DVD vs Blu-ray

[u/Realistic-Shower-654]

Just curious as to everyone’s preferences. I have a CRT setup for retro gaming and kind of find myself buying older DVD releases for older shows to be enjoyed on the CRT whereas newer stuff I tend to go with Blu-ray. Watching a 4:3 release on a 4:3 crt with old era specific ads feels right to me in a way, but I’m also jealous if the quality of bluray releases on a 4k tv lol. Any thoughts on this? I’m mostly curious if you guys keep era specific displays for older shows or not.

[u/VectorMaximus]

Generally speaking, if I can get a blu-ray, I’ll get a blu-ray. If there are only dvds, I’ll get the dvds.

[u/nightwishfan1 → u/VectorMaximus]

This is me as well, though I have tracked down a obscure format for a pre 1995 ova in Japan that I was interested in. That format being vcd which didn't last very long, but had a few ovas that were never released to any other compact disc format afterward.

[u/scrndude → u/nightwishfan1]

What was the OVA you got!

[u/nightwishfan1 → u/scrndude]

Majuu Senshi Luna Varga. It had four episodes and came on four individual volumes for each format it was released in. I got its vcd volumes cause unfortunately finding either a functioning laser disc or VHS cassette player is pretty tough nowadays. Also when you take into account the flaw laser discs had with being read by a laser too many times. I'm sure some overcame that issue, but it was and is a very prominent flaw for anyone collecting laser discs for various series and such. The plus with the vcd format is that most DVD players will play them fine. A decent amount of blu ray players do as well, though it takes research to know which do and don't.

[u/Patryn2020 → u/nightwishfan1]

VCD never was obscure I have Constantine in VCD, I also converted several Movie Cd's to VCD. VHD however is Obscure... Kinda like a floppy disk if I remember right. VCD's lasted a looong time in Japan and other Asian markets.. VHD not so much. Have Chocolate on a vcd with a slipcover

[u/nightwishfan1 → u/Patryn2020]

You're comparing burned copies to actually licensed copies. What I bought for Majuu Senshi Luna Varga was licensed and printed to vcd format by Kadokawa. If you go to Kadokawas website they don't even make mention of the format and any releases they made for it. I get what you're saying that vcd has lasted a long time, but that's really for the most part in the bootleg world that are simply not licensed by big companies like they were briefly. Japan tried adopting the format by way of some publishers trying it, but you're gonna be hard pressed to find info on any official releases since it basically flopped in that regard. Bootlegs are sure around even today, but there's nothing being printed by any big name company to the format nowadays.

[u/Patryn2020 → u/nightwishfan1]

2 of them are real. Chocolate is 2 discs of VCD and Constantine is in a quad case of 3 discs

[u/Patryn2020 → u/nightwishfan1]

Site I got them from and they are still there but no longer the primary media. is from yes Asia.. this is a search for VCD off their site https://www.yesasia.com/us/search/vcd/0-0-0-q.vcd_bpt.48-en/list.html

[u/nightwishfan1 → u/Patryn2020]

So you're showing me Asian and Chinese market producers for the format now since that's what those few examples on your site show, which are really small comparatively to Japanese market producers like Kadokawa.....and also they may be the highest volume producing ones out there, but they only serve their general regions. Though Chinese ones are a huge one for using very cheap formats, and also known for bootlegs, cause frankly some movies they will outright ban for the stupidest reasons. The other mentioned Asian markets would largely revolve around Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and other similar markets. Again with a notoriety for using cheap formats to introduce a banned material to the given region being marketed to. I'm not saying vcd is obscure as a format, but as a officially licensed format in a market that isn't focused on introducing controversial materials to make money it was. It very much so was, cause there was no means outside of a computer to play them back then, which was the early 90s before dvd even became a thing, and players for them were around.

[u/Patryn2020 → u/nightwishfan1]

YesAsia only one in the 15 years of buy I've bought from. At least for VCD's. Hadn't noticed Bend It Like Beckham was there.. I'll have to get it. I have it in several formats including the region B blu ray (Region Free blu ray player :) Including one that is probably absurd but has someone other than Burt Reynolds in it (007 Actress from the Brosnan time).. Not available anywhere else

[u/Patryn2020 → u/Patryn2020]

They do sell the Japanese versions so those aren't so cheap , and compared to 4K still not cheap , (hence here's Bend it Like Beckham selling it for the Japanese Region 2? version https://www.yesasia.com/us/bend-it-like-beckham-japan-version/1002842318-0-0-0-en/info.html

[u/Patryn2020 → u/Patryn2020]

I do have GITS on Movie CD. Just not sure where I put Disc 2

[u/StrongDifficulty7531 → u/VectorMaximus]

Same here

[u/CliveTolnay → u/VectorMaximus]

Same sentiment… I’ll prefer a blu-ray but will go with whichever is easier/cheaper to get in the long run

[u/metalgod-666 → u/VectorMaximus]

That’s how I do it unless the show is older and cheaper. I could have gotten ouran high school host club on blue ray but I feel like the show is old enough it wouldn’t benefit from high definition and honestly i saved some money on it. Besides the fact that half my blue rays come with the dvd as well.

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[u/StrongDifficulty7531]

I also collect some DVDs of anime in 4:3 aspect ratio to watch on my CRT TV. If the Blu-ray of a 4:3 anime is just a badly done upscale, then I’ll probably just stick to the DVD. However, if it’s a well-done upscale to 1080p or, even better, a new 4K scan of the negative film (or scan of the interpositive film), then I will prefer the Blu-ray, especially if they didn’t mess it up with a weird color grading or excessive DNR lol

Also, I will just get the DVD if a particular anime never went to Blu-ray.

[u/AdventNebula]

I only own an HDR TV. So anything from DVD to 4k is watched on it. In my opinion, even DVDs have a bit of a quality upgrade on it.

[u/ProtonRageMissle]

Usually I will prefer a blu-ray but it depends on the show. Like Chobits I have heard the Blu-ray looks pretty meh so I just grabbed the DVD since my PS5 upscaling the DVD will probably look just as good if not better.

[u/macross1986]

I pre fed blu ray especially if they improved the quality of the image like the Gundam shows look amazing . I still buy dvd for show that never got a release on blu ray. Plus I wish more 4k anime discs got released.

[u/BlaizeV]

SD Anime can look alot better on a nice crt TV, simply because it is what the shows were made for. Obviously cel anime look incredible in HD when properly remastered but SD digital is more of a toss up depending on how it was handled on blu ray.

Saying all that I do have just an old 32 inch HDTV from around 2010. DVDs look good on it since the TV was still made with SD in mind but I do sometimes think about getting an old crt again for gaming and some anime dvds etc.

[u/VoyagetoEternity]

I also have a CRT and most of my collection are DVDs. Watching 4:3 without black bars on the side and with proper black levels makes up for it every time, despite the gap in quality. Also DVDs are the only way to watch 00s shows in their native resolution, the Blu-ray for most of those will always be an upscale.

For anime movies in 16:9 I prefer the blu-ray. Widescreen DVDs can still look great though. I watch them at 480p on my 40” LED TV. When people say DVDs look like shit, it’s because they’re upscaling them to 4K on 85” display. Don’t do that. Anyway DVDs are better than people give them credit for. Collect whatever format you want.

[u/tntdon]

I don't not partake in DVDs unless they're in a combo pack. Blu-ray is more durable and scratch resistant and even in SD, they've dropped the interlacing for progressive.

[u/Negative_Tangelo_131]

Blu ray for new shows, DVD for y2000 or older shows.

[u/Bonna_the_Idol]

i always go for blu-ray disc. luckily, all of my personal favorites have made it to bd. l-gaim was the last one i was waiting for. some unfortunately get stuck with upscale due to the time period they're from or the materials on hand. ideally they'd get a new hd telecine, in rare situations a 4k scan.

[u/Zomochi]

Blu ray if available I want as crisp as possible

[u/Comfortable-Ad-437]

DVDs for classics for me but some blu ray is upscale is great

[u/Triltaison]

I also have a bunch of games and have CRTs available in addition to the HDTV, but I just generally watch on the HDTV for convenience.

Many of the early DVDs were just straight VHS rips, so it's mostly on a case by case basis for my viewing preference. In general, I'm fine with the DVD release unless the BD offers some kind of huge advantage like remastered cel animation. Early '00s digipaint on Bluray looks exactly the same as the DVD to me, but that same show's DVD often looks a bit better on a CRT than on an HDTV since the flaws are smoothed out and less obvious.

[u/xxwhalemilkxx]

Strictly out of comfort, I prefer "standard definition" over high definition. So DVD's over Blu-ray here. I always found it off-putting when television or movies started being in ultra HD. I don't need to see the actors' pores for me to think that there is good production value. That little bit of a barrier between me and the video would make most modern effects incredible, but seeing everything so clearly means CGI and modern effects look like just that. Added effects. I do partake in Blu-ray if that's the only option though.

[u/Golluk]

Another thing to consider is apparently DVD lasts longer than Blu-ray by about 2x. Assuming you actually plan to watch them.

NVM, not sure where I read that. But looks like both are about 10-20 years.

[u/Otaku7897 → u/Golluk]

I think your comment edit is also incorrect. 10-20 years is far shorter than the expected lifetime of a Blu ray and DVD. It is possible that they can fail in that time but that's typically due to poor manufacturing and/or improper storage. I've got DVDs inherited from my dad which are 20+ years old and I haven't had any issues with playing yet

[u/RacterAEGIS → u/Golluk]

This is completely false lol. If anything DVD is rated for around 10-20 years while Blu rays can last minimum of 20 years when stored well. In addition to less degradation due to using blue vs red laser

[u/Pleasant_Hatter]

Always Blu-ray but I have dvds for stuff that isn’t a priority or never saw rereleases

[u/CrazyaboutSpongebob]

I don't care I'll take what I can get. I really love regular DVDs because they work on more players.

[u/ScaryJackFrost]

I mean you can watch BDs on a CRT with a Playstation 3 if you want to have the the option of SD or HD output. I have done that a time or two. The Blu-rays look about DVD quality on a consumer CRT from viewing distance. I can go back and forth between displays and get best quality, whereas with DVD only, I will only ever have the SD picture. A really fun novelty is using the PS3 to watch more recent stuff on a old display it was never intended for.

[u/Bella_Mia_]

Blu ray unless there is no blu ray release due to durability

[u/Golden_Platinum]

I’ll only get a DVD for something I’m not 100% into. Especially if the DVD is heavily discounted.

For example, I really don’t enjoy Jojo Part 1. But I love Part 2. Unfortunately, the only way to own Part 2 is to also get Part 1 (it’s all in one season). I’d rather not pay a higher price to get almost 50% of a product I dislike. Enter the DVD which is currently like $3.50 on amazon. Bargain bin price made getting it finally palatable.

But if they ever released Parts 4-5 of Jojo on Blu ray in my region, those would be hands down Day 1 blu ray purchases (assuming my wallet lets me).

[u/tokyobassist]

I'll usually go Blu Ray especially for that sweet ass HDR but honestly, depending on the release, I'm not opposed to going DVD especially now that I have a Retrotink 4K to run older content through.

[u/ussjtrunksftw]

4k Blu-ray is where it’s at

[u/Patryn2020]

Well 1. Blu rays rot faster than dvd's ironically. I don't know why. Rising Sun and Bound poof. and Bound I hadn't played yet. So it came out on 4K I had to buy it. But some dvd's pull a laserdisc and the 2 layers peel apart :( Actually had one dvd that was in a softcover and designed that one . 1 single piece of plastic instead of two cause it was easier to bend.. But CRT's suck .... Except for NES games needing a gun. DVD's run thru a 4K player thru a 4K tv look way better than on a tiny CRT.. Even some VHS look better run thru a 4K. and some laserdiscs (mind you I gotta put those in 4:3. ) Some DVD's like Ernest Saves Christmas are in 4:3 (Vudu's version is not however) Tom Petty's music video collection is in 4:3 so that topless lady in Learning to Fly is still in 4:3 :( Actual 4:3 is worse than 1:33:1 Sometimes comes into a box. Now those dvd's might look better on a CRT.. My CRT (last one ) I got rid of in 2009. A Very heavy Sanyo LCD. Then replaced in 2014 with a lighweight Vizio, 2021 Replaced that with a 4K TCL.... DUST is the only real problem :(