PS3 or BD-S300? Also PS3 questions

[Harry_Krishna]

I own a PS3 now with the latest 1.81 FW update. Would this new BD-S300 be better than the PS3? Would the sound come out better, or the video much sharper or cleaner? They both do 1080p/24, though I am not sure how to tell if the signal is 24fps. I have the new Panasonic 58PZ700U plasma, but its info display only shows what resolution its at (720p, 1080i, 1080p) or how wide I set the screen stretching to.

Next, a few question about the best settings for the PS3. I run it through the new Onkyo 805 receiver that has HDMI 1.3a and can decode all the latest audio codecs (DD. DD THD, DD+, DD ES, DTS HD MA, etc), and pass through the 1080p/24 video

Video:

RGB Full or Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr? It seems to me that RGB would be the old style of video signal (computers and composite), where as Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr would be like the once (back when it was the latest) more advanced component video signals that gave better seprartion of the colors? Or am I wrong?

Audio:

Bitstream or PCM?

When I set it to PCM, all sounds show as PCM on the main screen of the 805. Pressng the info display button the 805 will show Multi PCM 5.1 48khz, sometimes 7.1 (even though I only have 5.1 speakers at this time). I am able to use the THX proccessing dsp on it though, which is good.

When I set it to bitstream, the receiver seems to recognize the incomming signals much better! All will show the tiny PCM symbol lit up, but also the type of signal is now shown too - lossless DD will light up the DD symbol, and the info display reads DD 5.1, one that was DD ES showed up as just that, DTS HD MA (if it reall is on the Night at the Museum BD disc) lights up the DTS symbol, and the info display reads DTS 5.1, and lossless PCM shows as just PCM with the info display showing Multi PCM 5.1 48khz.

So it appears that bitsream may be the better choice?

Thanks

[Jodi]

Originally Posted by Harry_Krishna

I own a PS3 now with the latest 1.81 FW update. Would this new BD-S300 be better than the PS3? Would the sound come out better, or the video much sharper or cleaner? They both do 1080p/24, though I am not sure how to tell if the signal is 24fps. I have the new Panasonic 58PZ700U plasma, but its info display only shows what resolution its at (720p, 1080i, 1080p) or how wide I set the screen stretching to.

Next, a few question about the best settings for the PS3. I run it through the new Onkyo 805 receiver that has HDMI 1.3a and can decode all the latest audio codecs (DD. DD THD, DD+, DD ES, DTS HD MA, etc), and pass through the 1080p/24 video

Video:

RGB Full or Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr? It seems to me that RGB would be the old style of video signal (computers and composite), where as Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr would be like the once (back when it was the latest) more advanced component video signals that gave better seprartion of the colors? Or am I wrong?

Audio:

Bitstream or PCM?

When I set it to PCM, all sounds show as PCM on the main screen of the 805. Pressng the info display button the 805 will show Multi PCM 5.1 48khz, sometimes 7.1 (even though I only have 5.1 speakers at this time). I am able to use the THX proccessing dsp on it though, which is good.

When I set it to bitstream, the receiver seems to recognize the incomming signals much better! All will show the tiny PCM symbol lit up, but also the type of signal is now shown too - lossless DD will light up the DD symbol, and the info display reads DD 5.1, one that was DD ES showed up as just that, DTS HD MA (if it reall is on the Night at the Museum BD disc) lights up the DTS symbol, and the info display reads DTS 5.1, and lossless PCM shows as just PCM with the info display showing Multi PCM 5.1 48khz.

So it appears that bitsream may be the better choice?

Thanks

I think I would want to know the answers to his questions, too.
It sounds like the PS3 (in the forum's opinion) is way better than the BDP-S300 in just about every respect.
And Harry, I hope you'll tell us more about your new Onkyo receiver and how well it performs.

Jodi

[ndirtdigler69]

you do know that this player needs a firmware update right away. it takes the same 2.0 that the other sony has which has all the same stuff the ps3 and the other sony one does. but has 1.3 hdmi in it . if you go to sony style its all right there. i got one on the way and can't wait for it.

[bda4life]

I have read on this forum over the past couple of weeks that the PS3 does not currently support 24pfs (1080/24). We are hopeful that future software updates will enable this. Although I am not certain whether my monitor supports 24pfs.

I do not have a receiver that is HDMI 1.3, but I am able to listen to the PCM audio tracks when available. I have to admit, the PCM track is a better sounding track than DD or DTS. That may change once I can hear a DDTrue or DTS HD track, but so far, I have been very impressed with Blu-Ray.

I also own the Toshiba HD-A2 for HD DVD. I am a huge fan of the Matrix trilogy (well at least the first two titles) and I cannot bring myself to buying the HD DVD trilogy. I am waiting for the Blu-Ray release.

Brett

[BorrowedTime]

Originally Posted by bda4life

I have read on this forum over the past couple of weeks that the PS3 does not currently support 24pfs (1080/24). We are hopeful that future software updates will enable this. Although I am not certain whether my monitor supports 24pfs.

I do not have a receiver that is HDMI 1.3, but I am able to listen to the PCM audio tracks when available. I have to admit, the PCM track is a better sounding track than DD or DTS. That may change once I can hear a DDTrue or DTS HD track, but so far, I have been very impressed with Blu-Ray.

I also own the Toshiba HD-A2 for HD DVD. I am a huge fan of the Matrix trilogy (well at least the first two titles) and I cannot bring myself to buying the HD DVD trilogy. I am waiting for the Blu-Ray release.

Brett

Ummm... 24fps support was added during the last major firmware update 1.8...

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by bda4life

I have read on this forum over the past couple of weeks that the PS3 does not currently support 24pfs (1080/24). We are hopeful that future software updates will enable this. Although I am not certain whether my monitor supports 24pfs.

I do not have a receiver that is HDMI 1.3, but I am able to listen to the PCM audio tracks when available. I have to admit, the PCM track is a better sounding track than DD or DTS. That may change once I can hear a DDTrue or DTS HD track, but so far, I have been very impressed with Blu-Ray.

I also own the Toshiba HD-A2 for HD DVD. I am a huge fan of the Matrix trilogy (well at least the first two titles) and I cannot bring myself to buying the HD DVD trilogy. I am waiting for the Blu-Ray release.

Brett

YES indeed PS3 support completely 1080/24 through firmware update 1.80 and above.

So far my experience with PS3 watching movies on BD ,IT IS WONDERFUL and unbeatable

[Harry_Krishna]

Yes, the PS3 now supports 24fps after 1.80, but HOW can anyone tell if they are watching it that way? My Panny plasma, which is the lastest one just released, has no info button to show what the movie is playing at, only the resolution (1080p, etc), the size of the screen (full, zoom, fill, etc), and the color setting (cinema, vivid, standard, custom). Only think I know, is that the 3:2 conversion is greyed out and says its off. Perhaps if there was a BD movie that ONLY played in 24fps, then we could tell if it worked????

As for the 805, it is fanatastic! I had a PIO 56TXI before it (no HDMI) which was great for the 2 years I used it, but finally wanted a receiver that had HDMI so I could at last play the audio that way too. So, before reading at AFSForm (which is an AWESOME forum if you have never been there yet!!!) that Onkyo was releasing new HDMI 1.3a units, I had bought the Yamaha V2700. WOW was that a killer receiver! I never bought a Yamaha before, having had an old Onkyo 939 ages ago, then the PIO 56, I just thought Yamaha was not in the same league as the others. Was I wrong, it was great! But, it had HDMI 1.2a, so I returned it and got the 805, which I think is even better in sound quality.

But there are a number of things to get straight about these:

1) if you need to upconvert or upscale analog video to 1080P thruough HDMI, you need to wait for the 875 which has the Reon chip in it, and costs quite a bit more (or the 905 if you want the Internet radio and such)

2) You really don't need the HDMI 1.3 for getting the TrueHD or DTS HD MA - as we all know by now, the PLAYER does the decoding, and sends it out as LPCM, so it turns out that even the V2700 was getting the CORRECT audio signals and playing them correctly. And if you want all the bells and whistles (ethernet, Internet Radio, etc), then the V2700 is a great bargain - about the same price as the soon 875 but with all features of the 905 or more even, and WILL scale to 1080P (where the 805 only does up to 720P).

Now if you don't need the upscalling to 1080P (I really don't), then the 805 is a bargain. The sound is amazing, better than the V2700 (but not a whole lot), and Audessy speaker auto setup is awesome. So with any of these, you can't go wrong.

My main concern now though, is WILL the S300 be the same, or will it be better than the PS3? Even with the 2.0 FW update. I love the PS3 as a BD player, I just wish the controller (I bought the Sony BD controller for it) was not Bluetooth, so my Harmony 1000 could be the only controller sitting on my coffee table But if the S300 only gave me that option and nothing else over the PS3, then why spend $500 more, when that could be better used to buy more movies? I have looked at the specs over at Sony Lifestyle, and they were rather vague. I read the PDF manual, and it does mention TrueHD and DTS MA, but as usual, it comes out decoded through LPCM. It does mention 2nd gen video though, so maybe the picture quality might be better? That would sway me to buy it though! I even tried calling Sony's help line, and got the typical Indian with an American name, that was very rude, knew nothing, was extremely vague, and kept telling me I needed to call the PS3 help line - when I kept telling him it was NOT about the PS3 I was calling about, but wanted to know how the S300 COMPARED to the PS3. Totall frustration, so I just hung up on him!

[HDTV1080P]

Your Panasonic TH-58PZ700U is a 60HZ Plasma screen that supports only 1080P/60 inputs and will not accept a 1080P/24 input. Many brands have a info button that also has a number like 30I, 60I, P, 24P, etc next to the resoultion number. Perhaps Panasonic does not give you that info.

[reiella]

For the PS3.

You'll prolly want to buy a remote if you're doing it for video playback.

If you use a Harmony or similar unified remote system, you're going to have to deal with having two remotes because the PS3 uses a Bluetooth remote.

The only other thing is the real-estate footprint the PS3 takes up. But in all, the PS3 is prolly the most solid BD player on the market, and will prolly remain in that role for some time.

[Harry_Krishna]

Here is what I had posted over on the AVSForum:

I own a PS3, but after reading a number or posts over on the Blu-Ray website, I went and bought a S300 just a little bit ago at the local Sony Lifestyle store (they have them in stock right now!). So in a few hours, I hopefully will be able to give you a report. Now mind you, I am NOT as picky as many others, so if you want one of those "nose to the screen counting pixels and B&W aficiendos" type of reviews, then I won't be able to give you that. But a plain JOE review I can help with

As to the 24fps question, then I take it, only the Pioneers do that? Is there a newer model than the PRO-1540HD coming out soon? I see on their website something about 27 days from now . . . . . ?????

Oh, and my Harmony 1000 seems to have CODES for the new S300, YIPEEEEE!!!!!!

Ok, a quick and dirty review. I think the BDP-S300 may be a KEEPER. At least, the Harmony worked 100% with it!!!!!!!!!!!!

But that aside, here are some observations:

Under video settings, it has where you can turn 24fps ON (not just AUTO or OFF as on the PS3). I set it to on, and watched POTC and the brand new Ghost Rider. The video worked, no judder at all that I could see (though also no way to tell IF it were was playing on 24fps???), and the 3:2 pulldown in the menu was greyed out and said off

Also under video was the Y C B (???) or 2 different RGB settings (0-255, and 16-235). I tried the RGB (0-255) first, and the early scence in Ghost Rider were too dark. Tired the Y C B settings and the picture appeared to be just perfect (to my eyes)

In Video settings, it also has color, brightness, and other settings, even a CINEMA setting, but that seemed to pretty much double the Cinema setting of the PZ700, so I left it at standard.

Under audio, it had AUTO or PCM. I set it to PCM. But honestly, did not hear any difference in sound quality. Will try AUTO next time for the heck of it. Oh and by the way = Ghost Rider says in the audio menu DD TRUE HD!!!!!!!! But it did not light up on the 805 display screen But then, of course it wouldn't

As for picture quality, can't really say I noticed it being any better than the PS3, though it might have been. Will need to watch one of the other BD videos I watched before, and pay more attention to the quality, than the story

But my thoughts? If you don't already have a PS3, GRAB THIS!!!!!!! Its worth it. But if you already have a PS3, hmmmm, a real tough one. Guess the selling point would be that at LAST a universal remote WILL work with it ha ha

Oh, and it was Firmware ver 2.0 out of the box.