Ask Engadget HD: A second Blu-ray deck, or an upscaling DVD player?
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 10th 2008 12:00PM
posted Dec 10th 2008 12:00PM
"I've got a PlayStation 3 in the living room, but I'm on the fence with what kind of player to get for our guest room. Should I spring for a second Blu-ray player of some kind, or should I just get an upscaling DVD deck? With prices of the entry-level BD machines just barely more than a decent upconverting DVD player, I'm leaning Blu. But, if I opt for another BD deck, which low-end one is the best choice?"
We wouldn't hesitate to offer our recommendations of investing in a second BD deck -- after all, you never know when you'll need one for travel or loan -- but there's a whole heap to choose from in the entry-level sector. Any advice for our pal Gregory?
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Go Blue
My guest room has a 13" B&W TV with turn knobs. I was nice and added a converter box so that it will work after 2/17/2009. So, I say, neither....let your guests suffer.
it depends on what media you are buying. If you have mostly DVDs, and are still buying new releases on DVD, then go with upscaling DVD. If you stopped buying DVDs and are exclusively buying BD, then go with BD.
Other thoughts: If you regularly have guests with children, and you or they bring along DVDs for the kids (more common now due to minivans with DVD players and cheap portable DVD players), then DVD is the way to go.
Outside of the scope of this question, but IMO, the perfect solution is a TiVo/Popcorn Hour/ Apple TV, etc.
I think the first idea is a good point to consider... but the second one isn't really as relevant considering the BD players will play DVDs. So if you have a BD player or an upconverter and your guests bring DVDs, it won't really matter.
Ah, I did not know that BD players could upscale DVDs as well, second point is moot then - I change my vote to BD or streaming.
Definitely a second bluray player. You need to be able to play all of your bluray players in the bedroom or other TV room!!
How many people have a 42" or bigger HI Definition TV as their second TV?? Virtually nil, and those with a secondary sound system capable of unlocking the HD audio even far less again.
Blu ray as the second player for 99.9999999% of the population is a total waste of time, other than for the fanboys of course who will be installing them in their toilets for the 8 inch black and white glued to the back of the door.
Go Blu
Since I'm assuming you are buying more Blu-ray since you are asking, I would go with another Blu. Since it will be in a guest room their isnt much need for a high end player anyways, unless you want to run more ethernet cables over that room as well.
Is this a trick question? If you're willing to go Blu, then go Blu!
The reason being that a Blu-Ray Player is going to upconvert your DVDs anyway, so you're getting the same thing as you would if you just got the DVD player, PLUS the ability to play Blu-Ray discs.
Of course, if you'd rather not spend the extra cash, then your question has been answered.
one for travel or loan?!?
Go Blu. You can play upscaled DVD's *and* Blu-ray movies. No contest.
6 months ago (when i was in the exact same boat) I went upscaling. If I had to make the same decision today, it'd be blu all the way. Way too much benefit vs increasingly lower marginal cost-
Go Blu, I did and now i don't have to move my PS3 back and forth.
For the Guest Room?
If the audio be going out of the TV speakers and the TV is 720p & 42" or less than an existing progressive scan DVD player with RGB outs will be fine for the time being.
If you've got 5.1 sound AND a 1080p set that's bigger than 42", then it might be worth looking checking out the clearance shelf, eBay, or CraigsList for a Profile 1.0 or 1.1 Blu-Ray player.
You're asking engadgetHD readers on whether to go blu? I'm surprised there is a big VHS showing.
Does a guest bedroom really need a player? C'mon folks. In my small world, guests would rather be visiting with their hosts when not sleeping.
It's according to how pleasant of a host you are.
It depends on how long you want your guests to stay.
Fish and guests stink after two days.
Have to go Blu. My Panasonic BD35 is being delivered today. Got it for $199 from HH Gregg. They also have $199 BD35s at Costco right now. It's one of the best reviewed players out there right now and $199 is a price I could easily pay for a DVD player in my room (PS3 is in the living room right now).
Finally someone actually answered the question: WHICH player?
Ya, I just got one of the Panasonic BD-35's myself from COSTCO at the $199 price. Reviews for it are High, Hell take a read over at CNET!
JBDragon, youve turned to the dark side, aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
You know what they say: "Once you go Blu..."
you go bankrupt and usually can't afford movies.
I will say what everyone above is saying, go Blu. I mean really, if your purchases are going to start be ing BluRay, it only makes sense. I am going to be buying a second blu ray player soon. I think I am going to wait for one of the Netflix streaming ones to go down in price. I would buy one now at the current price point if they had built in WiFi. But since they do, I think I will wait for a cheaper option.
I'd have to say get a second PS3. I have 3 360s (living room w/ hd-dvd, bedroom, office via VGA adapter) and 2 ps3s (living room, and BR). Between them I can not only stream media where ever i want but don't have to worry about what game or disk i want to watch. Another option is to get a cheap DVD player for the BR, and wire in an extra HDMI, TOSlink if needed, ethernet, and power cable, and save a space for the PS3 in your bedroom. it only takes a minute to unhook and rehook a PS3 (i did this for 6 months before i bough the second ps3).
Considering that how cheaply you can get BR-D players that will do a really good job of upscaling your DVDs, I don't see the point in getting another upscaling DVD player. We're under $200, folks. It's time to move on.
The weekend adjacent to Black weekend I bought a Sony BDP-BX1 Blu-ray player for $187.80. Last weekend the same Costco had a Samsung (BDP-1500) and Panasonic (BD35) for $199.99 or less. Kind of hard to pass that up.
if you have alot kids visit. by far a $50 dvd player. just in case they stick a sandwhich the player. it is easier to swallow a $50 than $200.
if you only have adult visitors then the bluray should be fine.
LOL, stick a sandwich in it. Thats great.
drphil, I'm assuming that you don't have kids. NEVER underestimate what they can insert into an electronic device. Never.
Hey, the more blu-ray players you buy, the more you'll have to throw away when Blu-ray tanks. ;)
Seriously though, for the guest room, do 1080p and Dolby TrueHD really matter? I don't think so. The only reason to get Blu is so that your guests can partake in your Blu movie library, IMHO. So the question becomes how often you have guests over, and whether your guests like the same movies you like.
Personally, I'd spend as little as possible for a player that won't be used but maybe 3 or 4 times a year. The $200 price for blu-ray isn't at throw away money level quite yet. To be honest, I'd just get any DVD player and allow the TV to upscale content.
IMO it only makes sense to go for the DVD player if you have very few blu-rays or are paying close to $30 for it or can't find a blu-ray player for under $200.
Wait a few more months and get a BR player for 130. or so. I have my BR(PS)3 and a 360 HDDVD add one in the playroom. I just sold my HDA1 and bought LG's BH100 for the livingroom. Now I have both formats in the only place I watch movies.
Look for a cheap name brand used one if you want to buy now.
I have a question: i assume all upconverters are not created equal; how good an upconverter is the PS3 considered? I have one, and most rentals are still DVDs, so I am curious if what is see is fairly indicative of what to expect from an upconverter. thanks for any feedback
I also recommend another PS3. Then you (or your guests) can play multi-player across rooms, play Blu or DVD, listen to various kinds of music and even surf the Web if necessary.
I always say "buy as much as you can at the time you're buying" to help future-proof yourself. If you're considering Blu, go all the way with PS3.
If you just want a standalone player, go with one that has Netflix streaming available so that you or your guests can watch a Netflix movie if you/they want.
I think you're stretching words with the "decent upscaling DVD" player just being barely less than an entry level Blu ray player. Isn't the best deal you can get on a blu ray 180 bucks if you got it on black friday? I'd say a decent upscaler might not be more than 100 bucks. Thats a significant difference.. if 80 bucks isn't significant to you then .. BD all the way...
I had this same situation three months ago. I decided on getting a used PS3 for the bedroom. It cost $300 and I think it was a worthy investment as I now find myself playing PS3 games in the bedroom vs. the living room on occasion.
Insanity.. why the hell would anyone pay $200+ for Blu-Ray player when you'll be watching your 32 to 42" TV from like 10+ feet and especially in room where you'll turn it on like once in a while. Are you all people recommending Blu-Ray insane? Seriously.
Go freakin' DVD for $50 and done. Some people are truly delusional and have no idea what it means throwing away money. Stop recommending ridiculous things just because you want a niche format to survive when consumer has no benefit whatsoever.
And one thing worth to note, even if it's pointless now, with HD DVD this really wouldn't have been an issue with the presence of combo discs.
Except DVD players can't play Blu-ray discs, and that's all that I buy and rent now.
shawn, unfortunately you are a minority..and if you rent for the most part as everyone else does then there's no reason you can't RENT DVDs as well..
It just seems ludicrous to recommend something that you'll clearly have no benefit from technically and pay 3 to 4 times the price of regular upscaling DVD player.
I have 4 TVs: 28" LCD, 37" LCD, 50" plasma, and 60" Pioneer Kuro Plasma. And I have Oppo upconversion DVD/SACD/DVD Audio player, Toshiba HD DVD/DVD player, and Panasonic Bluray player.
I have them all and I can tell you it would be insane to buy a 2nd upconversion DVD player. Anyone who says you cannot tell a significant difference of Bluray vs DVD, even on a 28", does not have the set up to do A/B comparison at home and just pulling of comments on their behinds and not by actual experience. It is really ridiculous. Star talking when you have TV sizes of different sizes and all difference formats and do the comparison then talk.http://www.facebook.com/login.php
It is not just me, but friend who came over and saw direct A/B comparison of the same movie titles on DVD and Bluray or HD DVD ALWAYS pointed out the SIGNIFICANT quality improvement of HD material over standard resolution.
Hey I have HD DVD as well, but life goes on. Don't be a sore HD DVD fan and an anti-Bluray crank...
Cheap Memorex Blu-ray player for the spare room (or Samsung BD-P1500 if you don't trust memorex).
Blu-ray all the way!
Just grab an old VHS deck. Or see if you can find one of those $10 VCD players from Asia that's shaped like a portable CD player.
Yeah.
That'll go down well ;-)
In all honesty, the question depends on what type of media you expect to be buying mostly in future and/or expect guests to bring with them. To ask Engadget HD is a waste of time, partially because it's obvious what they'll answer, and partially because you have a better idea of what the answer is anyway. Only you can make that judgment.
Unless you still buy dvds, you should certainly get another blu-ray deck. Why spend money on another dvd player at all? I haven't bought a dvd in years, and never will. What's the point? even if you don't have another hdtv yet, you will i'm sure in the next couple years. It doesn't make sense to buy anything dvd related anymore really.
Seriously? I wouldn't even spend the money on an upconverting player. It's a freaking guest room; put a $10 DVD player in there with all of your non-Blu movies and let them have at it. Use the money you saved to buy yourself another dozen movies.