Keep the PS3 slim, or try the Oppo?

[Zman2k2]

So right now I'm running a PS3 slim as my main media player. Initially, when I bought it, I loaded a lot of my CD's on the HDD, thinking that using it as a music player would be a great addition. However, I haven't been using that aspect of it, as I find the quality of the sound lacking on the AAC files at 320kbps that they were ripped at. I usually end up playing the CD rather than the ripped audio file. I don't game with the PS3, I just use it for movies and music. Lately, I've also been considering the Oppo, based on the ability to play SACD's and DVD-A's along with BD's and my daughter's DVD's.

Now that I've given you some background, here's my question. Is the added ability of the Oppo enough for me to change my player? I'm looking for opinions based on "If you were me" thinking. I would sell the PS3 and buy the Oppo, not keep both. Keep in mind how I use the PS3. I don't stream media from my computer, I don't game either. It's strictly a movie and music player.

[ak_ka]

Hmm. If I had the extra cash, I'd go for it. Since you're not using any of your PS3's other capabilities, it makes sense to own a blu-ray player, which is widely regarded as the best one around.

[Hammie]

Get the Oppo. I think you will be very pleased with that decision.

[ewsjr]

As I've posted a couple of times before, I've been a professional photographer for newspapers for the last 33 years and shot every kind of film you can name and I bought the Oppo because it was the only player I looked at that created a picture from a blu-ray that looked like it was a string of kodachrome 25 slide film. It was that film-like. If PQ is important to you, the Oppo is a no-brainer.

[Jwilly019]

If you plan on getting into SA-CD and DVD-A then go for the Oppo, otherwise I'd stick with the PS3, but that's just me.

[SeanMF]

Which I'll add the Pioneer Elite 23fd for $100-150 less than the oppo if you don't plan on using the sacd/dvd-a.

[sinister184]

im going to be the voice of opposition and say keep the PS3. Just a few of my opinions why. SACD and DVDA are nice but depending on your tastes there might not be much out there for you. I love the bluetooth remote for the PS3, i could press pause from my mailbox and it would pause. PS3 is alot better for streaming(if you ever decide to). Has Wifi, even if all your doing is getting updates, thats alot easier than running an ethernet cord. Now has netflix support. Exchangeable HDD, large amounts of home videos, music etc can be stored on the console. Hopefully one day we'll finally get a lossless codec support (wont hold my breath though) has a decent internet browser. accepts USB accessories (Card readers etc) and it would set you back another 250 bucks to get the Oppo

[Jwilly019]

Originally Posted by seanfarley2

Which I'll add the Pioneer Elite 23fd for $100-150 less than the oppo if you don't plan on using the sacd/dvd-a.

The Pioneer as well, thinking about this one myself.

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

So right now I'm running a PS3 slim as my main media player. Initially, when I bought it, I loaded a lot of my CD's on the HDD, thinking that using it as a music player would be a great addition. However, I haven't been using that aspect of it, as I find the quality of the sound lacking on the AAC files at 320kbps that they were ripped at. I usually end up playing the CD rather than the ripped audio file. I don't game with the PS3, I just use it for movies and music. Lately, I've also been considering the Oppo, based on the ability to play SACD's and DVD-A's along with BD's and my daughter's DVD's.

Now that I've given you some background, here's my question. Is the added ability of the Oppo enough for me to change my player? I'm looking for opinions based on "If you were me" thinking. I would sell the PS3 and buy the Oppo, not keep both. Keep in mind how I use the PS3. I don't stream media from my computer, I don't game either. It's strictly a movie and music player.

If you really want to use SACD and DVD-Audio then the decision is pretty easy to change. But what other added abilities are you thinking about? As you say you mostly play the CD rather then the ripped audio file, I am guessing they two will be about the same.

I changed to the Oppo for a couple of different reasons, I preferred the design and it fits on the rack I wanted to get. It is also doesn't make noise where I could here the fan of my older PS3. With my rack sitting next to my couch, the noise issue really matter. That probably is not an issue for you with the slim design but I am not sure

[Zman2k2]

Only reason I ask is that I have an insurance payment coming my way. I'm thinking of changing things up, maybe, in my system.

-I have been listening to more music as of late, and as was mentioned, I tend to spin the CD instead of listen to the ripped lossy codec.
-As for the remote aspect, I use the Logitech IR-BT adapter, so the BT remote isn't that big for me.
-As for wireless, I have already run an ethernet cord to my entertainment center for my Xbox360, and have a bridge to split that feed to my receiver/Xbox360/PS3 anyways.
-As for streaming movies, being in Canada, we don't have that anyways.
-As for the suggestion of the Elite 23-FD, the only dealer here in town that caries Elite, is charging $599 for it. That works out to about the same as buying an Oppo and paying the shipping/duties for it. Crazy but true.
-Lastly, and probably one of the big reasons to consider the switch, is my wife. She's taken up Pilates, and has a DVD that she uses. For some reason, I've checked all the settings, this DVD doesn't auto-start. It's the only one. It's weird, but true. And she doesn't like navigating the XMB to start her movie. She gets it confused quite often, and ends up calling me to get it started.

Thanks for all the suggestions, and please keep 'em coming.

[kingofgrills]

Why not try re-ripping your CDs with a lossless codec, and try that on your PS3 before swapping? If you don't house them on your PS3, you can also stream them from your PC really easily.

Plus, the PS3 is just adding Netflix now, and although the performance is not up to Blu-ray performance, the instant gratification cannot be overlooked.

BTW, I have an original PS3, and I regularly spin SACD and CDs with it as my main player, and it does a great job. Even without SACD playback on the newer models, the PS3 brings a lot to the table, especially if you're ripping your CDs and playing the files.

[solarrdadd]

i won't tell you what to get or do, but, if you really know the market and what's available and want to get into SACD & DVD-A then Oppo is the way to go. you will love the sounds out of either of those formats.

if i didn't care about higher resolution multichannel/stereo music and i were you, i'd stick with the ps3, if i did, then i'd have no other choice but to go Oppo.

in either case, i'd keep the ps3, you or your child or your childs friends might become interested in gaming later, i'd just keep it.

best of luck, keep us posted.

[kingofgrills]

I agree and meant to make that the second half of my post. If you're really going to get into SACD and DVD-A, then getting the Oppo would be the way to go. I'd keep the PS3 though, for it's media streaming, storage, and gaming functions.

[Hammie]

If you are not familiar with what is available on SA-CD, visit the sa-cd.net website. It has all SA-CD's listed and is a very informative site.

Also, if you are an iTunes user and you decide to use the Apple Lossless codec, the PS3 is not very user friendly. I got it to work, but it was very cumbersome to get all the codecs and converters to work seamlessly with the media server I was using. In the end I got the Apple TV to stream my music to my HT.

[moviefan]

Originally Posted by ak_ka

Hmm. If I had the extra cash, I'd go for it. Since you're not using any of your PS3's other capabilities, it makes sense to own a blu-ray player, which is widely regarded as the best one around.

I agree. We have both, and the OPPO is head and shoulders ahead for movies:
Excellent DVD upconversion
Much quieter
Far less heat (we have a closed, but well vented cabinet)
Much less power consumption
Plays SACDs
Very fast loading
My son uses the very fine PS-3 for games, but it is OPPO all the way for movies!

[nocturnalentity]

redownload your cds in ATTRAC. At the highest bit rate. It is as warm and full as a cd. If you want SACD? You can a GREAT Sony 5 disc SACD for under 200. Keep the PS3 Slim.

[Zman2k2]

High bitrate ATRAC, huh? Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a try.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Why not try re-ripping your CDs with a lossless codec, and try that on your PS3 before swapping? If you don't house them on your PS3, you can also stream them from your PC really easily.

Plus, the PS3 is just adding Netflix now, and although the performance is not up to Blu-ray performance, the instant gratification cannot be overlooked.

BTW, I have an original PS3, and I regularly spin SACD and CDs with it as my main player, and it does a great job. Even without SACD playback on the newer models, the PS3 brings a lot to the table, especially if you're ripping your CDs and playing the files.

It does do a great job, but the PS3 doesn't handle DSD in it's native format...the OPPO does.

John

[blindcat87]

Another vote for the Oppo. I moved from a 60 Gb PS3 to the Oppo and have never regretted it. Of course, games are not important to me while PAL conversion, best conversion of tricky anime titles, SACD, and DVD-A are. Really, it comes down to what is important to you, but if you are interested in SACD and/or DVD-A, I think that makes the Oppo an obvious choice.

Chris

[mugupo]

I used to own oppo bd83 blu-ray player and the fat 60gb ps3. I sold both of them and grab the ps3 slim, and brought a brite view 6000 media player for all my video view. Oppo is nice player but unless you really into sacd or dvd audio i don't think is worth it, blu-ray and dvd playback isn't much different than ps3 slim, people said oppo dvd upscale is great but personally i don't find much of different, is more matter tv upscale, if you buy brand name hdtv this day, the scale chip will better than almost all blu-ray player outthere anyway. Oppo does play more media file than ps3 but is limited to fat32. For video view from usb hard drive just get a media player that do that purpose, i was suprise that briteview media player can upscale video very good, it look better than oppo in the same video.

Oppo missing wifi is a drawback in my opinion, the speed of oppo blu-ray is fast but not faster than ps3 fat or slim, i compare speed, and navigation is faster in the ps3 as well. PS3 is easily the best for blu-ray, fact is you can view bit rate both video and audio is helpful. Also ps3 offer blue-tooth remote which is far better than any blu-ray remote out there, no longer worry about signal and last longer battery life.

PS3 slim don't support sacd which is why i keep saying if sacd is important do you oppo is the way to go, since stand alone sacd is pricey and not much cheaper than $500.

The guy who brought my oppo is clearly mainly care of sacd playback, so he can save space by having neraly all in one in 1 device, if oppo support nstc hard drive i won't be selling, but it doesn't.

The ps3 slim support bit stream which one of the reason and top of high noise and heat that i pick oppo at that time for blu-ray playback, but slim solve all my problem i had with the fat ps3. Only i might miss is the region playback of oppo, with easy hack you can play any region of dvd and blu-ray region but that process you using the very old firmware. But blu-ray is majority region free this day only dvd might be issue.

SACD is nice feature but unless you had high end audio system you won't hear much of diff than regular cd.