Playing Blu-Ray

chris18 · 03-03-2008, 13:25

Have just seen a Blu-Ray demo at Bennetts Electrical, very impressive.

Now that Blu-Ray seems set to be the next generation of DVD was wondering if, apart from a Blu-Ray player of course, I need anything else, to play it through my Panasonic Panasonic TX-32LXD52 TV.

Would I need any special cables?

Also, seen a number of threads about region free but most seem to concentrate on the discs themselves. Was wondering if it's possible to buy a region free Blu-Ray player or would it be best to wait until prices come down and there is more slection?

Thanks

gamercraig · 03-03-2008, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris18

Have just seen a Blu-Ray demo at Bennetts Electrical, very impressive.

Now that Blu-Ray seems set to be the next generation of DVD was wondering if, apart from a Blu-Ray player of course, I need anything else, to play it through my Panasonic Panasonic TX-32LXD52 TV.

Would I need any special cables?

Also, seen a number of threads about region free but most seem to concentrate on the discs themselves. Was wondering if it's possible to buy a region free Blu-Ray player or would it be best to wait until prices come down and there is more slection?

Thanks

It should come with a HDMI lead, but if not you will need that for the best picture quality.

Some discs are region-free, the american site www.movietyme.com have a selection of these. I have bought a few from there and their prices are good.

03-03-2008, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris18

Have just seen a Blu-Ray demo at Bennetts Electrical, very impressive.

Now that Blu-Ray seems set to be the next generation of DVD was wondering if, apart from a Blu-Ray player of course, I need anything else, to play it through my Panasonic Panasonic TX-32LXD52 TV.

Would I need any special cables?

Also, seen a number of threads about region free but most seem to concentrate on the discs themselves. Was wondering if it's possible to buy a region free Blu-Ray player or would it be best to wait until prices come down and there is more slection?

Thanks

All that is needed is HDMI cable and some BD titles. The HDMI cable will provide the video/audio for the TV.

If you want to take advantage of the DD5.1/DTS soundtracks and the new HD audio formats, you would need a compatible surround sound system. Personally speaking BD is not complete unless you have a system capable of 5.1/7.1 surround sound.

A European BD player is fixed to R2, this is for SD DVD and BD, but there are BD titles that are region free and play in a R2 player.

chris18 · 03-03-2008, 15:40

Thanks for the replies. I have an HDMI connector on the TV and a 5.1/7.1 surround sound.

What are your views on whether to buy a player now, if so any recommendations, or wait.

Thanks

paulyoung666 · 03-03-2008, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris18

Thanks for the replies. I have an HDMI connector on the TV and a 5.1/7.1 surround sound.

What are your views on whether to buy a player now, if so any recommendations, or wait.

Thanks

buy a playstation 3

03-03-2008, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris18

Thanks for the replies. I have an HDMI connector on the TV and a 5.1/7.1 surround sound.

What are your views on whether to buy a player now, if so any recommendations, or wait.

Thanks

If I may I will point to you the thread in the HDTV Displays and Technologies forum as everything is very well explained by Jarrak.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=755857

Personally I have the PS3, this is a very good player regardless of it's game play abilities, the main advantage is it can be updated via software updates so has some future proofing built in.

atvmidlands · 03-03-2008, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyW

If I may I will point to you the thread in the HDTV Displays and Technologies forum as everything is very well explained by Jarrak.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=755857

Personally I have the PS3, this is a very good player regardless of it's game play abilities, the main advantage is it can be updated via software updates so has some future proofing built in.

PS3 is good but unlikely to ever play R1 dvd's

Demon_Knight · 04-03-2008, 14:40

Are European Blu-Ray discs played at 25 frames per second or are all movies the same across the world?

willowfan · 04-03-2008, 14:50

I'm no technician/expert but I was under the impression that as far as HD goes there is no equivelent of PAL/NTSC and all discs are the same format regardless of there country of origin/intended market.

CLL Dodge · 04-03-2008, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demon_Knight

Are European Blu-Ray discs played at 25 frames per second or are all movies the same across the world?

24 fps is standard, I believe.

No more PAL speed-up or NTSC judder.

Trajet · 04-03-2008, 16:38

Can the PS3 download TV from the internet like 4oD or BBC iPlayer or stream ITV's catchup and more importantly can it download HD films from the internet for viewing on my HD TV?

simon69c · 04-03-2008, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trajet

Can the PS3 download TV from the internet like 4oD or BBC iPlayer or stream ITV's catchup and more importantly can it download HD films from the internet for viewing on my HD TV?

Not currently - but I believe an HD film service (like the Xbox 360's / AppleTV) is in the works. Also the PlayTV accessory is due out soonish that turns the PS3 into a Freeview PVR.

However if you happen to have films and/or tv shows from "other sources" on your computer then you can set up the computer (using for example TVersity) to stream those to the PS3.

guitardave · 04-03-2008, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBDodge

24 fps is standard, I believe.

No more PAL speed-up or NTSC judder.

If you don't have a HDTV that's 24fps compatible then you will get judder with blu-rays.

Dave

Ash_735 · 04-03-2008, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitardave

If you don't have a HDTV that's 24fps compatible then you will get judder with blu-rays.

Dave

But on the actual Blu-ray discs, there is no PAL or NTSC, just a 1920x1080 Progressive Video file which plays at 24fps. It's the Blu-ray player that will convert if your TV can't handle it.

guitardave · 04-03-2008, 18:33

I'm just commenting on personal experience - my last tv was a Toshiba 37wlt66, and fed with a blu ray from the PS3, the picture would judder. On my new Toshiba 42z3030 however, there is no judder because the telly has some fancy gadgetry that stops it.

Dave

Jarrak · 04-03-2008, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitardave

I'm just commenting on personal experience - my last tv was a Toshiba 37wlt66, and fed with a blu ray from the PS3, the picture would judder. On my new Toshiba 42z3030 however, there is no judder because the telly has some fancy gadgetry that stops it.

Dave

Yep, if the TV can not accept 1080/24 then the player will convert the disk content to what ever you choose, probably 1080i/30. If the TV does accept 1080p/24 and processes it in multiples there of you eliminate the frame rate conversion which is causing the "judder".

04-03-2008, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitardave

I'm just commenting on personal experience - my last tv was a Toshiba 37wlt66, and fed with a blu ray from the PS3, the picture would judder. On my new Toshiba 42z3030 however, there is no judder because the telly has some fancy gadgetry that stops it.

Dave

I think you'll find the Toshiba 42z3030 can handle 24fps.

guitardave · 04-03-2008, 19:07

Yeah, that's what I was saying - the 42z3030 has no judder at all, and that's part of the reason that I love it!

Dave

atvmidlands · 04-03-2008, 21:34

And the PS3 has a setting option to choose 24fps if required.

So if you dont have compatible tv the PS3 will default to 25fps.

I believe all HD DVD and BD players all have this option.

So if you had judder the player was not setup correctly.

Fat lot of good any player would be if it had problems playing movies on some tv's

Jarrak · 04-03-2008, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by atvmidlands

And the PS3 has a setting option to choose 24fps if required.

So if you dont have compatible tv the PS3 will default to 25fps.

That's interesting, I didn't know that UK PS3's were capable of 1080p/25 output and would like everything else convert to 1080i/p 30 if the TV didn't expect a 24hz native source.

simon69c · 04-03-2008, 23:18

They default to 1080p60 if the TV can't handle 1080p24.

Jarrak · 04-03-2008, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon69c

They default to 1080p60 if the TV can't handle 1080p24.

Yep that's what I thought would be happening just as HD DVD and standalone Blu-ray players do which is fine since every HD Ready TV accepts that signal and it was standard for flat panels before HD Ready came about.

I always grateful that I don't really see much judder or perhaps being a R1 viewer for so long I'm just more accustomed to it

03-03-2008, 13:25	#1
chris18 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: West Bergholt,Colchester,Essex Posts: 74	Playing Blu-Ray Have just seen a Blu-Ray demo at Bennetts Electrical, very impressive. Now that Blu-Ray seems set to be the next generation of DVD was wondering if, apart from a Blu-Ray player of course, I need anything else, to play it through my Panasonic Panasonic TX-32LXD52 TV. Would I need any special cables? Also, seen a number of threads about region free but most seem to concentrate on the discs themselves. Was wondering if it's possible to buy a region free Blu-Ray player or would it be best to wait until prices come down and there is more slection? Thanks

04-03-2008, 16:38	#11
Trajet Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 897	Question re PS3 Can the PS3 download TV from the internet like 4oD or BBC iPlayer or stream ITV's catchup and more importantly can it download HD films from the internet for viewing on my HD TV?

03-03-2008, 13:49	#2
gamercraig Inactive Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,874	Quote: Originally Posted by chris18 Have just seen a Blu-Ray demo at Bennetts Electrical, very impressive. Now that Blu-Ray seems set to be the next generation of DVD was wondering if, apart from a Blu-Ray player of course, I need anything else, to play it through my Panasonic Panasonic TX-32LXD52 TV. Would I need any special cables? Also, seen a number of threads about region free but most seem to concentrate on the discs themselves. Was wondering if it's possible to buy a region free Blu-Ray player or would it be best to wait until prices come down and there is more slection? Thanks It should come with a HDMI lead, but if not you will need that for the best picture quality. Some discs are region-free, the american site www.movietyme.com have a selection of these. I have bought a few from there and their prices are good.

03-03-2008, 13:54	#3
TommyW Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by chris18 Have just seen a Blu-Ray demo at Bennetts Electrical, very impressive. Now that Blu-Ray seems set to be the next generation of DVD was wondering if, apart from a Blu-Ray player of course, I need anything else, to play it through my Panasonic Panasonic TX-32LXD52 TV. Would I need any special cables? Also, seen a number of threads about region free but most seem to concentrate on the discs themselves. Was wondering if it's possible to buy a region free Blu-Ray player or would it be best to wait until prices come down and there is more slection? Thanks All that is needed is HDMI cable and some BD titles. The HDMI cable will provide the video/audio for the TV. If you want to take advantage of the DD5.1/DTS soundtracks and the new HD audio formats, you would need a compatible surround sound system. Personally speaking BD is not complete unless you have a system capable of 5.1/7.1 surround sound. A European BD player is fixed to R2, this is for SD DVD and BD, but there are BD titles that are region free and play in a R2 player.

03-03-2008, 15:40	#4
chris18 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: West Bergholt,Colchester,Essex Posts: 74	Thanks for the replies. I have an HDMI connector on the TV and a 5.1/7.1 surround sound. What are your views on whether to buy a player now, if so any recommendations, or wait. Thanks

03-03-2008, 15:53	#5
paulyoung666 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 8,151	Quote: Originally Posted by chris18 Thanks for the replies. I have an HDMI connector on the TV and a 5.1/7.1 surround sound. What are your views on whether to buy a player now, if so any recommendations, or wait. Thanks buy a playstation 3

03-03-2008, 15:56	#6
TommyW Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by chris18 Thanks for the replies. I have an HDMI connector on the TV and a 5.1/7.1 surround sound. What are your views on whether to buy a player now, if so any recommendations, or wait. Thanks If I may I will point to you the thread in the HDTV Displays and Technologies forum as everything is very well explained by Jarrak. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=755857 Personally I have the PS3, this is a very good player regardless of it's game play abilities, the main advantage is it can be updated via software updates so has some future proofing built in.

03-03-2008, 21:27	#7
atvmidlands Banned User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 1,274	Quote: Originally Posted by TommyW If I may I will point to you the thread in the HDTV Displays and Technologies forum as everything is very well explained by Jarrak. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=755857 Personally I have the PS3, this is a very good player regardless of it's game play abilities, the main advantage is it can be updated via software updates so has some future proofing built in. PS3 is good but unlikely to ever play R1 dvd's

04-03-2008, 14:40	#8
Demon_Knight Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 538	Are European Blu-Ray discs played at 25 frames per second or are all movies the same across the world?

04-03-2008, 14:50	#9
willowfan Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Anywhere but here Posts: 2,339	I'm no technician/expert but I was under the impression that as far as HD goes there is no equivelent of PAL/NTSC and all discs are the same format regardless of there country of origin/intended market.

04-03-2008, 15:06	#10
CLL Dodge Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Green Hills of Earth Posts: 80,448	Quote: Originally Posted by Demon_Knight Are European Blu-Ray discs played at 25 frames per second or are all movies the same across the world? 24 fps is standard, I believe. No more PAL speed-up or NTSC judder.

04-03-2008, 17:35	#12
simon69c Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,415	Quote: Originally Posted by Trajet Can the PS3 download TV from the internet like 4oD or BBC iPlayer or stream ITV's catchup and more importantly can it download HD films from the internet for viewing on my HD TV? Not currently - but I believe an HD film service (like the Xbox 360's / AppleTV) is in the works. Also the PlayTV accessory is due out soonish that turns the PS3 into a Freeview PVR. However if you happen to have films and/or tv shows from "other sources" on your computer then you can set up the computer (using for example TVersity) to stream those to the PS3.

04-03-2008, 17:57	#13
guitardave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 555	Quote: Originally Posted by BBDodge 24 fps is standard, I believe. No more PAL speed-up or NTSC judder. If you don't have a HDTV that's 24fps compatible then you will get judder with blu-rays. Dave

04-03-2008, 18:21	#14
Ash_735 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,249	Quote: Originally Posted by guitardave If you don't have a HDTV that's 24fps compatible then you will get judder with blu-rays. Dave But on the actual Blu-ray discs, there is no PAL or NTSC, just a 1920x1080 Progressive Video file which plays at 24fps. It's the Blu-ray player that will convert if your TV can't handle it.

04-03-2008, 18:33	#15
guitardave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 555	I'm just commenting on personal experience - my last tv was a Toshiba 37wlt66, and fed with a blu ray from the PS3, the picture would judder. On my new Toshiba 42z3030 however, there is no judder because the telly has some fancy gadgetry that stops it. Dave

04-03-2008, 18:47	#16
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Quote: Originally Posted by guitardave I'm just commenting on personal experience - my last tv was a Toshiba 37wlt66, and fed with a blu ray from the PS3, the picture would judder. On my new Toshiba 42z3030 however, there is no judder because the telly has some fancy gadgetry that stops it. Dave Yep, if the TV can not accept 1080/24 then the player will convert the disk content to what ever you choose, probably 1080i/30. If the TV does accept 1080p/24 and processes it in multiples there of you eliminate the frame rate conversion which is causing the "judder".

04-03-2008, 19:07	#18
guitardave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 555	Yeah, that's what I was saying - the 42z3030 has no judder at all, and that's part of the reason that I love it! Dave

04-03-2008, 21:34	#19
atvmidlands Banned User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bedfordshire Posts: 1,274	And the PS3 has a setting option to choose 24fps if required. So if you dont have compatible tv the PS3 will default to 25fps. I believe all HD DVD and BD players all have this option. So if you had judder the player was not setup correctly. Fat lot of good any player would be if it had problems playing movies on some tv's

04-03-2008, 22:48	#20
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Quote: Originally Posted by atvmidlands And the PS3 has a setting option to choose 24fps if required. So if you dont have compatible tv the PS3 will default to 25fps. That's interesting, I didn't know that UK PS3's were capable of 1080p/25 output and would like everything else convert to 1080i/p 30 if the TV didn't expect a 24hz native source.

04-03-2008, 23:18	#21
simon69c Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,415	They default to 1080p60 if the TV can't handle 1080p24.

04-03-2008, 23:35	#22
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Quote: Originally Posted by simon69c They default to 1080p60 if the TV can't handle 1080p24. Yep that's what I thought would be happening just as HD DVD and standalone Blu-ray players do which is fine since every HD Ready TV accepts that signal and it was standard for flat panels before HD Ready came about. I always grateful that I don't really see much judder or perhaps being a R1 viewer for so long I'm just more accustomed to it

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Playing Blu-Ray