Bluray a go-go?

[plastic penguin]

Since we've had our new LG TV Christmas before last, I haven't used our Panasonic Bluray player.

The picture is still fantastic and the sound quality through the amp is still impressive - don't even know where the remote control is, seems to have grown legs.

Had this player years, found for me by @bigboss but the streaming services in the TV is so much easier, despite, even through the Dac, the sound isn't quite as as good as a Bluray disc.

 

[Minkey1]

For casual/serious viewing, we’re happy to stream from our “new” LG C3, especially from the Apple TV+ app. HQ audio is passed to the amp via eARC. The BT/EE TV Pro box, not so much now.

But for serious/serious viewing, it has to be our cheap but still trusty 4k Sony UBP X700. I wish it had a display, but that aside….

Have to agree streaming is convenient, there’s that.

 

[DougK1]

Streaming is so easy but if I want good sound I always head for physical media. Only issue I have is I seem to get more than my fair share of dodgy discs if I opt for a series, might be my player but it seems okay with every disc except one random one. Had this with Game of Thrones, Caprica and Battlestar Galactica, never get an issue with films, just series.

 

[plastic penguin]

Have some good Bluray discs, all I have to do is find the darn remote control.

 

[plastic penguin]

Streaming is so easy but if I want good sound I always head for physical media. Only issue I have is I seem to get more than my fair share of dodgy discs if I opt for a series, might be my player but it seems okay with every disc except one random one. Had this with Game of Thrones, Caprica and Battlestar Galactica, never get an issue with films, just series.

Had a few dodgy discs, even from reputable suppliers. Joys of disc spinning.

 

[bigboss]

Have some good Bluray discs, all I have to do is find the darn remote control.

Just buy a replacement remote or a universal remote. You should get one cheap.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

A couple of weekends ago we decided to watch 28 Days Later post-pub. Good job we weren't reliant on streaming for that - though the sting in the tail was that we couldn't find it anywhere. Turns out my brother had borrowed it and forgotten to return. A crime now rectified! Having an awful lot of physical media (and being of a certain age) I doubt I'll ever change.

 

[DCarmi]

I find the other problem with streaming video, is finding something to watch. I have been known to spend ages hunting in various assorted services looking for something watch. Then I start watching something and it is boring or not for the mood I am in and the search process starts again. If someone else sitting with you, it gets even more complicated. Looking at the shelves of DVD/BluRay next to me I can see many hours worth of neglected stuff wanting my attention.

I've got rid of Disney+. Netflix is going soon. I'll keep Prime but only because we use their other services (clever Amazon).

At least with music, everything is in one service, whatever service you subscribe to.

 

[plastic penguin]

I find the other problem with streaming video, is finding something to watch. I have been known to spend ages hunting in various assorted services looking for something watch. Then I start watching something and it is boring or not for the mood I am in and the search process starts again. If someone else sitting with you, it gets even more complicated. Looking at the shelves of DVD/BluRay next to me I can see many hours worth of neglected stuff wanting my attention.

I've got rid of Disney+. Netflix is going soon. I'll keep Prime but only because we use their other services (clever Amazon).

At least with music, everything is in one service, whatever service you subscribe to.

Luckily, our daughter pays for all the streaming channel. If I was to pay I wouldn't have Disney + or Netflix. I would be happy to have just Prime and the freebies channels. I'm not a big film buff.

 

[R2D2]

Have some good Bluray discs, all I have to do is find the darn remote control.

Get the remote on eBay:

Panasonic Blu Ray Player Remote for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Panasonic Blu Ray Player Remote. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[plastic penguin]

Get the remote on eBay:

Panasonic Blu Ray Player Remote for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Panasonic Blu Ray Player Remote. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

Already found the original thanks.

 

[Leon74]

Had this player years, found for me by @bigboss but the streaming services in the TV is so much easier, despite, even through the Dac, the sound isn't quite as as good as a Bluray disc.

Oh no, maybe for a movie streaming is ok, but I experienced too often watching a series and somewhere in the middle the series being removed from the service. After that I cancelled the streaming services I had a subscription to and decided to spend the money on physical media which basically never will disappear as long as I live.
Only Prime Video is left as it comes as part of the general Prime subscription.
People still buy DVD's, so I don't think Blu ray will quickly disappear. For me personally there isn't a big difference between DVD and Blu ray, or better, I don't care much. I simply look at the prices: Sometimes DVD is cheaper, at other times Blu ray is cheaper.

 

[davidf]

And how many times do you think, "oh, I feel like watching that trilogy" (one of the few I don't actually own), search on multiple streaming services only to find that one has part 2 and 3, but the first part it nowhere to be seen...what's the point?!

 

[michael hoy]

For casual viewing i do have Netflix, however a series we started watching, season 2 ended up on Apple TV so had to get a subscription to that just for season 2 (managed a free trial so not too bad). The other seasons then returned to Netflix.
I am fortunate to have 200 TB of storage available and my disks end up being backed up to that storage.
Everything in one place and no external streaming service can screw things up.
So internal streaming only for my serious viewing.

 

[daveh75]

And how many times do you think, "oh, I feel like watching that trilogy" (one of the few I don't actually own), search on multiple streaming services only to find that one has part 2 and 3, but the first part it nowhere to be seen...what's the point?!

Literally never

 

[davidf]

Literally never

Lots. Just the other day, I thought to myself I'll watch all the V/H/S films (5 in all). The three later ones are on Shudder, and Prime has only the second of the first three - why would anyone want to watch just part 2 of a set of six films? Granted, they're not related in the conventional way, but that's beside the point and just one example of the many times I've searched to watch a franchise, only to find none are available, or one isn't available, and it's always the first one, or the second one of five or something. I tried to find another franchise of films that were similar, but none of the ones I searched for were available at all, some only to buy or rent (read that as "rent or rent" )

 

[davidf]

For casual viewing i do have Netflix, however a series we started watching, season 2 ended up on Apple TV so had to get a subscription to that just for season 2 (managed a free trial so not too bad). The other seasons then returned to Netflix.
I am fortunate to have 200 TB of storage available and my disks end up being backed up to that storage.
Everything in one place and no external streaming service can screw things up.
So internal streaming only for my serious viewing.

I'd certainly recommend backing up Icon Distribution releases, as they're the most problematic. I have three that no longer work.

 

[jjbomber]

And how many times do you think,

Literally never

 

[Minkey1]

My two penn’orth:

1. I’m amazed that in a “HiFi” forum, many favour the convenience of streaming over the quality of a physical format such as BD, or 4k BD, and that:
2. They are so entrenched in their views.

That’s the internet I guess🤷🏼

Personally, we enjoy the ease of convenience+quality streams from the likes of Apple TV+, but for overall quality video and audio, not constrained by bandwidth and licensing issues, we prefer 4k BD.

I’m currently building up a core collection on 4k - Heat, 2001, Leon, SPR etc etc. Some good bargains to be had with “watched once” examples if you set up a search. For these core examples, I want to own the physical thing, along with the right to use it in perpetuity.

Each to their own, no ? 🤷🏼

 

[Al ears]

My two penn’orth:

1. I’m amazed that in a “HiFi” forum, many favour the convenience of streaming over the quality of a physical format such as BD, or 4k BD, and that:
2. They are so entrenched in their views.

That’s the internet I guess🤷🏼

Personally, we enjoy the ease of convenience+quality streams from the likes of Apple TV+, but for overall quality video and audio, not constrained by bandwidth and licensing issues, we prefer 4k BD.

I’m currently building up a core collection on 4k - Heat, 2001, Leon, SPR etc etc. Some good bargains to be had with “watched once” examples if you set up a search. For these core examples, I want to own the physical thing, along with the right to use it in perpetuity.

Each to their own, no ? 🤷🏼

Exactly.
Wife is quite happy watching streamed films but I prefer the physical media

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

When we've a box set or comedy series on the go (ATM Battlestar Galactica, Inside No9 and Strange New Worlds), their physical presence reminds me of what we've still to watch. Stuff that's streamed I have to make a conscious effort to remember.

I am aware that this sounds pitiful...

 

[Minkey1]

😂

 

[R2D2]

 

[manicm]

Since we've had our new LG TV Christmas before last, I haven't used our Panasonic Bluray player.

The picture is still fantastic and the sound quality through the amp is still impressive - don't even know where the remote control is, seems to have grown legs.

Had this player years, found for me by @bigboss but the streaming services in the TV is so much easier, despite, even through the Dac, the sound isn't quite as as good as a Bluray disc.

Here was my setup - an LG C1 55" 4K TV, my now 12 year old Cambridge Audio 751BD player. I bought one of Richard Attenborough's BBC discs on 1080p Blu-ray, though they were shot in 4K. And the picture was STUNNING. STUNNING.

Only a 4K stream comes close, albeit with Dolby Vision.

An an unexpected bonus is that the 751 bitstreams Dolby Atmos out! The LG confirmed that on screen for Dune Part 1. I had thoughts of selling it but now it's a keeper.

I'm still not averse to getting a 4k disc player. But my choices are limited to a Reavon UBRX100, and curiously a budget player assembled for our local market/Asia with full Dolby Vision/Atmos on board at a reasonable price. Rumour is it's an unbranded budget Magnetar. Magnetar itself is available, but at the equivalent of 2000GBP for the cheaper model. I'll pass.

 

[manicm]

My two penn’orth:

1. I’m amazed that in a “HiFi” forum, many favour the convenience of streaming over the quality of a physical format such as BD, or 4k BD, and that:
2. They are so entrenched in their views.

That’s the internet I guess🤷🏼

Personally, we enjoy the ease of convenience+quality streams from the likes of Apple TV+, but for overall quality video and audio, not constrained by bandwidth and licensing issues, we prefer 4k BD.

I’m currently building up a core collection on 4k - Heat, 2001, Leon, SPR etc etc. Some good bargains to be had with “watched once” examples if you set up a search. For these core examples, I want to own the physical thing, along with the right to use it in perpetuity.

Each to their own, no ? 🤷🏼

I think you're generalising a bit. Firstly, 4k discs are a niche market let alone players. Disc prices are still at a big premium compared to 1080p Blu-ray. Dune Part 2 in 4K is priced at GBP25. The 1080p disc is GBP15.

Secondly there's a dearth of 4k disc players as well in markets such as mine. Brand new I'm limited to 3 models - 2 of which are the Magnetars which are priced here only for very deep pockets.

Thirdly, as a collector, some discs are just plain cr@p. CR@P. The Blue, Red and White trilogy has just been launched on 4k for the first time. I'd really like to know what it's like, since the Blu-ray set I bought 12 years ago was an atrocity. They've re-released the Blu-ray version too - but no-one is telling from which master.

Fourth, if one puts aside the risk of deletion on streaming, for 99% of content you're not going to miss anything really for 1080p, I've come to reluctantly realise. If anything the quality may actually be a bit better. That said I won't take a chance with Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films. I intend to buy the entire collection.

The AV market is more complicated than pure audio. Best not to judge viewing habits.