DVD 5 - what will I be missing?

Posted by: abbydog on 09 March 2008

I have a big Fujitsu plasma used with a two channel sound system of Topfield PVR/ 72/hicap/140/Nat02/Linn Kan 1 and rather good Velodyne MiniVee sub.

Now its time to add DVD. Normally, I would have bought a DVD 5 safe in the knowledge that Naim provided the best solution. However, I'm being steered towards Arcam DV 139.

I've read the threads on here about scalers and HDMI and also comments on the Net that Naim does not intend to further develop its existing DVD line-up (Alvin Gold).

I must add that the A/V side of things is primarly Mrs Abbydog's affair and that we're not into surround.

So could someone spell out in simple terms what we'll be gaining/losing by going for DVD 5 over the Arcam?
Posted on: 30 March 2008 by Mr Underhill
quote:
Originally posted by Vaughn3D:
In my opinion if the majority of your viewing are movies then I would try a blu-ray player, as you'll be able to get virtually any new release in blu-ray. If you watch a lot of concert DVDs, then I would get something like the DVD5 or 139.


Great advice.

I bought my DVD5 when it first came out as my 'last' SD player - and then found then it made a great combo with the Benchmark DAC1 - and so got a great CD player as well.

I use this to view my ever expanding Music DVD library, and spend time looking for LPCM soundtracks.

I'm sure SD-DVD will be around for a few more years, and so you'll get some ROI, especially with Naim's backup.


I do follow the HiDef developments - but things are still very fluid, even with the death of HD-DVD.

Please post back with your DVD5 impressions.

M
Posted on: 31 March 2008 by TomK
I think it would be madness to lay out a fortune on a conventional DVD player now. Make no mistake, Blu-ray is here to stay and no wonder as the picture quality is quite breathtaking. Since HD died the Blu-Ray sections in our local HMV and Zavvi stores have expanded drastically and DVDs are being sold off dirt cheap. It's obvious the stores are making room for something else and that's got to be Blu-Ray.
Posted on: 31 March 2008 by Jay
quote:
Originally posted by TomK:
I think it would be madness to lay out a fortune on a conventional DVD player now. Make no mistake, Blu-ray is here to stay and no wonder as the picture quality is quite breathtaking. Since HD died the Blu-Ray sections in our local HMV and Zavvi stores have expanded drastically and DVDs are being sold off dirt cheap. It's obvious the stores are making room for something else and that's got to be Blu-Ray.


I understand that line of thinking Tom.

I would add that if you are sitting on a lot of DVD movies then the DVD5 has to one of the very very best. If you need to have the player do music as well there's only one choice that I would make and that's a DVD5.

If you need Blueray buy a cheaper Sony or Panasonic player or a PS3 until the format settles down a little.

Just my 2p!

Jay
Posted on: 31 March 2008 by TomK
Yes I'd love a DVD5 and if I had one the last thing I'd do would be to replace it with a current Blu-Ray player (although having said that the all round picture quality from my Sony BD300 into my Sony Bravia 40" hi-def is fantastic). However is now the time to be spending a fortune to buy into SD-DVD?
Posted on: 31 March 2008 by Jay
quote:
Originally posted by TomK:
Yes I'd love a DVD5 and if I had one the last thing I'd do would be to replace it with a current Blu-Ray player (although having said that the all round picture quality from my Sony BD300 into my Sony Bravia 40" hi-def is fantastic). However is now the time to be spending a fortune to buy into SD-DVD?


Understand. You could say the same thing about cd.

The point I'm making is that there is a case for the DVD5 regardless of DVD's, probably, medium and long term future.

I still buy LP's!
Posted on: 31 March 2008 by tonym
There's an important difference between the comparison of LPs to CDs and SD DVD to Blu Ray. A more relevant comparison with the latter is CD vs. cassette!

Blu Ray is hugely better; the bigger the display the more evident this is. And not just picture quality - sound as well.

I'm busily buying Blu Ray versions of all my favourite films and it should be evident to everyone that Blu Ray is here to stay for a fair old while.
Posted on: 03 April 2008 by Mike Hughes
Whether Blu Ray is here to stay is rather moot to the point about whether to buy a standard DVD player right now. The reality is that standard DVDs can now be ended by manufacturers confidenet that people can be forced to buy Blu Ray in much the same way CD was foisted upon us in the name of agreed standards.

Whether Blu Ray develops market share in the next year or two is irrelevant. Within months you will only be able to buy Blu Ray players. As they are backwards compatible how compatible is irrelevant to most manufacturers so existing production of standard players will cease. In that context buying a DVD 5 or any other standard player is not a good idea. Laying out a large amount of money on one is highly questionable.

Mike