Blu-ray player reviews: FAQs
What is Blu-ray?
High-definition Blu-ray DVD players boast pictures that, providing you are watching a high-definition disc, are far superior to standard DVDs.
There were two rival high definition DVD formats: Blu-ray, backed primarily by Sony, and HD-DVD, supported by Toshiba among others. But now that Toshiba has decided to withdraw from the battle and stop producing high-definition disc players, Blu-ray has won the day.
What's the difference between 1080i and 1080p?
HDTV pictures come in two main formats – 1080i and 1080p. The four-digit number tells you how many horizontal lines make up the picture, and the letter shows how it's broadcast. The 'i' means the picture is 'interlaced' and sent to the TV in two sequences, one after another, and the TV meshes them together. Almost all HD broadcasts are in 1080i.
However, most high-definition DVD players use the 1080p format. A 1080p picture is sent in a single sequence making the picture sharper than 1080i – but the difference is very subtle.
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Do I need a new TV to watch Blu-ray?
You won't be able to view Blu-ray in its high-definition glory without an HDTV. Most new HD-ready sets can process a 1080p signal and will work absolutely fine with Blu-ray players. TVs with an 'HD-ready 1080p' logo simply have a higher screen resolution – not a guarantee of a better picture.
Many older HD-ready sets may not do full justice to the quality of Blu-ray playback – a slight juddering effect is not uncommon.
What is HD up-scaling?
Blu-ray players feature a high-definition (HDMI) output for connecting to an HDTV – essential for watching Blu-ray in all it's high-definition glory.
However, many manufacturers claim if you playback a standard DVD in your Blu-ray player when connected via HDMI the picture will be 'up-scaled' or enhanced to give a pseudo HD effect.
Unfortunately this is more marketing hype than anything else and our expert panel have failed to see any improvement upon standard DVD quality when viewed via the regular RGB Scart method.
Are Blu-ray discs more expensive than standard DVDs?
Yes. Blu-ray discs typically retail for £18 each – double what you’d expect to pay for a standard DVD.
What sort of movies are available to buy?
More Blu-ray movies are hitting the shelves all the time – Amazon features about 2,500 titles and HMV has around 1,000. But if you're interested in older classics or hoping to delve round the bargain bin, then choice can be a little thin on the ground.
We found some cinematic favourites on Blu-ray, such as ‘The Searchers’ and Bergman’s classic ‘The Seventh Seal’ but by and large the movies available were newer Hollywood releases.
Can I playback Blu-ray movies on a PS3?
The Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) plays games and Blu-ray discs for the same price as a normal Blu-ray DVD player. In our tests, the picture from HD discs boast good depth and detail and satisfactory motion.
But the same couldn't be said about standard definition discs. Where subtle colour and shading are required, for instance on facial skin tones, our panel spotted blocky, harsh detail. Couple that with some slight smearing and image-lag on motion sequences, and the overall effect was mildly unnatural and disappointing. Same goes for the sound – a less than satisfactory and distracting experience according to our panel.
Usability is also a bit of an issue – not surprising really, as this is a games console that doubles up as Blu-ray player. Having to use a game controller to navigate discs and access menu systems is a less than ideal arrangement. One solution is a special Sony remote control, which can be bought separately for about £18.
Is there any region coding of Blu-ray discs?
Yes, Blu-ray discs use a similar, but not identical, regional coding system to standard DVDs. Region A covers the Americas and Southeast Asia; region B is Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia; and C relates to Central and South Asia and Russia. So if you buy a cheap disc in the States it won't playback on your UK-bought machine.
Film distribution companies developed the region coding system in an attempt to combat global piracy.
Will it work with a surround sound system?
All of the Blu-ray players we've tested feature at least one digital audio (SPDIF) output for connecting to a surround-sound system and virtually all Blu-ray movie discs are recorded in a multi-channel format.
If you intend to use the Blu-ray player with a surround-sound system you’ll need one with a digital output that’s compatible with the surround-sound amplifier input. There are two types of socket, coaxial (wire) and optical (fibre optic) so make sure you get the correct type.
Alternatively many modern surround-sound amplifiers feature HDMI inputs, so it's feasible that the surround-sound signal could be fed directly into the TV via HDMI and from the TV to amplifier via a second HDMI cable. However, not all TVs can route digital audio in this manner.
Can I play CDs in a Blu-ray player?
Yes. Some machines will play other audio discs, too, including DVD-Audio, SA-CD and those containing MP3 files. Some can also read DVDs that contain Jpeg files, such as pictures saved from a digital camera.
Are there any interactive features on Blu-ray discs?
Yes – it’s called BD-J Live or Blu-ray Disc Java (Java is a computer language) and should allow for sophisticated bonus features to be stored on discs. We haven’t seen any BD-J discs yet. Some of the earlier Blu-ray machines may not support BD-J Live.
What are 'Easter eggs'?
Some DVD discs contain hidden 'treats' – known as Easter eggs. Typically, these are behind-the-scenes footage or out-takes from filming. They can be hard to find on the disc, but websites such as eeggs can reveal them.