Blu-ray versus HD Cable TV

[tqmilymi]

I've watched a ton of HD movies on Verizon FIOS and the image quality of the movies look fantastic on my TVs. In a number of cases, I've decided to purchase or purchased a movie on Blu-Ray after seeing it on cable. Examples include Bridge to Terabithia, Mission Impossible III, Shooter, Stranger Than Fiction, and Wild Hogs. After watching these on Blu-Ray, I'm just as impressed. Any comments on the image quality of HD movies on (any) cable versus Blu-Ray? Or, is cable HD just a poor man's substitute for Blu-Ray?

[AliceT]

Cable HD wont be as good as a BD ( or at least it shouldnt) but its not bad by any means.

[u_nick]

Most stuff will come through cable lines slightly compressed, because of bandwidth issues. Some look better than others, and some can get away with less compression of course.

I've seen some good, and some bad. And I can definitelys ay the more Blu-ray's I get, the more I notice the compression artifacts when they air on cable.

but yeah, decent enough image quality to 'test' a potential purchase.

[The Don]

Fios is quite impressive for being a broadcast service or whatever it is...

but nothing compares to Blu-ray right now...

[JasonR]

I think HD cable can look good, except for the cropping and macroblocking.

[JunkBoy]

Sporting events are 2nd to none on HD! Can't wait for tomorrow to watch all day NFL in HD! Movie wise, as beautiful as it can look on cable it still doesn't compare to BD...especially when it comes to AQ.

[jimmymiro12]

Originally Posted by JunkBoy

Sporting events are 2nd to none on HD! Can't wait for tomorrow to watch all day NFL in HD! Movie wise, as beautiful as it can look on cable it still doesn't compare to BD...especially when it comes to AQ.

GO EAGLES!!!!! I have to agree with you nothing beats it. Gotta have a Super Bowl party this year because my family rooms is finally done and by then I will update the whole sound system.

[RazorFromHRSnet]

HDTV spec only supports Dolby Digital 5.1 at best, so you won't get your TruHD or Lossless audio there

[micks_address]

yep agree - the audio cant compete with lossless but sometimes the picture aint fair off....

i watched Cars on the other week and did a A/B comparison with the Blu-Ray and while the Blu-Ray knocked the socks off the broadcast the picture was much closer... granted i'm only on a 40" screen so maybe you'd notice more on a larger screen size

it is great for sports... i really find it hard to watch something now in SD.. HD is just so easier on the eye... especially stuff like golf/tennis/soccer.. havent seen any NFL.. i dont know if Sky (UK/Ireland) transmit it in HD over here...

[SVTRacer]

What suffers more than anything on cable compared to Blu-ray is the audio. (unless it's a Warner release )

[atomik kinder]

My HD cable can be terrible at times. Action sequences on movies on HBO turn to giant pixilated mosaics. Although, it could be that I have too many connections. I have 7 TVs and 2 computers plus my PS3 connected. I do have a signal booster, but it doesn't always help. It is nowhere near the quality of Blu-ray.

[theprophecy247]

fios is the best u can get but not as good as blu

[ak808]

Don't have fios here but we do have HD channels. Thing is to me that blu-ray offers a lot more then a nice picture. So yes HD cable does/can look good but it definitly isn't a blu experience.

[nerdboyrockstar]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

My HD cable can be terrible at times. Action sequences on movies on HBO turn to giant pixilated mosaics. Although, it could be that I have too many connections. I have 7 TVs and 2 computers plus my PS3 connected. I do have a signal booster, but it doesn't always help. It is nowhere near the quality of Blu-ray.

I notice the same pixelation during fast-paced sequences.

[arush5268d]

HD cable does look good - but it lacks quality and depth and all too often the intense compression and low frame rate are very visible. Currently there's no way for anything to come close to Blu-ray.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by nerdboyrockstar

I notice the same pixelation during fast-paced sequences.

FYI, this is your term. "macroblocking"

[drago3451]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

My HD cable can be terrible at times. Action sequences on movies on HBO turn to giant pixilated mosaics. Although, it could be that I have too many connections. I have 7 TVs and 2 computers plus my PS3 connected. I do have a signal booster, but it doesn't always help. It is nowhere near the quality of Blu-ray.

I have the same problem. I do not think that cable has the ability to send that much information. I was pointing this out to the wife just the other day. we had watched Transformers on an HD Movie station and I got the "blocks" you are speaking of during action sequences. Showed her the recently released BD and it did not faulter once. Cable will never be able to match the quality of blu. They are too cheap to spend the money on faster service not to mention people that live outside of a city suffer performance issues as it is.

[haushausman]

Comcast Cable only broadcasts in 720p; they have 1 channel, inHD, that does 1080.

They are so far behind with 1080 and digital signals that I use my component cables over HDMI; looks much better.

Blu-ray quality trounces HD Cable by far.

[Musashi]

I don't really compare cable and disc much; cable/fios/sattelite is for watching live events, following series, and spur of the moment entertainment, while discs are pre-planned viewing. That being said, hi-def cable trumps regular cable, yes, but Blu-ray's higher video bitrate and lossless sound are unrivaled; no live feeds can touch it.

[alexakajeff]

When I go to Best Buy, I see all the tvs hooked up to TV, not Blu-Ray, which is dumb not to show the full potential of the tv. The cable looks mediocre to good, but nothing near as good as BD.