Is PS3 Still The Best Blu-ray Player??

[DIGITALBATH]

Originally Posted by Exist2Inspire

Is it still the best? No. It is one of the best? Yeah

My only issue is that I have a 40GB console and it has it's issues. Unable to bit-stream HD Codecs, and not PAL / 1080i/50 friendly.

Now I could be mistaken, but I believe that the top two, due to my experience with them would be the Oppo BDP-83 and the Momitsu 899

Just out of curiosity, what difference, if any does it make if the PS3 can send LPCM, instead of bit-stream?

[oppopioneer]

Any rumors or actual confimed reports about the next generation of Playstations (PS4)?

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by DIGITALBATH

Just out of curiosity, what difference, if any does it make if the PS3 can send LPCM, instead of bit-stream?

About -3db.

[Pinto]

I use the PS3 Slim as a standalone player - no one in my household plays PS3 games.

I had two blu ray players before - and had varying degrees of firmware problems with both of them. The wi-fi connection and great firmware on the PS3 are major pluses.

All my A/V components are in a closed cabinet - but I open the front cabinet doors when I run the system because the receiver runs like a space heater - really, really hot. I raised my PS3 on four 1" high black plastic pipe fittings to give it better airflow underneath - you can't see them unless you shine a flashlight into the cabinet. I never hear the fan come on and the player is totally silent. To me it looks pretty snazzy - I just don't think of it as a game console. I like that it doesn't have a disc tray either.

I've read a lot of complaints about the DVD upscaling of the PS3 and when I bought mine I was prepared for the worst on that score, but I was pleasantly surprised. I like the look of upscaled DVDs on the PS3 - maybe it is just a matter of personal preference.

I like being able to put DivX movies on a flash drive and pop it into the PS3 to play them - very handy.

I'll say this about the PS3 - in my experience it is the most CONVENIENT player.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Pinto

I'll say this about the PS3 - in my experience it is the most CONVENIENT player.

On that statement you are 99.99 percent correct. I think I started a thread either here or on another site entitled "Performance vs Convenience". Some people equate the two as one and the same, however, I don't (as many others do not as well). There are many other cars that are more convenient than my BMW - but they don't perform as well. They may even have more features - but they don't perform as well. This is where we are at with the PS3, it's the Toyota of Electronic gear - has a loyal fan base, has provided good service and convenience to its owners, has had some "issues", but owners are very forgiving - and basically it's still a great buy. The Oppo, Denon (the high end one) and others would be the BMW/Mercedes, Audi's of the world, and HTPC's would be your custom made cars - some would be awful, and some would be like the McLaren F1's of the world - rare, very nice - but not very convenient at all - to a novice, but in hands of someone who knew how to handle it...look out!

[Rebel6666]

Originally Posted by Scorxpion

Not in the same manner like XBOX 360,Believe me if you are watching movies or playing games you can barely heard it or never unless you are focusing on it ,unless you are sitting beside your PS3.What it is important and as i know so far PS3 if it is well ventilated No problem with a loud fan.Count on it

Well I have the PS3 Large 60 Gig and the fan makes a lot of noise, I'm also sitting at 10 feet of it.

[lDlisturb3d]

Ok, here we go again this is what i think about the PS3 as i own 3 of them

=PQ, all blu ray players have the same PQ its the TV that really makes a difference

-DVD up-scaling, i do think that they're other players that out perform the PS3 in this category

=AQ, still the same in all players, if you player can handle lossless then you're getting lossless. The only difference is the analog outs, (if you need them). The PS3 doesnt do it.

+SACD's, most blu ray players cant handle this format but the 80g Fat PS3 can

-Subtitle Placement, is a no go with the PS3

-Fan Noise, depending on your model it can get pretty bad. Especially during DVD playback

+Load times, these are the fastest load times ive seen in a player by far.

+On board memory, need i say more, once you've played a BD in the PS3 just eliminate the minor load time you have before

+Firmware Updates, need i speak on this. The PS3 outperforms all players in this category.

=Reliability, this can be argued but i do believe that the PS3 is reliable, I've had my ps3 fat 80g for about 2 years now and have had no problems. I use it extensively too.

+Wifi Capability

+Bluetooth Capability, Just like RF but even better

+Internet Browser

+And just as a bonus its a GAMING SYSTEM.

My conclusion is that the PS3 has way more Pros than Cons and is more flexible than any blu ray player on the market, and for what you are getting its value is amazing. So i do believe its the best blu ray player.

[HDPlasma]

-No on board IR support for standard aftermarket remote

Can you turn off the PS3 by remote?

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

-No on board IR support for standard aftermarket remote

Can you turn off the PS3 by remote?

Yes Sir!, and if you have change to spare you can use aftermarket equipment for that small, tiny, reason. Most people own logitech remotes and HELLO they make an adapter for it. And you can buy a aftermarket bluetooth to IR converter for about 50 bucks, if its that important to you.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by prerich

On that statement you are 99.99 percent correct. I think I started a thread either here or on another site entitled "Performance vs Convenience". Some people equate the two as one and the same, however, I don't (as many others do not as well). There are many other cars that are more convenient than my BMW - but they don't perform as well. They may even have more features - but they don't perform as well. This is where we are at with the PS3, it's the Toyota of Electronic gear - has a loyal fan base, has provided good service and convenience to its owners, has had some "issues", but owners are very forgiving - and basically it's still a great buy. The Oppo, Denon (the high end one) and others would be the BMW/Mercedes, Audi's of the world, and HTPC's would be your custom made cars - some would be awful, and some would be like the McLaren F1's of the world - rare, very nice - but not very convenient at all - to a novice, but in hands of someone who knew how to handle it...look out!

A. Stop talking about your BMW. Its tacky and still a matter of opinion. I know plenty of gear heads who wouldn't touch any BMW with a ten foot pole and would take an Acura or Lexus instead in a heartbeat.

B. Your analogy is flawed because blu ray playback and audio bitstreamed are nearly identical on the PS3 when compared to almost any other player, including high end ones and the Oppo line (of which I own a BDP-80)...

What performance differences are you talking about? Upscaling DVDs and player noise (which varies on near silent to slightly loud) is about the only criteria I can see someone claiming it lacks in performance when compared to high end players but other than that what are these phantom differences you are referring to? Cite them without giving me a flawed BMW analogy.

BD playback - nearly identical to any other player both low end and high end.

FW support - Rivals Oppo whom I rate very high for Customer/FW support.

Load times - starting to be surpassed by newer players but still not slow by any means...it loads slightly slower than my Oppo and both are well within acceptable and above average ranges.

What else is there? Hopefully you can cite some real scientifically backed empirical evidence outside of harping on perceived quality of over priced name brands.

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by Volume11

BD playback - nearly identical to any other player both low end and high end.

50hz discs won't play at all on a US PS3, but will play on almost every other player, both low end and high end. Not playing a disc at all is a big playback difference.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

50hz discs which won't play at all on a US PS3, but will play on almost every other player, both low end and high end. Not playing a disc at all is a big playback difference.

Not a deal breaker in any way shape or form especially for someone living in North America or almost any part of Asia...unless crappy Pal upscales and British TV become widely popular and start flooding the shelves...

A better point would be to say the PS3, while hackable I'm sure, is basically region locked. The Oppo BDP-80 is easily hard modded for around $25 to play any DVD or Blu Ray and isn;t affected by FW updates.

Also, that would be considered a feature the PS3 is lacking and not a performance issue.

And for the most part, has little to do with Blu Ray.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Volume11

A. Stop talking about your BMW. Its tacky and still a matter of opinion. I know plenty of gear heads who wouldn't touch any BMW with a ten foot pole and would take an Acura or Lexus instead in a heartbeat.

B. Your analogy is flawed because blu ray playback and audio bitstreamed are nearly identical on the PS3 when compared to almost any other player, including high end ones and the Oppo line (of which I own a BDP-80)...

What performance differences are you talking about? Upscaling DVDs and player noise (which varies on near silent to slightly loud) is about the only criteria I can see someone claiming it lacks in performance when compared to high end players but other than that what are these phantom differences you are referring to? Cite them without giving me a flawed BMW analogy.

BD playback - nearly identical to any other player both low end and high end.

FW support - Rivals Oppo whom I rate very high for Customer/FW support.

Load times - starting to be surpassed by newer players but still not slow by any means...it loads slightly slower than my Oppo and both are well within acceptable and above average ranges.

What else is there? Hopefully you can cite some real scientifically backed empirical evidence outside of harping on perceived quality of over priced name brands.

Well kind sir- if you don't like my analogy - that's fine. I've stated years ago (when the PS3 was bested by the LG BH-300 in speed) that the PS3 was no longer the best performer. It failed several upconverting test that the LG, Sony, and Panasonics in that day passed with flying colors! Those test were conducted by Home Theater magazine - search the threads and you will find it. I actually posted the numbers. Note that I stated that it is the most convenient BD player out there unless you are a power HTPC user. That's when I went into the car analogies. I know people that will own a HTIB rather than a real HT system... due to its convenience. Convenience does not a product make IMHO. The PS3 is a great machine, but to say it's the best - it's in the eye of the beholder. Oh and I have yet to have to perform a firmware update on my HTPC BD player...and its my major player. I don't have to use a car analogy either... I can use the same analogy that Stereophile used when comparing the G1Giya against the Thiel CS 3.7 - the G1 won hands down - to quote the reveiwer was the G1 right...yes, did that make the Thiel wrong...no. They also comapred the Wilson Sasha against one of my favorite speakers - they liked both for different reasons. Oh and upconverting is a big deal when someone has a large DVD collection that hasn't come out on BD yet or if they don't want to double dip. I mainly buy new releases on BD - the only titles that I have replaced with BD are my Disney titles - all others are new releases. You actually made my point by stating the car analogy as flawed...you have proven that it's in the eye of the beholder. When I say that the PS3 has other players that out perform it - its based on fact (not as a BD player but in the upscaliing department and silence). Is it silent...no...I can make a PC that's quieter than a PS3 and that's important. Oh and the Sony, LG and Panasonic players that bested the PS3 on paper that year...they where not even High End players.


P.S. I have nothing against Toyota, Acura, or Lexus - I actually like them all.

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by Volume11

Not a deal breaker in any way shape or form especially for someone living in North America or almost any part of Asia...unless crappy Pal upscales and British TV become widely popular and start flooding the shelves...

A better point would be to say the PS3, while hackable I'm sure, is basically region locked. The Oppo BDP-80 is easily hard modded for around $25 to play any DVD or Blu Ray and isn;t affected by FW updates.

Also, that would be considered a feature the PS3 is lacking and not a performance issue.

And for the most part, has little to do with Blu Ray.

No it's not region locked. The discs can be region free and still not play on a US PS3. Obviously it's a deal breaker for any one in the US who wants to watch a European release. See today's posts from the Digital Bits Insider's thread where someone has bought Region Free European Blu-ray and it doesn't work on their PS3. Now they'll have to return it or buy a player that does play it back. If they'd bought a Samsung it would have worked. It's a deal breaker for anyone in the US who wants to watch European content at the correct frame rate (or at all in cases where there is no US version).

The US PS3 lacks this feature (ability to play these Blu-ray discs back) and nearly all other US players have that feature (have the ability to play them).

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

No it's not region locked. The discs can be region free and still not play on a US PS3. Obviously it's a deal breaker for any one in the US who wants to watch a European release. See today's posts from the Digital Bits Insider's thread where someone has bought Region Free European Blu-ray and it doesn't work on their PS3. Now they'll have to return it or buy a player that does play it back. If they'd bought a Samsung it would have worked. It's a deal breaker for anyone in the US who wants to watch European content at the correct frame rate (or at all in cases where there is no US version).

The US PS3 lacks this feature (ability to play these Blu-ray discs back) and nearly all other US players have that feature (have the ability to play them).

WHAT!! I own about 25 blus from overseas and they ALL play on my PS3, that dude had a bad disc. Or the studio was false advertising.
I see that the PS3 is soo good people find very minute things to say its not elite. Keeping diggin fellas, but dont break your back's!

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

WHAT!! I own about 25 blus from overseas and they ALL play on my PS3

How many of those are encoded at 1080/50i?

that dude had a bad disc. Or the studio was false advertising.

Nope. The disc is fine. The studio are not false advertising. It really is a region-free disc.
See here:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Life-.../#RegionCoding
I can give you more links if you don't believe that one.

It will play fine in nearly all other US Blu-ray players - because nearly all other US Blu-ray players support 50hz discs - since it's part of the Blu-ray specification.

If you don't believe me that the US PS3 cannot play these discs, ask Penton-Man or one of the other insiders. Or try any 50i Blu-ray yourself on your PS3 (though you'll be wasting your money buying one since the US PS3 won't be able to play it - even if the disc is region free).

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Volume11

Not a deal breaker in any way shape or form especially for someone living in North America or almost any part of Asia...unless crappy Pal upscales and British TV become widely popular and start flooding the shelves...

A better point would be to say the PS3, while hackable I'm sure, is basically region locked. The Oppo BDP-80 is easily hard modded for around $25 to play any DVD or Blu Ray and isn;t affected by FW updates.

Also, that would be considered a feature the PS3 is lacking and not a performance issue.

And for the most part, has little to do with Blu Ray.

Here's the link to the thead with the test. https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-pl...profits-2.html

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

No it's not region locked. The discs can be region free and still not play on a US PS3. Obviously it's a deal breaker for any one in the US who wants to watch a European release. See today's posts from the Digital Bits Insider's thread where someone has bought Region Free European Blu-ray and it doesn't work on their PS3. Now they'll have to return it or buy a player that does play it back. If they'd bought a Samsung it would have worked. It's a deal breaker for anyone in the US who wants to watch European content at the correct frame rate (or at all in cases where there is no US version).

The US PS3 lacks this feature (ability to play these Blu-ray discs back) and nearly all other US players have that feature (have the ability to play them).

You misunderstood my point. I said a BETTER point would be to point out that the PS3 is region locked and that other players, most notably the Oppo series, are easily modded.

That point holds more water as a con concerning the PS3 vs the lack of 50h playback.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by prerich

Well kind sir- if you don't like my analogy - that's fine. I've stated years ago (when the PS3 was bested by the LG BH-300 in speed) that the PS3 was no longer the best performer.

Correct.
The PS3 hardware has stayed static since release other than scaling down the size of the chips while blu-ray players SOC have dramatically improved and surpassed the PS3 in speed and DVD upscale capabilites at half the price.

http://winstonsreviews.com/?page_id=56

.

[lDlisturb3d]

Ha u guys are a trip, i dont even think you realize how hard you trying to make the PS3 inferior. At the end of the day you cant deny the simple fact that the PS3 has more cons then pro's and more options/flexibility than any blu ray player on the market.
END OF STORY!!