PS3 or Stand Alone?

[micks_address]

well you have the equipment so you can do the comparisons side by side so i cant argue to much

that said - the oppo 981 i had was/is regarded as one of the best scalers in the business and the leap in my opinion wasnt subtantial from the ps3...

i assume you have scaling enabled in the ps3's menus? i think it pretty much is by defauly anyway..

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Neo

Disagreeing is fine.

I believe that I'm running the ver. 2.54 firmware on my PS3. I'm pretty good about keeping up to date the firmware stuff.

On my TV, the PS3 looks absolutely putrid when upscaling DVD. My A20 HD DVD player is a better upscaler. I don't know what it is, but it is absolutely awful.

As for my Sony BDPS300/301, they're decent upscalers that do the job. Personally, I would rate those above my PS3 in terms of upscalers.

I have over 2,000 DVD's. There's no way in hell that I'm going to convert each and every one to BD even if they do come out on BD. That's why when playing DVD's, my PS3 is the bastard of the house.

As for playing BD's, the PS3 is one of the best players on the market. I have been really pleased with it and it has also played each and every BD disc thrown at it along with my S300/S301.

I do very little gaming, but I intend to change that very soon with the new Splintercell and F.E.A.R 2 coming out.

[Devildog151]

Standalones take too long to load so, PS3 it is.

[Reginthorn]

PS3 is the best Blu-ray player!

[dvcmember]

I have a PS3, Sony 301 and Panasonic BD35. If setup right, all three products provide a wonderful Blu-ray experience with excellent audio and video. Of the three I prefer the Panny for PQ/AQ. I'm able to Bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio to my receiver and it has a faster load time than the older Sony, though still slower than a PS3. I think, and this is merely my opinion, that its picture quality is a touch better than the others, but again, it's only my perception.

While the Sony and Panasonic are slower loaders than the PS3, they are also quieter than the PS3. The PS3 can be noisy. Have I read somewhere that some PS3s run hot? So far no problems with mine. Also, if you have kids, it's hard to get them off of the PS3 if they are playing LittleBigPlanet (as Petra mentioned) or some other great games out in the market.

The PS3 is a remarkable product though and does come with wireless. Why standalones don't have wireless is really a puzzler to me. If in doubt, buy both a standalone and the PS3 for games.

[prerich]

Most newer BD players have tested better than the PS3 when it comes to upscaling. If I liked gaming - PS3 no question, if I'm a HT buff with an extensive HT setup - Standalone, more audio options and better upconversion (if you're not rebuilding with all BD's). Your choice. Depends on what you like.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by dvcmember

I think, and this is merely my opinion, that its picture quality is a touch better than the others, but again, it's only my perception.

Not a perception - its been tested and found to be an actual fact. Good eyes - I can't tell the difference (I've got bad eyes) but I'm all over anything that gives me more audio options.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Devildog151

Standalones take too long to load so, PS3 it is.

Haven't seen the LG-200 or 300 have you (300 is faster than the PS3) I also hear that the Sony S550 is not too far behind the PS3.

[mreilly611]

I was over a friends house and watched a Blu-Ray on his PS3 and the fan for the PS3 kept turning on and off every couple of minutes and it was so distracting and LOUD. Is this normal for the PS3. I have a Sony S350 and it makes no noise when playing a Disc.

[blujacket]

Originally Posted by mreilly611

I was over a friends house and watched a Blu-Ray on his PS3 and the fan for the PS3 kept turning on and off every couple of minutes and it was so distracting and LOUD. Is this normal for the PS3. I have a Sony S350 and it makes no noise when playing a Disc.

Thats why I bought a Sony BDP-S1 and now have a Panny 35. My PS3 is a loud freakin spaceheater.

[tacoreed]

Drive a Mustang or Tempo. Of course a Mustang! PS3 it is!!!!

[Blu-ray Neo]

Originally Posted by blujacket

My PS3 is a loud freakin spaceheater.

LOL!


Don't forget it's hunger for electricity. On my power bill every month, they have a bar graph showing week by week & month by month your power consumption for the year.

I can tell when I play my PS3. There's a very large SPIKE in those weeks/months. Doing good though. My power bill averages 255.00 a month with a family of six (6).

[mdabb]

Are you more concerned about playback quality or the features the PS3 has to offer ??? The PS3 is no slouch but it can be beaten in Blu-ray quality playback (PQ & SQ) and DVD upscaling department. Load times I would think shouldn't be a deciding factor and stand-alones aren't that slow. Just because you can cook food in the microwave faster doesn't mean it tastes all that well. I am also saying the PS3 isn't horrible, only that it can be beaten.

Stand-alones can offer better quality but don't offer all the tricks of a PS3 so it really comes down to what is more important to you. Focusing on BD and DVD playback or going the PS3 route ??? Stand-alone's can't do what a PS3 can but the PS3 is more limiting on where you can place it, as a PS3 is not something you want to keep closed up in an AV cabinet and the fan can annoy some.

I have both a PS3 and a stand-alone BD player and both are fine. If your budget for a stand-alone is about the cost of the PS3, I would check the threads of the stand-alone's in that price range to get a feel for the likes and dislikes or issues if any of those players that most interests you.

Only you can decide what serves your interests more.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by mdabb

Are you more concerned about playback quality or the features the PS3 has to offer ??? The PS3 is no slouch but it can be beaten in Blu-ray quality playback (PQ & SQ) and DVD upscaling department. Load times I would think shouldn't be a deciding factor and stand-alones aren't that slow. Just because you can cook food in the microwave faster doesn't mean it tastes all that well. I am also saying the PS3 isn't horrible, only that it can be beaten.

Stand-alones can offer better quality but don't offer all the tricks of a PS3 so it really comes down to what is more important to you. Focusing on BD and DVD playback or going the PS3 route ??? Stand-alone's can't do what a PS3 can but the PS3 is more limiting on where you can place it, as a PS3 is not something you want to keep closed up in an AV cabinet and the fan can annoy some.

I have both a PS3 and a stand-alone BD player and both are fine. If your budget for a stand-alone is about the cost of the PS3, I would check the threads of the stand-alone's in that price range to get a feel for the likes and dislikes or issues if any of those players that most interests you.

Only you can decide what serves your interests more.

Well said!!!! +1,000,000!!!!

[Yeha-Noha]

Aside from playing games, the PS3's biggest advantage over a standalone is faster load times. It's major disadvantages are that it can't bitstream HD audio, makes audible mechanical noises much like a PC does, and looks ugly in my opinion. It's also about 2x more expensive than a basic entry level standalone like the Panasonic BD 35 or Sony S350. That's why I choose a standalone that only cost me $178.00 instead of $399.00!

[hitechiowa]

if you like gaming then just keep your 360 and buy a standalone. I have a 360 and a PS3 and im a huge gamer and my PS3 never gets used. The 360 is better in every way shape and form for gaming. The PS3 exclusives have been mediocre at best. MGS4 was really the only game to really amaze me. All the games that come out cross platform are always better on the 360. That being said the PS3 does offer a great blu ray experience as far as PQ/AQ, but if you have a non-hdmi receiver, the ps3 simply falls short of providing an outstanding audio experience because it lacks multi-channel outs. I've had both a stand alone and a PS3 and I prefer the standalone because of the multi-channel outs but thats just my opinion. dont rip my head off ps3 fanboys

[bpomalley85]

Indeed, thanks for all the good comments... At first I actually bought a cheap Sony upconverting DVD player ($85) thinking it must have a better PQ using hdmi than my Panny component DVD player. Turns out the PQ was identical which was kind of a bummer, however the PQ on SD component content looks very good on my tv which does the upscaling itself. I could just keep my old Panny DVD player to play SD because it is amazing how good it really looks on my 50" Plasma. One thing I still don't quite understand is the HD Audio... I have an older 7.1 DTS Onkyo SS system that has no hdmi (only 1 coax, and 4 optical). I can't get HD audio without having an HDMI capable receiver right? If I use the optical out of the PS3 to my receiver and the PS3 directly to the TV via hdmi I will still atleast get DD and/or DTS correct?

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by bpomalley85

I can't get HD audio without having an HDMI capable receiver right?

If I use the optical out of the PS3 to my receiver and the PS3 directly to the TV via hdmi I will still atleast get DD and/or DTS correct?

Yes and Yes.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by mreilly611

I was over a friends house and watched a Blu-Ray on his PS3 and the fan for the PS3 kept turning on and off every couple of minutes and it was so distracting and LOUD. Is this normal for the PS3. I have a Sony S350 and it makes no noise when playing a Disc.

Ive never had this problem... how low was the volume when watching the movie?? thats some fan power in the ps3 then if u can here it over the movie...

[prerich]

Originally Posted by bpomalley85

Indeed, thanks for all the good comments... At first I actually bought a cheap Sony upconverting DVD player ($85) thinking it must have a better PQ using hdmi than my Panny component DVD player. Turns out the PQ was identical which was kind of a bummer, however the PQ on SD component content looks very good on my tv which does the upscaling itself. I could just keep my old Panny DVD player to play SD because it is amazing how good it really looks on my 50" Plasma. One thing I still don't quite understand is the HD Audio... I have an older 7.1 DTS Onkyo SS system that has no hdmi (only 1 coax, and 4 optical). I can't get HD audio without having an HDMI capable receiver right? If I use the optical out of the PS3 to my receiver and the PS3 directly to the TV via hdmi I will still atleast get DD and/or DTS correct?

If you get a standalone and you have multi-channel in's you can get HD audio without upgrading your receiver - there is an entire thread on this (tks to crackinheads) in the audio section - its stickied so you can't miss it

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

Ive never had this problem... how low was the volume when watching the movie?? thats some fan power in the ps3 then if u can here it over the movie...

Ahh, here's where some audio stuff comes into play. If you put the ps3 in a wall unit or in a cubby hole, you have just increased the fan noise - you've amplified it - like a guitar or a drum. This is why I believe its better to let the PS3 remain in free space (heat and fan noise). It's not that you can hear it over a movie - it's the fact that you can hear it in addition to a movie. When I listen to music - I want my air conditioner or heater off - I can hear them in addition to the music - I can't hear them over the music but my ears can detect that there is something that doesn't belong.