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

[Wendell R. Breland]

Avatar: The Way of Water 3-D review here.

For years now the only way anyone in the U.S. could get a Disney-released title on Blu-ray 3-D was through the import market - even going so far as to have to buy it from Japan! Thankfully that trend reverses course with Avatar: The Way of Water. A four-disc Blu-ray + Digital set, the 3-D version of the film is spread over two BD-50 discs, a BD-50 disc for the 2-D presentation, and a BD-50 for bonus features. All discs are Region Free.

As noted, I will not have to import the 3-D version. Wonder why the change at Disney. IF True Lies and The Abyss make it to disc this year then it would appear there really is positive change at Disney in terms of disc release.

[bhampton]

The SPEARS & MUNSIL UHD HD BENCHMARK 3 Disc set arrived and I had a look through the contents. It's a great tool! I have had other test discs before but this one has all the test patterns anyone would want in both SDR and HDR including DV and HDR10+.

I have to spend a ton more time with it but I can tell it's going to be very useful. I really love to try to get all the of the performance I can from anything I use.

My current projector (JVC RS3100) has an automated calibration program that uses 2 different pro quality meters (one for gamma and the other for color.) And auto calibration is the ONLY calibration I've done. For one thing, the PJ looked like a reference display with the defaults which is always a plus.

However, even if someone has a great looking and fairly accurate display there's still a lot of options in the various settings that should be investigated if you are out to maximize signal to noise ratio.

Sometimes also the best performance isn't the most accurate one. I mean, my projector can shut off the light path for full screen black giving it essentially infinite contrast but this comes at some expense to other aspects of performance and stability and it will be fun to examine all of that in detail.

In my years of doing my own projector setups I find the very most important thing is always the black level or brightness setting and it should be the first and last thing that is checked. Black is the basis and foundation for everything else in video and is the equivalent of silence to an audio setup.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by deatheats

Let’s not forget that as long as the writers are on strike, the ability for streaming services to retain or add new customers will further decline due to the lack of good, new content.

If we are talking purchase "new" content is important. Joe goes to the store (virtual/real, physical copy/digital copy) he already has a copy at home he buys nothing and just watcheds the copy that is already at home. Joe goes to the store sees film he wants to own but does not so he buys it.


Bob on the other hand that rents, what will he do "no new content, I will drop my streaming provider and sit in front of TV that is off staring at it twiddling his thumbs.


IMHO inflation like Lee said, is a more reasonable excuse but it misses the obvious, If Fred was paying for 3 services but needed to cut somewhere and decided "I almost neve watch stream 3 why am I paying for it, I will just drop it and save that money" is it reasonable to assume Fred will become dumb enough to waste money again on a service he does not really use ?

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Disc used to be a cash cow.

Steaming may never get the chance.

I n the last quarter Disney did not announce huge losses to physical media (like they did with streaming) or need to make a huge write down (like they also did with streaming.)

Disks are still a cash cow (just a bit thinner cow) and streaming will never be a cash cow (barely making enough milk to pay for its feed).

[stonesfan129]

I'm looking forward to receiving these next week:





I heard The Covenant was very good. I am also looking forward to what a 4K restoration of Ronin looks like. I only have the original BD, never got the Arrow version from a few years back. But I'm now up to like 6 or 7 other Kino Lorber remasters and I've been happy with all of them. It seems like Kino Lorber chooses more popular/mainstream titles. Criterion Collection just hasn't been releasing anything lately that interests me. Same with Arrow.

EDIT: Take that back, looks like Ronin is not going to be to me until July 5.

Going back to this whole brouhaha with The French Connection, I am staying 100% with discs for now. I'm glad I got the Filmmaker Signature Series Blu-ray of this years ago. I have room for another 650 discs. Maybe a few more if I move duplicates to my basement storage. And I am definitely becoming more selective about what I buy now that I am getting low on space. Digital can definitely be convenient, but all this has shown me is you own nothing, you control nothing, you're just a visitor. It makes more sense for me to use free streaming, and if I discover something there I really enjoy, then I can go buy the disc. Why pay for it if I don't actually own or control the copy like I would with a DVD/Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray?

I am also hoping Kino Lorber decides to keep remastering the Clint Eastwood westerns. I looking forward to a 4K restoration of The Outlaw Josey Wales.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I'm looking forward to receiving these next week:

Ronin is a favorite of ours.

Digital can definitely be convenient, but all this has shown me is you own nothing, you control nothing, you're just a visitor.

IIRC my first encounter with TOS/EULA content ownership was with VUDU (still privately owned). Had an account but never purchased their hardware. Next came UV (UltraViolet). It was clear, to use it you agreed the content owner and provider was 100% in control. Next was the Sony download to own UHD content, problem was when Sony closed up shop your purchased downloaded movies stopped working. Have not read the Kaleidescape TOS/EULA but I would not be surprised if their hardware stopped working if they went out of business.

Lost about $400 on the Sony ordeal, lost about $1000 when Dish switched from H.262 to H.264 rending my purchased hardware useless.

My 40 year old CD’s still play fine as do my 26 year old DVD’s and 17 year old Blu-ray’s.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I am staying 100% with discs for now... Digital can definitely be convenient, but all this has shown me is you own nothing, you control nothing, you're just a visitor.

If only someone had ever mentioned that in this thread before...

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

If only someone had ever mentioned that in this thread before...

I think I mentioned it a few times.

How are you doing?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

And how many members are going to commit $1000 a year for discs?

You can count me as one of them . Even with my much reduced purchasing this year, I will likely spend at least that much.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I still pop in here from time to time mostly to see how our friends Vilya is doing and to see if anything has changed...

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I think I mentioned it a few times.

How are you doing?

Thanks for thinking of me!

I am trying to stay positive. I have my second infusion of that experimental drug this Friday. So far, I have only had minor side effects. Much too soon to know if it is doing me any good, though.

I have had some setbacks this week, but I am trying to take it all in stride. I will post more about that later.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

You can count me as one of them . Even with my much reduced purchasing this year, I will likely spend at least that much.

Same here, already more than half way.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Have not read the Kaleidescape TOS/EULA but I would not be surprised if their hardware stopped working if they went out of business.

No they will still work (since it is DL and no connection is needed to watch) but with two big asterisks

1) if something happens (i.e. disk failure) the content on that partition will be lost since it won't be able to be re-dLed

2) it is a DL system but some people to save cash (expensive to keep on adding disk space) don't have all their films locally (i.e. I will erase from HDD and re-dl when I want to see it) so if that is the case any films the person has not DL before the shutdown will be lost.

------

A bit on a different subject. For K All content is associated to a user ID if the machine is sold the content could remain on the disk (or the person can delete it) but it won't be playable because it would be associated with the previous owners ID and not the new owners ID. The new owner will need to repurchase any content (but if no one delete it after the purchase of the title the new owner won't need to re-dl it)

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Thanks for thinking of me!

I am trying to stay positive. I have my second infusion of that experimental drug this Friday. So far, I have only had minor side effects. Much too soon to know if it is doing me any good, though.

I have had some setbacks this week, but I am trying to take it all in stride. I will post more about that later.

glad to hear only minor side effects. Hope the treatment goes well for you.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Thanks for thinking of me!

I am trying to stay positive. I have my second infusion of that experimental drug this Friday. So far, I have only had minor side effects. Much too soon to know if it is doing me any good, though.

I have had some setbacks this week, but I am trying to take it all in stride. I will post more about that later.

Fingers crossed.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Hey All. Vilya made it over to my house this past Sunday for dinner and a movie, as he had a couple of tough days of testing Monday and Tuesday lined up here in St Louis. He had me pick something to show off my room, which was a pretty tough decision as I wanted to grab something he nor his chauffeur Warren had not yet seen. I decided on technical merits more so than actual cinematic credibility, and popped in Monster Hunter. Unbelievable 4K disc and an Atmos tour de force. Vilya was in the sweet spot on the couch and was all smiles, but my wife wasn’t too happy upstairs though.

Visiting you, getting to meet your wife, being treated to dinner and a movie in your jaw dropping home theater was the highlight and only bright spot of my otherwise grueling trip.

I got to not just watch, but I was able to experience , projected onto an incredible 120" screen by an astounding JVC NX8 8K laser projector with the added benefit of the incredible Mad Envy Video processor. All of this occurred in a perfectly light controlled room with 24 speakers and 9 subwoofers complimented by a Storm Audio audio processor that delivered the full potential of this movie's powerful aural presentation. Every aspect of the entire presentation had been calibrated to achieve impeccable results.

To say it was an experience is really an understatement. It was the closest thing to home theater perfection that I have ever seen or heard. It was more impressive than most of the presentations that I have seen at commercial theaters. It is how movies should be seen... and heard. I wish everyone could experience movies like this in their own homes.

None of this would have been possible with streamed content. Not even remotely close. Not even in the same galaxy close. No built-in TV's speakers, no soundbar, no pair of headphones, no VR/AR scuba mask, could compare with what I was able to enjoy that night. If there was ever a place where the adjective "fantastic" deserved to be used it is in describing gotmule's home theater.

The only thing lacking were cup holders. I was afraid that I would spill my ice tea on your very comfortable couch.

I didn't want to leave. I wanted to try out nearly every disc you had. It was a bit of an adjustment coming home and "settling" for my vastly more modest set-up, but I remain grateful for what I own. Thank you for a wonderful evening of great company, good food, and a hearty slice of movie theater heaven on Earth. It was the most fun that I have had in a very long time.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

I started playing Diablo 4 on PS5. It's awesome. I'm new to the world of Diablo. I rented it via GameFly.

A friend bought the digital deluxe edition (PC) for me and I have immensely enjoyed it so far. It is damn addictive and intricately detailed. I wish I could play more often than I do, but my sorcerer is coming along at level 44.

[Vilya]

A big thanks to Wendell for the gift copy of

I suspect that I have my work cut out for me in order to optimize my settings, but I am so grateful that I now have the tools to do so.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Visiting you, getting to meet your wife, being treated to dinner and a movie in your jaw dropping home theater was the highlight and only bright spot of my otherwise grueling trip.

I got to not just watch, but I was able to experience , projected onto an incredible 120" screen by an astounding JVC NX8 8K laser projector with the added benefit of the incredible Mad Envy Video processor. All of this occurred in a perfectly light controlled room with 24 speakers and 9 subwoofers complimented by a Storm Audio audio processor that delivered the full potential of this movie's powerful aural presentation. Every aspect of the entire presentation had been calibrated to achieve impeccable results.

To say it was an experience is really an understatement. It was the closest thing to home theater perfection that I have ever seen or heard. It was more impressive than most of the presentations that I have seen at commercial theaters. It is how movies should be seen... and heard. I wish everyone could experience movies like this in their own homes.

None of this would have been possible with streamed content. Not even remotely close. Not even in the same galaxy close. No built-in TV's speakers, no soundbar, no pair of headphones, no VR/AR scuba mask, could compare with what I was able to enjoy that night. If there was ever a place where the adjective "fantastic" deserved to be used it is in describing gotmule's home theater.

The only thing lacking were cup holders. I was afraid that I would spill my ice tea on your very comfortable couch.

I didn't want to leave. I wanted to try out nearly every disc you had. It was a bit of an adjustment coming home and "settling" for my vastly more modest set-up, but I remain grateful for what I own. Thank you for a wonderful evening of great company, good food, and a hearty slice of movie theater heaven on Earth. It was the most fun that I have had in a very long time.

It was so cool to think of the both of you enjoying what we all enjoy, pure pleasure and escapism in one’s HT. magical stuff and thanks to both of you for sharing with us.

As for me, next up is Apocalypse Now 4K Final Cut. Having a war themed week.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Visiting you, getting to meet your wife, being treated to dinner and a movie in your jaw dropping home theater was the highlight and only bright spot of my otherwise grueling trip.

Very glad you had this opportunity to have a wonderful experience with a fellow enthusiast!!

IIRC gotmule is not a big fan of 3-D but if you should ever have opportunity to visit again then maybe he could do some 3-D for you. It does require active glasses but worth it because you have full resolution both eyes.

It was a bit of an adjustment coming home and "settling" for my vastly more modest set-up, but I remain grateful for what I own.

IMHO, that is the most important thing.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Vilya

A friend bought the digital deluxe edition (PC) for me and I have immensely enjoyed it so far. It is damn addictive and intricately detailed. I wish I could play more often than I do, but my sorcerer is coming along at level 44.

I hate "grinding" in games but grinding in Diabloi is almost a pleasure. Granted, your hands will be sore afterward.