Is PS3 Still The Best Blu-ray Player??

[Petra_Kalbrain]

The PS3 may not be THE BEST BLU-RAY PLAYER anymore, but it is still, by far, the BEST VALUE BLU-RAY PLAYER.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

The PS3 may not be THE BEST BLU-RAY PLAYER anymore, but it is still, by far, the BEST VALUE BLU-RAY PLAYER.

i can live with that +1

[briangccf]

I traded my "fat" PS3 for a Oppo BDP 83 se thinking I may have been missing out on something and I was tired of the fan noise. Truth be told I love the Oppo player for what is does and its build quality but it was not worth the extra 600 I had to pan out because like a PS3 it also has a fan and makes fan noise, about the same as my new slim with the new 40 chip. Sony has also dropped their SACD ambitions in favor of their replacement format Blu-ray. Sony developed both, no need for 2 high storage disk formats when everybody will own a blu-ray player. I also started missing the ability to play a game if a chose to, I'm not a big gamer but at least with a PS3 I don't have to buy a separate gaming system and look more like a geek then I already do. I couldn't notice a difference in sound or picture quality either! ones and zeros are the same no matter what player is reading them, the rest is snake oil! So, before my 30 day return policy was up I packed up my Oppo and bought the new slim. I have it running into a Cambridge Audio Dac Magic along with my computer into a Anthem amp and Studio 100 speakers. Being able to surf the web is cool also and stream Netflix. The ps3 is just a power house with endless possibilities. I cant see not owning one! Maybe one day I will own both but if you can only pick one, the winner is hands down the PS3 with Oppo in second!!! I'll never understand why people would even consider the rest of the players unless they are getting them for like 100 dollars to save money. Go PS3, Go Oppo, or Go home and save your money!!! ;-)

[richieb1971]

The biggest difference is scaling of SD content. PS3 does a fine job, can't speak for the standalones.

Oppo is better at being modded for region ALL playback and has a 50/60hz switch/conversion.

Oppo has SACD and is most likely quieter than the older models of PS3, it also sports the right HDMI socket to pass bitstream audio.


If thats an argument for a standalone, thats pretty much all you got going for it. For me, I want the best of both worlds. I have 2 60GB machines, which I would happily get rid of for a Oppo and slim. I have 2 PS2's so B/C is useless to me.

[SillyMammo]

What statements did I make that are not backed up by facts? That more kids own PS3's than they do stand-alones? Is that supposed to be a joke? Do you really think parents are buying their kids stand-alones more often than PS3's? Logic would dictate younger people are more attracted to a game console, while older people would be more attracted to more conventional stand-alone units.

I find the whole "the PS3 is for kids and the stand alone players are for adults" a bit condescending. If you read through the forum you'll see most of the PS3 owners here are adults who pay their own way through life. If you like the stand alone players over the PS3- fine. If you feel special because you are paying your own electric bill- that's super. I've been paying my own bills for 20 years and I feel special every month when I'm writing out the utility bill check.

Please also keep in mind that if it weren't for the PS3 being bought by parents for the kids, the blu-ray format might still be a niche market and not as in good a shape as its in right now.

[LordConrad]

I bought my PS3 for $600 when standalone players sold for $1000. I saved $400 on my blu-ray player and got a game system for free! I have an original 60GB PS3 with up-to-date firmware and an upgraded 250GB hard drive, and it still works as good as the day I bought it. Best money I ever spent.

And for the record, I moved out of my parents house over twenty years ago.

[Post Prod]

Originally Posted by briangccf

I traded my "fat" PS3 for a Oppo BDP 83 se thinking I may have been missing out on something and I was tired of the fan noise. Truth be told I love the Oppo player for what is does and its build quality but it was not worth the extra 600 I had to pan out because like a PS3 it also has a fan and makes fan noise, about the same as my new slim with the new 40 chip. Sony has also dropped their SACD ambitions in favor of their replacement format Blu-ray. Sony developed both, no need for 2 high storage disk formats when everybody will own a blu-ray player. I also started missing the ability to play a game if a chose to, I'm not a big gamer but at least with a PS3 I don't have to buy a separate gaming system and look more like a geek then I already do. I couldn't notice a difference in sound or picture quality either! ones and zeros are the same no matter what player is reading them, the rest is snake oil! So, before my 30 day return policy was up I packed up my Oppo and bought the new slim. I have it running into a Cambridge Audio Dac Magic along with my computer into a Anthem amp and Studio 100 speakers. Being able to surf the web is cool also and stream Netflix. The ps3 is just a power house with endless possibilities. I cant see not owning one! Maybe one day I will own both but if you can only pick one, the winner is hands down the PS3 with Oppo in second!!! I'll never understand why people would even consider the rest of the players unless they are getting them for like 100 dollars to save money. Go PS3, Go Oppo, or Go home and save your money!!! ;-)

With all due respect, it's a tad more than "ones and zeros and the rest is just snake oil". If that were true, every dvd and blu-ray player on the market would produce the same picture and sound. and even if that were true, which it obviously isn't, then there would be no point in buying anything but the very cheapest player on the market.

Although I will concede, after reviewing over 30 blu-ray players, actual blu-ray playback is virtually identical in terms of video quality player to player. The real differences are less subtle in regards to audio and more so SD DVD play back.

I say this all in defense of the PS3, because it's SD DVD performance is no slouch. It was pretty sub-par when it first hit the market, but it's easily as good if not better than the majority of stand-alones, with obvious exception of ones with Reon or Abt solutions.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by briangccf

I traded my "fat" PS3 for a Oppo BDP 83 se thinking I may have been missing out on something and I was tired of the fan noise. Truth be told I love the Oppo player for what is does and its build quality but it was not worth the extra 600,Go PS3, Go Oppo, or Go home and save your money!!! ;-)

LOL aint that the truth, lol Great comment

Originally Posted by SillyMammo

I find the whole "the PS3 is for kids and the stand alone players are for adults" a bit condescending. If you read through the forum you'll see most of the PS3 owners here are adults who pay their own way through life. If you like the stand alone players over the PS3- fine. If you feel special because you are paying your own electric bill- that's super. I've been paying my own bills for 20 years and I feel special every month when I'm writing out the utility bill check.

Please also keep in mind that if it weren't for the PS3 being bought by parents for the kids, the blu-ray format might still be a niche market and not as in good a shape as its in right now.

Correct, like i stateted before most PS3 owners are adults, POST PROD just makes blank statements for no reason. Im not even gonna reply to anything else he says.

Originally Posted by LordConrad

I bought my PS3 for $600 when standalone players sold for $1000. I saved $400 on my blu-ray player and got a game system for free! I have an original 60GB PS3 with up-to-date firmware and an upgraded 250GB hard drive, and it still works as good as the day I bought it. Best money I ever spent.

And for the record, I moved out of my parents house over twenty years ago.

smart man!!!

[X400]

Originally Posted by Post Prod

How about during Blu-Ray playback?? (and how about the BDP-80 and 83 since that up there is the old dvd player)

And how much does that come down to $$$ wise?


& does it make up for the difference in price of the units after say a year?



edit bdp-83 idles 35W PS3Slim idles 75W (cnet says it uses 80.9W during blu-ray playback so Im assuming the bdp-83 also uses more) PS3 Fat (1st gen) 171W

BDP-83 $499.00
PS3Slim $299.99

Does the ps3 slim consume $199.01 more power??

BDP-83 if left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $19.23 a year
PS3Slim if left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $41.20 a year
PS3Fat of left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $93.92 a year

Energy price difference of $21.964 a year

You'll have to use your Oppo for 9 years before you make up the $199.01 price difference of the Oppo/PS3slim (AND THATS IF YOU USE IT 24/hrs a DAY EVERYDAY)


edited to add info for ps3fat 1st gen (even though its not for sale nemore)

[Mooseteets]

heh my PC uses 250watts idle and 350 watts watching a dvd/blu and 500 watts playing a game.
my media center PC uses 110watts idle and 240watts when watching HD content for comparison.

also somone said earlier that using the controller to navigate blurays isnt that good, well i tend to agree, the best thing i bought for my PS3 was the bluray remote, its bluetooth as well so it doesnt even need line of sight like a normal IR remote.

[jonesyg27]

Originally Posted by X400

Does the ps3 slim consume $199.01 more power??

BDP-83 if left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $19.23 a year
PS3Slim if left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $41.20 a year

Energy price difference of $21.964 a year

You'll have to use your Oppo for 9 years before you make up the $199.01 price difference of the Oppo/PS3

Well, the Oppo did save me somewhere between $400-$1000 by not having to buy a new receiver to get lossless audio, so that's a consideration too.

[briangccf]

To me the DACs make the only real difference rather they be in your receiver, pre-amp, or out board DAC like I use. Most disk players are just transports of the ones and zeros to the decoders so rather you use a hard drive, thumb drive, or disk player the outcome should remain the same using the same DAC. There is nothing magic about these disk that 4000 dollar players will find unless its artificial, just ones and zeros that need to be converted back to the original analog signal using a quality DAC. This is why I mostly use computer music now, video is another story because it takes up so much room so Blu-ray should be around for a while. So my point is... If you have a quality receiver or preamp that takes HDMI and can decode the new sound formats, nothing comes close to a PS3. If you need good Dacs or you cant use HDMI with a older receiver go with a Oppo BDP 83 se! I feel these 2 players are the best for the money for what they do with the regular Oppo 83 being in the middle performance wise. this is all just my opinion though and a very simplified explanation cause I'm tired and have other things to do. ;-)

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by X400

You'll have to use your Oppo for 9 years before you make up the $199.01 price difference of the Oppo/PS3slim (AND THATS IF YOU USE IT 24/hrs a DAY EVERYDAY)


edited to add info for ps3fat 1st gen (even though its not for sale nemore)

Great point i bet he doesn't reply to this post with any common sense.

[Post Prod]

For crying out loud what is your deal with this "common sense" attacking crap? Why do you need to take a different point of view so personal.

I never recommended the Oppo over the PS3 and I've said several times the ps3 is a great machine, just "might" not be for everyone. Why do you need to take this so personal? When I'm in most cases agreeing with you?


I never said only kids buy PS3's. I said I bought 6 of them and that's not counting the ones I've bought as gifts. It seems any thing that isn't 100% glowing positive about the PS3 said here, is just too much for you to take, or is something that should be just dismissed as nonsense. What I did say was "I realize lot of PS3 owners don't pay their own electric bill". Which is true. and it was a caveat for the Ps3 for crying out loud as to why power consumption might not matter for a lot of PS3 owners. It wasn't meant as a jab at the PS3, again it was in the same post that said I've boughten them myself, so it would be me jabbing myself.

This isn't the freakin format war, relax, breathe deeply, I'm not your enemy.

I also never said the power consumption would offset the cost of an Oppo or anything close to it. It makes me wonder what the point of replying is when everything I say is taken out of context. It seems there is a mindset here that this is a oppo vs ps3 battle to the death. Which is just absurd. There many fine players out there besides these two that are ideal for all kinds of different consumers. If you love the format, you should be supporting other companies that also make quality players, not just blindly dismissing them as hunks of cheap crap because they don't play PS3 games. You bought a PS3, that doesn't mean all of the other players need to be called cheap.

If people only bought the PS3, what exactly do you think that will do to the blu-ray market? Will other CE manufactures want to even make them? The PS3 is fantastic because it's what dragged the format out of the niche, but it can't sustain the entire industry on it's own. Competition is what drives companies to make better products. and unless you own Sony stock, blindly bashing other players as "cheap" that you have zero experience with does nothing but hurt the format.

Back to the power consumption. This isn't a huge deal, and it's not likely a deal breaker for anyone that isn't interested in buying the most "green" blu-ray player. It's just one of many little factors to take into account when making a purchase. It's not a huge cost, but it's a cost nonetheless, so we shouldn't ignore it.

Look, I work in post in tv/film, and I do home theater installs on the side. I have a tremendous amount of hands on experience with not only a lot of home theater equipment, but the source material itself. Although I've been a member/reader for a while, I rarely post here because of this kind of stuff.

What is the point of a forum if everyone says the same thing and agrees, and uses the same exact equipment? How is this advancing the hobby or the format in general?

[Post Prod]

Originally Posted by X400

How about during Blu-Ray playback?? (and how about the BDP-80 and 83 since that up there is the old dvd player)

And how much does that come down to $$$ wise?


& does it make up for the difference in price of the units after say a year?



edit bdp-83 idles 35W PS3Slim idles 75W (cnet says it uses 80.9W during blu-ray playback so Im assuming the bdp-83 also uses more) PS3 Fat (1st gen) 171W

BDP-83 $499.00
PS3Slim $299.99

Does the ps3 slim consume $199.01 more power??

BDP-83 if left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $19.23 a year
PS3Slim if left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $41.20 a year
PS3Fat of left on 24hrs a day for 1 year (using my local energy fees) = $93.92 a year

Energy price difference of $21.964 a year

You'll have to use your Oppo for 9 years before you make up the $199.01 price difference of the Oppo/PS3slim (AND THATS IF YOU USE IT 24/hrs a DAY EVERYDAY)


edited to add info for ps3fat 1st gen (even though its not for sale nemore)

Yup that all looks about right! I wasn't saying this to steer anyone to an Oppo, you may be confusing me with another poster, the graph simply cites one of their dvd players as a point of reference. It's not the BDP83. I know the new fat model PS3's have revised their hardware so it averages around 130-140 now.

I did try to imply if you own it less than 5 years it might be moot for you. If someone was considering the Oppo BR player, I doubt power consumption would be of any concern anyways, because of it's heft price tag, unless the person buying it was trying to find a "green" player.

I would think the power consumption info would be useful for people really pinching pennies and eyeballing players cheaper than the the PS3 Slim. I have a lot of clients looking for something in the $200 ballpark for example. and I have assistants who have even asked me what's the cheapest blu-ray player they could "live" with and still enjoy the format to it's fullest.

There's still a lot of people who want to jump in, but the $299 price tag is still too high for what many see is a fancy dvd player. and I've tried talking people into a PS3 based on it's other features, but many just don't care about any of the extra features, they simply want something that will play blu-rays. I'll even try to sell them on a Slim by saying it's the most painless one to do firmgrade revisions on and then that of course just starts freaking them out in general.

[Zman2k2]

Wow! The personal attacks are rampant in this thread. Really uncalled for. Post Prod, as for arguing as to whether the PS3 is still the best or not, you will find that arguing for other players is a losing battle when it comes to PS3 fanboys. I see a few in this thread, as I'm sure you do too. When it comes to talking reasonably to a fanboy, they simply refuse to see the other side of the argument. Threads like this continually end up in personal attacks and arguments about the posters "Mama", or other such useless comments. I would suggest, for your sanity, to refrain from further arguments, as they seem to fall on deaf ears.

As for whether the PS3 is the best, I personally bought an Oppo BDP-80, but recommended a PS3 to my brother-in-law. I CAN see the usefulness of certain players in certain situations, and with two boys, he'll get plenty of use from a PS3. I had a PS3, and never used it to it's potential, and my wife found it intimidating to use. Really it comes down to situation. But that argument is lost on a fanboy.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by Post Prod

For crying out loud what is your deal with this "common sense" attacking crap? Why do you need to take a different point of view so personal.

I never recommended the Oppo over the PS3 and I've said several times the ps3 is a great machine, just "might" not be for everyone. Why do you need to take this so personal? When I'm in most cases agreeing with you?


I never said only kids buy PS3's. I said I bought 6 of them and that's not counting the ones I've bought as gifts. It seems any thing that isn't 100% glowing positive about the PS3 said here, is just too much for you to take, or is something that should be just dismissed as nonsense. What I did say was "I realize lot of PS3 owners don't pay their own electric bill". Which is true. and it was a caveat for the Ps3 for crying out loud as to why power consumption might not matter for a lot of PS3 owners. It wasn't meant as a jab at the PS3, again it was in the same post that said I've boughten them myself, so it would be me jabbing myself.

This isn't the freakin format war, relax, breathe deeply, I'm not your enemy.

I also never said the power consumption would offset the cost of an Oppo or anything close to it. It makes me wonder what the point of replying is when everything I say is taken out of context. It seems there is a mindset here that this is a oppo vs ps3 battle to the death. Which is just absurd. There many fine players out there besides these two that are ideal for all kinds of different consumers. If you love the format, you should be supporting other companies that also make quality players, not just blindly dismissing them as hunks of cheap crap because they don't play PS3 games. You bought a PS3, that doesn't mean all of the other players need to be called cheap.

If people only bought the PS3, what exactly do you think that will do to the blu-ray market? Will other CE manufactures want to even make them? The PS3 is fantastic because it's what dragged the format out of the niche, but it can't sustain the entire industry on it's own. Competition is what drives companies to make better products. and unless you own Sony stock, blindly bashing other players as "cheap" that you have zero experience with does nothing but hurt the format.

Back to the power consumption. This isn't a huge deal, and it's not likely a deal breaker for anyone that isn't interested in buying the most "green" blu-ray player. It's just one of many little factors to take into account when making a purchase. It's not a huge cost, but it's a cost nonetheless, so we shouldn't ignore it.

Look, I work in post in tv/film, and I do home theater installs on the side. I have a tremendous amount of hands on experience with not only a lot of home theater equipment, but the source material itself. Although I've been a member/reader for a while, I rarely post here because of this kind of stuff.

What is the point of a forum if everyone says the same thing and agrees, and uses the same exact equipment? How is this advancing the hobby or the format in general?

Perhaps you can correct me as I'm too lazy to look it up myself, but I am almost positive I have read the vast majority of PS3s have been sold to the 18-35 year old crowd. And based on my online gaming between all 3 consoles I can definitely tell you that I have never come across a child that sounds like puberty just hit on the PSN whereas every game I play on Live features an annoying, loud mouthed 13 year old who constantly wants to remind everyone of their sexual orientation.

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by Exist2Inspire

Yes, but here is the real kicker. To get full 3D-HD Picture, you will need an HDMI 1.4 spec machine. The PS3 is HDMI 1.3 spec. So even when the update comes out, the best that one would be able to get is 3D in 1080i. And, yet another possible issue is the connection from a 1.3 spec player to a 1.3 spec receiver.

But to answer the OP's question, it depends. If you play games on the PS3 then you should pay to have Sony fix it (or buy a new one, whatever is cheaper). If you just use it for playing Movies, then buy yourself an Oppo.

Not true - the PS3 will do a full 1080p 3D Blu-ray as confirmed by Penton-Man in his conversations with Sony officials. HDMI 1.3 has the bandwidth for this plus Sony can implement the needed parts of HDMI 1.4 in the PS3 through software so it can communicate with the new 3D TVs.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Not true - the PS3 will do a full 1080p 3D Blu-ray as confirmed by Penton-Man in his conversations with Sony officials. HDMI 1.3 has the bandwidth for this plus Sony can implement the needed parts of HDMI 1.4 in the PS3 through software so it can communicate with the new 3D TVs.

NICE!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Volume11

Perhaps you can correct me as I'm too lazy to look it up myself, but I am almost positive I have read the vast majority of PS3s have been sold to the 18-35 year old crowd. And based on my online gaming between all 3 consoles I can definitely tell you that I have never come across a child that sounds like puberty just hit on the PSN whereas every game I play on Live features an annoying, loud mouthed 13 year old who constantly wants to remind everyone of their sexual orientation.

This is true, i rarely run into kids on PSN, always on xbox tho, so i agree with you on that point.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

Wow! The personal attacks are rampant in this thread. Really uncalled for. Post Prod, as for arguing as to whether the PS3 is still the best or not, you will find that arguing for other players is a losing battle when it comes to PS3 fanboys. I see a few in this thread, as I'm sure you do too. When it comes to talking reasonably to a fanboy, they simply refuse to see the other side of the argument. Threads like this continually end up in personal attacks and arguments about the posters "Mama", or other such useless comments. I would suggest, for your sanity, to refrain from further arguments, as they seem to fall on deaf ears.

As for whether the PS3 is the best, I personally bought an Oppo BDP-80, but recommended a PS3 to my brother-in-law. I CAN see the usefulness of certain players in certain situations, and with two boys, he'll get plenty of use from a PS3. I had a PS3, and never used it to it's potential, and my wife found it intimidating to use. Really it comes down to situation. But that argument is lost on a fanboy.

Im a dedicated fan boy of the PS3 but if someone tells me there's something out there better im not gonna ignore them, imma look into what they are saying. I love the PS3 for many reasons and i think that you are cheating yourself if you dont own one.

Seriously i never want to say i cant do something with my bd player because its not compatiable, and the PS3 never fails in the category, thats why i love it so much.
Good Quailty check
Good Audio check
Great DVD up converstion check
Easily and frequently upgradeable check
Fast Load times check
Wifi Check
If im a gamer i have the option in gaming check
Reliable check

I dont care about the energy consumption, you can drive a Bentley and put regular unleaded gas in it. Come on!!!!!

I currently own 3 ps3's one in my HT one in my Bedroom, and one on standby for a random reason. They are great machines, if they weren't they wouldnt have such a big fan base.