PS3 as a Blu-ray Player

[Lee Christie]

This has almost certainly been asked before but I couldn't find it, I suck at searching. Sorry.

How does the PS3 compare to stand-alone Blu-ray players. Purely as a Blu-ray players, ignoring gaming capabilities. If you wanted to set up a home theatre but didn't have any desire for gaming, would you buy a PS3 or a different Blu-ray player? Bearing in mind value for money and quality, compatability, easy of setting up, reliability etc?

I've looked up prices and the PS3 seems to be slightly more expensive than some stand-alone players, and cheeper than others, but I'd assume that being Sony's flagship product, it would have all the bells and whistles: 7.1 surround, HDMI, HDCP, 1080p, 24fps, Profile 1.1, PiP, and everything else that I can't think of right now, and be reliable.

Right now I'm playing Blu-rays on my PC, if I wanted to set up a HT, should I buy a PS3, or something else?

[jorg]

ps3 is asome as a blu-ray player but dose not have analog audio out puts so that would be your only problem also id suggest getting the bd remote

the ps3 is profile 1.1 will be updated to 2.0 for free of course
yes 7.1 souround but not thd internal decoding(can be sent out to your resiver)
all blu-ray players have hdcp and hdmi and 7.1 sourrond in some fourm
and it also depeneds what kind of set up u thinking about and no need to be sorry if you put an effort into serching and making a good post then were glad to answer

[Lee Christie]

Originally Posted by jorg

ps3 is asome as a blu-ray player but dose not have analog audio out puts so that would be your only problem also id suggest getting the bd remote

the ps3 is profile 1.1 will be updated to 2.0 for free of course
yes 7.1 souround but not thd internal decoding(can be sent out to your resiver)
all blu-ray players have hdcp and hdmi and 7.1 sourrond in some fourm
and it also depeneds what kind of set up u thinking about and no need to be sorry if you put an effort into serching and making a good post then were glad to answer

Thanks for your response. I don't have a great TV at the moment (which is why I opted for a BD-ROM drive and watch them on my PC), but If I made the investment in a Blu-ray player (PS3 or not) I would also get a really good TV and sound set up to go with it. So I'd have a set up for digital sound. I'd probably decide on a player first, then fit the setup around that. (is that the right thing to do?)

Can the PS3 output Blu-rays 24fps? People seem to be making a fuss about 24fps. I don't know if my PC (using PowerDVD Ultra) does 3:2 for 60Hz or what, but thats off-topic. I assume the PS3 give you the option to choose 24, 50, or 60, or whatever suits your TV. Options can't hurt, then you can play around and see what works best. If the PS3 supports 24fps, I'd look into getting a 5:5-compatable 120fps TV if it's not prohibitively expensive.

[Slec]

I use a PS3 as well.. It's the most future proof option IMO. Although it doesn't decode DTS-MA, it will eventually. I use mine about 75-80% for movies and couldn't be happier. I got the Nyko infrared blu-ray remote so I can control the PS3 with my Harmony remote. Well worth it.

From what I understand the Panasonic BD-30 (and upcoming 50) have a slightly better picture and can bitstream to a receiver for audio decoding. The PS3 does it internally and sends it out as PCM over HDMI. This matters to some, it does not to me.

[ground chuck]

Can the PS3 output Blu-rays 24fps? People seem to be making a fuss about 24fps. I don't know if my PC (using PowerDVD Ultra) does 3:2 for 60Hz or what, but thats off-topic. I assume the PS3 give you the option to choose 24, 50, or 60, or whatever suits your TV. Options can't hurt, then you can play around and see what works best. If the PS3 supports 24fps, I'd look into getting a 5:5-compatable 120fps TV if it's not prohibitively expensive.

ps3 can do 24fps

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Lee Christie

I would also get a really good TV and sound set up to go with it. So I'd have a set up for digital sound. I'd probably decide on a player first, then fit the setup around that. (is that the right thing to do?)

Yes the PS3 does output at 24 FPS

It's all a matter of opinion on how you proceed. Lossless audio is so incredible that you should absolutely get a receiver that can decode it/play PCM in 5.1 and 7.1. Just figure out your level of importance, and build around that. Picture Quality? Future proof? Internet connectivity (for updates)? load times? flexibility? Sound?

Personally, I would start with the tv and build around it. Something with 120Hz refresh rate. Then I'd decide if I wanted a standalone player or PS3. Then build the home theater around that player.

Good luck and let us know what you decide....

[Lee Christie]

Originally Posted by Slec

From what I understand the Panasonic BD-30 (and upcoming 50) have a slightly better picture and can bitstream to a receiver for audio decoding. The PS3 does it internally and sends it out as PCM over HDMI. This matters to some, it does not to me.

I'm not too bothered by the audio. Is the 50 much more expensive than the PS3? Is the PQ difference noticeable enough to warrant it?

Something I forgot to ask: how's the PS3's DVD upconverting, compaired to other players?

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Lee Christie

I'm not too bothered by the audio. Is the 50 much more expensive than the PS3? Is the PQ difference noticeable enough to warrant it?

Something I forgot to ask: how's the PS3's DVD upconverting, compaired to other players?

The BD-50 isn't out yet so i don't know price point. Sorry. As for upconverting, the PS3 is phenomenal. Way better than my SD DVD upconversion was. I did a side by side when I first hooked up the PS3. The Prestige upconverted on PS3 looked better than upconverted in the SD-DVD player. Blu-ray of course was much better than upconverted SD. As for the BD-30, I'm not sure. Hopefully someone else can provide that.

[Lee Christie]

Originally Posted by Slec

Personally, I would start with the tv and build around it. Something with 120Hz refresh rate. Then I'd decide if I wanted a standalone player or PS3. Then build the home theater around that player.

Sounds like good advice, but does anyone know if you can get good 5:5 120Hz TVs in the UK? I'm not really sure where to look. Does your average salesperson know if a TV does 5:5?

[kuliddar]

I recently got a PS3 myself to play Blu-ray and for DVD Upconverting (being a gaming platform helps too hehe). I feed an optical cable from it to my old receiver to get DD5.1. I've always been happy with the sound of my set up so that is fine for me.

As for image quality its awesome. I have a Panny 42px75u (720p/768p-native) and my jaw as dropped at pretty much every disc (BD/SD) I've thrown in there. The upconversion is awesome. I actually watched "The Ten Commandments" (1956) on it today and the upcoversion was astonishing.

This machine is future proof and a great investment...nuff said!

[Drew664]

How does the PS3 compare to stand-alone Blu-ray players. Purely as a Blu-ray players, ignoring gaming capabilities. If you wanted to set up a home theatre but didn't have any desire for gaming, would you buy a PS3 or a different Blu-ray player? Bearing in mind value for money and quality, compatability, easy of setting up, reliability etc?

I've looked up prices and the PS3 seems to be slightly more expensive than some stand-alone players, and cheeper than others, but I'd assume that being Sony's flagship product, it would have all the bells and whistles: 7.1 surround, HDMI, HDCP, 1080p, 24fps, Profile 1.1, PiP, and everything else that I can't think of right now, and be reliable.

I recently did a poll to see what players were being used by people in this bluray.com community.

Here is the link https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=31719

I think a PS3 would be the best bet.

[crackinhedz]

PS3 40GB ($299) if you sign up for the sony card.

$100 credited back.

[Shock3755]

I bought a PS3 best investment EVER. I am now an HD *****

[Lee Christie]

i've heard the PS3, particularly over here in Europe is noisey.

http://community.eu.playstation.com/...ad.php?t=75005

I don't think I'll get one. It would really really bug me to have the fan grinding away in the middle of a movie. I'm used to NES/SNES/N64/GC/Wii, traditionally Nintendo consoles are dead quiet because they have very little processing power. I'm not personally accustomed to the noise of a high-powered console, so I'd probably get sick of the noise of a PS3 if the reports are ture.

Noise REALLY annoyes me, i'd have to have the sound up really loud so i don't notice it.

Can anyone suggest what stand-alone player might be just as good as the PS3 at playing Blu-rays? One thats available in the UK, and has Profile 1.1, 24fps, al the extras?