Is it time to buy a Blu Ray player?

[roidefromage]

It seems to me that it is time to buy an HD player. It also seems that Blu Ray is slightly ahead in the format battle. Do any of you have any thoughts about whether I should wait, or commit now to a Blu Ray player?
Thanks for your opinions.

[mike c]

buy now and help us win the war!

kidding aside, we're all dead in the water if both these formats die ... might as well go with the format that looks like it's gonna win! :)

[Gimpy Ric]

Buy it now, help us win! I stated in a thread long ago that I wish Blu-ray would hurry up and win so I could get a new DVD player. j_garcia said "Buy one now and help Blu-ray win."

So go get a third generation player, or if your into video games, a PS 3. Please!

[Joe Schmoe]

They are still too expensive for me. The cheapest I have seen is $500. By comparison, an entry-level standard DVD player is around $50, and a nice one with upscaling can be had under $150.

[abefroeman]

I will take a $200 blue-ray player with 5.1 outs, thank you.

[j_garcia]

$500 is the least exensive, but you get 5 free discs too...so that makes it about a $400 deal. I say go Blu :D

[stratman]

Man, I'm so confused, I don't know what to do!!:eek: I keep getting Betamax flashbacks along with LaserDiscs!:eek:

[j_garcia]

How about Minidisc? :D

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes it is time.

[stratman]

How about Minidisc? :D

That too! Too many burns!

[ParadigmDawg]

What's one more?

It's only money.

That too! Too many burns!

[stratman]

What's one more?

It's only money.

I'm still stingin' from Mini-Disc:eek: I still have the contraption, then again, I still have my LD player! I must admit though, for me when I do, it just might be BD or maybe if someone comes out with a really good dualy.

[SamW]

If you want a dual format player. I think that Samsung is coming out with one and of course there is an LG BH100 player already out there for $1000...

I'm going to give some do what I say, not what I do advice. As I bought both a Blu Ray and an HD DVD players a few months ago. I did it because you can get two high quality separate players for the cost of the single LG.

In any event, if you don't get both you still can't get all the movies in one format or the other. AND I can't really tell the difference between a Blu Ray, HD DVD, or a 1080i picture. That's on a 61 inch screen with my face right up against it.

SO, my advice would be to get a good upscaling player (Sony has a good one that coverts to 1080i that costs around $100) and continue to wait it out.

[j_garcia]

I'm still stingin' from Mini-Disc:eek: I still have the contraption, then again, I still have my LD player!

My dad still has his too and a bunch of discs and a portable player...I can't say I've seen him use it in years and I haven't seen media for it either in a long time.

I agree, for the price of a combo player, you can get one of each for less. I too cannot see a difference between the two formats, so it really is a toss up. I have been tempted to pick up a HD-DVD player, but still haven't seen enough titles that are really going to sway me to do it yet. If there is a good deal during the holidays maybe...

Oppo makes 2 amazing upscaling players under $200.

[Tomorrow]

That too! Too many burns!

Before we were married, my wife had an MGB roadster (rag top). Ca. 1982, someone cut the top to get at the stereo. LOL, for all his troubles he got an ancient 8-track...which we conveniently converted to a nice, new cassette player and new top with clear plastic (the old one was not even translucent it was so old)! Thank you insurance. Thank you crime boy. Bye bye ancient 8-track. If it's good enough for Blockbuster, it's good enough for you! ;)

Get the Blu-ray!!

[Hi Ho]

Appearently I'm the odd man out. I just bought a Toshiba HD-A2. For $230 and 5 free HD-DVD's it can't be beat in my opinion. Not only does it play HD-DVD's but it is also an excellent upconverting player. Even if HD-DVD doesn't come out on top I still have a great upconverting player with the side benefit of HD-DVD while it lasts (hopefully it does).

[BMXTRIX]

It seems to me that it is time to buy an HD player. It also seems that Blu Ray is slightly ahead in the format battle. Do any of you have any thoughts about whether I should wait, or commit now to a Blu Ray player?
Thanks for your opinions.
The general consensus that I hear online now is that about 85% of people expect Blu-ray to survive long term. That is, Blu-ray is 'expected' to be around. HD DVD sits at numbers far lower than that - something like 35% or so.

So, no, there are still no guarantees, but the momentum is definitely on the side of Blu-ray right now.

IMO, Blu-ray was pretty clearly going to win from the start and only the excellent product and pricing from Toshiba, combined with top notch Universal backing has allowed HD DVD to shine as bright as it has in the past year.

[stratman]

IMO, Blu-ray was pretty clearly going to win from the start and only the excellent product and pricing from Toshiba, combined with top notch Universal backing has allowed HD DVD to shine as bright as it has in the past year.[/QUOTE]

Agree 110 %, if it wasn't for agressive pricing on Toshiba's end, the so called war would be over. Blu-ray has been agressive where it really counts: studio backing and superior release numbers.

[larry7995]

I received a Vann's catalog today and it only has Blu Ray players. I don't really want to support the Sony monopoly and proprietary greed. But I think it's going to end up - Blu Ray.

[fmw]

I think it gets down to how you deal with movies. If you are a collector and buy movies, it would make sense to wait. If, like me, you rent movies then you might as well get involved. You can get enjoyment watching movies in HD and the price is not outrageous considering what we all pay for TV's and audio equipment. The longer you wait, the fewer movies you will see in HD. I have players in both formats. They cost me a little less than $700. That seems like a reasonable sum to be able to play every kind of DVD (except DVD audio.)

[mfabien]

I think it gets down to how you deal with movies. If you are a collector and buy movies, it would make sense to wait. If, like me, you rent movies then you might as well get involved. You can get enjoyment watching movies in HD and the price is not outrageous considering what we all pay for TV's and audio equipment. The longer you wait, the fewer movies you will see in HD. I have players in both formats. They cost me a little less than $700. That seems like a reasonable sum to be able to play every kind of DVD (except DVD audio.)


My Panasonic DMP-BD10AK is being shipped next week to sit on a shelf over my HD-A1 shelf in my rack. This latest BR player not only decodes DD TrueHD and DTS-HD HR but it also decodes DVD-A.

My Yamaha receiver does not handle HDMI switching, so, I have a Zektor HDS4.1 to switch multichannel analogs from the players and a RAM 3x1 HDMI switch box. And all Activites are synchronized ON/OFF by my Harmony 880 with one touch.

Once you read "The Secret" or watch the it's DVD and understand how you can master your wants in life. you make things happen. I'm not one to wait for prices to go down or for a winner to be declared. My HD-A1 will never be a door stopper, it is a magnificent CD player, DTS Music disc player and concert player on SD DVD's.

To the author of this thread,
It is always time to buy a Blu-Ray player, or a HD DVD player if that helps you enjoy life.

[Joe Schmoe]

Once you read "The Secret" or watch the it's DVD and understand how you can master your wants in life. you make things happen.

Suuuure, Oprah, whatever.:rolleyes:

[mfabien]

Suuuure, Oprah, whatever.:rolleyes:

Oprah ! All she did was invite the book's author to her program...

Now if you said Bob Proctor, Dr. Joe Vitale, John Assaraf, Dr. John Demartini, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Jack Canfield, Bob Doyle, Mike Dooley, Lisa Nichols, Bill Harris, Dr. Fred Alan Wolf, James Ray, they have all participated in Rhonda Byrne's book and DVD and each has a website which you can find by googling their name. Go see what kind of people they are... do yourself a favor. If not, silence can be a virtue.

[Joe Schmoe]

I am well aware that otherwise intelligent people who should know better often believe in ridiculous ideas.
If I ever take up an equally rational practice, such as dowsing or voodoo, you can be sure that I will remain silent.:)

[BMXTRIX]

I received a Vann's catalog today and it only has Blu Ray players. I don't really want to support the Sony monopoly and proprietary greed. But I think it's going to end up - Blu Ray.
Couldn't agree more! We shouldn't support monopolies...

So let's see:

BLU-RAY PLAYERS
Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Hitachi (cameras), Samsung, Sharp, Philips

HD DVD PLAYERS
Toshiba

Wait, which one of these are you calling a monopoly again?

[j_garcia]

Add Onkyo to HD-DVD camp...I wonder how much that cost Toshiba? :D

[stratman]

Add Onkyo to HD-DVD camp...I wonder how much that cost Toshiba? :D

You're not kidding! Toshiba must've done some serious anus kissing to get them on their camp.

[avaserfi]

Toshiba is probably doing what they are doing for Samsung. Making the product and just badging it with the appropriate name.

[BMXTRIX]

Add Onkyo to HD-DVD camp...I wonder how much that cost Toshiba? :D
Actually, if Onkyo is going the same route that RCA did, it means that Toshiba is 100% making the Onkyo players in their factories, and that Onkyo is just letting Toshiba put their 'ONKYO' name on the finished product.

Yes, it likely costs Toshiba a bit to get this to happen, but it costs Onkyo basically ZERO to do this... if this is the case.

The specs of the new Onkyo player are almost identical to the XA2 except for added HD-MA support. A perfectly logical upgrade from the XA2. But, finding out this information will likely have to wait until after the Onkyo is released.

Seriously, if Toshiba can't get more CE support then they don't have a chance. $200 players are great as long as EVERYONE can make a profit from those $200 players. If you gotta subsidize your players to get the price to 200 bucks, then you better hold the patents on the technologies involved so you get some solid royalties on the movies sold... just as Toshiba does.

But, there is no chance Toshiba (HD DVD) can win if the format doesn't gain some added true CE support. That would be companies that are designing, engineering, building, and testing players from the ground up themselves.

I promise you... Denon is not releasing a rebadged Samsung.

Sony, on the other hand, with their first player, had it pretty much built entirely by Pioneer. Sony's production time and efforts were going into a different Blu-ray player.

[j_garcia]

The Blu-ray girls say "Get one now" :D

[avaserfi]

Check this thread out if you want a pretty good deal on a BD player. If price is keeping you down here is a BD for under 300 :). Hedge your bets on the side that seems to be winning!

The thread:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34590

[jimfitz]

While you guys are debating the issue, I'm enjoying the hell out of my $499 Sony S300 Blu-ray DVD and Blockbuster Blu-ray rentals by mail. I get a new Blu-ray movie every 2 days for $9.99 a month.

[Joe Schmoe]

If I buy a BD player and then find a movie I really want on HD only (or vice-versa) it will royally **** me off. This prevents me from buying either one, and I am certain it is holding plenty of other people back also.

[jimfitz]

If I buy a BD player and then find a movie I really want on HD only (or vice-versa) it will royally **** me off. This prevents me from buying either one, and I am certain it is holding plenty of other people back also.Why, you can't watch it now?

[Joe Schmoe]

Why, you can't watch it now?

In a theater or on standard DVD, yes.

[j_garcia]

There haven't been enough titles on HD-DVD that have gotten me to cough up the cash to get a player at this point. There are definitely a few that I would really like to see in HD at this point, but nothing that is a "must have" for me.

[jimfitz]

I have 77 Blu-ray movies in my Blockbuster queue. I have already watch 5. There are plenty more after I've seen all of these.

[Joe Schmoe]

There haven't been enough titles on HD-DVD that have gotten me to cough up the cash to get a player at this point. There are definitely a few that I would really like to see in HD at this point, but nothing that is a "must have" for me.

I agree I couldn't care less about high definition for most movies, only those where the visuals are especially important (eg The Fifth Element, Harry Potter.)

[Geno]

The Blu-ray girls say "Get one now" :D

Will the Blu-Ray girls deliver & set it up?:cool:

[mfabien]

My Panasonic DMP-BD10AK is being shipped next week to sit on a shelf over my HD-A1 shelf in my rack. This latest BR player not only decodes DD TrueHD and DTS-HD HR but it also decodes DVD-A.

My Yamaha receiver does not handle HDMI switching, so, I have a Zektor HDS4.1 to switch multichannel analogs from the players and a RAM 3x1 HDMI switch box. And all Activites are synchronized ON/OFF by my Harmony 880 with one touch.

Once you read "The Secret" or watch the it's DVD and understand how you can master your wants in life. you make things happen. I'm not one to wait for prices to go down or for a winner to be declared. My HD-A1 will never be a door stopper, it is a magnificent CD player, DTS Music disc player and concert player on SD DVD's.

To the author of this thread,
It is always time to buy a Blu-Ray player, or a HD DVD player if that helps you enjoy life.


Waiting and waiting... then comes the Paramount studio announcement that they are joining Universal as exclusive with HD DVD. And there are noises that Warner may follow. Some say that Paramount was paid out to do this but it is undeniable that HD DVD already handles interactivity, commentaries and PIP very well, compared the BR's java system yet to to be activated, and that an HD DVD disc is cheaper to produce.

So, I canceled the Panny BD player.

I already had the Zektor multichannel analog switch box for my HD-A1 and the forthcoming Panny, therefore, as a replacement for the Panny I bought an Oppo DV-970HD primarily for DVD-A, which was playable with the Panny and got SACD as a bonus. BTW, I'm quite impressed with the Oppo:

- The speaker level "TRIM" settings make the multichannel analogs better balanced
- The upconverting of SD DVD at 1080i gives me a better picture than my HD-A1, which I certainly didn't expect
- And I'm quite impressed with SACD. My first recording makes very good use of the 5.1 speaker system.

[pepar]

Probably best to wait until new players are released after 10/31 or, if you do buy soon, make sure it's profile 1.1.

[j_garcia]

People seem to make a lot of Paramount going exclusive, but the majority of smaller studios announcing alignment with Blu-ray seem to be much greater, if quieter. Disney and Pixar are BD exclusive right now too...that is a far bigger deal than Paramount to me.

[patnshan]

It's time to go HD-DVD. Blu Ray is still too expensive and Sony loads root kits onto it's CD's. I will never forgive them for that and for memory sticks:eek: There's more than two great reasons right there:)

I need a player to be $200 before it is useful to me. I think every Joe Six Pack would agree. I just found that in the A2, and that is where I stand. I won't ever get a Blu Ray unless HD-DVD effectively goes away, and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Pat

[pepar]

It's time to go HD-DVD. Blu Ray is still too expensive and Sony loads root kits onto it's CD's. I will never forgive them for that and for memory sticks:eek: There's more than two great reasons right there:)

I need a player to be $200 before it is useful to me. I think every Joe Six Pack would agree. I just found that in the A2, and that is where I stand. I won't ever get a Blu Ray unless HD-DVD effectively goes away, and I don't see that happening anytime soon.
All due respect, Pat, but J6P thinks that DVDs are hi-resolution, and the sound is just as impressive. I'll never own a Memory Stick and so far have avoided SACD - though the Genesis catalog is *migthty* tempting, but your rootkit comment on a thread called "Is it time to buy a Bluray player" is pure FUD. :)

[rgriffin25]

I am sure by now we all know the reasons the "fence Sitters" have for not buying in to either of these formats. The fact of the matter is that if you have a Home theater with a HDTV the answer is simple. Buy into one or both of these formats. No.. a up-conversion DVD player does not look as good as either of these formats. Hmmm 640X480 = 1920X1080 ??

I bought the HD DVD drive for my Xbox 360 last December and the biggest regret I had was going to the store to find a much larger Blu-ray selection to choose from. As a matter of fact it bothered me so much that in January I bought a BD player. Do I have any regrets? Nope!! I do enjoy the fact that I am able to watch a movie in either format. However, if I had to pick a format today it would be Blu-ray. In the past 9 months I have watched far more BD movies than HD DVD. It sucked having a HD player with a small selection of movies to choose from.

BTW. I would like to thank the fence sitters.. :) Because of you there are plenty of the movies I want to buy at the store and I get new releases from Netflix the day they come out in either format.

[mike c]

i ordered 5 more BD's to add to my existing 8 ...

BUT, there are some movies that really don't need to be crystal clear, so I ordered 11 more DVD's :) (Top Gun and Necessary Roughness included - both Paramount movies)

[patnshan]

All due respect, Pat, but J6P thinks that DVDs are hi-resolution, and the sound is just as impressive. I'll never own a Memory Stick and so far have avoided SACD - though the Genesis catalog is *migthty* tempting, but your rootkit comment on a thread called "Is it time to buy a Bluray player" is pure FUD. :)

FUD it is, you are right. I had to look that one up:D I apologize.

Pat

[patnshan]

I am sure by now we all know the reasons the "fence Sitters" have for not buying in to either of these formats. The fact of the matter is that if you have a Home theater with a HDTV the answer is simple. Buy into one or both of these formats. No.. a up-conversion DVD player does not look as good as either of these formats. Hmmm 640X480 = 1920X1080 ??

I bought the HD DVD drive for my Xbox 360 last December and the biggest regret I had was going to the store to find a much larger Blu-ray selection to choose from. As a matter of fact it bothered me so much that in January I bought a BD player. Do I have any regrets? Nope!! I do enjoy the fact that I am able to watch a movie in either format. However, if I had to pick a format today it would be Blu-ray. In the past 9 months I have watched far more BD movies than HD DVD. It sucked having a HD player with a small selection of movies to choose from.

BTW. I would like to thank the fence sitters.. :) Because of you there are plenty of the movies I want to buy at the store and I get new releases from Netflix the day they come out in either format.

When Blu-Ray deals show up for $200 with 8 discs, I will be ordering one of those too. I really do think it is just that simple for most people. Bring a good product down to a price people think is reasonable, and "they will come". I don't have a PS3 yet either, because I think it's two expensive. It will come down, then I will get it. It's the nature of these things.

Right now, I bet Amazon itself is making a huge swing in the "war" just by having this kind of deal. Of course, I have no data to support this claim other than the HD-DVD players are listed #1 on Amazon as being the top seller. Pretty powerful, you think?

Pat

[rgriffin25]

When Blu-Ray deals show up for $200 with 8 discs, I will be ordering one of those too. I really do think it is just that simple for most people. Bring a good product down to a price people think is reasonable, and "they will come". I don't have a PS3 yet either, because I think it's two expensive. It will come down, then I will get it. It's the nature of these things.

Right now, I bet Amazon itself is making a huge swing in the "war" just by having this kind of deal. Of course, I have no data to support this claim other than the HD-DVD players are listed #1 on Amazon as being the top seller. Pretty powerful, you think?

Pat

Or it could be that they have to blow them out since no one is buying them because of lack of movies to play on them. I'll admit I lean towards the Blu-ray side.. Not because it is superior.. It has more support both with Electronics mfrs. and studios.. However this has changed a little here recently. :eek:

[Tex-amp]

Or it could be that they have to blow them out since no one is buying them because of lack of movies to play on them. I'll admit I lean towards the Blu-ray side.. Not because it is superior.. It has more support both with Electronics mfrs. and studios.. However this has changed a little here recently. :eek:

Amazon is clearing them out as the 3rd generation Toshiba HD DVD players will start shipping the last week of Sept.

[CaliHwyPatrol]

+1 for Blu-Ray.

I just picked up my Samsung BD-P1400 a week and a half ago.

[Electone]

I would like to suggest getting into HD with HD DVD first due to their lower price entry point. You can get a Toshiba HD-A2 or the upcoming HD-A3 for well under $300. Current stand alone BD players are still fairly high priced and will not support the 1.1 spec for interactivity. Blu-Ray player prices should start to drop in 2008. As far as picture and sound quality are concerned, they are essentially the same.

Contrary to the garbage that Sony's and the BDA's marketing strategists would like you to believe, BD has not "won" and HD DVD is not going away any time soon.

[j_garcia]

Neither is going away anytime soon. I get the feeling this one won't be won quickly and decisively like DVD vs DIVX.

[stratman]

Neither is going away anytime soon. I get the feeling this one won't be won quickly and decisively like DVD vs DIVX.

You're right it won't, as a matter of fact HD DVD is now on the offensive, after months of lackluster ad campaigning, Toshiba is defending it's turf and going after new ground, they're even sponsoring Sunday Night Football in order to wrestle the perceived lead enjoyed by Blu-ray. The tell-tale will be this Christmas, I think prices are going to plummet.

[patnshan]

I'll get one when the BDP is $210 with 8 free movies:)

Until then, I am more than comfortable with the red pill I swallowed.:D

I am certain that both will be around for quite a long time. I am also willing to bet that most studios will go format neutral within two years. Then, everyone will have dual format players and there will be no war.

Pat

[jimfitz]

I bought a Sony Blu-ray DVD. It's great. I figure I'll buy an HD-DVD when I run out of stuff to watch on the Blu-ray.

[Gatsby191]

The Samsung duo will be here next month! I'm betting it's quality, and 1K price tag, will pull some of you Denon Diehards to the DARK side! Besides, then while they all keep fighting the format war, we all win!! :cool:

[Tex-amp]

The Samsung duo will be here next month! I'm betting it's quality, and 1K price tag, will pull some of you Denon Diehards to the DARK side! Besides, then while they all keep fighting the format war, we all win!! :cool:

If Denon is right that present Blu-ray Profile 1.0 players may not be able to play Profile 1.1 discs then dual format owners are getting shafted right along with Blu-ray player owners.

"But there is a possibility — and this is maybe not so public knowledge — that when these discs come out that fit this new profile, they may not work properly with the Profile 1.0 players." - Jeff Talmadge Denon's Director of Product Development and Systems Integration http://www.listenup.com/content/partner_stores/denon/talmadge.aug.07.php

[patnshan]

If Denon is right that present Blu-ray Profile 1.0 players may not be able to play Profile 1.1 discs then dual format owners are getting shafted right along with Blu-ray player owners.

http://www.listenup.com/content/partner_stores/denon/talmadge.aug.07.php



Their complex all new format strikes again:rolleyes: A lot of Sony diehards will become Sony haters like me:D

Pat

[Duffinator]

I'll get one when the BDP is $210 with 8 free movies:)

Until then, I am more than comfortable with the red pill I swallowed.:D

I am certain that both will be around for quite a long time. I am also willing to bet that most studios will go format neutral within two years. Then, everyone will have dual format players and there will be no war.

PatI'm with you on your first two comments and am starting to believe your third is what's going to happen. Think SACD and DVD-A dual format players. :eek: