Blu Ray players

[electrochemical]

Hey guys. I think it is about time I got myself a blu ray player. I was wondering what specific blu ray player should I get as in which is the best quality for picture and sound of most players. It also must be able to play in DTS as well. I will research myself but I wanted to know what you guys would recommend me to get?

[SmilesAustin]

They should all output to 1080p, so as long as your TV has an HDMI input, you'll just need an HDMI cable and you should be set with anything you buy.

One important thing to keep in mind: Try to find one with an ethernet port in the back. That way, when new firmware is available for it, you just have to hook it up to your internet and you can download it yourself. If it doesn't have an ethernet port on it, you'll end up having to bring it somewhere to get the firmware upgraded. I've been told that at some point, the firmware will be required to be updated to play new movies.

For my Blu-Ray player, I just bought a Sony VAIO. I needed a new laptop anyway so I could do more homework while I'm at work, and all I've got to do is hook it up to my TV with an HDMI cable and I've got crystal clear video.

You will love Blu-Ray. I was rooting for HD-DVD, but have no problems with blu ray! Love it love it love it!

[electrochemical]

Thanks Zac for the info! I will keep that in mind when I go to buy a blu-ray players. I am seriously excited!

[SmilesAustin]

As you should be.

I never thought we could get a whole lot better than DVDs, but Blu Ray really is that good. You'll notice the difference in clarity right away.

In case anyone is wondering how/why Blu-Rays are so much better than DVDs, look at it this way: When you film a movie, you'll have to shrink it down to less than 30% of the quality to fit it onto a dual-layer (9.6GB) DVD.

A single-layer Blu-Ray disc can hold 25GB of data, or otherwise more than 2.5x the amount that a dual-layer DVD can hold. A dual-layer Blu-Ray holds 50GB, or over 5x that amount. As you can imagine, movies have to be compressed MUCH less for Blu-Ray, and sometimes not at all.

And if you're worried that Blu-Ray will end up getting beat out by something else in the near future, don't worry too much. New technology by Pioneer has enabled a single blu-ray disc to hold 500GB of data! That is twice the storage capacity of my entire computer in one little disc. And it's compatible with current Blu-Ray players.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=1616

Blu-Ray is here to stay. IMO, the only thing that will topple Blu-Ray in the next 20 years is the enhanced ability to purchase and download movies via the internet. Living Room PCs are the future of movies, for sure. But storage is still a bit too expensive for it to be realistic. 1TB (terabyte) of hard drive capacity is about $500 for a pretty good deal, and that would only hold about 20 blu-ray movies at 50GB a pop. But I expect the cost of hard drive capacity to go down sharply in the next 5 years.

Imagine being able to purchase, download, and KEEP a high definition movie that will blow your socks off with stunning clarity from your remote control and begin watching it within about 30 seconds. If you want to watch a movie you already own, no more digging through your collection of DVDs/Blu-Rays, you can use your remote to browse your collection of movies. Find the one you want, simply click on it, and it starts playing immediately.

Again, cheaper storage and faster internet connections are needed for this to be widespread (as well as the development of better living room PCs), but that's the future.

Until then, and even after that happens, Blu-Ray is the way to go!

</rant>

[electrochemical]

Yep Zac, Blu-Ray sure has amazing specs. The amount of data a disc can hold is amazing. The info you just posted just blew my mind!

Here is the specs of a blu-ray player I found it is 299.99 which seems too cheep (it is a Sony):

WebID: 10109229
Mfr. Part Number: BDPS350
Player Features
Disc Capacity 1
Disc Input Tray
Supported Audio Disc Formats CD-R/RW
Supported HD Disc Formats BD, DVD
Supported HD Video Codecs AVC-HD
Supported Interactive Formats BD-Rom
Supported SD Disc Formats DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW/DVD+RW
Video Features
HDCP Compliant Yes
Progressive SD Playback Yes
Region Free Playback No
Standard DVD Upconversion - Component Yes
Standard DVD Upconversion - HDMI Yes
Supported Video Output Formats 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p
Audio Features
Audio Output Via HDMI Yes
Integrated Digital Audio Decoder Yes
Supported Digital Audio Formats DD, DD+, DTS, Dolby TrueHD
Inputs/Outputs Features
Component Video Outputs 1
Digital Coaxial Audio Outputs 1
Digital Optical Audio Outputs 1
Discrete Analog Outputs Yes
DVI Outputs No
HDMI Outputs 1
RCA A/V Outputs 1
S-Video Outputs 1
VGA (DSUB-15) Output No
Convenience Features
Backlit Remote Control No
Dimmable External Display No
External Display Bitrate Display
External Playback Controls Not Provided By Manufacturer
Included Connections Component
Power Cable Length Not Provided By Manufacturer
Remote Control Type Remote Commander
Product Features
Product Depth 22 cm
Product Height 6 cm
Product Weight 2.9 kg
Product Width 43 cm
Warranty Labour 1 Year
Warranty Parts 1 Year

Here is another this one is 399.99 and this is a Samsung:

WebID: 10111511
Mfr. Part Number: BD-P2550/XAC
Player Features
Disc Capacity 1
Disc Input Tray
Supported Audio Disc Formats CD
Supported HD Disc Formats BD
Supported HD Video Codecs AVCHD, VC-1, MPEG2, H.264
Supported Interactive Formats BD-J
Supported SD Disc Formats DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW
Video Features
HDCP Compliant Yes
Progressive SD Playback Yes
Region Free Playback No
Standard DVD Upconversion - Component No
Standard DVD Upconversion - HDMI Yes
Supported Video Output Formats 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p
Audio Features
Audio Output Via HDMI Yes
Integrated Digital Audio Decoder Yes
Supported Digital Audio Formats DD,DD+,DD TrueHD,DTS,DTS-HD HR,DTS-HD MA
Inputs/Outputs Features
Component Video Outputs Yes - 1
Digital Coaxial Audio Outputs No
Digital Optical Audio Outputs Yes - 1
Discrete Analog Outputs Yes
DVI Outputs No
HDMI Outputs Yes - 1
RCA A/V Outputs Yes - 1
S-Video Outputs Yes
VGA (DSUB-15) Output No
Convenience Features
Backlit Remote Control No
Dimmable External Display Yes
External Display LCD
External Playback Controls Yes
Included Connections See The Features Section
Power Cable Length Not Provided By Manufacturer
Remote Control Type Universal
Product Features
Product Depth 27.1 cm
Product Height 5.9 cm
Product Width 43 cm
Warranty Labour 1 Year
Warranty Parts 1 Year

How does that look? Im not very good with this spec comparison stuff.

[CowboyzAdam]

Once I got my Blu-Ray with the PS3 I have not rented or bought many movies not in Blu-Ray Format. It is so crystal clear it is unbelievable. We sure have come a long way with technology with movies and TV&#39;s. I can only imagine where we will be at when my 5 year old Son is all grown up.

[electrochemical]

Okay, so I am getting the Sony BDPS350 that I posted up there. Decent reviews, Anyway it will look better than the DVDs I am watching. It appears that it is the second best stand alone Blu-Ray player, behind a Panasonic player that I cant find anymore.

[electrochemical]

It takes 6 seconds for the tray to open. Which is apparently one of the fastest. The Sony I cited is decently rated among Blu-Ray players. I get so obsessed when I buy electronics. I NEED the best! But any blu-ray player will kick ass and Sony is where it began so it is a safe bet.