Can Bluray player play on non HDTV?

[HHStuart]

I may need to replace my DVD player (non BluRay) and I know I am going to be buying a BluRay player in about 6 months. Rather than buying a player twice can I buy a BluRay player and send the signal from a BluRay player to a regular TV? I can run HDMI to my current receiver. The receiver has an HDMI output but the TV doesn't have a HDMI input. Would the receiver be able to pass it through S-video without upconverting it? This would just be for regular DVD's.

[Pepi28]

Why bother if you dont have an HDTV? There would be no real benefit to you since you would only be using it for regular dvd's. Big waste of cash. Save the money and upgrade your TV. You can get a nice size HDTV (32"-36") for around $500-$750. In the meanwhile get a regular dvd player for your dvd's. Just my 2 cents.

[cnh]

Most blu-ray players have a legacy out. Either composite or s-video output--you need tell the player to put out a 480i signal. so yes you can watch blu-ray on an old set.

If you have RGB component outs that's best. But it might be best to save up for an HDTV..because you won't see a difference on a S-TV.

cnh

[nooshinjohn]

I would say buy the bluray and use the old school rca outs for now. It will play your current discs and you wont need to worry about upgrades later.... that said an entry level bluray is 300+ and you can get a dvd for under 100.00

[metal83]

If you "know" you're going to buy a Blu-ray player in 6 months, then yeah, definitely go for it.
Since you "know" you're buying one in 6 months, i'm going to assume you "know" you're buying an HDTV around that time as well, because if you have no plans to buy an HDTV, the Blu-ray player will be pointless.

[BlueFox]

I would say buy the bluray and use the old school rca outs for now. It will play your current discs and you wont need to worry about upgrades later.... that said an entry level bluray is 300+ and you can get a dvd for under 100.00


On the other hand, you can buy a DVD player for $69. By the time you need a Blu-Ray player the price will either be lower, or you get more features, quality, etc. for the same price as today.

[metal83]

BlueFox makes a great point. Buying a cheap DVD player to get you by for now would be a smart decision as well. 6 months is a decent amount of time, no tellling how much prices will drop by then, maybe they won't at all, but still.

[comfortablycurt]

If you're planning on buying an HDTV soon, I say go for the Blu-ray player. It makes more sense than having to buy a DVD player, and then buying a Blu-ray player in 6 months.

Bluefox does bring up a good point though. You can get decent DVD players for real cheap these days, so that would be another option to consider. I'd say you'd probably be best off going with the BRP though personally.

[metal83]

When do you plan on buying an HDTV?

[BlueFox]

According to the "experts" (they are brilliant in hindsight), our current economy is going to get worse before it gets better. If these rocket scientists are correct then expect things to get less expensive in the future, especially non-essential items such as Blu-Ray players. I suspect a large part of the price of these players is simply due to the novelty of being new. The components can't be that expensive.

Of course, the flip side of lower prices is a higher unemployment rate.

[ESavinon]

Yes you can enjoy blu ray on standard def. tv. You will also notice a grand improvement in clarity,color and picture quality over standard dvds.

[HHStuart]

When do you plan on buying an HDTV?

Sorry, I should have made that clear that I was planning on buying an HDTV at the same time as the BluRay player.
I have still not resolved the issue of loud static for a few DVD's (Many parts of Dark Knight, one spot on Wall-E). I never hear it playing any music and I play a variety of music so am inclined to think it is the DVD player. I have checked the connection of the cables.

Many people had a good point that BluRay may be cheaper at that point.

[cheddar]

Here is what I would do if fortunate enough to be planning an upgrade to HD in 6 mo., but haven't invested anything yet.

1. Extend the wait slightly to get you to at least Black Friday sales after Thanksgiving of next year. Since you're not planning to have an hdtv until after the summer, will it really matter waiting a little more?

2. Buy the cheapest DVD player as others have said that will get you through the wait.

3. Rent your DVDs now. Save your money to get the blu-ray version if you want to own the disk later.

4. After the summer, start to research what your top two or three choices are for an HDTV and a blu-ray player. You might also want to research other potential upgrades to your audio system etc. as you're going to be saving a lot of money by going this route.

5. Sit back and wait until Black Friday, watching online sites like amazon.com. Whether the economy tanks or recovers, retailers will be desperate to get customers back to their stores and should be marking hefty discounts onto what is now becoming a mature, mainstream HD market. I would expect great discounts on everything from HDTVs, to blu-ray players, to blu-ray movies. Probably couldn't be a better time to jump into the format if you've got the money to spend. But do your research early as the deals will probably hit fast once Black Friday comes around, and you'll want to be able to pull the trigger with confidence. I found that online deals were the way to go as they were often the same as in store ones, but you didn't have to fight the crowds. You do have to be early and jump on them, though.

6. Then have a very merry Christmas! ;)

[comfortablycurt]

x2 on everything the Cheddar just said. Do that and you'll be golden.:)