Blu Ray Player Buying Guide

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Blu-ray or Blu-ray disk is the latest generation of technology for high definition optical disc format. The name Blu Ray comes from the use of a blue violet laser to read and write data, instead of the red laser that is used by the traditional DVD disk formats. Blue Ray was developed by the Blu Ray Disc Association (BDA), which is a group of the world's leading computer, electronics and media manufacturers. In a long time battle in Blu Ray Versus HD-DVD, Blu Ray has definitely become the standard of high definition video.

The Blu Ray format was developed specifically for high definition video, which is commonly known as HD. The Blu Ray technology also allows for storing a very large amount of data on the Blu Ray disks via computers, offering more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVD disks. The single layer holds up to 25GB, or 4.5 hours of high definition video and the dual layer disks holds up to 50GB of data, or 9 hours of high definition video. Blu Ray offers the most advanced video and audio technology and allows for a spectacular HD experience. Learn more at What is Blu Ray Technology.

Blu Ray is something to experience as it delivers the best in picture quality, resolution and superior audio as well with the help of surround sound and Blu Ray home theater systems. With the most in high definition picture quality Blu Ray movies are surely the ultimate movie experience and has support from all Hollywood studios, and many smaller ones and is definitely considered to be the successor to the traditional DVD disk format. While most all new feature films are now released as Blu Ray, many older movies have also been converted to Blu Ray disks, making ti clear that eventually DVD will be phased out completely. In addition to movies, including old movies remastered on high-def disk, and new releases as well as many popular television show series collections.

Blu-ray has certainly experienced its particular challenges since the format's creation, with the format war of Blu Ray versus HD DVD, very high initial prices, and hardware that wasn't completely up to par. However it has made huge advances and improvements in the last couple of years.

Buying a Blu Ray Player Versus DVD Player
Generally in most ways, Blu-ray is relatively much like DVD. The players look pretty much the same, the Blu Ray discs look like the DVD variety, but Blu Ray is quite different in three important ways.

1. Improved image quality
2. Superior Audio
3. More Features, like Internet streaming of media

The Perks of Buying Blu Ray Players

Image quality
Superior high def resolution is a huge element of the reason why Blu Ray movies look excellent. This means you'll see a much more detailed picture: much more clearly defined features of people faces, colors of nature, close ups of

wrinkles, facial imperfections, etc. The technological distinction is that Blu Ray's maximum resolution is 1920 x 1080 (1080p), while DVD is restricted to 720 x 480 (480p). Further than image resolution, Blu Ray additionally employs much better video-compression methods, producing much more contrast as well as better colors. Buying a Blu Rya player will provide you with the best quality of video you can get in the market today, with a comparable, if not better than picture that you get at the movies, when the Blu Ray player is used in conjunction with an HDTV.

Audio quality
Audio quality is also much better. New high-resolution soundtrack formats, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, are basically the same as the studio master, consequently you will be hearing sounds just as the director and audio editors designed.

Special features
Blu Ray also has extra unique functions that DVD never did. The most basic innovation is the pop-up menu, allowing one to access the menu features as the movie keeps playing. Also, there is BD-Live, picture-in-picture video commentary, Internet connectivity, including models with built-in Wifi for streaming movies, videos, tv shows and all kinds of media from the Web.

Buying Guide and Main Blu Ray Features

When buying a Blu Ray player keep in mind that while most basic features of Blu Ray Players are the same, there are some specific things to consider when buying a player, especially, Internet connectivity options, specifically, built in Wifi players versus Wifi ready players.

Connecting to Internet
Benefits of Connecting to Internet with Blu Ray

• Stream movies from Netflix (subscription required)
• Stream music from Pandora
• Watch videos from YouTube
• Access Facebook and Twitter
• Study your fantasy sports info
• Read news, weather and sports
• Access BD Live on compatible players
• Internet connection provides the easiest way to receive important firmware updates for your player

Player Options for Connecting to Internet
There are several options, depending on the player model and brand, for linking up your smart Blu-ray player to the Internet

• A wired connection using Ethernet cable
• Built-In Wifi Connection on the Player
• A wireless connection using a compatible wireless adapter
• A connection using power line Ethernet adapters

WiFi Built In - Smart Blu Ray Players
Connect to Internet with WiFi built in. See reviews or WiFi built in Blu Ray players.

WiFi Ready
Means the Wifi is not built in and you will need an adapter of some sort to connect, like an Ethernet cable. See reviews of Wifi ready players.

BD-Live
BD-Live is a Blu-ray feature that enables you to access content, features and activities via your smart Blu-ray player. On some movies you'll be able to download a variety of up-to-date content, such as, refreshed previews and exclusive special features. There are also a host of next generation possibilities, such as ringtone/wallpaper downloads, peer-to-peer interactions, live events and gaming activities. For example, on the Blu Ray version of Julie & Julia with BD-Live, you can bookmark Julia Child's actual recipes while you watch the movie. At the end of the film, you can e-mail yourself the recipes, pretty cool!

Bonus View
The Bonus View and lets you play back picture-in-picture content, which allows for a second video and audio stream.

3D Feature of Blu Ray
Some blu ray players come with a new 3D feature, that allows users to view compatible movies in 3D, normally, 3G glasses are required as well.

Playing DVD's
The transition from DVD to Blu Ray is an easy one since all Blu Ray players play standard DVD discs. Actually, each and every Blu Ray player is also an upconverting DVD player.

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The Blu Ray Set Up

In the event that all you need from Blu Ray is a basic picture and sound, then you can just use it on a regular television using standard AV input connectors, the yellow, red, and white plugs. This is okay if you are planning to build your home theater set up and get pieces one by one as you go.

But the only purpose of paying the extra bucks to get a Blu Ray player is to enjoy that ultra high def, superior movie experience, and to get that the Blu Ray player alone is not enough, you will need to buy the entire set up for a home theater in order to get the full high def experience and this Blu Ray buying guide recommends that or it's best to not even spend the money on the Blu Ray player and just stick with the DVD player.

HDTV
In order to get the full high definition video affect, you need the HDTV to connect your Blu Ray player to. While the improvements in picture quality are visible with practically any size HDTV, the difference really shines with screens 40" and up, so, if you're going to go all out when buying a blu ray player and HDTV then get the biggest screen you can. Shop cheap HDTV's.

AV receiver
Blu Ray additionally brings a super high-resolution audio. To listen to the new high-resolution soundtracks at their maximum fidelity you will want an AV receiver, or a complete home theater system, that comes with AV receiver and surround speakers, and some that even come with the Blu Ray player built in.

Surround Sound speakers
It's really not possible to get the full Blu-ray experience without also installing a surround sound speaker system.

Again, you can purchase these items separately, like the AV Receivers and Surround Speakers, or purchase a complete Home Theater System (learn more below).

HDMI cables
The recommended and best way to connect the Blu Ray to the HDTV to the AV Receiver is with an HDMI cable that is capable of carrying both 1080p HD video and high-resolution audio. The most essential issue to keep in mind with HDMI cables is never pay more for HDMI cables, in this area, brand names and prices do not matter, using a $10 standard 6-foot HDMI cable is perfect and there is no difference in quality. If you have an older player that does not support HDMI, each and every Blu Ray player comes with a component video output, that can output Blu Ray discs at 1080i.

Home Theater Options

Systems with a player
A lot of home theater systems come with a progressive-scan DVD player or a Blu Ray player, and some newer models even come with a 3D-capable Blu-ray player. The player could possibly be built into the receiver or be a separate unit. Systems that combine the disc player along with the receiver in one box are likely to offer a little bit less functionality as well as a lesser number of connections as compared to the ones that possess two separate components. Integrated units are fairly simpler to set up, but they might not permit people to connect video devices other than a TV to the receiver.

Systems without a player
There are also home-theater systems that do not  come with a disc player. This provides people the option of using a player they have bought previously or buying a separate one in a brand they want.  This system allows for more flexibility in the set up, but also requires more connection requirements. Additionally, since the receiver and player have their own controls, they tend to be easier to use than an integrated device.