FoxClassics guide to Blu-ray
Arguably the most exciting thing about Blu-ray is the arrival of classic movies to the format. Why, you may ask?
The simple answer is that seeing a classic movie in full 1080p with DTS-Master Audio may well be the best presentation you will have seen of a particular favorite. The full promise of home theater has finally arrived.
But to see and hear all the benefits of the Blu-ray format there are some minimum requirements. This is not a definitive guide, but a budget level outline of what we currently consider essential for the total Blu-ray experience.
1 - The monitor (or projector). Your monitor should be a full-spec 1080p monitor. There are differences between plasma, LCD and LED flat panels that have their own pros and cons. That said, regardless of device, it should be 1080p and capable of the 24fps (frames per second) frame rate. The video input for your monitor should be HDMI - and the latest monitors now feature HDMI 1.3a functionality (more on that later).
2 - Your Blu-ray player should be full-spec - and the latest BD players feature the new Profile 1.1 - which enables functionality such as picture-in-picture. Functionally, the Blu-ray player should output at 1080p, 24fps and manage the audio codecs such as Dolby Digital HD and DTS-Master Audio. Outputting audio as LPCM is preferred over bitstream (if your audio receiver can handle this) as LPCM carries the complete, uncompressed audio (bitstream is limited bandwidth).
3 - Current audio receivers now are fully compliant HDMI 1.3a - and should pass through the high-def signal to your viewing device without any compromise. Look for stickers calling out the HDMI 1.3a functionality, as well as logos for Dolby and DTS-MA. HDMI 1.3a allows for full decoding of the lossless audio codecs and other functionality as playing SACD discs.
4 - Cables. All your HDMI cables should be HDMI 1.3a cables. They most likely are not labeled as such - so look closely and make sure you're not using HDMI 1.1 cables. If the cables are not labeled, ensure that they feature 10mbps data pass-through. The HDMI 1.3a cables need not be outrageously expensive - Sony markets these at around $30.
5 - Noise reduction. Both your monitor and your Blu-ray will likely have their own, on-board functionality for removing noise from the picture. This is a personal preference, but we prefer to have noise reduction turned off. The picture image is then not altered by the device. Make sure that you have checked this functionality on both the monitor and the Blu-ray player.
The Whites Of Their Eyes - The single most exciting development with Blu-ray has been the increase in grey scale tonality. The difference between black and white has been expanded, revealing detail previously lost to DVD compression constraints. And you'll see it in the eyes of the actors. Shadows from eyebrows or hats meant that actors' eyes were hidden in the darkness. But now this subtle, yet important element of the actors job can be seen. In some instances, this can be a revelation. And just watch how blue Steve McQueen's eyes are in The Sand Pebbles.
The Devil is in the Details - On Patton, during the opening that focuses on Patton's tunic and medals, you can see the weave of the fabric he is wearing. You can read the medals on his chest. You can see a bead of sweat slide down the left side of George C. Scott as it drops to his tunic. Like a fine bottle of wine that has been given time to aerate and open up the flavor, a movie on Blu-ray opens layers of detail lost to the viewer. This can make for a disorienting but welcome experience. You'll be seeing a movie you thought you knew so well - but discovering new production details. Costumes, set design, landscapes, skin features, shadow - they all have their detail returned to them. To use a clichˇ, its like falling in love all over again.
The Reds of Their Eyes - Red has always been a difficult color for video formats to reproduce. Veteran collectors probably have memories of movies on VHS tape where the color red bleeds. The pin-point accuracy of the 1920x1080 resolution delivers a startlingly accurate representation of the movie's colors (or grey scale if black and white). This is especially evident for movies that have a muted color tone, making a 80s vintage action movie such 'Commando' which had a limited production budget, appear stronger than it has ever looked.
Ultimately, our home theater experience is uniquely customized to our individual home environments. The goal is for the consumer to enjoy Fox movies to the fullest.
