Blockbuster to favor Blu-ray HD discs over DVD format

[PeruvianSkies]

Not to comment on the choice being good or bad, but Target has not really joined the Blu-ray club, per se. I guess you could say they have joined the Blu-ray *player* club though... They have announced they will offer a Blu-ray player (and have no announcements pending for any HD DVD player to the best of my knowledge). They offer the software for both formats, however, and they have said they do not rule out offering HD DVD players in the future (but have no plans to do so currently).

---Dave

Can you buy an Xbox360 from Target? w/ HD-DVD upgrade?

[Groundbeef]

Can you buy an Xbox360 from Target? w/ HD-DVD upgrade?

Yes. Both are available from Target.

[PeruvianSkies]

Yes. Both are available from Target.

So if Target carries this at least you can still shop there (if you are a 1-stop shopper) and get either HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs and player(s). Although, this format seems more like a niche format, but let's face it...it's certainly getting more promotion than many of us expected...the fact that Walmart has a whole shelf area dedicated to High Definition discs blew me away when I first saw it. This type of exposure is certainly generating some sales, unlike things like SACD*, which went under the radar. This brings up a particular question that I am always asking myself...

What do people prefer...high end audio or high end video?

It would seem that the market certainly wants to attract people with video rather than audio and that is a sad thing. For example...

I have seen people with a huge 100" projector system in their house that cost thousands of dollars with a crappy all-in-one audio setup and peoples mouths drop and comment on how awesome so and so's home theater is....meanwhile, they wouldn't say the same thing if they saw my 30" HDTV flanked with nearly 10K worth of audio stuff.

*which by the way I was working at a music store when SACD's were first being introduced and I remember Sony sending us 1 copy of every single title they were releasing for SACD. They sent them to us to 'test' how it would do without any other type of promotion...not even a product endcap to display the merchandise. Needless to say, a few months went by and only a small handful of them sold. Got a memo from Sony shortly thereafter ordering us to destroy all of the SACD's....here is a somewhat paraphrased version of what ensued on the telephone....

ME: I can't destroy these!
Corporate: You must destroy them!
ME: Can I say that I destroyed them, but really just took them home?
Corporate: If you do, than you can just stay home permanently and not return here.
ME: Can't we at least TRY and sell them?
Corporate: We have a mandate from Sony telling us to destroy them, now just do it!
ME: What if I am crushing the SACD's and I happen to be in the parking lot and a few of them find their way into my car?
Corporate: Just destroy them.

There were many instances at that store where we were ordered to destroy product regardless of its condition. I never understood this. We were never allowed to take it home, but I'll never tell if I did or not!

[Groundbeef]

What do people prefer...high end audio or high end video?

It would seem that the market certainly wants to attract people with video rather than audio and that is a sad thing. For example...

!

Its not really a question of what do they prefer, but rather what are they willing to spend big bucks on.

I for one spend the money on the Video (50" Pioneer Plasma) and spent moderate on the audio (Pioneer Receiver, and JBL speakers).

Frankly, I felt that I got a better deal with the higher end video, and am less concerned with the audio.

Part of the problem I think for consumers in audio shopping is the lack of distinction between Watts (Power) and the actual sound quality. How many times have you seen 1500 WATTS on the side of a "Box Surrond System". People are attracted to the large watts, and not so much on actual quality because for most of them more power equals better sound.

Plus, unless you are in a boutique (sp0 audio shop, it is VERY difficult to hear, let alone compare various components. In the big box shops, loud is king.

It is easier to compare say two 50" plasma TV's. Oh look, that one has a sharper picture...etc.

Shocking as it may seem, most regular consumers don't get all wrapped up around high end sound. Its just not as important to them as it is to the passionated audiophiles lurking around in here.

[nightflier]

Part of the problem I think for consumers in audio shopping is the lack of distinction between Watts (Power) and the actual sound quality. How many times have you seen 1500 WATTS on the side of a "Box Surrond System". People are attracted to the large watts, and not so much on actual quality because for most of them more power equals better sound.

I also think it's confusion, a lot like the different model numbers they label Intel & AMD CPUs with these days. Joe Average, shopping at CC and BB, doesn't understand the details of the specs on the box. And don't expect him to read the manual, either ("Manual? There was a Manual? I thought it was part of the packing..."). For him, it has to look good next to his TV and be able to play loud. Actually if it just looks good and reasonably expensive (e.g. with the word Bose/Sony/etc. on it), then that's really all that matters - hence the reason that the TV, representing visual acceptance, is so much more important.

Plus, unless you are in a boutique (sp0 audio shop, it is VERY difficult to hear, let alone compare various components. In the big box shops, loud is king.

There's a reason for that: companies (not to name names again, but Bose does seem to always float to the top of the septic tank), pay for placement in a store (yes, also at Walmart & Target). And you can be pretty certain they won't want their speakers sitting right next to Martin Logans, uh, I mean next to Harman Kardons, well, actually not even next to Sonys. And with Joe Average's favorite magazines and websites (Consumer Reports, Sound & Vision, C-Net, etc.) spouting off nonsense that these brands are just as good, how will Joe know any different?

It is easier to compare say two 50" plasma TV's. Oh look, that one has a sharper picture...etc.

Until someone adjusts contrast, brightness, etc. to make the expensive one look worse. ("Wow, look mabel, I can't tell the difference anymore, so let's buy the cheaper one...") TVs are items that really do benefit from critical reviewing, but how many of those reviews actually compare similarly priced and featured models?

Shocking as it may seem, most regular consumers don't get all wrapped up around high end sound. Its just not as important to them as it is to the passionated audiophiles lurking around in here.

Actually there is one test you can perform that will work for just about anyone who doesn't have decades of wax stuffed in his ears: listen at low volume. A good sound system does not require high volume. If you can a/b two setups for someone in the same room, most people will pick the higher-end system when listening at low volumes. It always amazes me how many people make a purchasing decision because something sounded so good at a loud volume in the store.

Now getting back to the topic, it may very well be that the HD format that can sound the best at low volumes, will be the one audiophiles will choose. Unfortunately the one that appears to look best in the store (at that could be either one) will be the one Joe Average buys. Therefore, Joe Average will not decide who wins this format war. And since there is still enough selection on both sides, this also will not sway Joe Average. What will sway him is cost, and there, HD-DVD has the edge. Until BR comes down into the same price range, it is still too soon to call a winner.

What is sad is that the winner in this format war is being called mostly based on which side is selling the most right now. For audiophiles, that barometer should be anathema to everything he believes.

[GMichael]

. What will sway him is cost, and there, HD-DVD has the edge. Until BR comes down into the same price range, it is still too soon to call a winner.

What is sad is that the winner in this format war is being called mostly based on which side is selling the most right now. For audiophiles, that barometer should be anathema to everything he believes.

But there are also those "I believe I'm better than Joe" Average people out there who equate a higher price with better quality. I submit Bose as my example as well.

[Groundbeef]

But there are also those "I believe I'm better than Joe" Average people out there who equate a higher price with better quality. I submit Bose as my example as well.

I was "reading" my Playboy Magazine a few months back, and they had a section on High-End Audio equipment. The name totally escapes me, but the price did not. The speakers for a pair were about $250,000. Now, that doesn't equate to quality. That equates to " I have a bigger weiner than you, can't you see my $250,000 speakers".

I think that there are extremes on both ends of the market. Unless that speaker does the dishes, washes my car, and does other things when not playing music I fail to see how that much money equates into quality either.

And certainly not to inflame the anti-Bose crowd here, but why is everyone (mostly) against them? I don't own any Bose, but my mother in law has that little table top player, and frankly it doesn't sound bad at all. Perhaps she paid to much for it, but so what? Its not like people that buy Bose are killing baby seals, and burning churches on their off time.

Is it that people don't like the marketing end or what?

[SlumpBuster]

..meanwhile, they wouldn't say the same thing if they saw my 30" HDTV flanked with nearly 10K worth of audio stuff.

I only noted it because I read this thread for the first time today.

[PeruvianSkies]

I only noted it because I read this thread for the first time today.

Yeah, but the purpose of me posting that was not to make myself look good or to brag about it, it was simply to emphasize my point about audio and video and what people perceive as being important and such.