I recently pulled out my Blu-ray collection and started buying the discs to supplement my library.

I was generally buying them for my favorite movies and TV shows since I want the best viewing experience with bright colors, dark blacks, and a crisp picture, but I seem to turn to them more and more. The quality of streaming content does continue to improve, and most high-speed internet connections can handle the data. However, on a decent, large screen TV, the difference in picture quality is like night and day.

Why I switched to Blu-ray to begin with

To see the quality difference

I live in the country and don't have Gigabit fiber yet, but it's coming this summer. I was tired of viewing dull colors on shows like the new Star Trek universe on my TV when watching Netflix, Paramount+, or other streaming services. Even with high-speed, low-latency, streaming wasn't cutting it. I dusted off some older Blu-ray discs to see if there was a noticeable difference before buying new ones.

I started with Avengers: Endgame, and the vibrant colors and crisp detail made the film pop off my screen. I followed by watching the John Wick films and was equally impressed, especially with the non-muddy darks and color vibrancy. I was so happy with the Blu-ray discs, which I had actually forgotten about, that I finished watching them.

Once I ran out of discs to watch, I switched between streaming services to see if there was a difference. There was a remarkable difference, in fact. It was like watching a 720p YouTube video on the big screen. After my initial comparison, I equated it to hearing a crappy MP3 vs a ripped CD in lossless FLAC format.

Reason for the difference

Your eyes (and ears) aren't playing tricks

The reason Blu-ray discs look spectacular (especially 4K) compared to streaming is that they include data that can be locally processed and sent directly from your player to your TV. Discs offer higher bitrates, greater detail, 10-bit color, which reduces blandness, and fewer compression artifacts. No compression is used by online services. Even with 4K quality claims by streaming services, it's not true 4K and a waste of money. Some devices (depending on your internet speed) can hit a peak bitrate of around 40Mbps, while physical Blu-ray can reach 144Mbps.

Audio quality is also a major part of the viewing experience. They support lossless surround sound that beats CDs, offering cleaner sound at 24-bit sampling/192 kHz for greater dynamic punch from the score and action, with more bass, crisp highs, and clear mids.

Blu-ray and TV hardware

The equipment I use

Now, I'm not claiming to be a music or videophile, but I do like fairly decent stuff. I don't just buy the cheapest big screen TV advertised on Black Friday. But true AV geeks would likely laugh at my setup. Still, I want good-looking movies and sound. I used my affordable (but not cheap) Vizio TV and a Panasonic Ultra HD Blu-ray player. If I were a gamer, I would use a Sony PS5, as it's touted as the best gaming Blu-ray player.

It's still possible to find quality Blu-ray players on the market from major retailers and specialty sites like B&H Photo, Crutchfield, and home theater retailers like ListenUp, which carries brands like Panasonic, LG, and Sony. There is a wide range of prices to choose from, depending on your budget. You can grab a cheaper one on Amazon or spend a bit more for better quality in the $400-$500 range.

If money isn't a concern, home theater sites offer players that promise the best quality to extract and process the most data from your disc.

If you don't want to watch on the big screen in your living room, you can always install a Blu-ray player on your computer and watch on a high-quality Ultra 4K monitor for equally good results. The same thing happens: after you see your monitor pop with vibrant colors and details, streaming looks disappointing at best.

Watching Blu-ray discs instead of streaming is a worthwhile commitment

I'm not going to pretend that watching content on Blu-ray is easier than streaming. You have to get up, change discs, and put the one you were playing back in its case. I tend to save streaming for casual shows, live sports, and catching up on current events. If I do come across a movie or show that I really enjoy, I search for the Blu-ray version.

However, that can sometimes be tricky. Major retailers are shrinking their Blu-ray disc inventories, both in-store and online. As streaming grows, the physical media market is in decline. It reminds me of MP3s and now streaming music, which has essentially killed CD sales. The public wants to sacrifice quality for convenience for both entertainment mediums.

Still, there are ways to locate hard-to-find Blu-rays. Check major online retailers first, like Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon. If there's a special one you need, check local record stores (they still exist). For instance, I was trying to find a live Dream Theater concert Blu-ray, and my local record store was able to special order it. Pawn shops, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace are also great choices for out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.

Once I started watching Blu-ray, anything streaming online is mediocre and disappointing. If you want to experience improved video and audio quality that streaming can't provide, give Blu-ray a shot again, and you won't be disappointed. It can also turn into a fun hobby where you can network with other collectors.