PS3 vs. Blu Ray Player

[taylor41]

I've been doing some research on Blu Ray Players and was recommended to purchase a PS3 instead - the following research supports this:

1. Some NEW Blu Ray discs will NOT play in older or even current players until you update the software.
2. 2.0 ready Blu-ray players will be released later this year.
3. PS3 actually matches or comes out ahead which is not a bad deal for $399 (40 GB version) - as most Blu Ray players are $350 to $500 right now - that’s basically like getting the PS3 gaming portion for $50 To $100
4. Most reviews are that PS3 is a match for other Blu Ray players or even exceeds it.

Am I missing something? Why wouldn't everyone just buy the less expensive, more advanced PS3?

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by taylor41

I've been doing some research on Blu Ray Players and was recommended to purchase a PS3 instead - the following research supports this:

1. Some NEW Blu Ray discs will NOT play in older or even current players until you update the software.
2. 2.0 ready Blu-ray players will be released later this year.
3. PS3 actually matches or comes out ahead which is not a bad deal for $399 (40 GB version) - as most Blu Ray players are $350 to $500 right now - that’s basically like getting the PS3 gaming portion for $50 To $100
4. Most reviews are that PS3 is a match for other Blu Ray players or even exceeds it.

Am I missing something? Why wouldn't everyone just buy the less expensive, more advanced PS3?

- PS3 does not have analog audio outs so you would need an HDMI enabled receiver to enjoy advanced audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD-MA, etc).
- Lack of IR support (although there are workarounds for this)
- Odd shape
- Can run hot

Those are the major complaints. I own a PS3 and would not sell it for any standalone player right now (and I sold a gen1 standalone BD player to buy it).

[Slec]

The PS3 is king because it is infinitely updateable via firmware. The PS3 is one of the fastest loading Blu-ray players.

Beyond that, you get into personal preference.

I don't foresee myself using 2.0 (BD-Live) content, so when I buy a standalone player, it will be a 1.1. I don't know if I'll ever use bonus view, but I'd like to have the option.

Someone can correct me if i'm wrong, but you can still play movies on older players, you just don't have access to the internet, or pip content if the player is incapable.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Slec

Someone can correct me if i'm wrong, but you can still play movies on older players, you just don't have access to the internet, or pip content if the player is incapable.

That is correct. You can play the movies. But most 1.0 players are very slow when it comes to playing titles with advanced BD-J features.

[taylor41]

ack_bak:

PS3 does not have analog audio outs so you would need an HDMI enabled receiver to enjoy advanced audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD-MA, etc) - OK
- Lack of IR support - WHAT'S THIS?
- Odd shape - OK
- Can run hot - OK

Those are the major complaints. I own a PS3 and would not sell it for any standalone player right now (and I sold a gen1 standalone BD player to buy it) - SO, YOU AGREE WITH ME?

[cathexist]

Originally Posted by taylor41

- Lack of IR support - WHAT'S THIS?

Makes it so you can't use an IR universal remote...since the PS3 remote uses bluetooth

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by taylor41

PS3 does not have analog audio outs so you would need an HDMI enabled receiver to enjoy advanced audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD-MA, etc) - OK
- Lack of IR support - WHAT'S THIS?
- Odd shape - OK
- Can run hot - OK

Those are the major complaints. I own a PS3 and would not sell it for any standalone player right now (and I sold a gen1 standalone BD player to buy it) - SO, YOU AGREE WITH ME?

IR= infrared. What all your remotes use to talk to their components. In other words, no standalone universal remotes will be able to work with the PS3. There are some workarounds but none are very elegant. Personally, I just use the Bluetooth remote for the PS3 and my uni for everything else.

Also, another +1 on the PS3. I love mine. I have a couple games for it (I also own an xbox 360) but it's primarily a player and my non-techie wife and daughter are able to use it just fine. You can set it to automatically start once a disc is inserted, thus getting rid of any difficulties.

[cathexist]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

- PS3 does not have analog audio outs so you would need an HDMI enabled receiver to enjoy advanced audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD-MA, etc).

Not quite getting what you're saying, PS3 has the option for Analog, Optical, AND digital HDMI audio output.

You would need an HDMI receiver to enjoy advanced audio codecs with any player that's out there.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by taylor41

Am I missing something? Why wouldn't everyone just buy the less expensive, more advanced PS3?

Some people can't help but think of it as a gaming system, not just first, but only. The Playstation brand has always been about gaming and its newest iteration is a media center. Advertising will increase to promote this over time.

There are so many other reasons people buy stand alone players
-They've spent a considerable sum on their receivers and want bitstreaming capabilities.
- some feel receivers will decode better than ANY player
-Want the components to match (looks)
-brand loyalty or hatred...

[cathexist]

I know one reason is children as well. My boss wants to get a blu-ray player in the near future, however is hesitant to get a PS3 because his kids would just want to play a bunch of games on it, hehe.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by cathexist

Not quite getting what you're saying, PS3 has the option for Analog, Optical, AND digital HDMI audio output.

You would need an HDMI receiver to enjoy advanced audio codecs with any player that's out there.

ack_bak is referring to multichannel analog out... not L/R analog out..

[cathexist]

Originally Posted by Slec

ack_bak is referring to multichannel analog out... not L/R analog out..

Gotcha, did not know that. Thanks

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Slec

ack_bak is referring to multichannel analog out... not L/R analog out..

Thanks. Spot on.

[kalkin84]

Originally Posted by taylor41

I've been doing some research on Blu Ray Players and was recommended to purchase a PS3 instead - the following research supports this:

1. Some NEW Blu Ray discs will NOT play in older or even current players until you update the software.
2. 2.0 ready Blu-ray players will be released later this year.
3. PS3 actually matches or comes out ahead which is not a bad deal for $399 (40 GB version) - as most Blu Ray players are $350 to $500 right now - that’s basically like getting the PS3 gaming portion for $50 To $100
4. Most reviews are that PS3 is a match for other Blu Ray players or even exceeds it.

Am I missing something? Why wouldn't everyone just buy the less expensive, more advanced PS3?

you're correct in most aspects: the PS3 (imo) is the best value and performing BD player for under $1000. If you're looking in that price bracket then by all means get the PS3. IF you have some nicer electronics then i would still consider the PS3 but it just can't match what some of the nicer players (ie Denon) can do (excepting games of course ). The build quality, isolation and lack of any perceivable noise, distortion or artificat these players produce is mind blowing, but comes with a price and must be paired with similar quality components and wires ($$$$) to realize the difference.

Short of that $1000 (or higher) price point the PS3 is a fantastic deal and performer.

[ack_bak]

A few other plusses for the PS3 that were not covered:
- Speed. The PS3 loads, plays, and responds to movies better than any standalone player currently on the market (cell processor).
- Hard drive. The PS3 has a built-in hard drive for storage which will most likely come into play later on, especially with web enabled content. One can also upgrade the hard drive themselves or utilize USB.
- Built in wireless. I think this is a huge plus for folks that do not want to run cables.
- Digital distro. The PS3 can be used to stream music and video and there are plans for PS3 owners to download movies via Sony Online Store (although the quality will most likely be inferior to Blu-Ray).

[nycomet]

Isn't a newer version of the PS3 coming out soon? How long before PS4 comes along?

[Bobby Henderson]

The release of "PS4" will be at least another couple or so years off into the future.

I'm not really big into console gaming, but I bought a 80GB PS3 because it does indeed load and play Blu-ray movies very well. Just about any disc authored for Blu-ray is tested on PS3. That's not the case for other players.

Playstation 3 is more than just a Blu-ray player and more than just a gaming console. You can network it to other computers and play lots of media files from them. Certain models will play SACDs. I can take the Compact Flash card out of my Canon DSLR, load it in one of the front card slots and instantly cycle through all my camera shots. You can attach lots of USB devices to a PS3, be it web cameras, mice, keyboards, external hard discs, etc. You can surf the Internet without any worry of malware attacks like you get when using a PC.

About the only thing the PS3 lacks is DVR capability. Isn't there a version in Japan that adds that?

[deccyj]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

- PS3 does not have analog audio outs so you would need an HDMI enabled receiver to enjoy advanced audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD-MA, etc).
- Lack of IR support (although there are workarounds for this)
- Odd shape
- Can run hot

Those are the major complaints. I own a PS3 and would not sell it for any standalone player right now (and I sold a gen1 standalone BD player to buy it).

1 - Why would you want analog inputs anyway? And why would you not want to enjoy advanced audio?

2- Who cares about IR? Bluetooth beats it by a mile, and is finely implemented in the ps3

3- Odd shape? A slot-loading machine which can be placed horizontal or vertical

4- Can run hot? Dont all of them anyway? AND from my experience all other BD players make a lot of noise and take AGES to load!

No contest really for the ps3....not for a loooong while

[Slec]

Originally Posted by deccyj

1 - Why would you want analog inputs anyway? And why would you not want to enjoy advanced audio?

2- Who cares about IR? Bluetooth beats it by a mile, and is finely implemented in the ps3

3- Odd shape? A slot-loading machine which can be placed horizontal or vertical

4- Can run hot? Dont all of them anyway? AND from my experience all other BD players make a lot of noise and take AGES to load!

No contest really for the ps3....not for a loooong while

1) Multi-channel analog allow you to use an older receiver with a BD player that decodes internally and take advantage of lossless audio. Again, not L/R analog. Full explanation found on this sticky

2) Most Universal remotes don't handle bluetooth, therefore workarounds must be used, but they are easy and relatively inexpensive.

3&4) don't bother me...

[cdot2four]

just buy the PS3. I don't even care about gaming and its the smart choice. u will have to get the bluetooth remote $20 its better than charging the controller and a usb flashdrive $20 so u can get the updates right off your computer. and shit if your bored rent a game they are sweet as hell.