Re: home theatre system
 

I wouldnt bother about HD or Bluray players/discs. I predict that in the next couple of years, these services will be streamed down the net, or via cable/scatalite services, stopping the need to actully buy discs. Then all you will need is a PVR which will have DRM to stop you form watching a movie more than once, or an Itunes style shop where you you buy the file. I think that Itunes US already has a movie option. So save your money.

As for BluRay players, Sony do one for £300 or there abouts making it cheaper than a PS3.

As stated, for the time being, get an 1080i or p upscalling DVD surround system. A mate has a panasonic one which quite nice.

And to quote Coombest, run the DVD player through compisite connections to the screen than DVI as its better or something.

I still have a 100hz 24" CRT tv, so what do i know?

Re: home theatre system
 

It does not mean much as yet. Yes, at the moment, it looks like the Blueray is the media of the future. But the true thing is that no one knows as yet. I woud hold on if I were you. Do you remeber the Beta videos? They were actually better than the VHS but where are they now?

Re: home theatre system
 

I honestly can't see the point of buying a stand alone HD DVD player in either format yet.

Yes, I have a PS 3, but that is for the games.

The fact that it does Blueray is a bonus, and I certainly dont think that the Blueray editions of movies are worth the 8 to 10 quid extra.

It's horses for courses, if you want a good, compact set-up, an all in one is perfect. I used to have loads of boxes under the TV, but now it's just a PVR, Toshiba DVD all in one and the PS3 which I use for "posh" DVD's as it also upscales them. It may only look a bit better, but I'm getting on a bit and my eyes can't see the difference!

I think on the huge sets, 47 or so inches and above, HD really comes into it's own, but just yet, it's a luxury and with your buget, an all in one that upscales would be ace.

Re: home theatre system
 

wots the difference between blue-ray and hd or are they just the same just different names

Re: home theatre system
 

Dunno the technicalities of how / why - but HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are different formats. a HD-DVD will not play on a Blu-Ray player and vice versa (although I have seen a dual format player for 800GBP). In VCR terms it's like the difference between a BetaMax and VHS.

Re: home theatre system
 

im only 26 i dont remember the beta max only vhs:-D

Re: home theatre system
 

Tsk! Youth of today eh Mike?

Eee, I remember when all we 'ad t'watch were t'radio... etc etc etc

Re: home theatre system
 

techincally theres very little different, one has more capacity, the other is slightly cheaper to make the disks. I think HD DVD has a better menu'ing system.

I've a panasonic upscaling DVD, which is supposed to do 1080p upscaling, but I found weird lines appearing at that, and dropped it to 720p/1080i and it looks similar quality without the lines. Thats on my 50inch plasma, so I can really see the difference when I upscale normal DVD's from 480 (normal tv) to 720p/1080i.

I also bought a Yamaha home cinema system (cost me $400) I wanted a Panasonic, or Sony, But I thought that having more inputs (including 2HDMI, and 1 HDMI output) might come in more useful in the future.

one thing you might not have considered is that apparently you can get the blueray or HD dvd drives for your PC considerablely cheaper than a stand alone player. Might be an option if you already have a Home Media PC.

I'm at work atm, so I don't have all the links to what I bought.

Re: home theatre system
 

I have to step in here. Can I ask if your TV supports 1080P? If not then that is where it goes wrong. 1080P on my TV looks simply stunning and about 10 times better than any DVD. Even upscaling a DVD to 1080P is kind of a farce as you cannot upscale resolution that does not exisit to begin with. DVD's native res is 480P, BluRay and HDDVD native is 1920x1080 (1080P). Anyway, I digress. :rolleyes:

Re: home theatre system
 

Sorry, just wanted to add. If you plan on using your PC to play high def content then your graphics card must be HDCP compliant (as well as your display but if it's an LCD TV that is 'HD Rerady then it will be). A lot of people got caught out with this one. Damn HDCP!!