Good news: my Boxset arrived today!
Even better news: I wasn't charged any additional customs charges!
But the bad news is that I am now going to write an AV Forums-type review as, to the best of my knowledge, there are currently no UK-based reviews plus this Thread has had over 400 views, so there must be some interest in this Box out there. But if you lose the will to live reading my drivel, feel free to skip to the conclusion!
Packaging
Since this does matter to many, I thought I'd start here.
There are six slimline cases, the first five hold 4 discs and the last 2 discs = 22 discs in total. The cardboard used to house the collection is not heavy duty but neither is it like a cereal packet, more something in between and perfectly serviceable. Dimensions are 17.5 cm x 14 cm x 8 cm (HxWxD).
The biggest issue for some may be the fact that the discs are stacked on top and flush with each other, so if you have chubby fingers you might find getting the top disc out on its own a bit tricky! Also, there is the risk that the top disc may rub up against the disc below and cause scratching, though all the discs in my Box were absolutely fine with no marks on them anywhere.
The episode titles are all printed on each disc, there are no booklets.
8/10
Picture
The biggie and the main reason why anyone would think about replacing their DVD's with this set.
First of all, my understanding is that Mill Creek are a budget outfit who tend to put out material as quickly and cheaply as possible, with little to no remastering whatsoever. With this in mind, my expectations were suitably low, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I must emphasise that this set cannot be judged against other Blu-Ray TV restorations because, I believe, the money just hasn't been spent on it. For example, does it look as good as Star Trek? No, nowhere near, but then Paramount assembled a huge team, took years and spent millions. Is it as good as the BBC's upscaled HD image from when they broadcast a short run last year? Yes, in my opinion. Is it superior to the Universal DVD's? Absolutely.
For a start, it's in the correct 4:3 aspect ratio rather than the stretched image present on the DVD's (I know you can adjust this using your TV remote, but that's an extra thing to do). I found the image brighter, sharper and clearer with good colours; the Universal DVD's in comparison look dark, dull and flatter. There is image grain but I don't mind that, better that than excessive DNR.
Another thing worth mentioning: I always thought the iconic Pontiac Firebird was brown, but now you can clearly see that it is more gold than brown and it positively glistens off the screen. Faces look natural, there's more shadow detail and I would say that it's at least 25% better than the DVD's.
7/10 (5/10 for the DVD's)
Sound
The Universal DVD's are listed as "2.0 Mono" which is slightly confusing as I always thought Mono was one channel! My Blu-Ray player displayed the sound as 2.0 Stereo and, again, there is a clear improvement here.
Both music, dialogue and effects were louder and more detailed, the DVD's were softer, quieter and more muffled in comparison. There aren't lots of sound panning or whizzing about from speaker to speaker, but it does give the soundtrack a bit more punch and impact.
7/10 (5/10)
Extras
The definition of bare bones: none whatsoever.
However, the DVD's only had two 10 minute interviews with James Garner and Stephen J Cannell, plus a feature on the history of TV detectives which I never watched, so it was hardly feature-packed in the first place.
0/10 (2/10)
Equipment Used
Panasonic CZ952 65" 4K OLED TV
Oppo 95EU Blu-Ray player
Marantz SR7011 AV Receiver
PMC i-Series speakers
Monitor Audio Gold W15 subwoofer
Conclusion
Should you double dip and splash out on this set if you already have the Universal DVD's? I would say that the improvements justify the outlay as they are evident, though it also depends on what your expectations are. If you have a 100" screen and 7.2.4, then you are likely to be underwhelmed, but then the DVD's are still likely to look and sound inferior as well.
If your TV is 65" or less and you have 5.1 or less, then I think it is likely you will be very satisfied with the upgrade.
I must emphasise that I am NOT a critical viewer. I am no longer 25 with 20/20 vision and perfect hearing, and I am more interested in the content than the presentation. I don't spend my time assessing fabric textures and flesh tones, or worrying about colour vibrancy and fine detail; I just switch things on and enjoy.
And this programme is still tremendously entertaining. Yes, it shows its age when it comes to fashions, hairstyles and cars, but its writing, acting and characterisation - the core values regarding quality - are still timeless. And in the same way that Adam West WAS Batman and William Shatner WAS Captain Kirk, James Garner IS Jim Rockford and his wit, charm and intelligence still shines through, no matter what the format.
Could the Blu-Ray be improved upon? Yes, probably, if someone is prepared to take the time and spend the money. But at the time of writing (October 2017), this is probably the best the show has ever looked and sounded. The cheapest price I've found so far is Amazon US (via Amazon UK): either £69 or £71, depending on your delivery option. It is available cheaper on Ebay, but you run the risk of extra customs charges, Amazon mitigate against that somewhat by building in an import fees deposit into their price.
Would I recommend this set over any existing DVD collection? Yes, unreservedly if you're a fan. I'm already looking forward to watching the show again and will donate my previous DVD's to charity. I hope they get a good price for them!
Pros
Improved picture and sound
Smaller, space-saving packaging
The Firebird's never looked better!
Cons
Discs are directly stacked
No extras or subtitles
Cardboard box isn't the sturdiest
Only the TV series, doesn't include the 8 later feature films
Region A only