Just Getting Around to Blu-Ray? Here are the Blu-Ray FAQ'S

Upgrading To Blu-Ray

The Blu-Ray players have only been around for about 3 years now. Within those 3 years they have become incredibly popular. Many companies have created their own versions of players and are finding success in this market. Also, because of the added competition, it is much easier to get a better deal. Everyone wants to have the biggest and best of everything. We no longer want a 32 inch television in our living rooms. We now we want the 64 inch flat screen with all of the bells and whistles. And Blu-ray DVD players are a recent addition that make watching television that much better. Not only are you getting a crystal clear picture, but you are getting perfect surround sound to boot. Before you go out and start spending your money though, here are a few tips that you should know about.

What's the difference between progressive scan and interlaced video modes?

There are two types of video outputs, progressive scan and interlaced. Interlaced creates a good picture and uses a small bandwidth by drawing every other line of the picture on one refresh period and then draws the rest of the lines on the next refresh period. Progressive scan, on the other hand, draws all lines of the picture each refresh period. Progressive scan delivers a cleaner and smoother picture quality but also uses more bandwidth. But, with Blu Ray Players fast optical bandwidth is much less of an issue than it was with DVD players.

Optional Home Theater Receiver

Blu-ray players come with a variety of optional outputs, including a variety of audio outputs, from basic stereo outputs that can plug directly into the television to optical audio outputs that send 5.1 or 7.1 Dolby Digital or DTS signals to your receiver. So, while a home theater receiver is not necessary, it's will enable you to get the best possible sound from your Blue Ray player.

You do not need a high-definition television for Blu-ray player, but overall, the video quality that Blu-ray is capable of showing is optimal on a high-definition television.

Does it make a difference if my high-definition TV is LCD, Plasma, OLED or some other technology?

Regardless of the technology behind your high-definition TV, as long as it has an HDMI or DVI input, then you can connect your Blu-ray player to it and get fantastic 1080p quality.

Is a high-definition television needed to use a Blu-ray player?

No! Nearly all Blu-ray players have a variety of video outputs -- HDMI, component (also sometimes called Y/Pb/Pr), S-Video, down to the basic Video Out connection.

However, the picture quality is much better with a high definition television, because with it you will get the optimal 1080p resolution that Blu-ray is capable of. But if you use a component connection, you can still get video quality as good as any progressive scan DVD player.

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