Opinions on blu-ray vs upconverting with 1080i

Options
Rivrrat
Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
edited May 2008 in Electronics
Like a lot of people, We bought our plasma when life was all about 1080i. When we built our HT we went with an Oppo 981 upconverter, while waiting for the HD wars to end.

Now that the've settled, I'm trying to figure out is it really worth buying a blu ray player with only having 1080i capability, and broadcast staying at 720p for the forseeable future. (and no, upgrading is not going to happen anytime soon).

Will I even notice a cifference?
My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
Post edited by Rivrrat on
· Share on Facebook

Comments

  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited May 2008
    Options
    I would not do it, yet. I went with HD-DVD, and also have a 1080i. There are a few movies where the difference with upconverting can be noticeable, but at least for me, the upconverting I get with the Toshiba A35 is good enough (better than my OPPO BTW).
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
    · Share on Facebook
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited May 2008
    Options
    My Cambridge Audio 540D v2 upconverts to 1080i, which I input to my 1080p Sony XBR5 LCD. See my thoughts here:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66142
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on Facebook
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
    Options
    Oh yes. I can tell a big difference between BluRay and upconverted DVD on my 720p DLP. BUT---one caveat, like anything else it depends on how well the movie was transferred/engineered. Having said that, even the poorest transfers look better to me than the SDVD version.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on Facebook
  • PhantomOG
    PhantomOG Posts: 2,409
    edited May 2008
    Options
    Do you buy SD-DVD's or not? That would be the biggest question to me. I'm assuming someday you will buy a 1080p tv. Will you regret buying a bunch of SD-DVD's in the mean time? If you don't buy a bunch of media, what's the hurry right? But if you do purchase alot, then it might be better to bite the bullet now.
    · Share on Facebook
  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited May 2008
    Options
    Also, don't forget that HD disks also have lossless audio tracks that greatly improve on the sound quality vs. sdvd. And, they are beginning to do quality remasters of the video of certain disks so that even the source material is better than the ones they use for dvd. Patton and 2001 are catalog titles where even with quality upconverting, the old dvds just can't compare well.
    · Share on Facebook
  • Imperitor
    Imperitor Posts: 235
    edited May 2008
    Options
    phantom and cheddar make great points. It might be worth upgrading for the future and lossless audio alone. As for a picture quality difference, I would say it all depends on how big your TV is and how far away you sit. If you have a big TV and sit really close you will notice a huge difference.
    7.1 HOME THEATER:
    Center: CSi3
    Front: RTi10
    Surround: RTi A3
    Rear Surround: RTi4
    Subwoofer: Mirage Omni S10
    TV: Sharp Aquos 42" 1080p LCD
    Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR805
    Blu-Ray Player / CD Player / DVD Player / Media Server / Game Console / Best money I've ever spent: 60GB PS3
    · Share on Facebook
  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited May 2008
    Options
    what size is your tv river? if larger than 42", get a ps3.

    POLK SDA-SRS 1.2TL -- ADCOM GFA-5802
    PANASONIC PT-AE4000U -- DIY WILSONART DW 135" 2.35:1 SCREEN
     ONKYO TX-SR805
    CENTER: CSI5
    MAINS: RTI8'S
    SURROUNDS: RTI8'S
    7.1 SURROUNDS: RTI6'S
    SUB: SVS PB12-PLUS/2 (12.3 series)
    XBOX 360    WiiPS3/blu-rayTOSHIBA HD-A35 hd dvd

    http://polkarmy.com/forums/index.php
    bobman1235 wrote:
    I have no facts to back that up, but I never let facts get in the way of my arguments.
    · Share on Facebook
  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited May 2008
    Options
    BIZILL wrote: »
    what size is your tv river? if larger than 42", get a ps3.

    It's a 50" Philips.

    Interesting points made here. Things that make you go Hmmmmm.

    The ps3 thing is a good idea. Too bad my wife wants a Wii for the Wii fitness program.
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
    · Share on Facebook
  • olilugo
    olilugo Posts: 405
    edited May 2008
    Options
    I had the same experience as kdg999. I purchansed a panasonic dvd upconvert player and I compared The 300 moview on a HD player and while I can see a bit more picture I would agree that I rather pay for a 99$ player than a 400$ player. I think there will be movies that will look that great on a HD or BR but I think today the price is not there for me to justtify the expense. Please note "FOR ME"...
    Current HT setup
    Mains: B&W 804s
    Center: Polk CSi5
    Surround: Polk FXi3
    Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
    Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
    Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
    TV: Sony KDS60A2020
    DBP: Sony DBP-S350
    CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
    Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
    speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire
    · Share on Facebook
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,637
    edited May 2008
    Options
    Get a Blu Ray player and don't look back. Blu ray looks fantastic in 1080i. Allday everyday. Just do it.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on Facebook
  • Ethancf
    Ethancf Posts: 479
    edited May 2008
    Options
    Be sure to get a PS3. You get the benefit of Bluray, and it plays games.

    I hope FrankZ reads this. LOL!
    THE SYSTEM
    Polk Audio LSiM 707 Mains
    Polk LSiM 702 f/x Surrounds
    Polk Audio LSiM 706 C Center
    SVS SB-17 Ultra Subwoofer
    Rotel RSP-1582 Pre/Pro
    Rotel RMB 1585 Amplifier
    Oppo UDP-205 Blu-ray Player
    Samsung PN64D550 64" Plasma
    · Share on Facebook
  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited May 2008
    Options
    mantis wrote: »
    Get a Blu Ray player and don't look back. Blu ray looks fantastic in 1080i. Allday everyday. Just do it.


    I agree...

    I have a 32'' 720p Westing House LCD. Not the best by any means. I bought a Toshiba HD-A2 and a Oppo 980H at about the same time. After I realized the Oppo was just as good or better upconverting. I sold the Toshiba and kept the Oppo.

    Well..... That was about six months ago. Since the format war has calmed down and it looks like blue ray will prevail. I bought a used Sony BDP 300S off A-gon to see if there was a difference between it and my Oppo

    There was!!

    I don't know exactly why... Maybe the Sony is just better than the Toshiba I had.. Or maybe blu Ray is better than HD DVD... I dunno.... But the Sony is stellar. There is a very noticeable difference between the Oppo and the Sony BRP. I have since sold the Oppo and kept the Sony.

    So I would give it a try.. You might be surprised...

    Nick
    · Share on Facebook
  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited May 2008
    Options
    An excellent SD transfer can upconvert to 1080i and 1080p and be pretty close to BD except in color depth and micro detail. An average transfer won't be close. That being said, I don't much care if some movies are BD. Chick flicks and dramas are just fine upconverted. I save my BD purchases and rentals for movies I know will be eye and ear poppers. If you compare the last Harry Potter, the SD is unwatchable in comparison.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
    · Share on Facebook
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited May 2008
    Options
    in my case (14' away from a 50 inch screen you could tell the difference with it (sd to hd-dvd) if you looked for it. The audio was very good as well (converted to dts via the A2).

    not worth the upgrade price to me though. (any larger or closer and it would be though)

    I have not upgraded to blue ray yet but will when the price drops under $200 for a decent player. I still purchase SD DVD's but typically used from the rental store and under $7.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on Facebook
  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited May 2008
    Options
    There are several BD and SD comparison threads in the Blu-ray software forum over at AVS.
    Here a link for the one that a guy named Xylon did for Enchanted.

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1010547&highlight=enchanted

    There are several threads like this one over there just look for the threads started by Xylon, he also did alot of comparisons in the HD DVD software forum that will give some idea of the differeance in SD and HD media.
    Casey
    H/T: Epson 6500ub
    Sony UBP-X800
    Toshiba HD-XA2 (HD-DVD, CD)
    Onkyo 805 (pre-amp)
    Outlaw 7125
    Polk RTi 10 (bi-amped)
    Polk CSi5 (bi-amped)
    Polk RTi6
    SVS PB 12 plus/2
    Velodyne SMS-1

    TV Rig: Samsung 50'' 4k display
    Polk Signa-1 Surround bar
    · Share on Facebook