DVD VS BLU-RAY: WHAT’S THE DEAL?
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO DISC FORMATS
While streaming has certainly grown in popularity over the years, many people understandably still prefer to own a hard copy of their favorite movies and television shows. But when you’re out browsing, you’ll run into two different options with very similar appearances: DVDs and Blu-rays.
Which one do you choose? Blu-rays are touted as being unequivocally better in all aspects - and they were designed to supersede the DVD format - yet there are DVD fans out there for a reason. So, what exactly is the difference between the two? What are their pros and cons? Let’s crack open the cases and investigate the similarities and differences between the two!
WHAT IS A DVD?
A Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc (DVD) is a digital optical disc capable of storing 4.7 GB of data, sufficient to hold a single full-length movie; a double-layer DVD can store around 9 gigabytes. A DVD is read with a red laser. It was first released in 1996, in Japan, and quickly became the standard for commercial use.
WHAT IS A BLU-RAY?
A Blu-ray disc (BD) is a digital optical disc capable of storing 25 GB of data; a double-layer Blu-ray disc can hold 50 gigabytes. A Blu-ray is read with a laser that allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the laser that DVDs use. It was first released worldwide in 2006.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
There are a few straightforward similarities between DVDs and Blu-rays (both use laser technology to read a disc, both measure 120mm in diameter and 1.2mm in thickness, both support multi-channel surround sound, and both allow you to watch movies and shows through physical media), but there are also quite a few differences. Here are the main three:
- Picture Quality: A Blu-ray has a higher resolution of 1080p (Full HD) or 4K (Ultra HD); a DVD has a lower resolution of 480p (Standard Definition). This means Blu-ray discs have at least 1080 horizontal lines that make up the image (1920 x 1080 pixels = 2.1 million pixels or 2.1 megapixels). DVDs at 480p only have 480 horizontal lines that make up the picture (720 x 480 pixels = 345,600 pixels or 0.3 megapixels).
- Audio Quality: Blu-rays contain higher-quality audio formats like Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS-HD Master Audio. This means you’ll get audio more similar to the original studio recordings when compared to DVDs.
- Disc Technology: Blu-ray discs have grooves that are thinner and closer together than a DVD’s, letting them store much more information. Plus, Blu-rays have a harder coating that makes them more scratch-resistant than standard DVDs. DVDs have a polycarbonate substrate underneath a protective plastic layer that makes it vulnerable to scratches and damage.
WHY CHOOSE DVDS?
All differences point to an obvious choice: the Blu-ray. So why choose a DVD instead?
First, DVDs are much cheaper. They’re easier to find used, so you can get them discounted at garage sales, used bookstores, and shops like Goodwill. They’re also cheap on online sites such eBay. Even brand new, DVDs are less expensive than Blu-rays.
It’s also a lot easier to find older movies on DVD; not every movie and show has been properly remastered to Blu-ray. Furthermore, if you have a smaller TV, or an old-school CRT television, there’s not much point in choosing Blu-rays over DVDs as you can’t see the difference in picture quality on a screen like that. Some people even dislike the picture resolution of Blu-rays and prefer standard definition instead of the overly sharp images of 4K discs - especially for older movies or for movies that have been poorly upscaled instead of rescanned and remastered.
Finally, the nostalgia. Both DVDs and Blu-rays are the successors of the VHS tape, but DVDs precede Blu-ray technology by a decade. Many remember when DVDs hit the market and have fond memories of those discs. Upgrading to Blu-ray from DVD isn’t necessary if you’re happy with what you’ve got.
WHY CHOOSE BLU-RAYS?
However, as great as DVDs are, some people understandably pick Blu-rays instead. So why make that choice?
First, Blu-ray discs do offer superior picture and sound quality. If you have an HDTV or a 4K UHD TV, it’s better to invest in the Blu-ray version of a movie. Most modern televisions are designed for high-definition and ultra-high-definition content, so they’re more suited for the better resolution that Blu-rays offer. Plus, many modern TVs only offer HDMI inputs and don’t have s-video or composite hookups, so it's usually easier to connect a Blu-ray player than a DVD player - and Blu-ray systems play both Blu-rays and DVDs, while DVD systems only play DVDs.
Plus, if you have a quality home theater setup, the superior audio formats that Blu-ray discs offer makes them the better choice. So if you have a home theater system that can decode formats like Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and DTS-HD Master Audio, then you’ll probably prefer the high-quality sound that Blu-ray discs will provide. Then you can achieve that theater-like sound from your very own living room.
SUMMARY
While the Blu-ray may win over the DVD in terms of quality, one of the reasons DVDs are still around today is thanks to Blu-ray discs. Quite a few of the movies you purchase on Blu-ray also come with a DVD in the case. Blu-ray players can play DVDs as well, so you don’t need a separate player for DVDs, making it easy to own both. It’s rare to find a piece of technology where the newer format doesn’t make it impossible for the older one to exist without jumping through a hundred hoops, so it’s nice to see. It’s almost like you can have your cake and eat it too. Rather: You can have your DVD, and watch it too.
Thanks for reading! If you’re steadily on the side of DVDs, and you need a reliably refurbished DVD player to watch those discs on, you can check out our wide collection of DVD players here. Or, if you prefer Blu-rays or simply like having the option to watch both on a single machine, you can view our selection of Blu-ray players here. Have a great day!
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