My wife and I have made a bet, and thought it would be fun to share for those in the hi-def movie scene.

I have a Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD player in our HT, with a Panasonic PT-AE900 and 106" screen. Of course, I now loathe SD-DVD and she's tired of hearing about hi-def this-and-that. She insists that I probably can't even tell the difference between an SD-DVD disc and an HD-DVD disc, while I maintain that good quality HD DVD releases are night-and-day better.

We've both put our money where are mouths are - Some night this week, she's going to blind-test me with SD and HD versions of "Batman Begins" (the only movie I have on both SD and HD DVD), and see if I can tell which is the high-def disc. If she wins (and boy is she confident), she gets a new Louis Vuitton purse. If I win... I get to buy a Blu Ray disc player!

Pretty good bet I think. I'll let you know how it goes. :)


Greg

Make room for the BD player!!

Don't use the upconversion on the HD DVD player. Use a seperate DVD player for the SD test.

My wife and I have made a bet, and thought it would be fun to share for those in the hi-def movie scene.

I have a Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD player in our HT, with a Panasonic PT-AE900 and 106" screen.If you end up not being able to tell the difference, tell her it is because you need a projector that shows more detail. :)

I'm only half joking. The AE900 is nice (I have one), but I believe it smooths things out more than some other projectors. That can be a good thing, but will also tend to show less difference than a less forgiving projector.

--Darin

Don't use the upconversion on the HD DVD player. Use a seperate DVD player for the SD test.

Sneaky devil but go ahead and do it. All is fair when a Blu-Ray player is at stake.

Sneaky devil but go ahead and do it. All is fair when a Blu-Ray player is at stake.I think he should keep it fair and play the DVDs like he normally would if he was going to watch a DVD (use the upconversion). If he can't tell the difference then he doesn't deserve to win and get the Blu-ray player IMO.

I wouldn't try to skew the results by not using upconversion, but I probably would take a few trial runs on my own first.

I don't remember how good the upconversion is in the AE900, but it might not make that much of a difference anyway (other than that the calibration of the projector might be completely different with 480p input and therefore make the test extremely unfair).

--Darin

Sneaky devil but go ahead and do it. All is fair when a Blu-Ray player is at stake.

My other player though is an Oppo DV-981HD - also a phenomenal upconverter. She's already said too that she won't use two different players because she thought this might be cheating by me somehow. She's as smart as she is pretty, I tell you. :)

Greg

If you end up not being able to tell the difference, tell her it is because you need a projector that shows more detail. :)

I'm only half joking. The AE900 is nice (I have one), but I believe it smooths things out more than some other projectors. That can be a good thing, but will also tend to show less difference than a less forgiving projector.

--Darin

I was thinking the same thing! However, I bought the Panny under a year ago and PROMISED not to upgrade the projector until 2008. :( How much will a JVC RS1 cost by then?

Greg

Who gets to buy the purse, you or her? My wife had a bunch of those things that not even the LV reps could tell if they were fakes or not. IMHO the purse market is insane with the prices these women will fork out for a bag with some name on it, when the EXACT same thing can be cloned and sold for 1/10th the price.

Watches and stuff I can understand, those are precision machines with factory warranties, but a PURSE????

Anyway, good luck!

Well the Tosh is supposed to be a superb upconverter anyway, right?

I partly agree with darin. If you lose this, I wouldn't show your face around here for awhile.

Having said that, correct me if wrong, but Batman Begins is such a dark looking flick that you're a bit handicapped from the color abilities of HD. I'm guessing there'll be a good contrast difference though.

You'd better watch both formats over and over until you can pick out the nuances...

just to hedge your bets.

Good luck.

Make room for the BD player!!

What he said. :)

What he said. :)

Yeah, I almost feel sorry for your wife. As an HT enthusiast/early adopter AND AVS member, I think she's way out of her league on this one.

When I say "almost," I really mean...

"don't."

Call it an HT bro thing.

Enjoy your new PS3.

She's as smart as she is pretty, I tell you. :)

Greg

Almost as smart as mine, who would have suggested that if I lose i could keep the bag. :(

I partly agree with darin. If you lose this, I wouldn't show your face around here for awhile.I didn't mean it that way. Just that if he ends up not being able to tell the difference, then he shouldn't get the expensive Blu-ray player and she should win.

--Darin

I didn't mean it that way. Just that if he ends up not being able to tell the difference, then he shouldn't get the expensive Blu-ray player and she should win.

--Darin

That's why I only "partly agree" with you.

I kicked it up a notch...

all in good fun, of course.

Some night this week, she's going to blind-test me with SD and HD versions of "Batman Begins" (the only movie I have on both SD and HD DVD), and see if I can tell which is the high-def disc. If she wins (and boy is she confident), she gets a new Louis Vuitton purse. If I win... I get to buy a Blu Ray disc player!


HD DVD is going to allow you to get BD?! Oh the irony!!

Gary

Two possible scenarios:

Wife: "You lose! Now buy me the purse!"

or

Wife: "Ok, you win. Go get your Blu-ray player... but I'm getting the purse anyway."

:D

Thankfully my wife's into HT and not purses. :D

I didn't mean it that way. Just that if he ends up not being able to tell the difference, then he shouldn't get the expensive Blu-ray player and she should win.

--Darin

Agreed. I'll be feeling pretty humble in here if I lose this thing. Plus all our friends will hear about it too. There's more than just a blu Ray player riding on this. :)

Greg

Two possible scenarios:

Wife: "You lose! Now buy me the purse!"

or

Wife: "Ok, you win. Go get your Blu-ray player... but I'm getting the purse anyway."

:D

There is a high probability of this. She was likely OK with the Blu Ray player from the start or she probably woudn't have agreed to the bet. Also, I probably would have bought her the purse next time I was away at a conference anyhow.

Greg

Agreed. I'll be feeling pretty humble in here if I lose this thing. Plus all our friends will hear about it too. There's more than just a blu Ray player riding on this. :)Then you better practice before the big test. :)

Are you sure you don't want to go out and buy a DVD and HD DVD copy (if you don't have it) of "Blazing Saddles" or something instead of using "Batman Begins"?

--Darin

Then you better practice before the big test. :)

Are you sure you don't want to go out and buy a DVD and HD DVD copy (if you don't have it) of "Blazing Saddles" or something instead of using "Batman Begins"?

--Darin

Oh that wobbly, SD Blazing Saddles transfer would be great!!!

Then you better practice before the big test. :)

Are you sure you don't want to go out and buy a DVD and HD DVD copy (if you don't have it) of "Blazing Saddles" or something instead of using "Batman Begins"?

--Darin

You guys are making me nervous about the movie choice! When we had the talk in the car about this this weekend, she asked what movies we have on both. BB was the only one I could think of that I had on both... However, when I went tonight to find the discs, I also happened across a regular DVD I thought I'd given to a friend - King Kong. I guess I also have that one on SD and HD DVD.

I know, I know, that might have been a better choice... But now I can't change my mind, and definitely can't go buy a new movie for this contest - she'll smell something's fishy!!! I know I can win this anyway with Batman Begins, and I'm sticking to it!


Greg

You guys are making me nervous about the movie choice! When we had the talk in the car about this this weekend, she asked what movies we have on both. BB was the only one I could think of that I had on both... However, when I went tonight to find the discs, I also happened across a regular DVD I thought I'd given to a friend - King Kong. I guess I also have that one on SD and HD DVD. ...
Well, try both then. If you are nervous about passing the test, then can we convince J6P to move onto HiDef :rolleyes: Have some faith, the difference is real (you already know that), just make sure you sit close enough ;)

You shouldn't have any problem telling the difference. After I watched Superman Returns in HD and flipped the disc over and watched a few scenes in SD. The difference was HUGE.

I did a test run with Batman Begins and King Kong tonight... no problem with either one. There are CLEAR differences on all scenes I looked at. The biggest differences...

With DVD, it always feels like there's a slight "haze" in front of the picture, almost as if you were watching through a slightly dirty window. This is "lifted" with the HD DVD.

Contrast is dramatically better. Video on DVD feels washed out, much more punchy with HD DVD

Small details like text in signs is MUCH easier to read on HD DVD

Moving objects have a lot of digital artifacts at the edges, even on my good upconverting players.

DVD just somehow feels "digital", not natural somehow. HD DVD just "looks like film" - I've said it a hunderd times.

Now just have to avoid performance anxiety when the test is actually done, and then all the hi-def goodness is mine! Ah ah ah ah! (pretend evil laugh)

Greg


Greg

You guys are making me nervous about the movie choice! When we had the talk in the car about this this weekend, she asked what movies we have on both. BB was the only one I could think of that I had on both... However, when I went tonight to find the discs, I also happened across a regular DVD I thought I'd given to a friend - King Kong. I guess I also have that one on SD and HD DVD.

I know, I know, that might have been a better choice... But now I can't change my mind, and definitely can't go buy a new movie for this contest - she'll smell something's fishy!!! I know I can win this anyway with Batman Begins, and I'm sticking to it!


Greg

We were just messin' with ya'. Ofcourse you'll do fine.

I could've bet that you would've seen all of those things in that test run you just did.

It cracks me up when people act like there is little difference between HD optical and upconverted SD.

So make it double or nothing and you get a load of titles with your purchase.

Hear hear.. make it double.

In BB, the scene with the bridge-jumping car (when it fills the screen in the underground carpark) is a dead giveaway, as long as you are closer than DVD's viewing distance. The car positively glows in high def.

In fact, as long as you are not too far from the screen, this is a cinch for you, given most any scene. Long live high def!

What are you going to get for a BD player?

OK , use Batman begins but practice and read up on the scenes you want to compare.

Things lije when young Bruce present sth ecoin to teh young girl after his rescue. On the HD DVD you can see details on te coin and dirt in his hand. When young bruce is bead, you cab see detailes in the facbric and pin striping invisible on HD DVD

On the subay rides in old bright Gotham the city scapes looks much better in HD DVD

In some of the batmobile driving scenes the night street ligts and dhadow detail is much better with the VC-1 HD DVD tahn th elow bit rate MPEG-2 sd DVD.

Read the Batman HD DV revies, look at the scenes iin HD DVD , then see if you can find the same details in the DVD, I a lot of cases you can't.

When it would come to a WAF approval decision to get another HD player, I would do a little prep.

If she wins (and boy is she confident), she gets a new Louis Vuitton purse. Greg

Are you sure you don't live in Japan?

I also have an AE900 on a 106 inch Hipower screen and sit about 10 feet from it. I got the A1 at launch and fired up Serenity, which I also have on SD DVD, and was a bit disappointed. To me it looked like the SD version. I had to go back and look at the SD version to notice the difference-it looked slightly blurry or out of focus. So I think I would have a tough time with this test if it had been a while since I'd seen the SD version.

Some of the responses in here would do a lot to convince a potential high-def content buyer to just stick with an upconverting player.

Some of the responses in here would do a lot to convince a potential high-def content buyer to just stick with an upconverting player.

Well thanks for pointing that out. Anyone who didn't get that message sure did now!

He's kidding people. Buy HD!!!

Seriously though, I don't yet own a player, but I've seen enough displays to know that the differences are astounding!

The new boat and RV put a damper on our finances, but I'm trying to budget a PS3 for my birthday. The problem for me is, as a sound priority guy, I couldn't stand the thought of watching a single BD without PCM so I also have to budget a receiver.

Can I get in on this action? What else does the Mrs. want? How 'bout a year's worth of manicures vs. my PS3?

This thread is too funny. I bet the OP is more stressed now than when he got married :D
If you win, get the wife the purse anyways.

This thread is too funny. I bet the OP is more stressed now than when he got married :D
If you win, get the wife the purse anyways.

Yeah, I have to warn friends that are thinking about getting married; "If you want to buy something, figure it's going to cost you twice as much because the wife will want something too."

This thread is too funny. I bet the OP is more stressed now than when he got married :D
If you win, get the wife the purse anyways.


I second this idea....otherwise, you're wife might make you hate that you won in the first place ;)

I haven't compared BB recently, but the difference between SD and HD for KK on my panny 900U was dramatic. I would go with KK, get a PS3, and get your wife the knock-off purse.... ;0

this thread is really funny. Good luck! I don't think you'll need luck. A pair of eyes should be good enough to win you that BD player. HD DVD/BD are way better than SD counterparts. Your analogy about the window is dead on for me. Easy pickings.

Isn't a bet something you can win ? I know with my better half, winning or losing still costs me money. Come to think of it, I never won money betting with the female gender...

Yeah, I have to warn friends that are thinking about getting married; "If you want to buy something, figure it's going to cost you twice as much because the wife will want something too."

Exactly! $1000 Blu Ray Player + $800 purse = a LOT more than I spent on the HD DVD player... Can I complain to the BDA or Sony about this? :)

Greg

Exactly! $1000 Blu Ray Player + $800 purse = a LOT more than I spent on the HD DVD player... Can I complain to the BDA or Sony about this? :)

Greg

How did you get away clean with the HD DVD player? You didn't have to buy her anything? Was it your birthday?

What are you going to get for a BD player?

Either a second generation Sony player if they come out in a reasonable time frame, or the current Panasonic model if the commitment to adding Dolby True HD and DTS HD MA comes through. Would rather get one of the new Sony players, but with delays the first time around who knows when these might be available...

Greg

How did you get away clean with the HD DVD player? You didn't have to buy her anything? Was it your birthday?

Nope, just bought that one when it went on sale at Best Buy. It was easy to explain.

Buying a SECOND hi-def player that costs twice as much as the first one, when I originally told her "HD DVD looks like the way to go!" is more problematic.

Greg

Just waiting for some feedback here

How did the shootout go?

Nope, just bought that one when it went on sale at Best Buy. It was easy to explain.

The ol' forgiveness v. permission axiom.

Buying a SECOND hi-def player that costs twice as much as the first one, when I originally told her "HD DVD looks like the way to go!" is more problematic.

Greg

Oooh! Yeah you dug yourself a nice, big hole, there.

So, yeah, what happened with the shootout?

Scorpion King combo would have been a good choice, the DVD look so awful it's almost a JOKE compared to the HD DVD ..

I don't see what the big deal is, if you honestly can't easily tell the difference you don't deserve the BD player.

I have the same setup as you - panny 900u and toshiba hd-a1. I would not be worried at all about passing this test. The second the warner logo came up on the Batman Begins DVD or HD DVD, I could tell you which one I am watching. I dont think you have much to worry about. My wife can even tell the difference between HD and DVD, and she is not the type to care much.

By the way - I agree with OniKoroshi. If you cant tell the difference, you shouldnt waste your money on a blu-ray player.

Wife=owned!

Perhaps gsearles went double-or-nothing and lost his computer, too.

Perhaps gsearles went double-or-nothing and lost his computer, too.

:D

Just had some delays, and we still haven't QUITE gotten done it properly... It's been both funny and frustrating... I finally convinced her to do it one night, so I waited outside the room for 2 minutes (so the slow load time wouldn't be a giveaway) while she loaded up one of the two discs.

I came in, watched for 10 seconds and said "that's the DVD". It was the batmobile "test drive" scene. I was right that it was the DVD, but she didn't tell me so. I left, waited 2 minutes and came back in. It looked the same... I said "hey, that's the same disc!". Well, it WAS the same disc, she tells me she tried to put the HD DVD in and got some error message. Hmmm... We put the HD DVD in again and it worked fine, so not sure what the deal was. Anyway, the HD DVD didn't quite look right, and when I went to check the projector I realized I had accidentally moved the focus out of place when cleaning it the day before. We focused it, but by this point the fun/game/challenge was over. She also thinks I cheated by looking at the diplay on the reciver panel to help me out. (which I most certainly did not!)

SO bottom line, we need to do it over again, I'll drag her back to do it again in the next few days... Sorry guys, I'm dying to tell you all about the real showdown!

Greg

By the way - I agree with OniKoroshi. If you cant tell the difference, you shouldnt waste your money on a blu-ray player.

That's the point of the bet. If I can't tell the difference I should save the money and buy a new 1080p projector first!

Greg

Exactly.

Shrewd man :D

That's the point of the bet. If I can't tell the difference I should save the money and buy a new 1080p projector first!

Greg

I like the way you think!

Just pass that AE900 this way when you do :)

Cheers...
Duy-Khang Hoang