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

[Vilya]

If I like a TV show, I will buy it on physical media, same as with movies. I will even buy it on DVD if that is my only choice.

As buying an entire TV series is more expensive, I must know for a fact that I like the show first. Subscription streaming services, such as Netflix- who just announced a price increase today btw, are one of the ways that I make that determination. My over the air digital antenna is another. But make no mistake, if I like the show, I will buy a physical release of it if such a release exists. I will NOT buy a digital copy- of anything.

My collection statistics show that I own 439 TV seasons on blu-ray and 642 TV seasons on DVD. I think that demonstrates my support pretty clearly.

[PenguinInfinity]

Originally Posted by Vilya

If I like a TV show, I will buy it on physical media, same as with movies. I will even buy it on DVD if that is my only choice.

As buying an entire TV series is more expensive, I must know for a fact that I like the show first. Subscription streaming services, such as Netflix- who just announced a price increase today btw, are one of the ways that I make that determination. My over the air digital antenna is another. But make no mistake, if I like the show, I will buy a physical release of it if such a release exists. I will NOT buy a digital copy- of anything.

My collection statistics show that I own 439 TV seasons on blu-ray and 642 TV seasons on DVD. I think that demonstrates my support pretty clearly.

It sure does. I have no problem with people using streaming just to sample shows and see what's worth buying (on physical media). Though if you're only watching shows that are available on physical media you could easily try them out just by renting the first disc of each show on DVD.com. It's a way larger selection than you'll get from any streaming subscriptions.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

It sure does. I have no problem with people using streaming just to sample shows and see what's worth buying (on physical media). Though if you're only watching shows that are available on physical media you could easily try them out just by renting the first disc of each show on DVD.com. It's a way larger selection than you'll get from any streaming subscriptions.

I know I am missing out on some shows because they are not available, but I rent the Blu-ray’s from Netflix. Some shows I buy right after the first episode (Black Sails), some I finish through renting (Counterpart) and some I walk away from (American Gods). There are certainly enough series that I buy the new seasons once they are released, but with being a sports fan also, I seem to be struggling with keeping up with what I want to watch. I could only imagine the backlog of discs you guys are trying to work through.

I don’t stream any movie or shows, but I do subscribe to Apple Music to check out new music in order to weed out some possible mistakes with my cd buying. If I love the cd, then I seek it out on vinyl.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by PenguinInfinity

I just assumed you watched more TV shows than the 19 shows in your collection. But if that is really all you watch and you buy every show you watch on disc then I have no complaints.



All of the TV shows in your collection are nature documentaries. Are those really the only shows you watch are you just deeming the other ones as not worthy of supporting on disc?

I find it very discouraging that many of the people here who claim to be big supporters of physical media are not supporting the type of content on physical media that needs the most support. If the only things you're buying on physical media are the types of things that already sell well then you're not really doing much for the cause.

I’m glad you have no complaints Penguin, I can get on with my day now!

[Wendell R. Breland]

The Best Buy near the Asheville Mall, NC has had a change of heart. They have moved the DVD & BD displays back to the front of the store. There were 2 displays 30 ft. in length and 1 display 25 ft. in length with media on both sides of the display. A display 10 ft. in length had only UHD BD titles on it. There were some more PoP display types with new releases on them just as you walked into the store. I made a couple of pictures if anyone is interested.

There is a smaller Best Buy in Arden, NC, will have to see what they have done with packaged media.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Thought this was interesting:

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Same issue exists with this new high-end BD player [Pioneer LX500] that we're experiencing with Panasonic's UB820 and UB9000, supply can't catch up with demand.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Thought this was interesting:

Well Wendell you got me hooked on Netflix, and now the price is going up but I think I'll stick with them. I still think that Streaming is the way to go, even though I also have IPTV. Everyone has to make a choice now, I don't think it's just simply Disc or Digital. Cost for watching your Movies and TV Shows will have to be considered. When I talk to people it's mostly Netflix or Amazon, and buying Discs are not on their list! As for your equipment I hope Streaming Apps are included.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well Wendell you got me hooked on Netflix, and now the price is going up but I think I'll stick with them. I still think that Streaming is the way to go, even though I also have IPTV. Everyone has to make a choice now, I don't think it's just simply Disc or Digital. Cost for watching your Movies and TV Shows will have to be considered. When I talk to people it's mostly Netflix or Amazon, and buying Discs are not on their list! As for your equipment I hope Streaming Apps are included.

The people you speak to are not real film fans, that might have something to do with it.

For quality, all of us know it’s disc or go home.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The people you speak to are not real film fans, that might have something to do with it.

For quality, all of us know it’s disc or go home.

You're right the Average Person doesn't need Screen Shots that look at every little detail. 1080P HD is plenty for most people, and this quality is more than enough for them.

[Vilya]

Who ever aspired to be average? Who cares what satisfies most people?

It is only important that enough people value quality over convenience, that they value real ownership over the illusion of it, for physical media to not only survive, but to flourish. There are enough of us who esteem quality foremost; the masses can choose to be spoon fed whatever the subscription services are dishing out if all they want is quantity, economy, and "good enough" quality. They want the mediocre buffet; I prefer fine dining.

I choose what content I want to own. I buy it on physical media because the quality is unequaled and I actually own my copy. A lower quality file on someone else's server is not real ownership. I will never spend money on a lesser version that I do not even own; it's a fail on both counts before you even factor in the forever reliance upon an ever more costly, and often unreliable, ISP.

When it comes to purchases, 62% of them are still disc.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=265

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Well Wendell you got me hooked on Netflix, and now the price is going up but I think I'll stick with them. I still think that Streaming is the way to go, even though I also have IPTV. Everyone has to make a choice now, I don't think it's just simply Disc or Digital. Cost for watching your Movies and TV Shows will have to be considered. When I talk to people it's mostly Netflix or Amazon, and buying Discs are not on their list! As for your equipment I hope Streaming Apps are included.

So, you actually know people who have heard of Netflix and Amazon; wonders never cease! When you talk to people, I hope they donate generously.

I think you can rest assured that Wendell knows how to stream content, even from those "obscure" streaming providers that you speak of.

Netflix's $2 per month price increase is nothing compared to the price increases you can look forward to from your ISP. That dependency upon high speed internet with large data allowances is only going to get more expensive. My discs are a one time expense and my power utility raises their rates far less often than does my insatiably greedy ISP. My ISP has raised their rates three times in 3.5 years without offering any service improvements.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

So, you actually know people who have heard of Netflix and Amazon; wonders never cease! When you talk to people, I hope they donate generously.

I think you can rest assured that Wendell knows how to stream content, even from those "obscure" streaming providers that you speak of.

Netflix's $2 per month price increase is nothing compared to the price increases you can look forward to from your ISP. That dependency upon high speed internet with large data allowances is only going to get more expensive. My discs are a one time expense and my power utility raises their rates far less often than does my insatiably greedy ISP. My ISP has raised their rates three times in 3.5 years without offering any service improvements.

Like I have argued in the past, more and more people will just make do with their mobile for entertainment when it gets too high. They won’t pay two big bills. Phase one of this mobile future I keep telling you guys will happen.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I think you can rest assured that Wendell knows how to stream content, even from those "obscure" streaming providers that you speak of.

Guess he missed:

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Been streaming with Amazon Prime (?), Crackle (2007?), Netflix (2008) since day one, had a VUDU account before it was purchased by Walmart

Procured a Sony FMP-X10 (here) right after it was released (>4 years ago), one feature of that box was it could stream Netflix in UHD so I have been streaming UHD content longer than most. The X10 was replaced with a Sony UBP-X800 (here) which was moved to a bedroom and replaced with a UBP-X1000 (here). The X1000 is used for streaming and UHD BD disc with DV. All other disc play is via the Oppo UDP-203.

As noted before, we were streaming our main channel A/V to the internet in the late 90's. We starting broadcasting in ATSC (1080i) November 1999.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Like I have argued in the past, more and more people will just make do with their mobile for entertainment when it gets too high. They won’t pay two big bills. Phase one of this mobile future I keep telling you guys will happen.

You know that I disagree with this "only smartphone" future that you predict, so I will leave that at that.

I think the sheeple WILL continue to pay whatever their ISPs demand; they'll just come to forums like these and whine about the cost. If they complain about Netflix wanting $2 more per month, how much more will they kvetch when their ISP wants $10-20 more per month?

A day may come when I cancel my ISP and then I will use my smartphone/ tablet for internet browsing and shopping (for discs, naturally). I went a few months in 2015 without any ISP and it was more than survivable. All I had to sacrifice was streaming long form content to stay within my phone's data cap. I could easily replace subscription streaming with renting discs by mail or even doing without both.

What isn't survivable, for me at least, is watching a movie on a 5" screen. Some things I can not abide and that is one of them; never gonna happen.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Guess he missed:

[Show spoiler]Procured a Sony FMP-X10 (here) right after it was released (>4 years ago), one feature of that box was it could stream Netflix in UHD so I have been streaming UHD content longer than most. The X10 was replaced with a Sony UBP-X800 (here) which was moved to a bedroom and replaced with a UBP-X1000 (here). The X1000 is used for streaming and UHD BD disc with DV. All other disc play is via the Oppo UDP-203.

As noted before, we were streaming our main channel A/V to the internet in the late 90's. We starting broadcasting in ATSC (1080i) November 1999.

That one misses a LOT of things.

[alchav21]

Wendell quoted this:

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Same issue exists with this new high-end BD player [Pioneer LX500] that we're experiencing with Panasonic's UB820 and UB9000, supply can't catch up with demand.

Originally Posted by alchav21

As for your equipment I hope Streaming Apps are included.

Originally Posted by Vilya

I think you can rest assured that Wendell knows how to stream content, even from those "obscure" streaming providers that you speak of.

I know Wendell goes further back than I when it comes to Streaming. I was talking about the equipment from Robert Zohn. I feel as Streaming becomes more mainstream that the equipment used will have to match the quality expected. My Panasonic Blu-ray Player has great Streaming capabilities, and the High End UHD Players should have these as well. As the Market shifts from Discs to Digital the High End Equipment used should be transparent.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I think the sheeple WILL continue to pay whatever their ISPs demand; they'll just come to forums like these and whine about the cost.

Man, if there's one thing I can't stand it's sheeple coming to forums to whine about their ISPs. That's the worst.

[Vilya]

Streaming apps are included with virtually everything and that has been the case for many years. I am surprised that they don't come installed on my toaster.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by octagon

Man, if there's one thing I can't stand it's sheeple coming to forums to whine about their ISPs. That's the worst.

Yeah, those basturds are relentless.

[Wendell R. Breland]

For those that are looking to add Dolby Atmos/DTS:X to their system here are some demo files you may find useful. Click here and look around, there are Atmos, DTS:X, THX, etc. files available. I have the Dolby Atmos 2016 demo disc and can tell you they are pretty rare. If you find on eBay expect to pay quite a bit for them.

Warble Test Tones

Here are some warble tones I made awhile back for quick checks of sub-woofers. They are provided in .WAV and .FLAC format. The tones start at 16Hz and end at 250Hz, they are on ISO ⅓ octave centers, span ⅓ octave for each center and warble at a 5Hz rate. Each tone is preceded by a voice announcement stating the center frequency, is recorded at -6dB below 0dBFS using 16bit, 48KHz. Each tone last 11 seconds and that includes a ½ second fade in and ½ second fade out. This was done so it will not cause thumps at the beginning and end of each tone.

If you use a good SPL meter be sure to set it to the “C” scale and add back the values from the table to those you recorded when playing the test tones. Example, if you measure 73dB at 25Hz then add 4.4dB for a value of 77.4dB for 25Hz. FLAC file here, WAV file here.