High Def DVD - Better than satellite HD movies?

**kamspy** · 12-22-2007, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwks1

Can't wait to try it out! I got Superman in the pack in of course..POC WE and the new Potter. I will be able to directly compare POC WE because I have already watched this in standard DVD. I am expecting the color to be better and of course the picture to be better overall.

A relatively cheap experiment and I can always play an occasional game on the PS3 - if you are buying a bluray player, why wouldn't you get a PS3??

My last comment on this whole subject is that jumping from VHS to DVD was a HUGE difference.... just not sure from the in store demos that the leap from standard dvd (upconverted) to HDM is that great....but in 3 days I can judge this better!

A final thought - the instore (Target) demo comparing standard to Bluray - who are they kidding? I have never ever seen any standard dvd look as bad as they portray on that demo. Turns me off when they have to exaggerate (see lie) to sell the product.

If you have seen the Pirates DVD than the BD will turn your brain into SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean, um, it's very good.

**PFC5** · 12-22-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD_DVD_USA

Try Sat, you get more of a direct signal. It's a big difference.

I tried Voom which was rated to have the best HD PQ, and my cable company's HD channels look better with PQ, but the Voom SQ was better.

Typically if you have a good cable company, the PQ is usually better with cable since they have much wider pipes, so they are less compressed. I have yet to see Sat look as good as my cable company ANYWHERE.

fmw · 12-22-2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamspy

The very worst looking BD or HD DVD will look equal or better than the best thing on HD cable.

I don't know about cable but that isn't my experience with DirecTV.

mshulman · 12-22-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwks1

On the fence on this whole high def dvd nightmare. I have a question. Are these high def dvd's equal to high def movies on satellite or better?

I do notice that high def movies via satellite are 'slightly' better than a regular dvd - if high def dvd's are comparable to HD movies via satellite I really don't see much reason to buy High def DVD's at twice the price of standard dvd - tell me what you think?

I have a 720P Projector at about 92 inches. I had the opportunity to do a very direct comparison with Chronicles of Riddick on Cable and my HD DVD. They are extremely close, but HD DVD lacks the compression artifacts and other imperfections. Some scenes were nearly identical, but ther benefits were obvious in others.

hwks1 · 12-27-2007, 04:24 PM

So I got to watch my first high def dvd (Bluray - Harry Potter). The picture is better than standard dvd - most noticeable in the color. If the price was equal for the movie I would say that HD is the way to go.....BUT at more than twice the price $29 vs $13 on release day....its still pretty hard to justify the extra cost - the gain in picture quality is not $16 - if you know what I mean.

So, I will stay with standard dvd except for the movies like POC, Potter etc. that benefit from HD. When are prices expected to come down on HD discs? They are WAY OVERPRICED for what you get in PQ gain

HD Goofnut · 12-27-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwks1

So I got to watch my first high def dvd (Bluray - Harry Potter). The picture is better than standard dvd - most noticeable in the color. If the price was equal for the movie I would say that HD is the way to go.....BUT at more than twice the price $29 vs $13 on release day....its still pretty hard to justify the extra cost - the gain in picture quality is not $16 - if you know what I mean.

So, I will stay with standard dvd except for the movies like POC, Potter etc. that benefit from HD. When are prices expected to come down on HD discs? They are WAY OVERPRICED for what you get in PQ gain

I have to ask. Where are you paying $13 for a new DVD. Even Wal-Mart's cheapest new release price is $14.97, but is usually around $17 or $18.

hwks1 · 12-27-2007, 04:33 PM

Omaha - Nebraska Furniture Mart....$12.99

**bruceames** · 12-27-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I tried Voom which was rated to have the best HD PQ, and my cable company's HD channels look better with PQ, but the Voom SQ was better.

Typically if you have a good cable company, the PQ is usually better with cable since they have much wider pipes, so they are less compressed. I have yet to see Sat look as good as my cable company ANYWHERE.

Directv just launched a bunch of mpeg4 HD channels, which look much better than the older mpeg2 channels they (still) carry. I doubt that the cable HD channels look better than these.

Lee Stewart · 12-27-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Directv just launched a bunch of mpeg4 HD channels, which look much better than the older mpeg2 channels they (still) carry. I doubt that the cable HD channels look better than these.

Have they gone from HD-Lite to HD with these new channels? I haven't been following this at all.

**bruceames** · 12-27-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwks1

On the fence on this whole high def dvd nightmare. I have a question. Are these high def dvd's equal to high def movies on satellite or better?

I do notice that high def movies via satellite are 'slightly' better than a regular dvd - if high def dvd's are comparable to HD movies via satellite I really don't see much reason to buy High def DVD's at twice the price of standard dvd - tell me what you think?

I've done comparisons with several movies on Directv HD, DVD and HD DVD. For example, on Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Directv HD is only slightly better than the DVD, while the James Bond film From Russia with Love, the difference is more apparent. In none of the cases however was the difference as much as from the jump from Sat HD to HD DVD. Keep in mind that you need a 1080p HDTV to fully appreciate the difference, since Sat HD signals are only 1080i.

**bruceames** · 12-27-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Have they gone from HD-Lite to HD with these new channels? I haven't been following this at all.

Yes, they have, and there is joy among owners of the new boxes and satellite dishes required to receive the new mpeg4 channels.

The mpeg2 channels still remain on the 70s channels, since you do have to get new equipment, but they will be phased out eventually.

HD Goofnut · 12-27-2007, 09:41 PM

Aren't most satellite channels in 720p or 1080i? I was just curious since I have Direct TV HD.

**bruceames** · 12-27-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Aren't most satellite channels in 720p or 1080i? I was just curious since I have Direct TV HD.

Yes. 1080p is only available on HD DVD or Blu-ray (and HD camcorder recordings).

mluntz · 12-27-2007, 11:27 PM

I think it depends on the content more than anything else. Some discs look better than others, and some satellite movies look better than others. Both formats have the capability to look excellent.

Let your eyes be the judge!

**bruceames** · 12-27-2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mluntz

I think it depends on the content more than anything else. Some discs look better than others, and some satellite movies look better than others. Both formats have the capability to look excellent.

Let your eyes be the judge!

Of course content PQ will vary widely within a format, but invariably the PQ comparison of any given title between formats will show that HD/BD is clearly superior to sat/cable. That's what the point of the thread is.

12-27-2007, 04:24 PM	#20
hwks1 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 39	Well high def is nice an all So I got to watch my first high def dvd (Bluray - Harry Potter). The picture is better than standard dvd - most noticeable in the color. If the price was equal for the movie I would say that HD is the way to go.....BUT at more than twice the price $29 vs $13 on release day....its still pretty hard to justify the extra cost - the gain in picture quality is not $16 - if you know what I mean. So, I will stay with standard dvd except for the movies like POC, Potter etc. that benefit from HD. When are prices expected to come down on HD discs? They are WAY OVERPRICED for what you get in PQ gain

12-27-2007, 09:41 PM	#27
HD Goofnut The Official HDF Reviewer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mississippi, U.S.A. Your resident Dune, Star Wars, and war film expert Age: 27 Posts: 6,855	Aren't most satellite channels in 720p or 1080i? I was just curious since I have Direct TV HD. __________________ My Review Setup Sanyo DP46848 46" 1080p LCD Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 DirecTV HR21-100 HD DVR Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 System LG BH200 Super Blu Toshiba HD-A20 Sony 40 GB PS3 (With Netflix Streaming!) 156~206~My Movie Collection Latest Review: *The Day the Earth Stood Still*

12-27-2007, 11:27 PM	#29
mluntz I Want More HD! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 467	I think it depends on the content more than anything else. Some discs look better than others, and some satellite movies look better than others. Both formats have the capability to look excellent. Let your eyes be the judge! __________________ DirecTv Customer since 1995 LG 55LH90 LED TV Onkyo TX-SR606 Reciever Mains- Athena AS-F2's Surrounds- Athena AS-F1's Center- Athena AS-C1.2 Sub- HSU STF-2 Directv/ HD-DVR HR20-700 Directv/ HD-DVR HR22-100 Slimline Dish Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD Channel Master cm4221 OTA Pioneer 300+1 Megachanger Monster Powercenter HTS-3600

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12-27-2007, 04:33 PM	#22
hwks1 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 39	Omaha - Nebraska Furniture Mart....$12.99