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

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

On page 6 of the May/June 2025 Widescreen Review magazine it talks about how physical media like 4K Blu-ray and 2K Blu-ray have better sound quality when compared to streaming which still only uses lossy audio codecs. And while the low bit rate 4K streaming quality has improved over the years, 4K Blu-ray has a better picture quality and would require around 150Mbps to stream because of the constant 50Mbps to 100Mbps HEVC bit rate and sometimes over 130Mbps HEVC video bit rate for some movies. But since streaming video and audio quality is good enough it is winning the format war against physical optical disc media. It's the videophiles and audiophiles that are interested in the Blu-ray format.

https://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr_issue.php

4K streaming video bitrates have remain unchanged for years; the worst streaming services offers 4K video bitrates at about 15 Mbps while the best offer them at about 25 Mbps. The only streaming service that has changed is Netflix and not for the better; they lowered their video bitrates to save on bandwidth. The codecs used by streaming have not changed, either. Streaming video quality is stagnant.

The maximum video bitrate of a 4K disc is 128 Mbps.

"4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs have a maximum video bitrate of 128 Mbps, compared to ‘just’ 40 Mbps on standard Blu-ray."

https://www.tcl.com/global/en/blog/4...o-enjoy-movies

Everything else you said is nothing new and is already well known to all of us.

Your link only brings us to a bunch of thumbnails for back issues of Widescreen Review. Clicking on a thumbnail leads us to a paywall requiring a subscription to read the issue. In short, your link is useless.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I know Steedeel and several others on here are in the UK so I converted it to something they would understand. For us Americans basically 90F and above through August.

I grew up using the Fahrenheit scale and it is still used in the UK, but meteorologists these days now prefer to use Celsius (some will even still call it Centigrade). Fahrenheit numbers rarely get mentioned by weather forecasters now, however certain tabloid newspapers, when talking about a heatwave, will revert back to Fahrenheit because they think it sounds hotter to say 90F rather than 32C!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by the-pi-guy

Against my better judgement I ordered the Seinfeld 4ks.

I have half a mind to downscale them. I probably won't. But 2TB is a lot of space....



Me too. I feel like I run hotter than most people. Something like 40F/4C to 75F/24C is what I prefer.

I like the single digits.

[crutzulee]

We use celsius and KM here in Canada, but with 90% of the country living within a 2 hour drive of the US, we all have no problem understanding US measures..

Hot is hot and cold is cold..what is different are humidex and wind chill factors that can better account for "real feel" levels. Much is made over here about how hot Paris has been getting over the last few summers. My sample size is miniscule, but my experience last week was that, in our flat we could sleep comfortably by simply opening a few windows and judiciously positioning a couple of fans even as temperatures were well over 30 degrees. That would not be possible in Barcelona or even back here in Toronto where AC is an absolute must...

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by whipnet

Just to be clear, that wasn't a swipe at you. Just being goofy. I was born and lived my early life in Atlanta. Basically the same as Houston temp wise.

I didn't take it as such so no worries.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

On page 6 of the May/June 2025 Widescreen Review magazine it talks about how physical media like 4K Blu-ray and 2K Blu-ray have better sound quality when compared to streaming which still only uses lossy audio codecs. And while the low bit rate 4K streaming quality has improved over the years, 4K Blu-ray has a better picture quality and would require around 150Mbps to stream because of the constant 50Mbps to 100Mbps HEVC bit rate and sometimes over 130Mbps HEVC video bit rate for some movies. But since streaming video and audio quality is good enough it is winning the format war against physical optical disc media. It's the videophiles and audiophiles that are interested in the Blu-ray format.

https://www.widescreenreview.com/wsr_issue.php

I don't dispute that physical is a better presentation overall, but how many people have a good enough display and sound system to really appreciate it much less tell a difference?

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Disappointing news from my part of the world, the major backers of a new state of the art film and tv studio to be built ten minutes from my home, have pulled out. This means they now need new backers or the whole thing will fail.
Hugely disappointing, but thought it was too good to be true.
Would have been a huge boost for my city and local area.

Just out of curiosity, did they give a reason for pulling out? I know years ago previous governments (both Tories and Labour) used to give tax incentives for the film industry unless these bunch of clowns we have in power now have ended it.

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I don't dispute that physical is a better presentation overall, but how many people have a good enough display and sound system to really appreciate it much less tell a difference?

In my experience, cheaper TVs suffer even worse from low bitrate artifacts than my OLEDs. We have a ROKU set in my wife's office that suffers particularly badly in low light or misty scenes. Fast moving action is also problematic.

I think it is fair to say that a lot of folks just don't see it as a priority to have a more expensive model. If they are happy to overlook the inherent issues associated with these displays, and streaming content on them specifically, then more power to them. Everybody is an average Joe to someone else in other realms of consumerism.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by CV19

I grew up using the Fahrenheit scale and it is still used in the UK, but meteorologists these days now prefer to use Celsius (some will even still call it Centigrade). Fahrenheit numbers rarely get mentioned by weather forecasters now, however certain tabloid newspapers, when talking about a heatwave, will revert back to Fahrenheit because they think it sounds hotter to say 90F rather than 32C!

In the US I always thought it weird that we counted in 10* and measured in 12. At one time there was a push for the metric system but it never really got going.

*Some of us count in 16 (hex) but for me it is becoming a distant past.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by CV19

Just out of curiosity, did they give a reason for pulling out? I know years ago previous governments (both Tories and Labour) used to give tax incentives for the film industry unless these bunch of clowns we have in power now have ended it.

Nothing at all mate. Fulwell 73 are still involved (James Cordon is part of the set up) and government grants have been involved up to 125 million. They are still looking for new investment, but it’s a huge site and questions will need to be answered if it doesn’t come off.

I will keep you informed if you like?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

In my experience, cheaper TVs suffer even worse from low bitrate artifacts than my OLEDs. We have a ROKU set in my wife's office that suffers particularly badly in low light or misty scenes. Fast moving action is also problematic.

I think it is fair to say that a lot of folks just don't see it as a priority to have a more expensive model. If they are happy to overlook the inherent issues associated with these displays, and streaming content on them specifically, then more power to them. Everybody is an average Joe to someone else in other realms of consumerism.

I have always found it odd that people crave over 50+ televisions but couldn’t care less what the picture and audio looks and sounds like.

I’m just grateful that there are some very capable cheaper sets for the masses these days.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

In my experience, cheaper TVs suffer even worse from low bitrate artifacts than my OLEDs. We have a ROKU set in my wife's office that suffers particularly badly in low light or misty scenes. Fast moving action is also problematic.

I think it is fair to say that a lot of folks just don't see it as a priority to have a more expensive model. If they are happy to overlook the inherent issues associated with these displays, and streaming content on them specifically, then more power to them. Everybody is an average Joe to someone else in other realms of consumerism.

My Samsung sometimes does too. Sometimes it has frustrated me to the point where I'll go watch the same content on my 46" Panasonic Viera plasma and I don't see the issue there. Not sure if it's less noticeable because 1080p rather than 4K or what.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I don't dispute that physical is a better presentation overall, but how many people have a good enough display and sound system to really appreciate it much less tell a difference?

There are plenty of capable displays on the market, but that does not mean that the settings are correctly chosen. Many people go with the default out-of-the-box settings and these settings are usually very far from ideal.

As for sound, very few people invest in anything better than maybe a soundbar costing under $500 tops. Most people probably just rely upon the TV's built-in speakers and such speakers are pretty much crap even on the most expensive TVs.

I am far from having a state of the art system, but I do have a calibrated 85" flagship Sony TV and a 5.1.4 surround sound setup. Family and friends tell me how great it looks and how impressive it sounds, but not a one of them have ever expressed any interest in having something comparable, yet alone better, in their own homes.

Money isn't the issue; they are all better off than I am. They just don't care enough about A/V quality to pursue it for themselves. They are all part of the "good enough, cheap enough, convenient enough" crowd and they make do with just a basic TV- unless I give them a nicer one.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I am no fan of Zaavi. I ordered from them once and only once and seldom have I experienced such terrible customer service.

If you open a dispute, your payment method may tell you to wait longer, especially as this is an international order. You can try, anyway, but your payment method may make you wait a full 30 days before they investigate your dispute.

Yep they are not responding to any of my queries within the past couple days now, just telling me to wait it out. This is already going on 1 week with no movement, stuck in Langley UK Royal Mail depot. I'm going to get the US version in the meantime (was hoping UK/European pressing would be better quality) and if it doesn't move within another couple weeks I'll dispute the charge.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by Vilya

As for sound, very few people invest in anything better than maybe a soundbar costing under $500 tops. Most people probably just rely upon the TV's built-in speakers and such speakers are pretty much crap even on the most expensive TVs.

Yup my parents just invested in a nice new Samsung Mini LED 4K and it looks pretty nice, but they don't know how to work a soundbar into their setup where it looks nice.

They just use the built-in speakers which are pretty much poo poo because you can't hear dialogue unless you turn it way up.

Even my TV at home I put a somewhat modest soundbar setup on it with rear speakers and it sounds just okay. My 5.1 blows it out of the water but I just want something easier to clean around.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I will keep you informed if you like?

Yes please, I would be interested to hear of any developments. Hopefully there will be some positive news.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

In the US I always thought it weird that we counted in 10* and measured in 12. At one time there was a push for the metric system but it never really got going.

*Some of us count in 16 (hex) but for me it is becoming a distant past.

I still recall when I was in junior school during the mid-70's, we had to learn all the imperial measurements for weights, distances, etc, and were regularly tested on them. It wasn't until moving on to high school that we began to work with metric units more frequently.

[Vilya]

A couple more for the library:



Both are DVD upgrades, so the leap in quality should be quite pronounced.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by the-pi-guy

Against my better judgement I ordered the Seinfeld 4ks.

I have half a mind to downscale them. I probably won't. But 2TB is a lot of space....

Spending hours and hours and hours ripping discs, only to then spend many more re-encoding them, seems ridiculous. Time, like storage, is money.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Spending hours and hours and hours ripping discs, only to then spend many more re-encoding them, seems ridiculous. Time, like storage, is money.

Except that you can make more money. Our time only decreases.