Do you still buy physical media?

[Alpha Centauri]

I do, but rarely. There's no stream that comes even close to Q in 4k and 5.1 channels, so on a very rare occasion BR. For audio sometimes on the hunt for a great SACD if available and the recording must be exceptional...and affordable.

 

[AL2TEACH]

There's no stream that comes even close to Q in 4k and 5.1 channels

Indeed. People don't buy fantastic audio and video stuff to stream, well some might, lol.

 

[HDFan]

Also, the option of new movies being released in physical format is nonexistent in my country (Portugal) and also starting to see diminishing releases in amazon (Spain) as well.

Physical releases are becoming much rarer here in the U.S. as well. My Netflix Optical media queue which used to have just a few entries now has 93 with an "unknown" release date.

DVD is truly dead as a format and the resolution is a joke anymore.

Optical will likely always be there for the die-hards, just as vinyl is now being resurrected.

There's no stream that comes even close to Q in 4k and 5.1 channels, so on a very rare occasion BR.

Not sure what you are saying. DTS-MA and TrueHD audio tracks are streamed all the time. Dune is running at 3234 kb/s at 24 bits. Close to a SACD at 5.6 Mbps, although the bits are spread among more channels.

People don't buy fantastic audio and video stuff to stream,

Don't understand your point. I stream all of my media to various devices and get the same quality as on the original master.

 

[MarkC426]

Physical releases are becoming much rarer here in the U.S. as well. My Netflix Optical media queue which used to have just a few entries now has 93 with an "unknown" release date.

Not only this, but any disk releases (especially TV shows from Prime/Netflix) are ridiculous prices on Amazon.....🤨

 

[oneMadRssn]

Do hard drives for my server count as physical media? If so, yes, I have bought many.

 

[tranceking26]

I sometimes get brand new blu rays and occasionally a DVD cheap on eBay.

Streaming is good too, but sometimes you can't find things on them.

 

[ian87w]

Lol, I used to feel the same way then I had to move 300+ hard cover books. I've learned to appreciate books on my iPad, lol.

Pretty much my main reason to go digital. I had a lot of DVDs, CDs, books, etc. they’re great when I was stationary. Then life happened and I had to move, to a smaller place to boot, and boy they’re liability. Add on the annoyance when you lost track of one title. I decided to just embrace digital streaming and move on with life.

 

[ian87w]

I do enjoy my late father's records on a near daily basis.
In a way it's almost as if he's still here cranking that **** up on Sunday mornings, you know.
That's his music, beautifully curated, full of rarities and obscure stuff.
His taste. His sense of humour.

Definitely keep those players around if you could. One issue with physical media is that the players themselves might be broken, gone or obsolete, rendering the physical media unplayable and useless. I had a ton of mix tapes and I have no way to play them now… 😂

 

[MarkC426]

Definitely keep those players around if you could. One issue with physical media is that the players themselves might be broken, gone or obsolete, rendering the physical media unplayable and useless. I had a ton of mix tapes and I have no way to play them now… 😂

You can get a usb tape player, which lets you record into your mac.....😉

DIGITNOW! Portable Cassette Player/Cassette to MP3 Converter Capture Cassette Tape to MP3/CD Audio via USB

This is a great product to organize your old memories. 1. It can convert your tape to MP3 WAV Ogg vorbis form. 2. There is a mini CD with the product. The software "Audacity" in the CD is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, mac older than version 10.5. Note: If your system version is...

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Not sure what you are saying. DTS-MA and TrueHD audio tracks are streamed all the time. Dune is running at 3234 kb/s at 24 bits. Close to a SACD at 5.6 Mbps, although the bits are spread among more channels.

What can I tell you, it's a high end BR/ SACD player. There's an extremely clear difference in the mixing of the 6 channels.
Sound is more layered, 3 dimensional, clearer and effects to the rear channels encompass the sound stage fuller without being invasive or flat. Center is more "muffled" when streaming with highest tier Netflix pkg, so is Disney+ and volume usually has to run higher but then becomes overpowering with loss of detail.

4k films on the OLED are just vastly superior in every way on BR. Netflix with most DV features are ok with the dynamic contrast occasionally missing a beat, not quite subtle or fluid. Disney can't compete there and some shows are quite dark with their DV.

 

[jollydogfellow]

You can get a usb tape player, which lets you record into your mac.....😉

You see, the reason why digital killed analog is that analog needs proper playback equipment, whereas with CD "good enough" is "good enough".
Yes, there are better and worse DACs, some ancient transports have horrible jitter and are prone to error, but... You get me.

For the most part, you are not constantly fighting physics, once you get to the point where the bits come out of the CD.
Nothing to do with the costs of building a proper tape deck, or the trouble of painstakingly setting up a record player, where one degree can eliminate or cause awful inner groove distortion.

Now, that thing you linked? I have my doubts it will get the signal out of the tape properly.
I can hear the hum, wow and flutter from here.

Teac came up in 2022 (!) with a proper-ish, well built, tape deck which already incorporates a USB DAC (of unknown but probably passable quality).

W-1200 Double Cassette Player Black | Lettore Audio cassette | Audio Players | Audio & HiFi | TEAC Audio

eu.teac-audio.com

I'd at least aim for that.
It can in turn be improved upon by a high end Nakamichi deck and a hi-end audio interface, but I'm digressing.

 

[Boyd01]

I had a big cassette tape collection and listened to them frequently up until around 2008 or so, after which I boxed them all up and put them in the attic along with my Sony deck. About 2016 I dragged them out and connected the deck to a pretty good 4 channel USB audio interface.

What I found was a mixed bag of some tapes that sounded surprisingly good and others that were so bad they weren't worth ripping. For one thing, my opinion of what is acceptable quality had evolved after years of getting used to digital. I ended up ripping perhaps 25% of those old tapes and still enjoy listening to them. The others went back into the box in the attic.

I also planned to do the same thing with many boxes of VHS videotapes I had saved. After watching just a few of the better (commercial) ones, I decided it just wasn't worth the effort to rip them. VHS quality was always horrible, but seeing it on a big progressive scan LCD screen makes it even worse - it gave me a headache to watch!

 

[MarkC426]

I have only ever captured small clips from VHS, purely for humour and nostalgia purposes.
So quality wasn't imperative.....😛

 

[AL2TEACH]

Don't understand your point. I stream all of my media to various devices and get the same quality as on the original master.

What device do you use to stream? How many speakers or soundbar?

 

[HDFan]

any disk releases (especially TV shows from Prime/Netflix) are ridiculous prices on Amazon.....🤨

If you are willing to wait then you can get good prices. Setup a price watch on camelcamel. Bought Dune at a good price:

What can I tell you, it's a high end BR/ SACD player.

Nope, I was streaming.

What device do you use to stream? How many speakers or soundbar?

Stream from Plex on NAS servers and my Mac. Have a 5.3.4 speaker setup. Stream to Nvidia Shield when want original audio quality.

 

[jollydogfellow]

For the most part, you are not constantly fighting physics, once you get to the point where the bits come out of the CD.
Nothing to do with the costs of building a proper tape deck, or the trouble of painstakingly setting up a record player, where one degree can eliminate or cause awful inner groove distortion.

You'll excuse me for straying off topic once more, but it just dawned upon me that the constantly fighting physics aspect of it might be what's drawn many old school audiophiles in, back in the '70s.
You know, same kind of guy who loves motorbikes and fast cars.

In fact, the late Von Karajan was undoubtedly the most "techie" of all conductors, and was also a car nut and a licensed pilot... Might not be a coincidence.

 

[Gator5000e]

Over the weekend I watched the Captain Marvel 4K HDR Blu-ray. I have to say, it was spectacular. I haven’t watched it on Disney+ so I don’t know how it looks streaming, but using the 4K Blu-ray was extremely impressive. The only question I had was the box cover said Dolby Vision but my Blu-ray player played it in HDR. My Blu-ray player is supposed to switch automatically between HDR and Dolby Vision. So I’m not sure what happened, but I was extremely satisfied with the HDR presentation. If you want something spectacular to watch on your 4K TV, give it a shot.

 

[HDFan]

The only question I had was the box cover said Dolby Vision but my Blu-ray player played it in HDR.

Don't understand your point as Dolby Vision is HDR.

 

[-Gonzo-]

Don't understand your point as Dolby Vision is HDR.

His point is his screen isn’t displaying in Dolby Vision but HDR10 instead.

 

[Gator5000e]

His point is his screen isn’t displaying in Dolby Vision but HDR10 instead.

Thank you. Absolutely correct. Lazy writing on my part. It was shown in HDR10 instead of DV. Still looked fa.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Over the weekend I watched the Captain Marvel 4K HDR Blu-ray. I have to say, it was spectacular. I haven’t watched it on Disney+ so I don’t know how it looks streaming, but using the 4K Blu-ray was extremely impressive. The only question I had was the box cover said Dolby Vision but my Blu-ray player played it in HDR. My Blu-ray player is supposed to switch automatically between HDR and Dolby Vision. So I’m not sure what happened, but I was extremely satisfied with the HDR presentation. If you want something spectacular to watch on your 4K TV, give it a shot.

Tbh, I'm surprised you've even found a BR as UHD and DV. I believe that Disney initially brought out some titles but then only made newcomers available for online purchase? It's only what I've read so far looking for releases with this tech. Delving further into articles regarding inferior coding Q of DV for streaming vs BR+DV and the additional costs of producing a BR with this enhanced layer, it becomes clearer why there's not that many titles to begin with. But it's not what you're asking, just found it interesting and open to feedback if that's not the case.

As long as the title includes the licensed Doby Vision ™ symbol and your entire equipment chain supports i.e. HDMI cable speed, TV, AV receiver, BR player the film should to my knowledge, display as DV.

 

[CMoore515]

Prefer physical over all. Especially 4K, Atmos, HDR or DV.

I have an OPPO 203 and a 55" CX for movies.

The only reason I'd buy a streaming copy is if there's no physical 4K and the stream is in 4K.

 

[JamesMay82]

Just thought I’d update that physical here in the UK has really dropped off and currently it’s only 30-40% of the UK home entertainment market at present.

It’s such a shame that streaming has all but killed off what was a thriving industry.

Thousands of lost job losses over the years as well.

I wonder how it will be I’m a few years from now 🤔

 

[JoeShades]

Just thought I’d update that physical here in the UK has really dropped off and currently it’s only 30-40% of the UK home entertainment market at present.

It’s such a shame that streaming has all but killed off what was a thriving industry.

Thousands of lost job losses over the years as well.

I wonder how it will be I’m a few years from now 🤔

30-40% is not exactly killed off

 

[JamesMay82]

30-40% is not exactly killed off

No but Losing 70% of its business Isn’t great. Loads of job losses for people as well which is a shame