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

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I'm thinking my next expenditure will be for a MADVR setup... I've seen some amazing demos of their instant ratio switching on the fly. Their solution is done properly where you watch the scope image and the narrower ratios maintain constant height as though you are using the projectors lens memory...but without delay!

I don't have constant height, my room is not wide enough. if I am watching something in academy ratio the image is more or less proscenium to ceiling if watching something in one of the wider screen formats it is a bit shorter but as wide as can be.

[stonesfan129]

I went to watch The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift last night. I thought I'd put on my Apple copy. The audio is so low I had to turn it up to like 40 on my receiver. Not sure if it's a problem with the 4K remaster or what. Same problem on Vudu/FAH. Got my Blu-ray out and was much better. I forgot how much more I liked watching Blu-rays. I just find it gives you a much better experience.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I went to watch The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift last night. I thought I'd put on my Apple copy. The audio is so low I had to turn it up to like 40 on my receiver. Not sure if it's a problem with the 4K remaster or what. Same problem on Vudu/FAH. Got my Blu-ray out and was much better. I forgot how much more I liked watching Blu-rays. I just find it gives you a much better experience.

Been telling you this for the best part of a decade to be fair mate.

[crutzulee]

RIP Terrance Stamp...

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Been telling you this for the best part of a decade to be fair mate.

The realization is a welcome one whenever it arrives (or returns).

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I went to watch The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift last night. I thought I'd put on my Apple copy. The audio is so low I had to turn it up to like 40 on my receiver. Not sure if it's a problem with the 4K remaster or what. Same problem on Vudu/FAH. Got my Blu-ray out and was much better. I forgot how much more I liked watching Blu-rays. I just find it gives you a much better experience.

My general offset for streamed content is+10db. They are undoubtedly mixed lower to protect soundbar users. Perceptually, the level increase can ameliorate somewhat the limited dynamic range of the stream to the point where most listeners are impressed by what can be achieved these days in a DD+ ATMOS container.... it's hardly dog food..

But when compared to a full bitrate counterpart on a proper setup... it's no contest

On an "atmos" soundbar, there is no difference...

[veritas]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I went to watch The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift last night. I thought I'd put on my Apple copy. The audio is so low I had to turn it up to like 40 on my receiver. Not sure if it's a problem with the 4K remaster or what. Same problem on Vudu/FAH. Got my Blu-ray out and was much better. I forgot how much more I liked watching Blu-rays. I just find it gives you a much better experience.

To be fair this isn’t a digital only problem. Lots of studios have volume problems as nobody can agree on a db baseline. It also doesn’t help that most of the people going to theaters are probably deaf at this point as they had volume way to high for years.

I remember trying to watch a show on tv and getting yelled at for volume every commercial break because they raised it 20 db.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by veritas

To be fair this isn’t a digital only problem. Lots of studios have volume problems as nobody can agree on a db baseline. It also doesn’t help that most of the people going to theaters are probably deaf at this point as they had volume way to high for years.

I remember trying to watch a show on tv and getting yelled at for volume every commercial break because they raised it 20 db.

As much as I no longer attend the cinema, I spent the first half of my life attending them on the regular. At home, I've always listened at reference levels..In my home, everyone agrees that, if I have control of the remote, it's going to be louder than anyone else would set it at.

A couple of years ago, I was in a very bad car accident. Because of my history of numerous concussions (hockey, rugby), they did a complete neurological battery of test which included a comprehensive hearing analysis requiring me to be placed in what can best be described as a soundproof sensory deprivation chamber....No one was more shocked than me when the results came back... I have absolutely perfect hearin!

I guess I just like it LOUD

[Vilya]

A pair of new titles arrived today:

and

Shoeshine is a blind buy, but I think that I will like it.

[bhampton]

Best Buy is selling movies again

I haven't shopped there since they stopped but a few days ago they sent me a random $10 gift certificate. I didn't think I would have a use for it but they have 20,000 movie titles in stock.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchp...7071&st=movies

(The link doesn't exactly work ... just type movies in the search bar.)

Ordered Cinderella UHD BD using a $10 Reward Certificate that I have no idea why they mailed me because I haven't shopped there in years. I'm going to have a drink now and bask in the nostalgia. Buying movies at Best Buy again ... how fun!

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Best Buy is selling movies again

I haven't shopped there since they stopped but a few days ago they sent me a random $10 gift certificate. I didn't think I would have a use for it but they have 20,000 movie titles in stock.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchp...7071&st=movies

(The link doesn't exactly work ... just type movies in the search bar.)

Ordered Cinderella UHD BD using a $10 Reward Certificate that I have no idea why they mailed me because I haven't shopped there in years. I'm going to have a drink now and bask in the nostalgia. Buying movies at Best Buy again ... how fun!

Those are third party sellers.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by quirkmanly

Those are third party sellers.

But, I was able to use my Best Buy gift card which was nice.

I think BB realizes there is money to be made and maybe they just made some.

I can shop at Best Buy again which is nice.

Amazon and Walmart use third party sellers. Best Buy just figured it out. (They are slooooow)

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Been telling you this for the best part of a decade to be fair mate.

I think I called the game too early because my Blu-ray started skipping about 30 minutes in. I was able to create a safety copy and watch that instead. (BTW not piracy because I still have the original disc and only made one safety).

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I think I called the game too early because my Blu-ray started skipping about 30 minutes in. I was able to create a safety copy and watch that instead. (BTW not piracy because I still have the original disc and only made one safety).

Not piracy, but still a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

"Circumventing Digital Rights Management (DRM):

Bypassing DRM protections on copyrighted material to make copies or share them is a violation."

I'm calling the cops on you now; I think that you need some excitement in your life.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Not piracy, but still a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

That's one reason I get tempted to stop using my media server even though I have the hard copy of everything on it. Lawfare seems to be trending.

Some pros and cons of my Zidoo Z9X vs my stand alone player-

Pros - Region Free, Player led Dolby Vision, Never a glitch from layer change or finger prints, Organized TV series without swapping discs, Choose the movie artwork, Media always organized and searchable often by voice. Simplified storage of the master copies with no concerns about slip covers or oversized packaging. No moving parts. Making the backups can detect problems with the source discs during return window.

Cons- Higher cost of gear and time. Need for hard drives that frequently go bad, Generally system is on 24/7 destroying the planet around the clock, TV series files must be carefully checked to be sure about the episode order, Forced subtitles may need to be manually setup on the files. May be illegal. Doesn't add to the AV quality in any way generally.

[crutzulee]

I love everything about my Z9X setup...I could never go back to the dark days of handling discs.
I'm sure something like KALEIDESCAPE is in my future.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by bhampton

That's one reason I get tempted to stop using my media server even though I have the hard copy of everything on it. Lawfare seems to be trending.

Some pros and cons of my Zidoo Z9X vs my stand alone player-

Pros - Region Free, Player led Dolby Vision, Never a glitch from layer change or finger prints, Organized TV series without swapping discs, Choose the movie artwork, Media always organized and searchable often by voice. Simplified storage of the master copies with no concerns about slip covers or oversized packaging. No moving parts. Making the backups can detect problems with the source discs during return window.

Cons- Higher cost of gear and time. Need for hard drives that frequently go bad, Generally system is on 24/7 destroying the planet around the clock, TV series files must be carefully checked to be sure about the episode order, Forced subtitles may need to be manually setup on the files. May be illegal. Doesn't add to the AV quality in any way generally.

Originally Posted by crutzulee

I could never go back to the dark days of handling discs.

How nice! You guys have something in common with alchav21; he finds disc swapping/ handling to be strenuous, too.

[Maddox121]

There's a surplus of many of the Disney releases, because Sony and Vantiva, or whatever the Mexico plant is called these days, ironically isn't competing with streaming or imports, but SECOND-HAND PRINTS.

We haven't reached the point where 4KBR is at Goodwill yet, but for people who buy Cinderella just for the regular Blu-Ray disc, they're often inclined to rather buy it second-hand at a discount.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Vilya

How nice! You guys have something in common with alchav21; he finds disc swapping/ handling to be strenuous, too.

Yeah... I don't like to have to be careful with my things. With my pudgy fingers and general resemblance in temperment to WRECKIT RALPH, Discs would become a one and done exercise for me, I'd end up scratching up and rendering unplayable more discs than a mexican replication facility.

The other night, I watched the beautiful 4K of THE LIMEY. When it was over, I wanted more Terrence Stamp. I simply clicked on his picture on THE LIMEY card on the ZIDOO and selected LAST NIGHT IN SOHO to start the second half of the double bill...no turning on the light, ejecting the old disc, placing it back in its box, finding the next title etc...man what a double bill! Two fantastic discs with two very different, yet amazing transfers...HGHLY RECOMMENDED..

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Vilya

How nice! You guys have something in common with alchav21; he finds disc swapping/ handling to be strenuous, too.

Most of my collection is on the shelf alphabetized and I haven't used the media server at all in a while. I had to re-arrange the basement and took the whole thing offline and haven't missed it much.

When all my summer guests leave though I will have more time and may get back to it.

Buying large hard drives is not so much fun as they are all time bombs. The good news is discs are better for reliability.

My whole town is being setup for access to fiber internet so that is something I will have in common with Alchav. I don't need better iternet service than I already have but it's pretty easy to get used to better internet service.