Video Asylum

Now with a true 1080p projector (JVC), I can appreciate the super quality of...

208.58.2.83

clarkjohnsen

...Superbit DVDs!

The two I've tried ($10 closeouts at Best Buy) both offered image quality far superior to regular, on my Oppo upconverting player. In fact, they look better than 720p OTA with a Samsung HD tuner.

Then again, I don't have Blu or... what's the other one?...

clark

Follow Ups:

BTW, Both format have players that upscale better than the Oppo. (nt) - Jack G 09:23:48 10/26/07 (1)
.
- Now he tells me! nt - clarkjohnsen 10:17:58 10/26/07 (0)
  d
the D-ILA? - chris e. 21:51:55 10/25/07 (5)
I ended up going with a Sharp Z21000 DLP that does 1080p but was really tempted by the JVC. No question, however, you want to get that PS3 and play some blu-rays -- they are stunning on a 1080p projector. (I run a PS3 for blu-ray and an XBOX w/HD-DVD player for that other format...and to be honest, HD-DVD just isn't nearly as sharp and clear as blu-ray although this may be tied to my players -- both game machines).
- "...HD-DVD just isn't nearly as sharp and clear as blu-ray..." - oscar 06:00:22 10/26/07 (4)
  or it's the movies you were watching... I.e. Another way of looking at it is: In general, the production values of studios releasing Blu-ray is typically higher than that of studios releasing HD DVD disks. This is how I interpret the arguments that the picture "softness" seen on HD DVD is in the master or in indifferent video encoding, not a result of HD DVD's typically lower video bitrates.
  I'll blame the shoddy picture quality of early Blu-ray titles to growing pains learning how to execute video encodes to take full advantage of HD media (that and the early use of MPEG-2 encoding).
  
  Edits: 10/26/07
  - Its the Xbox add-on in his case - Jack G 06:58:45 10/26/07 (3)
    Its pretty much a POS.
    Jack
    - perhaps, but I saw the same softness with a Toshiba player - chris e. 19:19:14 10/30/07 (1)
      I watched clips from batman begins, end of days and matrix revolutions on a Toshiba dedicated player and found the same softness (and this was projected using the JVC D-ILA projector).
      
      Now what I can't tell you is if the problem lies in the studios producing the discs -- what one of the other posters mentioned. If the HD DVD studios just aren't doing as good of a job as the blu-ray folks.
      
      That said, I do find the audio on HD DVD to be more enveloping than for blu-ray so there are trade-offs (albeit, minor differences in both cases).
      
      By the way, the add-on HD DVD box on the xbox really doesn't produce all that different a picture than the Toshiba dedicated player so I'm not sure I'd characterize it so poorly as you suggest. That said, it is (the add on player) very noisy when it plays.
      - End of Days is pretty bad - Jack G 06:07:32 11/02/07 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: perhaps, but I saw the same softness with a Toshiba player posted by chris e. on October 30, 2007 at 19:19:14
        
        Others have commented on softness of Batman. There are just as many mediocre BD titles as well.
        Here's a few HD DVDs that people generally consider quite good (PQ-wise):
        Corpse Bride
        Transformers
        Chronicles of Riddick
        Hot Fuzz (haven't seen it)
        TMMT (haven't seen it)
        
        Unfortunately, for both formats, not every release is stellar.
        Jack
    - You are probably right. The PS3 is actually a very good Blu-ray player. nt - oscar 07:09:19 10/26/07 (0)
      .
you're ripe for Blu-ray NT - Jazz Inmate 19:03:15 10/24/07 (0)
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"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
Congratulations! Yeah, those Oppos are nice upconverters; which model(s) do you own? - Audiophilander 16:39:56 10/24/07 (6)
> > > "what's the other one?" < < <

Ummm, you mean HD-DVD (yeah, yeah, I know, ...you were being facetious). BTW, they both have blue lasers and both technologies are more or less worthwhile investments, but if you do take that plunge be sure to check out some first hand reviews of movie releases; look for screen shot comparisons.

Some Blu-ray & HD-DVD releases are HUGE improvements over standard definition, even those previously released title in so-called "Definitive Editions" scaled up to 1080I or 1080P over excellent performers like the Oppos; others you'd be hard pressed to notice that much improvement.

AuPh
- "Look for screen shot comparisons." Huh! Shot with digicams, over a 'puter monitor? Rotsa ruck! nt - clarkjohnsen 08:55:23 10/25/07 (5)
  d
  - Give it time; HDMI based screen shots will become practical eventually. - Audiophilander 10:16:01 10/25/07 (4)
    Right now, except in the case of A/B comparisons of standard definition DVD screen shots, you have to rely on the integrity of the reviewer's opinion. You like to do that, as I recall. ;0)
    
    As I pointed out in a thread below, DVDBeaver is currently the best place for keeping up with up-to-date multi-region & format release information and A/B comparisons; Gary Tooze, who runs the site, would probably be the first to admit that his efforts aren't 100% perfect, but his site is quite useful, not to mention easy to navigate.
    
    AuPh
    - DVDBeaver (Open in New Window)
    - "Hi-Def DVD unfortunately supports an addictiveness that I am trying to avoid." Good one! - clarkjohnsen 10:30:04 10/25/07 (3)
      The rest of the site looks great too.
      
      clark
      - Just don't get too "addicted" to HD broadcasts... - oscar 13:48:38 10/25/07 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: "Hi-Def DVD unfortunately supports an addictiveness that I am trying to avoid." Good one! posted by clarkjohnsen on October 25, 2007 at 10:30:04
        
        Soon after I upgraded to Dishnetwork's HD receiver, I felt the urge to dump DVD and go with Hi-def video media instead.
        
        I understand the problem. As soon as there were two stereo FM stations in Boston... - clarkjohnsen 13:55:19 10/25/07 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Just don't get too "addicted" to HD broadcasts... posted by oscar on October 25, 2007 at 13:48:38
        
        ...I bought a Scott stereo tuner and always had it on one of them. But I got over it!
        
        Yes HD is a thrill. Add to that the fact that people come over and ooh and ahh over it the way they never did for my audio. Feh!
        
        clark
      - I thought home theater was about enjoying an experience, not avoiding an addiction NT - Jazz Inmate 12:24:29 10/25/07 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: "Hi-Def DVD unfortunately supports an addictiveness that I am trying to avoid." Good one! posted by clarkjohnsen on October 25, 2007 at 10:30:04
        
        -------------
        "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)

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