Will jumping to Blu Ray be worth it without extra spend?

[admin_exported]

I'm keen to take the plunge and buy a Blu Ray player (Sony BDP S760 at Richer Sounds for £299!) but I'm worried I may not get the full benefit without a new TV, a new AV receiver and new interconnect cables. My TV is a Sony LCD KDL32D3000 so HD Ready (not full HD but still has 24fps and HDMI inputs). My AV receiver is the ARCAM Diva AVR200 which has no HDMI input but does have 5 channel analog inputs.

If I buy the Sony S760 and plug the video using my Monster component cable direct to the TV will I see any improvement in picture quality between a standard DVD and the Blu Ray version of a movie? Will buying and using an HDMI cable for the video signal improve the picture over the component connection? Remember it is only HD ready and only 32 inches.

If I use the coaxial cable I have now to plug the sound feed in, I believe I'll only get standard DD or DTS as the AVR200 won't recognise any newer surround modes. So I guess I have to buy 5 RCA interconnects and rely on the Sony Blu Ray S760 to decode the HD sound feed to 5 channels. But then what happens to the .1 sub channel, do I loose it?

So better vision, better sound or neither? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Current kit:

Sony LCD TV KDL32D3000
ARCAM AV REC Diva AVR200
ARCAM DVD Diva DV78 with Monster Cable component video and Chord Company Codac Silver Plus coaxial
Ruark Templar II fronts, Ruark Dialogue I centre, Boston Acoustics rears, REL Q150 sub

 

[Big Chris]

I'd go for it. At least you know when you do get a new TV or receiver (hopefully in many, many years time). You'll be getting the best out of it.

I'm thinking of getting a 760 in the new year too, and moving my 350 to my bedroom.

 

[6th.replicant]

IME, started with a PS3, a Pana HD Ready (non-1080p/24fps) TV & a non-DTS/Dolby HD AV amp (connected to the PS3 via digital optical) & was reasonably chuffed with the benefits of Blu-Ray.

Then upgraded to a HD amp & a Pio BDP-320 & noticed improved sound but very little change in PQ - in fact, DVDs were much worse.

However, now have a 1080p/24fps TV & I've noticed a startling advance in PQ.

 

[Sorreltiger]

I'd go for it - there is a significant improvement over DVD on my HD ready Pioneer TV. You need 3 pairs of interconnects, so the sub is included too.