Blu-rays/Home Theater

**tommythecat** · 08-03-2011, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Hey, man--ur sposed to go to ur friend's house and watch it on HBO to preview!

Lol...if only it were that easy!

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-03-2011, 10:16 AM

Yeah, well, last I checked they still publish reviews of music and movies if the HBO/Showtime thing doesn't work...

**tommythecat** · 08-03-2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Yeah, well, last I checked they still publish reviews of music and movies if the HBO/Showtime thing doesn't work...

I have been burned far too many times just reading reviews. Even when I find someone with similar tastes it ends up happening. It even happens when it is an artist I already liked previously. HBO/Showtime doesn't work for newer movies and not at all for music.

**Pagani Zonda R** · 08-03-2011, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Ok, here's a slightly off-topic question. If I'm watching FiOS I usually have the volume at about 15-20 (out of 100). If I'm watching a disc, and it doesn't seem to matter if it's Blu-Ray or DVD, or if it's on my stand-alone player or my (sort of) cheapo Home Theater player (different brands) which are both connected by HDMI--I generally have to turn the volume up to 100 and that's frequently not even loud enough. If I were to turn it up that loud on the cable I'd be like the guy on the Maxell commercial. I just don't get why the audio level seems to be so low from the disc players.

Hi Setec Astronomy,

Let's see, you are watching cable (FIOS) and the sound is good (sound coming out of your TV or from your home theater?

When you watch a movie from a player, the sound is low and you need to crank it up at max, the same sound from your TV or from the system?

Most of the time, when you watch a movie via a home theater system, the sound will come out from the speakers of your system, not from your TV (so 20 or 100 are not relevant). You can plug it so the sound would come from the TV and the system but you need a real "amp" to do it. But it defies the 5.1 idea.

Also, Blu-ray movies are encoded (in part) in 5.1 DTS-HD, if your reader is not able to decode it properly, you could encounter a "sound loss", being quality or power.

Could you explain a bit more your situation? Sound can come via HDMI but a good optical cable (Toslink) will help you to get a 5.1 sound.

**Tyrod** · 08-03-2011, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Pagani Zonda R

Hi Setec Astronomy,

Let's see, you are watching cable (FIOS) and the sound is good (sound coming out of your TV or from your home theater?

When you watch a movie from a player, the sound is low and you need to crank it up at max, the same sound from your TV or from the system?

Most of the time, when you watch a movie via a home theater system, the sound will come out from the speakers of your system, not from your TV (so 20 or 100 are not relevant). You can plug it so the sound would come from the TV and the system but you need a real "amp" to do it. But it defies the 5.1 idea.

Also, Blu-ray movies are encoded (in part) in 5.1 DTS-HD, if your reader is not able to decode it properly, you could encounter a "sound loss", being quality or power.

Could you explain a bit more your situation? Sound can come via HDMI but a good optical cable (Toslink) will help you to get a 5.1 sound.

HMDI is far superior to Toslink in quality. Toslink doesn't even begin to have the bandwidth necessary to carry HiDef audio (Dolby TruHD, DTS-HD Master Audio). Not to mention that HMDI supports 7.1+ audio and Toslink only goes as high as 5.1.

To the OP. Some BluRay/DVD players have an internal audio adjustment. Not all, but some. Check your player setup for some kinda audio volume adjustment. Failing that, look at the remote for the player to see if there is some kinda audio adjustment there specific to the player.

**flyinion** · 08-03-2011, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by slickooz

Is there any blu-rays fans here? I use to go on Blu-ray.com a lot but been so busy lately I haven't posted there a year.

I got about 100 blu-rays movies and pop in a movie when I'm not working at Lexus or detailing on the side.

I got a 55 inch LCD with a 5.1 system, Polk's M60, M40 and CS2.

Any other hardcore movie/home theater lovers here?

Yep big time blu-ray fan here. I can't stand to watched streamed/downloaded movies on my home theater because the picture quality and the HD audio codecs from blu-ray aren't there in those. I'm running an 8 year old Hitachi 51" rear projection 1080i HDTV (CRT based) that is professionally calibrated (was like getting a new TV when I had it done 2 years ago) and I use a Sony bdp-S550 blu-ray player.

I get 1080i out from it over component but am planning on getting my calibration touched up and set up for HDMI to DVI converter (TV has a DVI input that will accept an HDMI to DVI adapter and still does the security that HDMI uses) so I can take advantage of upconverting finally. I didn't have the blu-ray or an upconverting capable player when I had the TV calibrated originally.

I also got the S550 over a PS3 partly because I had a Xbox 360 and didn't need a second gaming system, and also because it has 7.1 channel analog outputs which I can send to my older receiver and still be able to take advantage of the new audio formats that blu-ray offers. I don't own a ton of blu-rays or DVD's compared to some people but I have a custom built bookcase that's about 4 feet wide and has 2 1/2 shelves of DVD's, probably 1/4 of which are blu-ray. I rent a lot of discs through Netflix and soon to be Blockbuster though.

**5.4 Shelby** · 08-03-2011, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by gothamite302

I am, I don't have as many movies on discs but I have about 350+ on my HTPC. I'm on a 52" LCD but a new plasma is on the way and for audio I have a Denon 3808CI pushing Infinity floor standings, klipsch center, surrounds and a klipsch down firing 12" subwoofer.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Nice. That is the AVR I am running. Sounds so clean with good sources such as blu-ray. I especially like blu-ray concerts that are in DTS-HD Master Audio.

I am running B&W DM 604 towers, 601 rears and CC6 center. Klipsch 15" sub.

**fancyfootwork** · 08-03-2011, 06:14 PM

My girl and I are huge movie go-ers and BR fans. I'm a long time PS3 owner (80g fat, backwards compatible) and it still looks amazing quality wise. I only have roughly 20 BR's since I never want to spend a grip of money.

I've had my Samsung 40" LCD for a couple years now. We just picked up a 50" Panasonic Plasma for....$100. Yes, two zeros.

**ScottB** · 08-03-2011, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by slickooz

Is there any blu-rays fans here? I use to go on Blu-ray.com a lot but been so busy lately I haven't posted there a year.

I got about 100 blu-rays movies and pop in a movie when I'm not working at Lexus or detailing on the side.

I got a 55 inch LCD with a 5.1 system, Polk's M60, M40 and CS2.

Any other hardcore movie/home theater lovers here?

I have several Bluray players in the home and on laptop .. funny I remember when HD-DVD was said to outrival it. I got one of those too ....

**Rei86** · 08-03-2011, 06:37 PM

You know they won't admit it but the PS3 was the Trojan horse for BR for the 1st two years. Not only that HD DVD didn't carry true digital sound and was stuck with the best I do believe 5.1.

We all knew this would be BetaMax vs VHS all over again and with Porn industry signing up on BR instead of HD DVD it was another nail in the coffin for HD DVDs :P