Blu ray player really worth it?

Question

We purchased a 61" Samsung HD DLP television last summer. We are starting to get into a position where we have a little extra money and the price on the Samsung Blu Ray player I wanted has come down. My question is do you really notice a difference? I can tell a huge difference when watching an HD channel compared to SD. But before I fork over the money for the Blu ray and the cost to buy blu ray movies I wanted to get some input from those that have the Blu Ray player.

Thanks a bunch.

Answer 1

if you replace your old DVD player with a Blu Ray, you'll need to replace all your DVD's because Blu Ray won't play them

Answer 2

Get the 80GB PlayStation 3!

I know you've probably heard this before, but it only costs an extra $100-200. And you're getting:

-the best gaming console

-a Blu-ray player

-a wi-fi web browsing device

-80 GB of storage

-Bluetooth device

-multimedia galore!

-and motion sensing games!

It's really awesome, and in the end a lot cheaper than both blu-ray players and other HDMI game consoles :)

Good Luck choosing :D

Answer 3

Samsung's has the least expensive blu-ray player that I know of at $295.95 - and I'm sure it will play blu-ray just fine.  One thing to check into if you're interested is the profile of the player - determines whether or not it just plays blu-ray, supports BD-J, and has Live-link ethernet capability (if you care about any of those things).  If not, the most affordable (yet feature-rich) blu-ray player would be fine.

Regarding your first question, though - yes, you should definitely notice a difference.  However, it depends upon the quality of your display and what it's capable of picking up from blu-ray.  All features such as x.v.YCC, deep color, gradation, resolution, contrast - all of these need to be well-supported by your TV to a certain extent to really notice the major differences.

Also, as far as I know, all blu-ray players are able to upconvert DVDs.  However, it's the quality of the upconversion that is an issue.  It uses a video processor to check surrounding pixels and an alogorithm to fill in the missing resolution from scratch.  The more surrounding pixels that are processed, the better upconversion.  In fact HD channels from your cable company are usually just standard definition that is being upconverted using an external user programmable high-end video processor.  It's very rare that what you're seeing on HD channels is actually HD from the source.

Obviously rustang4 is incorrect that you will need to replace your old DVDs.  But, if you watch your old DVDs on your blu-ray and don't like the picture you're getting - it may become personal choice to do so.

Also blazerma..., though he says some are running off at the mouth, is also incorrect in some regards:

for one, better cameras and production - maybe, but not necessarily.  It could very well be the same cameras - it's just blu-ray's ability to better display the same quality as the original production.

you do not need to spend 799-999 to get a player that does both well.  As long as you're using the HDMI connection, your DVDs will be upconverted.  Most likely he is using component cable and that is why he only gets 480p for his DVDs.  With HDMI on the PS3, you would get upconversion to 1080p (if the TV can display 1080p).

Also, regarding the skipping and decoding problems mentioned - highly doubtful.  For one, the laser in blu-ray is fully capable of picking up the same aperture and track pitch of a DVD player.  Also, many blu-ray movies are still encoded in MPEG2 just like DVD - don't see why there would be an issue there.

I have to agree as far as TVs that the Pioneer Elites are the best quality - but the cost can be a bit steep compared to other brands like Panasonic and especially Vizio or Olevia.  The number of plasmas they sell vs how many that need repairs or have major issues is about 3% - they are #2 in that regard behind Panasonic w/ 2%.

Also, although Sony created the technology that blu-ray is based upon with their UDO and DVR Blue.  However, blu diode and laser technology invention had nothing to do with Sony - and the blu-ray format was a collaborative effort from many manufacturers and the BDA.  No doubt Sony did pretty much headline the entire format, however.

As far as the statement that the PS3 is not the best for the money - whether it is or isn't is a matter of opinion.  It is one of the cheaper profile 1.1 blu-ray players and works great.  Also, Sony has admitted that it is primarily a blu-ray, not a game console - as their games use the blu-ray format.

Answer 4

wow, i'll anwer your question for you, these other guys are just  running there mouths, first of all the blu ray discs are produced much better, with better cameras and production, the whole nine yards, however you need a good player to reap the full benefit of the blu ray disc.  buying a stand alone player is the best way however, you still need to spend between 799-999 to get a player that plays blu ray as well that does a nice job playing regular dvd's. the 399-599 blu ray players don't play dvds/ and or don't play all regular dvd's very well they have a lot of skipping issues and decoding problems, Just looking out for you the pioneer elite is the best for the money, i would stay away from samsung, and don't forget i hate sony but they did invent blu ray, and i have had good luck with my ps3 but what people don't understand is it only plays regular movies in 480 p. it will only play 1080p on blu ray, a player that you spend 799-999 on will upscale all you old dvd's to 1080p, and if your t.v. is not 1080p it will do 720 p,. a ps3 is not the best unit for the money i bought mine to play video games, and thats what they are for. anyways good luck just remember to ask how well it plays reg. dvds. and cds. a lot of blu rays won't play cds. at all.

Answer 5

On a 61" TV the 1080p will blow you away. Anyone who says differently either hasn't seen one or did not have the thing set up correctly.

On another note Blazerman is incorrect.   The PS3 will upscale regular DVD's to 1080p just as good as a stand alone player, and is actually rated higher than most stand alone players, assuming you're using the HDMI.

weeder

Answer 6

ok heres my take..yes you will notice a difference between sd and bluray..less so between upconverted dvd and bluray. I have a PS3 and the reason i bought it was for its non gaming abilities. The nice thing about the PS3 versus other bluray players is its price and functionality compared to regular Bluray players. Another thing is the firmware is upgradable on the ps3 other players not so much, and they are coming out with new features that will need firmware upgrades. I know I sound like a PS3 salesman...I do like mine. Look at it this way for the price of a bluray drive you can get a a ps3 that plays bluray and can be updated to the new firmware when it arrives as well as play games and participate in folding@home

Answer 7

Totally, blu ray has best qaulity. Looks better with an LCD, plasma breaks to easy they will ship you 5 free blu rays the 42" is great for a cheaper price plus the playstation 3 has a built in blu ray player along with internet and a game client.