The PS3 Review Thread

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

I'm starting to think there really is a problem with my new PS3. All movies just look too dark. I think I've tried everything. Messed with the RGB, "Y Pb," and superwhite settings and turned up the brightness on my TV all the way, but movies still look too dark. My DVD player looks great, but the PS3 is too dark.

Sounds like there's a problem with your TV connection or cables. If you turn up the brightness ALL THE WAY UP and still see no improvements, something is wrong with the TV or its connection.

If your DVD is hooked up to your TV via component, try switching it with a MultiOut component cable for the PS3. If the picture is still too dark, it is either a cable problem or a PS3 problem. If that's the case, bring the PS3 to the store you bought it from and test it over there with their HDTVs.


fuad

[Cinemaddict]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

If your DVD is hooked up to your TV via component, try switching it with a MultiOut component cable for the PS3. If the picture is still too dark, it is either a cable problem or a PS3 problem

Yeah, tried that and it still looked too dark.

[russtcb]

the forthcoming firmware with DTS-MA was the clincher. I went ahead and traded up from my BDPS300 to the PS3 today.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by russtcb

the forthcoming firmware with DTS-MA was the clincher. I went ahead and traded up from my BDPS300 to the PS3 today.

Congrads Russ, I've had mine for almost 5 months now and love it. Wow, just think now you have capability for DTS MA and Dolby True!!!! Enjoy!

Funny thing is, I never owned a machine that plays games since the days of Super Nintendo in the early 80's...now aside from all my blu-rays, after downloading demo games on the Playstation site when I first got my PS3 (60gb), I now own 14 PS2 games and 7 PS3 games and when I'm not watching blu-ray, I'm having a ball with the games. Great piece of equipment, the PS3!!!! The DTS update was something I've watched for daily.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

Yeah, tried that and it still looked too dark.

Yeah, something is not right there. I'm not sure what's going on with your setup. By the way, what TV do you have, and exactly how is the PS3 connected to it? Does everything look too dark through your PS3? Have you tried BDs, DVDs, and games?

There's something really goofy going on there. If you can't solve it on your own, I would definitely exchange it for a new one. Just make sure to copy any game saves or other key files to an external drive before returning it though.

Don't give up on the PS3 just yet, it looks stunning when operating correctly.

[Cinemaddict]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

Yeah, something is not right there. I'm not sure what's going on with your setup. By the way, what TV do you have, and exactly how is the PS3 connected to it? Does everything look too dark through your PS3? Have you tried BDs, DVDs, and games?

This is my TV:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5058444
It is connected using an HDMI cable I got from monoprice. Could the cord be the problem?

I don't have any games, but BDs and DVDs both look dark.
I hooked up the PS3 to a friends' HDTV, and it looked great.

[Arr MiHardies]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

This is my TV:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5058444
It is connected using an HDMI cable I got from monoprice. Could the cord be the problem?

I don't have any games, but BDs and DVDs both look dark.
I hooked up the PS3 to a friends' HDTV, and it looked great.

it could very possibly be the cord, or even that particular hdmi input on your tv.. if you have another hdmi cable give it a try to find out. also try a different hdmi input ont the tv

[Jason.A.Berger]

Hey All, I'm new here, but have been reading through for a while now. Recently purchased a Pioneer PDP 4280 with a PS3 as the choice for an upconvert/blu ray. Was concerned for all of five second prior to throwing in a non blu ray dvd...I was shocked, and I am rather picky...So far, through CSI NY among other DVDs at it, and I'll tell you, for a while, I had a hard time discerning that they weren't blu ray...Short of some video noise and shades of color showing, I still have a hard time...currently waiting on some Blu Ray discs...Overall, I'd strongly recommend the system, as I'm sure many of us have...just waiting for a few new releases, and trying to determine what surround sound I should go with...

[pmac]

Originally Posted by Jason.A.Berger

Hey All, I'm new here, but have been reading through for a while now. Recently purchased a Pioneer PDP 4280 with a PS3 as the choice for an upconvert/blu ray. Was concerned for all of five second prior to throwing in a non blu ray dvd...I was shocked, and I am rather picky...So far, through CSI NY among other DVDs at it, and I'll tell you, for a while, I had a hard time discerning that they weren't blu ray...Short of some video noise and shades of color showing, I still have a hard time...currently waiting on some Blu Ray discs...Overall, I'd strongly recommend the system, as I'm sure many of us have...just waiting for a few new releases, and trying to determine what surround sound I should go with...

I noticed the upconvert quality when I popped in Toy Story DVD and did the upconvert on the fly through the on screen settings, WoW what a difference. Blu still better, but it makes the DVDs come back to life. I am so stoked for this new release, I have so many movies that I want to watch again for the first time

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

This is my TV:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5058444
It is connected using an HDMI cable I got from monoprice. Could the cord be the problem?

I don't have any games, but BDs and DVDs both look dark.
I hooked up the PS3 to a friends' HDTV, and it looked great.

It's a Symphonic, which is a low-contrast generic from China.

Realistically, a quality TV of that size is going to run at least $700-$800 dollars. Personally I'd recommend a Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, or Sharp. Beware the generics. You really do get what you pay for with TVs these days.

[russtcb]

Originally Posted by mntwister

Congrads Russ, I've had mine for almost 5 months now and love it. Wow, just think now you have capability for DTS MA and Dolby True!!!! Enjoy!

Funny thing is, I never owned a machine that plays games since the days of Super Nintendo in the early 80's...now aside from all my blu-rays, after downloading demo games on the Playstation site when I first got my PS3 (60gb), I now own 14 PS2 games and 7 PS3 games and when I'm not watching blu-ray, I'm having a ball with the games. Great piece of equipment, the PS3!!!! The DTS update was something I've watched for daily.

Agreed. I don't really see myself using it for gaming, but you never know.

I have a relatively low end HTIB I'm running this to through HDMI so having the PS3 decode DTS-MA is really a big blessing for someone like myself.

[Bullseye]

Shouldn't the PS3 be given another star. This machine gets better every day.

[bootman]

Anybody checked out the gun metal grey version that is to hit the US soon?

http://www.dailytech.com/Gunmetal+Gr...ticle11455.htm

[boss]

Originally Posted by Zen Slug

during dark scenes it could just be the film stock used. high iso film stock used to film low-light scenes naturally has more grain.

if it happens also during light scenes it's probably some setting on your samsung that you need to change. look for something called "dynamic contrast" (or similar) in your picture settings menu and also be sure to turn off all the settings that say things like "correction," "dynamic," and "noise reduction."

those settings are for crappy signal inputs and just make matters worse when you feed the tv a good quality signal such as the one from the ps3 or (to a lesser extent) your hd cable box.


good luck!

Thanks for your help.

It worked....however, not it seems dark. I tried brightening it, but it makes the picture sort of wash out.

Is there sort of a way to brighten it, but not make it get like over-white?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by boss

Thanks for your help.

It worked....however, not it seems dark. I tried brightening it, but it makes the picture sort of wash out.

Is there sort of a way to brighten it, but not make it get like over-white?

What you need is a calibration disc. You can either use the calibration menus found on some Disney BDs like Ratatouille or get the Digital Video Essentials on BD. Once you've calibrate your TV, then you'll understand the level of video quality you're SUPPOSED to be able to get from your TV. USING JUST YOUR EYES TO CALIBRATE WON'T DO IT!


fuad

[TENSE]

I Am A Proud 60gb Ps3 Owner, And I Think The Ps3 Is The Best System Out There (period!).

[boss]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

What you need is a calibration disc. You can either use the calibration menus found on some Disney BDs like Ratatouille or get the Digital Video Essentials on BD. Once you've calibrate your TV, then you'll understand the level of video quality you're SUPPOSED to be able to get from your TV. USING JUST YOUR EYES TO CALIBRATE WON'T DO IT!


fuad

Is the Disney Ratatouille one just as good as the Digital Video Essentials one?

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by boss

Is the Disney Ratatouille one just as good as the Digital Video Essentials one?

It's good enough that it'll bring you closer to the reference level for video. But it is not as detailed as DVE. In terms of basic calibration, it works. To set the color setting, you do need to get the red glasses that Disney is selling you for I think US$2, which pays for the shipping. The DVE has three primary color glasses.

If you're not a videophile, the Disney calibration menu is good enough.


fuad

[boss]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

It's good enough that it'll bring you closer to the reference level for video. But it is not as detailed as DVE. In terms of basic calibration, it works. To set the color setting, you do need to get the red glasses that Disney is selling you for I think US$2, which pays for the shipping. The DVE has three primary color glasses.

If you're not a videophile, the Disney calibration menu is good enough.


fuad

Well, I'm not a videophile, but I want to get the best out of my new HD tv.

Is there a noticeable difference for a regular person between if it was calibrated with the Disney and DVE?

I'm debating on spending the $25 bucks (shipping included) to order the DVE from Amazon.

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Shouldn't the PS3 be given another star. This machine gets better every day.

To my knowledge PS3 is the only blu-ray player that the manufacturer has committed to evolve with the technology to a greater extent. They can do this as it has a highly powerful processor and many functions are implemented in firmware rather than hardware.

PS3 should be given many more stars, IMO.