What do I need to consider when buying a blu-ray dvd player?

Question

I am thinking about upgrading my dvd player to a blu-ray as I have purchased a 1080P HDTV. Sony has a unit for $369.00 (Walmart) is this a good price or is it too basic? Help!!!

Answer 1

First, be aware that your 1080p HDTV should be at least 37" before you will see much difference over upconverted DVD. Second, Blu-ray disks cost extra and third Blu-ray disks are available for about 1% of titles available on DVD. If you still want to proceed consider the following.

Most existing Blu-ray players are Profile 1.0 or 1.1 (added support for PinP, secondary audio and onboard storage), meaning they don't fully support all features. Only profile 2.0 players (added support for Internet connectivity) -- about to be released -- can be considered complete.

All players will play the movie, but extras increasingly require Profile 1.1 and 2.0 features. Personally, even if I don't have a big interest in extras I wouldn't buy an incomplete player ... particulalry since prices will just continue to come down.

The Sony BDP300 is a poor choice since it was released by Sony 2 weeks before Profile 1.1 came into effect ... and is a Profile 1.0 player. Unlike the PS3 -- a game machine but also one of the best Blu-ray players -- which can be firmware upgraded to Profile 1.1 or 2.0 -- the BDP300 can't be upgraded. That's why it's inexpensive.

My suggestion: go to a store that has your TV (or one as close as possible -- certainly the same size) -- and watch a DVD and Blu-ray disk of the same movie (you may have to plan ahead so you can bring the DVD of a Blu-ray movie they can demo) from your normal viewing distance. This will show you the real difference in quality. You can then decide if you want to move to Blu-ray ... and decide whether to do it now or wait a few months for Profile 2.0 machines (and lower prices). Remember, unless you are going to artificially limit viewing to HD disks only, you will still be watching lot's of DVDs.

If you decide an upconverting DVD player is all you really need, the Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player -- on sale for about $100 --- is a great choice ... and it plays HD DVDs too. Blu-ray players are also upconverters, but as you know they are NUCH more expensive.

The links (I hope they come through since Y!A are having a problem at the moment) are to the further info re Blu-ray and the various Profiles, and to a site that demos the difference between HD and DVD.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

It really depends on how you plan to use it. Bluray devices will:

Play disks

Record blank disks with video, audio, pictures or data

Connect to Internet for additional content/features

Play high resolution games, locally or on the Internet

If you just want to watch movies, the Sony you've looked at is a fine choice.

If you want to play games, PlayStation 3!

If you want to log onto additional movie content from the Internet, you will need a machine with an ethernet connection, and you will have to connect to your home network with a cable or a wireless bridge

If you want to record blank disks, I'd recommend getting a Bluray burner installed in a computer. You can use an existing (newer powerful) computer or buy a dedicated one for your HDTV.

Answer 3

Here is a good read below to give you a little heads up

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9864122...

I was going to buy a blu ray player but bought a ps 3 instead. Im really waiting for a blu ray player and recorder that will be coming out hopefully this fall. But that is a good price esp since when the players first came out it was over 1000 dollars

Answer 4

Here's what you need to consider:

1.Does your receiver decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio through HDMI? If not then get a player with 6ch or 8ch analog multi-channel outputs.

2.Are all the movies you want available on Blu-Ray, or are there a couple that are on HD DVD. If so then consider getting a dual format player like the one from LG or Samsung. A bit more expensive yes, but more choice in movies in the long run.

3.Did you know that Blu-Ray is not a finished technology? Current players are not profile 2.0 compliant meaning that any movie released after October 2008 you will not be able to see the new special features and possibly not even able to watch the movie at all unless you have a player that is compatible with profile 2.0. The only current player capable of updating itself is the Sony Playstation 3.