If you get a Blu-ray player what else do you need? To watch movies in HD?

[ob1]

Im a bit confused about the whole Blu-ray and High-Definition thing. What I would like to know is that if you have a Blu-ray player will you also need a High-Definition Television in order to watch Blu-ray discs in HD? Can standard TVs not display HD with a Blu-ray player?

[zombie]

Originally Posted by ob1

Im a bit confused about the whole Blu-ray and High-Definition thing. What I would like to know is that if you have a Blu-ray player will you also need a High-Definition Television in order to watch Blu-ray discs in HD? Can standard TVs not display HD with a Blu-ray player?

In order to view HD content on a Blu-ray disc you will need an HDTV. Standard TVs cannot display HD at all.

[AV_Integrated]

You can still watch the movies on your old TV, they just won't be HD quality. A non-HD television is incapable of accepting a HD signal (typically). It is always incapable of displaying a 'true' HD signal.

But, you should notice a marked improvement between HD discs and DVD discs even on your standard television since beyond resolution HD excells with color, motion handling, and audio... Those are some extra perks that all televisions can benefit from.

But, HD does actually require both a HD player and a HD display device.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by AV_Integrated

You can still watch the movies on your old TV, they just won't be HD quality. A non-HD television is incapable of accepting a HD signal (typically). It is always incapable of displaying a 'true' HD signal.

But, you should notice a marked improvement between HD discs and DVD discs even on your standard television since beyond resolution HD excells with color, motion handling, and audio... Those are some extra perks that all televisions can benefit from.

You're assuming that Blu-ray players will be capable of outputing HD material downrezzed at 480p. I haven't read any proof that this will be the case. The answer to his question remains the same, even with a Blu-ray player he will not be able to watch HD on a standard definition TV.

[thunderhawk]

Originally Posted by n2blu

You're assuming that Blu-ray players will be capable of outputing HD material downrezzed at 480p. I haven't read any proof that this will be the case.

Even if this isn't the case, the TV set will display what it can, so it'll still be better then normal DVD picture quality I suppose.

[Blue]

There is one more advantage for TV series, or exceptionally long movies one disk instead of 5 or 7 disks.

[thunderhawk]

Originally Posted by Blue

There is one more advantage for TV series, or exceptionally long movies one disk instead of 5 or 7 disks.

Not if they'll release them in HD quality... Then it's again 5 or 7 discs. As they say, you never have enough storage...

[James Morrow]

... of course, when you say that you need a high definition display, what you probably mean is that for maximum quality from a 1080p Blu-Ray source you need a display which is capable of displaying all 1920 by 1080 pixels of a progressively scanned video - that is, a progressive display with an input bandwidth suitable for 1080p24 or preferably higher, and a native device resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (or a multiple thereof) ...

[zombie]

Originally Posted by thunderhawk

Even if this isn't the case, the TV set will display what it can, so it'll still be better then normal DVD picture quality I suppose.

If a Blu-ray player isn't capable of downrezzing to 480p then you likely won't get any picture at all on a SDTV.

[AV_Integrated]

Originally Posted by n2blu

You're assuming that Blu-ray players will be capable of outputing HD material downrezzed at 480p. I haven't read any proof that this will be the case. The answer to his question remains the same, even with a Blu-ray player he will not be able to watch HD on a standard definition TV.

Yes - I absolutely am making that assumption under the belief that if they don't do this then they are mentally retarded, or brain dead.

If a standard def TV accepts HD input (for some reason) then he can watch whatever the heck his TV allows. But, the output of the display is never more than what the TV offers. Not many (any?) SDTVs I know of that accept HDTV input though.

Lots of ED plasmas will look awesome with HD discs though.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by n2blu

If a Blu-ray player isn't capable of downrezzing to 480p then you likely won't get any picture at all on a SDTV.

One would assume there will be some sort of downscaling included as if they start releasing material in 1080p without it - how many TV's and projectors can display it. If they are downconverting to 1080i or 720p well it's nont much more effort to convert to SD.

Originally Posted by thunderhawk

Not if they'll release them in HD quality... Then it's again 5 or 7 discs. As they say, you never have enough storage...

I would also guess there are going to a large number of TV shows that will be in SD format now, as HD equipment has only been around in commercial quantities for 8 or so years. A number of production hosues dropped film in the late 80's (well in Australia anyway) - sure they can do some digital funny stuff to upconvert, but there will not be that much improvement on the original, vs savings in the production costs (Disks and pacakging) - and all the current batch HD TV's and projecors are masters at upscaling.

[Knight-Errant]

I heard a mitsubishi rep explained that 1080p sources are a long way down the road and most HD content will remain 1080i upscaled by the TV for the time being.

Heard it on the HDTV podcast.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by AV_Integrated

Not many (any?) SDTVs I know of that accept HDTV input though.

Exactly what I was thinking. It'll be up to the manufacturer of the BD player to decide if they will allow downrezzing via component. I highly doubt it, no matter how much this alienates early adopters of HDTVs.

[mk_kenshin]

They would be foolish not to allow for a downconversion. This would convince people to buy a blu ray player while they wait to buy a 1080p hdtv. I think that all disks should have 1080p content and just have the player convert it to what ever the tv can support. Its a much smarter option for future proofing the disks.

[AV_Integrated]

Originally Posted by n2blu

Exactly what I was thinking. It'll be up to the manufacturer of the BD player to decide if they will allow downrezzing via component. I highly doubt it, no matter how much this alienates early adopters of HDTVs.

Actually, if they implement (and require) something like the broadcast flag than all hardware would be able to downconvert to 480p/i over component or 480i over s-video/composite. I fully expect that to be a reality. Just an expectation though.

What I really am HOPING for is HD over component to be available. After I get a PS3, I will not buy a standalone player that doesn't allow for this I don't think. I think sales will be impacted a great deal by early adopters not willing to upgrade their TV as well, or having cabling issues. My issue falls into 'cabling' as I have DVI/HDMI connections.

[observer]

Originally Posted by Knight-Errant

I heard a mitsubishi rep explained that 1080p sources are a long way down the road and most HD content will remain 1080i upscaled by the TV for the time being.

Heard it on the HDTV podcast.

From what I've read so far, Sony claims that the PS3 will have 1080p output, and they've dogged Xbox360 for not being able to match their resolution. Also, they recently mastered a 1080p verison of Charlies Angels to send to manufacturers for testing. Unless anyone has any other direct evidence, I believe Sony is going full ahead with 1080p movie releases.

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by observer

From what I've read so far, Sony claims that the PS3 will have 1080p output, and they've dogged Xbox360 for not being able to match their resolution. Also, they recently mastered a 1080p verison of Charlies Angels to send to manufacturers for testing. Unless anyone has any other direct evidence, I believe Sony is going full ahead with 1080p movie releases.

Woah! Well I stand very happily corrected mate!