What's the Cheapest and Reliable Choice to have Bluray movies to Play?

cheez

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2010
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Wasn't sure to post here or in home theater thread section. I'm a PC user and wanting to have a bluray equipment set up so that I can watch 4k bluray movies. I am very poor so I can only spend so much. I am contemplating which way to go; standalone bluray player or get a bluray drive and software?

I hear horror stories from people that are not able to play bluray movies using a bluray drive and PowerDVD Ultra 17 on their PC. It doesn't appear to be version-specfic but rather problems with requiring software updates and causes system to not play bluray movies. There are a lot of people that have trouble with this and give up on the bluray nightmare.

I don't have internet at home cause I couldn't afford to pay due to job problems I had (or still having?)

There is a combo deal from Amazon, PowerDVD Ultra 17 (retail box) and a LG Bluray rewriter drive for $103. If I were to get these will I be able to play bluray movies right outta the box without the updates? I don't have internet.

Please advice.

Thank u
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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A stand-alone player will be easier to set up, not have audio sync issues, use less power, possibly be more quiet, and possibly cheaper than the PC software.
 

Insert_Nickname

Diamond Member
May 6, 2012
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First of all we have to distinguish between regular blurays and the newer 4K UHD blurays.

Almost anything should be able to playback regular blurays today. You can run the Cyberlink BD advisor to make sure your system is good to go.

For regular blurays, you'll technically need a BD(XL) drive, a compatible graphics card* with HDCP support and either DVI-D, HDMI or Displayport connection for the monitor/TV. VGA will not work. And the BD playback software of course.

*which means pretty much anything released in the last 10 years

UHD blurays are a different matter entirely. It's such a DRM infested mess, you'll basically have to get a new system, and then only with approved components. Its much, much easier to get either a standalone player or an xbox one.
 

cheez

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2010
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Ok, thank you for the advice guys. If I go standalone bluray player how will I get sound? I don't have a audio receiver all I have is a pair of a little desktop speakers with 3.5mm audio jack. The bluray standalone players don't appear to have this connection but does have optical out for audio. Is there a way to get sound off that?

And how good is standalone bluray player compared to PC video wise? Are they comparable?
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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For the sound: Is this connecting to a TV or monitor? If a TV, you could use its speakers.
 

cheez

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2010
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It's to connect to my monitor it's Acer 27" LED 1080p display and has no speakers built in to it. I don't want to buy an audio receiver is there a way to get sound from optical out from bluray player using my desktop speakers?
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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Nope. You'll need to figure out which one is best for you:

Dedicated player (make sure to check whether it has optical or coax digital) + new speaker set with optical or coax support

BRD drive for PC + blu-ray software
 

whm1974

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2016
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Nope. You'll need to figure out which one is best for you:

Dedicated player (make sure to check whether it has optical or coax digital) + new speaker set with optical or coax support

BRD drive for PC + blu-ray software
I would get the dedicated player as that seems to be the easiest and cheapest solution.
 

Nashemon

Senior member
Jun 14, 2012
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I recommend a standalone. I use a PS4 downstairs and a Sony Blu-ray player in my office. When I bought mine back in like 2011, the load time for a Blu-ray on anything but a Sony was pure crap. Loading is near instant compared to like 2 minutes on anything else. I'm unsure if they've worked that out on newer players, though.
 

cheez

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2010
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Thanks guys. I'm sorry guys, but my gut feeling tells me that you'll get better picture quality with PC setup. I'm not rich to buy an audio receiver to get sound. It would cost me too much if I go standalone bluray player route. I also don't want to join the nightmare club to get 4k bluray movies to work in PC. I just can't aford to lose my time on that. I think I will go with PC setup with non-4k bluray... This will save me headache. Thanks guys.
 

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
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IIRC isn't it possible to get VLC to play BRs by dropping a particular DLL in the VLC program folder?
 

AnitaPeterson

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
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I've been using Total Media Theatre 5 (yes, that old!) for the past six years, and it plays any Blu-Ray I throw at it. Plus HD-DVDs :D

(I had troubles once with a French Region B Blu-Ray)
 

Insert_Nickname

Diamond Member
May 6, 2012
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IIRC isn't it possible to get VLC to play BRs by dropping a particular DLL in the VLC program folder?

VLC handles home made blurays just fine. Its just the commercial variety it can't handle.

I didn't think we were allowed to discuss... ah... alternate methods.

I've been using Total Media Theatre 5 (yes, that old!) for the past six years, and it plays any Blu-Ray I throw at it. Plus HD-DVDs :D

(I had troubles once with a French Region B Blu-Ray)

Still on PowerDVD14, haven't really felt the need to upgrade. Might spring for an 18 licence on sale though.
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,228
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Ok, thank you for the advice guys. If I go standalone bluray player how will I get sound? I don't have a audio receiver all I have is a pair of a little desktop speakers with 3.5mm audio jack. The bluray standalone players don't appear to have this connection but does have optical out for audio. Is there a way to get sound off that?

And how good is standalone bluray player compared to PC video wise? Are they comparable?

So, you best bet would be to get a stand alone player, if you watch the sales you can get a cheap one for around $70, and then a HDMI Switcher with Audio extraction like this one that will let you put multiple HDMI inputs to one HDMI output. Altogether you should be able to do it for around $100USD. This is assuming your monitor has HDMI input, if not then it gets even more complicated. If your monitor has multiple inputs and you are okay switching sources at the monitor then you can get away with an even cheaper HDMI audio extractor, something like this one.