Re: worth going Blu ?
 

I think the Panasonic players are good. You can get a BD60 for $130 or a BD80 for $182 at Amazon now (I'm not clear on the differences). Either of those will allow you to update the firmware online.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

I am heading out Black Friday.

I am getting the Samsung BD-P1600-A $149.99, or if they are all gone, the Sony BDPS360 also $149.99

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Not sure where you are located, but Fry's has the S360 + 2 Blu-rays for $138.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

NJ

no Fry's here

I see the S360 on thier website for $189.99

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

In-store the price is different. It's been $138 + 2 free titles for a few weeks now where I am. Oh well.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

adding my 2 cents late, as someone who only recently went blu...

it's not the size of the TV or the resolution (I'm also on a 37" screen and only play stuff in 720p, though I could do 1080i it looks better proscan)
I find what it's about is the brightness and color depth. colorbanding on upconverted stuff was starting to get on my nerves.

also, get a player with Netflix streaming capability!! That is the single coolest tv-related invention since DVDs themselves. That added ability may also help you justify buying in to Blu, considering a Roku box for Netflix alone would be around $100.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Second this. I was a slow convert to Netflix, but now think that streaming is the best thing since the toaster.

And back to the main question, I'd also say to go for it. With all the crazy deals out there, you can often get the blu-rays for cheaper than the DVDs. and you'll probably have a bigger TV someday, right?

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

my main problem is that my receiver is SO old, it doesn't have optical inputs, let alone HDMI. So most of the BR players out there won't work - I would either need to get a new receiver, or get a higher end BR player with analog outputs.

I tend to buy high-end stuff that last for decades. My receiver is over 10 years old, so I guess it's time. I have my heart set on the OPPO BR player actually.

But either way, we are talking hundreds of dollars that I don't have right now.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

If you buy a high-end player with analog outs, then the PLAYER can handle the audio conversion and pass it right onto your reciever, with no need to upgrade it.

A "high-end" BD player is only in the range of $200 so that isn't a crazy amount of money. Ask some of the earliest BD adopters how much they paid for their now-obsolete decks to make yourself feel better about this price.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Do you have digital coaxial inputs? You can get an optical-to-coaxial converter from Monoprice.com for $11.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Do Sony dvd remotes work with Sony blu-ray players? I asked that question in the Home gear forum and didn't get one response. I find it hard to believe that no one that read the thread had a Sony dvd remote and a Sony Blu-ray player.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Still wouldn't help him hear lossless audio from Blu-ray Discs....

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

That's true, but at least he could have some kind of audio. My receiver only has a coax digital and an optical input. I don't get lossless, but at least I was able to upgrade to blu. Someone who doesn't have an optical input on their receiver is out of luck in getting blu period, unless they wanted to spend the money (which more than likely they can't). I'm fine with my optical input. The only thing that bums me out, is that there isn't a coax digital output. Since my TV only does component, and only has one input, I was hoping to eventually get the video selector from monoprice that has a remote (I know it's not much, but I'm practically broke, right now until my wife finds a stable job). It has digital coax inputs, which would be great to hook up my digital set-top box, blu-ray player, and my PC (which has a coax digital out). But since the blu-ray player doesn't have a coax digital out, I can't do that. But oh well. I can still run all the audio separately to my receiver with no problem.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

wow! Can you recommend a good BR player w/analog outputs?

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

:confused:
How exactly does not having an optical input on someone's receiver prevent them from getting Blu-ray?
You can always just hook up the player via the red & white stereo RCA outputs, either to the TV directly or to the receiver, and just have the player downmix the audio....that would give you "some kind of audio"....

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Likely that he has his DVD player connected to his receiver with 5.1 analog outs. If he goes to BD, not only won't he be able to use the new losless audio, but his 5.1 goes by the wayside as well. I can totally understand not going that direction.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

I can't say that I know off hand, I am not such an expert on every BD model, but I am sure one of our BD-geniuses here can recommend something.
I know players are available in that price range because I do not have an HDMI capable receiver, so I was looking for one to use with my receiver which has 5.1 analogs.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

folks, not be arrogant here, but I have been living with 5.1 audio for 10 years. moving 'up' to blue and going 'down' to red/white stereo is not an option for me. That just doesn't make sense to me.

I appreciate all the advice, but I need to find an affordable solution that will allow me to take advantage of the better PQ and AQ.

it looks like getting a BR player with analog outputs is probably the way to go..

Thanks..

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

GO BLU!!

Despite the TV this year will be good as any for several reasons to go BLU. I forsee good deals across the board for players as retailers will advertise excellent deals to get product, especially electronics, out the door.

But even better there are some price wars coming with DVD and BD between major players like Walmart and Amazon so get ready and jump in. Down the road after getting a new and better set you'll be happy for the investment now with the $$$$ saved.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

I have a very similar situation for my smaller bedroom HDTV, and opted to go with a 2nd Blu-ray player for it. I just purchased the Panasonic DMP BD60 at Amazon for it, and am happy with my decision. I am back about 10 feet from the screen in my bed, but I still see a much improved picture and color quality.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Just doing a search at Amazon for panasonic players I came across the panasonic dmp-bd80. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-...8824941&sr=1-1
I have trusted Panasonic products since the mid to late eighties. So when I went Blu it was only by nature I went with them. This model has 7.1 analog outputs. I don't think Panasonic has put out a 5.1 analog player since the dmp-bd50.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

So, 6th Avenue put the Samsung BD-P1600 on sale today, to the same price Best Buy was going to sell it for on Black Friday.

So, I went to BB, ad in hand, to have them price-match, and they already thought of that and had it for sale at their Black Friday price.

I could not wait until XMas morning to check it out, so I hooked it up tonight.

I am
speechless

Star Trek (2009), my only Blu-ray, looks way better than anything I have ever seen on my HDTV

wow

I was hoping it would look good, but holy crap! Blu-ray looks better than any HD channel.

(And yes, the Olevia 337h accepts 1080p output from a Blu-ray player.)

The only bad part is that I have to wrap it up and wait for "Santa to bring it"
(It would be hard to explain to my daughters why Daddy got a present Thanksgiving week.)

How am I ever going to watch a DVD again ?????

I am really glad I made the move to Blu-ray.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

To the poster above: there is no turning back now.

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Haha you're hooked!

Re: worth going Blu ?
 

Just don't be to quick to throw out or let your current DVD's gather dust. While not 1080p most players do a pretty darn good job of upconverting. My normal King Kong DVD just looks stunning. With Black Friday you can bet there will be some great BD deal so get ready.......and yea, you're hooked so don't fight it....enjoy it.