take any home theater advice from someone that would recommend a soundbar be used with a $4500 TV.

Some people only get the high end LG TV with its so called Dolby Atmos sound bar and think that the best thing out there. Part of the blame for this mentality falls onto the TV vendors. The big box stores need to quite pushing soundbars.

[Cevolution]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Well, I took a peek at your 'high end home theaters,' and all I found was the past.

Not that there's anything wrong with the past, other than it should never be confused with the present, and certainly not the future.

In other words, it's perfectly okay for someone to say they prefer the past to the present, and let those who prefer the present to enjoy things as they are, which is pretty fine.

After all, what 'high end home theater' projector system can provide infinite contrast to deliver perfect blacks.

Doesn't take long to answer that question.

At the other end of the spectrum, what home theater can replicate the scale and immersive experience of a Dolby Cinema or IMAX Laser?

Same as above.

Today you can walk into a store, swipe a bit of plastic on a 77" OLED, add a Samsung or Nakamichi sound bar along with an Apple TV, plug in a few wires along with GigE and in less than an hour, have the best of cinema at your fingertips thanks to a slew of streaming options.

Top that.

With 8K sets and related AI processing thousands 4K HDR streaming titles at the click of a button for a few bucks per month, the bottom line is that the world has moved on from the 1980s.

It's 2020.

There's a fact we can all agree on.

So when exactly did 7+ speakers, 1 or more subwoofers, and an AVR become obsolete to a soundbar? ... Soundbars are for men whose women won't let them have anything bigger, or men that aren't very technically minded in the world of home theatre.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Cevolution

Soundbars are for men whose women won't let them have anything bigger

Sounds like something is missing in their relationship!

[JohnAV]

This last weekend showed a little bit of life with theater activity.

If you look at the boxofficemojo domestic daily amounts you can see this last weekend still very low compared to when movie theaters closed in March 15 thru 17th.

But clearly the activity has increased. Compared to previous Fri, Sat, Sun, its +99.6%, +119.3%, +203.3%. *

This is really the first week in the US where theaters are just starting to reopen. March 25th to April 30th almost nothing, May 1st to June 4th I would guess most of that is from drive-ins. June 5th and on is to watch and see how this progresses.

* the actuals are now reflected not estimated weekend hauls.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Cevolution

So when exactly did 7+ speakers, 1 or more subwoofers, and an AVR become obsolete to a soundbar? ... Soundbars are for men whose women won't let them have anything bigger, or men that aren't very technically minded in the world of home theatre.

There was a time when State of the Art Sound System was the thing, but as time goes on you go back to the basics. My question to you guys, as more Movies are going to VOD what are your plans? Wait for Discs or pass the Movies?

https://www.releases.com/l/VOD_Movies/2020/6/

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by alchav21

There was a time when State of the Art Sound System was the thing, but as time goes on you go back to the basics. My question to you guys, as more Movies are going to VOD what are your plans? Wait for Discs or pass the Movies?

https://www.releases.com/l/VOD_Movies/2020/6/

If it doesn't go to theaters I will wait for disc. If it never goes to disc I guess they don't want my money.