Concerning high definition DVD players, is one of the 2 formats better than the other in picture quality?

Question

Is BluRay better than HDDVD or vice versa?

Answer 1

The overall thrust of the previous responses is more or less valid, BUT they haven't got it quite right.

In THEORY the two formats should be essentially identical re video and audio format since they both use (or -- this is the kicker -- allow for the use of) the same video codecs and audio formats ... but studios have not done so.

As of the time it was written earlier this year the conclusion of a careful analysis of ACTUAL blu-ray and HD DVD disks concluded that the two formats -- as delivered on real disks -- were not equal. HD DVD got the nod for slightly superior video, but slightly inferior audio. In addition HD DVD was far ahead of Blu-Ray on special features/extras. See the link for details.

The only dual format disk player (LG BH100) might have been "blu-ray certified", but since the standard for extras/special features is not yet final this is meaningless. Note the BH100 is indeed not fully HD DVD compliant and will only play HD DVD movies, not the extras. The problem is that BD-Video 1.1 (focused mainly on BD-J to support extras/special features) has not yet been finalized so there is NO ASSURANCE that Blu-Ray extras will play on this -- or any other existing -- blu-ray player. The recently announced LG BD-UP5000 is supposed to be fully HD DVD compliant and ... if the Blu-Ray BD-Video 1.1 spec is ratified as planned in November 2007 it MAY be BD-Video 1.1 compliant (but not BD-Live 2.0 compliant since this is still in the works and will be needed to FINALLY bring Blu-Ray into equality with the HD DVD spec that has been in effect since day one!).

The bottom line though is that there isn't much to pick between the two formats re video and audio quality, and more important, most consumers haven't got the equipment to benefit from the potential anyway. HD disks still account for less than 3% of disk sales, the vast majority of consumers (quite rightly) don't have any interest in either format (since the are either confused, uncertain of the benefit, or unwilling to spebd the $$ to move from DVD).

Arguably, HD DVD is "winning", largely because of the remarkably poor job the Blu-Ray Disk Association (largely driven by Sony) have done of managing the introduction of the Blu-Ray format. For example, the incremental and slow standard development and the resulting confusion among hardware and software suppliers as to what features to support led to the recent problem with Fox releasing Blu-Ray disks that could not be played on several players.

In my view Blu-Ray have messed up so badly the format can't "win" because HD DVD has half the market, unlimited production capability at lower cost than Blu-Ray ($1 vs $6 / disk), and there is inadequate production capacity for Blu-Ray disks (yield is typically 10% at most plants and in essence only one replicator (Sony) is available) and Sony are saying it will take 18 months to solve the problems. The world won't wait!

Also studios are starting to see the writing on the wall -- Paramount and Dreamworks have abandoned Blu-Ray, meaning there are now more HD DVD movies than Blu-Ray -- and when Warner decides (as it eventually must) to abandon Blu-Ray the war will finally be over.

In the meantime, we consumers can only wait and see (stick with DVD), pick a side and hope (and only see some movies in HD), or buy an expensive dual format player (to see all).

Personally, I have a HD DVD player -- the least expensive model -- I bought largely as an upconverting DVD player for by 400+ DVDs and occasional use as an HD DVD player. On a 110" screen with a 720p projector set for 1080i I get a SLIGHTLY superior picture (and better audio) from HD DVD disks, relative to DVD, but only slightly. I admit I may be limited by my equipment in my ability to appreciate the video advantage of HD DVD (or Blu-Ray), but then that's my point. I've got a much better than average home theatre and I get an excellent picture and sound from DVD and have little incentive at this time to go out and spend $thousands to upgrade my projector to a 1080p model and my A/V receiver to support advanced audio formats, just so I can pay $30 or so for a movie I could buy on DVD for $7-10 (used). And the average consumer will see even less benefit from HD disks than I do.

Hope that helps, and sorry for the long answer. Congratulations if you got this far!

So, long answer. The two formats are essentially equivalent re video and audio quality, quite different in terms of maturity, and only likely to provide appreciable benefit to those with high end equipment. They offer little to the average consumer but the opportunity to spend $$.

Answer 2

i competely agree with the first answer, the difference between the two formats is really the software that they use to encode it. i have ben told that bluray has a little better picture, but both formats will look amazing next to standard def.

the only problem with getting one of the dual format players is that they do not support all of the content on one of the formats--i know that the lg combo players are blue ray certified, so they will play all blue ray discs and content, and they will play hd dvds but the menu stucture is completely different and you will not be able to access all of the interactive stuff that you could with a blue ray disc.

it really comes down to a bunch of movie studios butting heads trying to say that what they've got is better than the other--some sided with bluray, others with hd dvd, and we are all stuck in the middle until somebody waves the white flag.
get a combo player and watch whatever hd movies you want, so even if one of the formats goes out, you will still win

Answer 3

The above answers are correct, but the issue is not so much that one format might "go out" as that both may not be supported by all studios. Then if you get one or the other, you may find that the movie you want is not available in the format of your player. I'm waiting for a combo player that works and supports all format features (a new one by LG has just been announced that does a better job of that), and is reasonable in cost (~$500). My guess is that is a couple of years away.

Answer 4

No, they will look exactly the same. They are both recorded in 1080p and surround sound. The format differences are revealed when you are looking at disc capacity.

If I were you, I would invest a little more money and purchase a dual-format DVD player that supports HD-DVD and BluRay. There are movies that are only in one format. Plus, you never know when one format will go away.

Answer 5

There is only one DVD "format", which is a combination of file formats, consisting of VOB, IFO and BUP. The VOB files are the actual video and audio, but since they're limited in size, you need to break up the information in several VOB files. That's why you also need the IFO files, which contain the information necessary for the player to proceed to the next correct VOB file. BUP files are just BackUP copies of the IFO files. But, on top of all that, the directory format is also critical. The DVD files are in a subdirectory which must be correctly named and placed in the directory hierarchy. So it's more than simply "converting" the files. They must be transcoded to convert the files, PLUS structure them for DVD players to interpret them. I suspect your question is more about which software is the "best" to use. Me, I use Nero lite because that's what came with my DVD burner, and it serves my needs. There is also Roxio which is also good. Both are commercial and cost money. There are also free ones available on the internet, and some may be good, but I don't know which ones. Just keep in mind that it's MORE than simply converting one format to another. You need one that will actually transcode computer video files into the proper DVD structure. As for quality, you will be limited to the current quality of whatever format your computer video is in. You cannot put back what wasn't there. The best you can do is maintain (rather than degrade worse) the quality during transcoding, and since there is only one "format" for DVD, it's automatic.

Answer 6

same here - i have been watching this HD-DVD vs Blu ray debate since they both launched and you will get a 50:50 split - it all comes down to the movie studios and what they will support in the future. You can keep up with the latest debates on the link below

Answer 7

Two formats, same quality. You just have to

decide which features of the two you prefer.