How many people do you think aren't getting the full experience?

[TheZoof]

I have been pretty heavy into the Blu-ray movies for over a year now. What I have learned is that watching movies a year ago isn't nearly as good as watching them now.

I have tweaked my tv about a dozen times and finally got it set using the proper tools(a friend of a friend helped me). I purchased better speakers than a HTIB which made a huge difference. I upgraded my reciever so I could get lossless sound.

I learned about DAC settings and now getting full LFE from my sub/speakers.

I would say I am about 50% improved on my overall experience from a year ago.

One of the first blu movies I bought was Troy and I remember being happy the first time I watched it. It didn't really blow me away.

I watched a few scenes last night and I was TOTALLY blown away. I thought the detail was great and the sound was spectacular.

So who has had this experience as well? Who realized the reason they didn't understand BLU was because they didn't have the right equipment or things setup properly to enjoy it.


The other side of the question will be how many people out there aren't getting the full experience and judge BLU incorrectly due to it?

[Grevlin]

I would say a pretty large percentage are not really getting the "wow" that blu can produce.

I had my samsung BD-P1400 Blu ray player hooked into a 42" Insignia LCD and a Phillips HTiB. I did not know it at the time, but I was getting just the "good" and not the amazing "wow" factor. This went on for like a year and half!

I found this forum and quickly bought the Sammy 40" 6 series, 606, Polk speakers and on and on - and been hooked ever since. My new Panny projector in the mail should be more then enough to push me over the edge

[P@t_Mtl]

I am still missing a good HT system to get the full experience of BD

[wafi]

Yeah same here, gotta wait a while before I can get myself a decent HT system

[Blaumann]

The poll doesn't have any options i could vote for. My first HD steps were with a 720p projector and a 2.0 audio setup with (good) bookshelf speakers. The HD video blew me away, the audio was good too, no surround though.

Then i upgraded the 720p pj two times to better models, while keeping the 2.0 audio setup. Each time a huge step forward.

It was only last year that i finally upgraded to a nice 5.1 system, which completes my system. However i'm still more about the HD video than the audio, so i don't feel i've missed something really important in the years before getting a surround setup.

I think it depends on your preferences. There sure are people out there, who can get a lot out of Blu-ray even without a complete system, maybe just an HDTV with "on-board" speakers. On the other side there sure are people around as well, that will need a "complete" system to start apreciating it. I'm just not one of them.

[Beta Man]

I don't get any overwhelming "WOW, I can't watch DVDs anymore" feeling that many seem to have.... I still think DVDs look and sound great

I won't buy a DVD over a Blu-ray though.... regardless of price... if the Blu-ray is very expensive, I just wait.

[neos_peace]

You don't have enough options in your poll.

For me I have the TV I have the reciever and I have upgraded my speaker wire, but I don't have the upgraded speakers yet. Of course I wil be getting a better sub here in a few days. I would say I'm only about 70%-80% at getting the full Blu expericnce, I feel I ned to get a better settigns on my TV which I still play wiht sometimes, ANd I know I don't have the best audio expericnec quite yet. But I'm getting there as well.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Not afraid to admit that I'm still only using Dolby Digital and DTS. And as long as I live in an apartment, I refuse to use a subwoofer because I don't want to piss off my neighbors. But I do love my PS3 and 1080p 46 inch Sharp LCD.

[Fors*]

I invested initially in blu-ray for the PQ initially. I had a small HTiB and bought a nice 1080p Sony and thought what I was watching/listening was very impressive. I then got DirecTV (just as all the new channels were being released), and hooked it up to watch HD. Started to understand I was not getting the AQ that were available on blu's and that I may still be missing something. This site started me on my quest to put together a overall, respectable HT. So, I got my 605 in order to have all of the available high end audio codecs (underestimated the need for pre-outs at this time ), along with new Sony, floorstanding, center and surround speakers. I thought this was adequate and I would be happy for at least a few years, until.......

Upgradeitis kicked in within a few months of lurking on this site and became a member in Jan 09'. So, about 12 months after I bought the first Sony TV, I bought another new Sammy LCD, one with 120 hz and that had motionflow in January 09' (same day I became a member). 2 weeks later I got my Cyron lightkit to enhance the blu experience (from seeing liquidice and JJ's set-ups). February 09', I got my Buttkicker to further enhance the HT experience (from conversing with Brain Sturgeon). March 09', aramis, crazyblue, Big Daddy, Driver_King, liquidice, DonRSD, Aerodude73 all finally got thru my thick head about AQ and I bought much more respectable Polk speakers and subs. April and May 09', I started to dabble in tweaks, and made my own sub riser, bi-amped my fronts, etc..... from talking with the same cast of characters..........

Now, I desperately need more power from my AVR (with pre-outs... ) and may follow that with an external amp. Then, I might...................oh, you get the idea..............

I do not think more than 15% really "get it" and are really taking advantage of the true "blu" experience of video and audio.

[Rob J in WNY]

I think that although many newcomers will continue to embrace Blu-ray, most will not make the commitment for the "full experience."

Take DVDs for example. How many people just watch them on a regular TV with just the TV speakers, and are happy? Most people. And DVDs offered so much more than that for potential experience. Up to 6.1 channel (albeit lossy) sound, a decent (albeit not HD) picture - but digital quality all around, and a good surround setup with even a modest flat panel TV really put DVD to a whole new level. But not many people by comparison made the commitment.

BDs will likely go the same route. I think there is a heightened awareness that Blu-ray discs offer the improved picture quality, but for those who are happy with DVD, the jump to BD is a big one, and I'd speculate that most of those who do will certainly not jump into spending thousands of extra dollars on A/V equipment to get the "full experience" which we enjoy so much.

I picture millions of households with flat panel TVs and a BD player hooked up to it as about as far as the majority of people will take their commitment to the format, and that's just fine if that's as far as they want to go.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

I think that although many newcomers will continue to embrace Blu-ray, most will not make the commitment for the "full experience."

Take DVDs for example. How many people just watch them on a regular TV with just the TV speakers, and are happy? Most people. And DVDs offered so much more than that for potential experience. Up to 6.1 channel (albeit lossy) sound, a decent (albeit not HD) picture - but digital quality all around, and a good surround setup with even a modest flat panel TV really put DVD to a whole new level. But not many people by comparison made the commitment.

BDs will likely go the same route. I think there is a heightened awareness that Blu-ray discs offer the improved picture quality, but for those who are happy with DVD, the jump to BD is a big one, and I'd speculate that most of those who do will certainly not jump into spending thousands of extra dollars on A/V equipment to get the "full experience" which we enjoy so much.

I picture millions of households with flat panel TVs and a BD player hooked up to it as about as far as the majority of people will take their commitment to the format, and that's just fine if that's as far as they want to go.

Good post. The leap is very large for many people from DVD on a 4:3 30 inch standard def TV to Blu-ray on a 40+ inch widescreen HDTV. That alone will be enough for most people.

[TheZoof]

Yeah but that's really the question. Is it enough? My parent's don't understand blu at all. My father can appreciate it sounds better and looks better but really he is happy with his 33" CRT and DVD player.

Now if I had a 60" screen and even better sound system then perhaps that would be enough to put him over the edge.

The real point of this thread is do you think people will enjoy BLU without having the full experience??

[Zman2k2]

Well said Rob J in WNY. I really do agree with what you've said. I for one can attest to the fact that there are people out there (IE my parents) who are blown away by the picture that Blu provides. But to get them into a complete HT setup where they would get the full AQ/PQ experience, not gonna happen. My father still has the cable box set up where SD programming is stretched to fill the screen because, "He paid for 47", he's going to use all 47" of TV". To them DVD is fine for what they watch, they don't need to go any further. But when at my place, they always want to watch a Blu on my system. They'll even go so far as to rent a blu, and come over to watch. Eventually, I'll convince them to get their own blu player, but I'll never convince them to get rid of their HTiB. They don't even have the surround speakers connected right now, my mother doesn't want wires running all over her house.

[groove93]

My next upgrade will be a receiver so right now I'm only enjoying the great PQ Blu Ray has to offer. I am enjoying the fact that I'm getting more DTS playback compared to the amount of DTS tracks I have on DVD movies I own, so with that said, I really can't complain.

[rlf3911]

Full experience?

Maybe 5% total of those with blu-ray players. That might even be a little high.

I count myself as one of those getting the full experience.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by TheZoof

Yeah but that's really the question. Is it enough? My parent's don't understand blu at all. My father can appreciate it sounds better and looks better but really he is happy with his 33" CRT and DVD player.

Now if I had a 60" screen and even better sound system then perhaps that would be enough to put him over the edge.

The real point of this thread is do you think people will enjoy BLU without having the full experience??

Hey, I'm living proof that you can. I've got regular surround sound (good receiver, good speakers but nothing fancy at all) and a 46 inch 1080p TV. It kicks ass and I'm not a videophile or audiophile. I can tell the difference between a bad transfer (Gangs of New York, which I regrettably bought before reading the reviews) and a good one (Cars, Casino Royale, et al) and I've never actually experienced HD audio so I'm not even sure what I'm missing out on in that department. But I love high def picture quality and notice a huge improvement over DVD.

[Grevlin]

Another issue with people not getting the full impact of blu on their systems is the old "I don't see a difference between blu ray and dvd." Which sometimes even leads to them being pissed about buying a blu ray player and feeling it was a waste of money.

I believe there is word-of-mouth in both directions- which is slowing the spread.

We may all be in a minority having our systems dialed in and juiced up, but the only way people can ever be convinced is to actually enjoy the "experience" in a proper home HT. Bring your friends over and spread the bug...

[rded]

Getting the "full blu experience" is all relative and subjective.As decent as my system is, I know for a fact that I am only using my system up to 50% of its capability due to space restrictions and lack of a potent subwoofer or 2 and a little acoustic tratment. Heck I even want new fronts and a center channel but my budget can only take me so far

[Blu-Runner]

I'm lacking a sound system, so I do not get to utilize those nice lossless audio packages...

[Sonny]

I too think the % of people enjoying everything Blu has to offer is very low. I love having a full setup, but there is nothing wrong with just having an HDTV & BD player! There's still tons of enjoyment to get out of that combo. Moneys tight & HiDef gear cost's. Gear can come together slowly, you usually end up with better gear that way anyway.