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

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

People have been predicting more expensive discs for ten years, still great prices.

As someone who buys them routinely and quite often, I can further attest that prices have been stable for years and with the slightest effort you can find fantastic prices on any given day.

I buy 20-30 discs virtually every month; if disc prices were climbing sharply, few would feel the pain more acutely than me or would complain more vociferously. I feel just fine and I am quite happy.

As was said just moments ago, there has never been a better time to be a fan of movies, TV shows, or music, to name just three.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by chickflickdick

Here in sweden. The only blu rays you can buy in a physical store are the ones in cardboard bins. 2 for 10 euros or so.


And yes i mean content.

Here in sweden. all streaming services have an extremely limited library. And library changes all the time.

The library on netflix is smaller than your old vhs rental store.

I certainly can't speak to the online content available in Sweden; I can barely speak to it here as I have availed myself of what it offers so infrequently, but there are a lot of streaming options in the U.S. and even after just sampling three of them, I have been able to find a substantial selection. Streaming advocates can speak better to the overall selection than I can, but offhand I do not recall them complaining about selection very often.

I do own a lot of titles that I doubt are available via streaming sources, which is yet another reason, among many, why I prefer physical media.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by chickflickdick

Here in sweden. The only blu rays you can buy in a physical store are the ones in cardboard bins. 2 for 10 euros or so.

Amazon serves Sweden and shows a large selection of Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray titles available. Same for Walmart Sweden.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Amazon serves Sweden and shows a large selection of Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray titles available. Same for Walmart Sweden.

Lol, figures.

[chickflickdick]

Neither amazon nor walmart exists in sweden. But you can buy blurays online, just like everywhere else. But the bluray(and dvd) selection in physical stores is extremely limited. Its basically the bargain bin and the odd newly released blockbuster.

Which sort of shows how relevant it is as an mainstream format.

Generally speaking i think sweden has been ahead when it comes to streaming, downloading etc due early adoption of broadband. Spotify for an example originated in sweden.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Amazon serves Sweden and shows a large selection of Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray titles available. Same for Walmart Sweden.

I can't say that I am surprised. Where's there's a will there's a way. In this case the "way" is to the internet or to the local Walmart.

Some people like to make excuses; I like to get results. I am a persistent and tenacious collector when I need to be; it is how I now have a 22 gb version of Song Of The South.

Most of the time, though, I can order movies by the dozen at a single website while still in my bathrobe and have them delivered in two days or less. This hobby is not only fun, but super easy to indulge in.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by chickflickdick

Neither amazon nor walmart exists in sweden. But you can buy blurays online, just like everywhere else. But the bluray(and dvd) selection in physical stores is extremely limited. Its basically the bargain bin and the odd newly released blockbuster.

Which sort of shows how relevant it is as an mainstream format.

Shopping online IS mainstream. It could not be more so.

Amazon websites ship to many countries. I order from Amazon.uk regularly and Amazon.fr (France) occasionally. I have shopped Amazon.jp and Amazon.au also. If these ship to me in the U.S., I bet they ship to Sweden as well.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

My Grandfather was a projectionist. I fell in love with film as a very young boy.

I worked as a projectionist for several years in the 90's and the early 00's and it is still the best job I've ever had. I always said I would do it until the day I died if it paid better. I actually looked forward to going to work, which is not something I have been able to say since.

Of course projectionists don't even exist anymore (at least not for the big chains) since everything has moved to digital. But I still have a box of trailers on 35mm film that I collected over the years. I am all for improving technology and innovation, but it is sad some of the things we lose as a result.

[chickflickdick]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Shopping online IS mainstream. It could not be more so.

ofcourse.

The selection of ps4, xbox games etc is huge in physical electronic stores. Where as blurays, dvd and music cds are almost all gone. If you want a specific movie, you have to go online.

I am talking about trends here. Where it is heading.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I worked as a projectionist for several years in the 90's and the early 00's and it is still the best job I've ever had. I always said I would do it until the day I died if it paid better. I actually looked forward to going to work, which is not something I have been able to say since.

Of course projectionists don't even exist anymore (at least not for the big chains) since everything has moved to digital. But I still have a box of trailers on 35mm film that I collected over the years. I am all for improving technology and innovation, but it is sad some of the things we lose as a result.

It was amazing. Just the whole feel of the cinema. The smells even. Great times. I still think film is magical.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by chickflickdick

ofcourse.

The selection of ps4, xbox games etc is huge in physical electronic stores. Where as blurays, dvd and music cds are almost all gone. If you want a specific movie, you have to go online.

I am talking about trends here. Where it is heading.

Glad I don’t live in Sweden.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by chickflickdick

ofcourse.

The selection of ps4, xbox games etc is huge in physical electronic stores. Where as blurays, dvd and music cds are almost all gone. If you want a specific movie, you have to go online.

I am talking about trends here. Where it is heading.

The widest selection for music, movies, books, and a whole lot more have been found online for many years now. The supply and the selection isn't gone, it is found online.

The stores near me still stock discs, even CDs, but the in-store selection can not compete with what I can find online. I started buying movies from Amazon in 2004; even back then no store could match their selection. It is not so much a trend, but more a historical fact.

[Ender14]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It was amazing. Just the whole feel of the cinema. The smells even. Great times. I still think film is magical.

I couldn't agree more.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by chickflickdick

If you want a specific movie, you have to go online.

I am talking about trends here. Where it is heading.

Only took a few seconds to find this:

I live in Sweden and while I haven’t ordered anything from Amazon YET, I do order a lot online (as we all do here). I think many, many people here with very good answers do not understand the high cost of ordering something from overseas (USA).

There is an Amazon Germany, and Netherlands. I have ordered many consumer goods from both countries. The Postage from Germany and time to receive goods is very, very good. I can receive merchandise from Germany as quickly as I get it here in Sweden. Mail from the Netherlands does not cause much of a delay at all.

I have been collecting movies since the 80's on LaserDisc, DVD's, D-VHS D-Theater, Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray. In the early days of LaserDisc it was done via mail order, then with dealers on CompuServe and for many years now via online. Of the many hundreds of titles purchased probably less than 50 were bought at a box store.


It was, is and probably will continue to be much easier to procure titles online. Have not seen figures in recent years but in the US Amazon has been the biggest seller of DVD's and BD for sometime now.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I have Netflix, Amazon, ITunes, Blu-ray, 4K, Sky TV. I have them for series I can’t get on Blu-ray.

This is exactly how Nazi Germany started - YouTube

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by octagon

This is exactly how Nazi Germany started - YouTube

Using that Monty Python clip again, eh? nudge nudge .

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Ender14

I couldn't agree more.

It’s what makes me happy. Film, I mean. That and family.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Good luck on your quest!!

The UBP-X800 has SACD and DVD-Audio (both in multi channel), it does not have DV.

The newer UBP-X700 has DV but does not have DVD-Audio. Threads on these here.

Sorry for the late reply, I’ve been preoccupied with a new job and the training required for it. Something dropped in our laps unexpectedly. So I wasn’t able to track one down like I’d hoped. My KS8000 doesn’t support DV, so that isn’t that important to me in a UHD player.

Although I do have 2 Sony BD players that supported 3D that none of my TVs supported. WiFi just went out on one of them. MiL wants to get a BD player so she can watch her old DVDs and stream. Anyway, still behind on posts and will catch up once I’ve got more time.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I am well aware that my view on home entertainment is different than most. After all, I am a retired professional A/V person that was used to very expensive equipment. Example, my avatar, that is a $300,000 (1994 dollars) Harrison audio desk in the background. For me, good enough is when I know its the best it can be. Its nothing more than view points by different people.

You ought to see the looks on folks face when they ask the price of my remote control and I tell them $750.00 MSRP. Ever heard the saying, you want to play you got to pay?

Wendell you're the only one in our group that truly has a Home Theater, and can say that Quality in Movies is first and foremost on their list. The rest of the Disc people just have to say it's "Good Enough or Good for Now." We all have priorities and have to compromise whether on Disc or Digital. I keep saying it's all Digital and Stored on Servers, and the only difference is the Distribution. Streaming has come a long way, and so has the Quality and I say it will get even better. For the true Collector and High End HT Discs will be available, but you will have to "Pay to Play!"

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Wendell you're the only one in our group that truly has a Home Theater, and can say that Quality in Movies is first and formost on their list. The rest of the Disc people just have to say it's "Good Enough or Good for Now." We all have priorities and have to compromise whether on Disc or Digital. I keep saying it's all Digital and Stored on Servers, and the only difference is the Distribution. Streaming has come a long way, and so has the Quality and I say it will get even better. For the true Collector and High End HT Discs will be available, but you will have to "Pay to Play!"

What a colossally stupid thing to say, even for you. You have no idea what gear other forum members use, yet alone the quality of it. As you do not even have a home theater surround sound system by any definition, you are the last person here qualified to speak about them. Of course, your ignorance has never silenced you before, so why would it now?

As you don't even own a 4K disc player, and have no ability to play 4K discs, you can not speak to the quality of that, either. Quality in movies is not even remotely "first and foremost" for someone like you. Convenient, cheap, and "good enough" defines every aspect of your approach to movies.

Last I checked my discs are in their cases on my shelves; they are not on any servers.

The distribution method is far from being the only difference. Discs have better quality with bitrates as much as 8 times higher than the best that streaming offers, lossless audio in many instances, true ownership, and zero dependence upon an ISP. No servers required, either.

Streaming has not increased their bitrates in over 3 years; there is no indication that they have any plans to do so anytime soon. If they ever do, it will use more bandwidth and that will all but certainly increase the cost of your ISP.

Everyone pays to play, so thanks for stating the obvious. Your ISP isn't going to get any cheaper, either, and you are fully dependent upon it for your movies. I only need it to order more discs and I could get by with a far lower cost plan if I so choose.

The gear won't cost you much because you are content with a decent TV and wireless headphones; many of us have true home theaters, despite your unqualified assessment to the contrary, replete with multi-channel AVRs, or separate amps, multiple input devices, and an array of speakers throughout the room. I have 11 input devices connected to my AVR alone; seems pretty real to me.

Wendell does have a very impressive home theater, but I bet even he will tell you that it is not "state of the art." He has some very nice stuff, but it is not the best of the best by any measure. It is possible to spend $1 million on a single pair of speakers alone- that is someone who can truly say they made no compromises. The link below will show you some speakers starting at $80,000 per pair all the way up to the 7 figure monsters. You'll need some power amps to drive them, too; the second link will show you some amps starting at just $140,800 for two channels. Plan your budget now!

https://www.octaneseating.com/most-e...eater-speakers

https://www.aperionaudio.com/blogs/a...s-in-the-world

Almost everyone says "good enough", including Wendell. Only some people, like you, say it far earlier than most of us here on these forums.