Oppo 83 vs. PS3 vs. LG 390

[sharptailhunter]

I'm ready to purchase my first BD player. I am trying to decide between the three mentioned above. First and foremost I want audio quality and video quality. My system will be used mainly for movies, not so much for music listening. I am interested in movie streaming although I'm not set-up for it yet and I'm not certain that I would absolutely have to have it either. I'm not a gamer but I have kids who would certainly like the PS3. Does the PS3 stream Netflix and such? Does it have the same audio and video quality as the Oppo. Will the PS3 and/or LG upscale as well as the Oppo? Thanks for any input.

 

[Ares]

Short answer on the PS3 yes, but you can't play SACD on the newer models.

 

[jostenmeat]

AFAIK, the PS3 doesn't stream netflix, but there may be plans to implement that in the future, perhaps via FW, who knows.

All BDPs today are able to upscale. The Oppo just does it best of the three. However, a decent bluray on any of them will blow away a decent DVD on any of them.

For PQ and AQ on BD, it is highly unlikely that you could not discern any difference. And that's even if you have a Signature 141 panel, or a JVC RS-35 blown up on a 12 ft wide screen. DVD, you probably could tell a bit of difference on the 12 ft wide screen. You probably wouldn't care at that point though, and exclusively load BDs.

This is a pretty easy choice.

Games, there's only one.

Netflix, there's only one.

SACD+DVDA, there's only one.

The above criteria is what I would choose on. I wouldn't worry about PQ/AQ otherwise.

If you don't care about any of the above, you can save a lot with a Pana BD60. That's what I use with a JVC projector coupled to a huge screen in a very dark room.

 

[Ares]

AFAIK, the PS3 doesn't stream netflix, but there may be plans to implement that in the future, perhaps via FW, who knows.

All BDPs today are able to upscale. The Oppo just does it best of the three. However, a decent bluray on any of them will blow away a decent DVD on any of them.

For PQ and AQ on BD, it is highly unlikely that you could not discern any difference. And that's even if you have a Signature 141 panel, or a JVC RS-35 blown up on a 12 ft wide screen. DVD, you probably could tell a bit of difference on the 12 ft wide screen. You probably wouldn't care at that point though, and exclusively load BDs.

This is a pretty easy choice.

Games, there's only one.

Netflix, there's only one.

SACD+DVDA, there's only one.

The above criteria is what I would choose on. I wouldn't worry about PQ/AQ otherwise.

If you don't care about any of the above, you can save a lot with a Pana BD60. That's what I use with a JVC projector coupled to a huge screen in a very dark room.

PS3 can stream netflix since FW update 3.10 but you will also need a software disc that netflix will send you once you register with them. also there is one more thing the PS3 will be able to do in the future play 3D blu-ray when they hit market BoredSysAdm posted a link on this topic.http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61663

 

[sharptailhunter]

PS3 can stream netflix since FW update 3.10 but you will also need a software disc that netflix will send you once you register with them.

Thanks for that. I had just read a little about it on Sony's website. So, that leans it a little more towards the PS3. Just to clarify though, the PS3 does upscale standard DVDs as good as the Oppo? If not, how close? Thanks again.

 

[Ares]

The PS3 does a good job of upscaling dvds but as far as comparing the 2 I am not sure due to the fact I don't own an Oppo 83 but here is a review from cnet that makes comparisons between the 2,Hope this helps.

http://reviews.cnet.com/blu-ray-players-recorders/oppo-bdp-83/4505-9991_7-33712796.html

 

[njedpx3]

Okay here is my background. I have a PS3, had a Panasonic DMP-DB30 and just purchased a LG 390 BD. The PS3 is primarily used a a game system in the media room; it loads very fast due to brute software power. I would suggest you get the optional DVD type controller to use it as a BD player. The PQ is nice. We stream NetFlix using X-Box /360 and Xbox live gold. That is my son'sgame room Nad i don't normally use it.

I had the Panasonic DMP-DB30 ( about 2 years old) and have had trouble burning and upgrading the firmware. It finally quit palying BDs altgether three week ago. I am still waiting on a firmware upgrade inthe mail from Panasonic; then if that deosn't fix I am supposed to sent in. Panasonic support is terrible.

I bought the LG 390 BD a couple of weeks ago and it is awesome. The load time is fast; very close to PS3 and the PQ is better than the Panasonic DMP-DB30 and in my case better thanthe PS3. Let me explain. The PS3 is connected via component to a 2003 55" Mitshibishi diamond while the LG 390 BD isconencted via HDMI to a Pioneer Elite Kuro 60" plasma, PRO-151FD.

The streaming option is excellent , even over wireless. I have stremed a NetFlix movie and also YouTube. It also provides streaming for CinemaxNow but I have not tried that. The audio quality set at 192kHz is phenomenal.

Good luck! in your choice, IMHO :

If you want very good BD with gaming then PS3

If you want excellent BD with streaming then LG390 BD.

Peace and Good Sound,

Forest Man


P.S. - Don't know about Oppo 83, but another Audioholic just recently reviewed it.

 

[jostenmeat]

PS3 can stream netflix since FW update 3.10 but you will also need a software disc that netflix will send you once you register with them. also there is one more thing the PS3 will be able to do in the future play 3D blu-ray when they hit market BoredSysAdm posted a link on this topic.http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61663

Thanks for the netflix info, it's good to know. I have read the other thread. Even if I don't care for 3d at this point, it's just more evidence that the PS3 is indeed very future proof. It's not the choice for me, but I understand that it's the perfect choice for many others.

I had the Panasonic DMP-DB30 ( about 2 years old) and have had trouble burning and upgrading the firmware. It finally quit palying BDs altgether three week ago. I am still waiting on a firmware upgrade inthe mail from Panasonic; then if that deosn't fix I am supposed to sent in. Panasonic support is terrible.

FWIW, most companies take a while to get the disc to you. Aren't you a computer savvy guy? You can't burn a disc? Toshiba took a while to get me their 4.0 FW for my HDA35.

As for Panasonic support being terrible, I have the opposite opinion. Their support staff was actually reading the AVS threads. They were, during that time, the most supportive regarding FW, and left most others in the dust.

I bought the LG 390 BD a couple of weeks ago and it is awesome. The load time is fast; very close to PS3 and the PQ is better than the Panasonic DMP-DB30 and in my case better thanthe PS3. Let me explain. The PS3 is connected via component to a 2003 55" Mitshibishi diamond while the LG 390 BD isconencted via HDMI to a Pioneer Elite Kuro 60" plasma, PRO-151FD.

On which tests? If no tests, how would you describe it subjectively? Color shifts?

Your BD30 is three generations old, and in a shootout of 6 players as done by Value Electronics, it was the only one to pass all HQV tests. Not even the PS3 passed them all.

 

[PENG]

This is a pretty easy choice.

Games, there's only one.

Netflix, there's only one.

SACD+DVDA, there's only one.

The above criteria is what I would choose on. I wouldn't worry about PQ/AQ otherwise.

Very logical! I would love to have the Oppo but I have a Denon to play SACD and DVDA so I fought off the temptation with logic.

 

[PENG]

I am interested in movie streaming although I'm not set-up for it yet and I'm not certain that I would absolutely have to have it either.

Netflix aside the PS3 can also stream things from your PC network. I find that very convenient. To do that all you need is the PS3 media server that you can download for free.

 

[PENG]

The PS3 does a good job of upscaling dvds but as far as comparing the 2 I am not sure due to the fact I don't own an Oppo 83 but here is a review from cnet that makes comparisons between the 2,Hope this helps.

http://reviews.cnet.com/blu-ray-players-recorders/oppo-bdp-83/4505-9991_7-33712796.html

Thanks for the link. It is really what I need to see too because the reviewer basically confirms what I have been thinking, that while the Oppo scores better in DVD upconversion/scaling than competing players, in real world movie watching the differences are not that obvious to most people

This is what the reviewer said "While we're somewhat tentative on raving about the BDP-83's Blu-ray image quality, our observations about its DVD image quality come with no such reservations; it's significantly better than the DVD processing in competing standalone Blu-rays players, although only videophiles will notice the difference."

I assume most people are not 'videophiles'. I think his statement would even be more true now as I notice improved DVD playback quality on my PS3 slim after last couple of updates. Sony did not mention anything related to upscaling in their last two updates but I notice visible improvements and am standing by it.

 

[jostenmeat]

Sony did not mention anything related to upscaling in their last two updates but I notice visible improvements and am standing by it.

FWIW, my brother's S350 as OTB could not even play a DVD until FW was updated. He hasn't updated ever since. I believe you. Maybe a new and improved scaling algorithm?

 

[Ares]

When you see an update with this phrase:
System stability during use of some PlayStation®3 format software has been improved.
it will apply to any of the following formats.

Image formats

* JPEG[a]
* GIF
* TIFF
* BMP
* PNG

Audio formats

* MP3
* MP3 Surround
* WAV
* WMA
* ATRAC
* Audio CD
* SACD (discontinued)
* MP4 Audio
* MPEG-4 Part 3
* AAC / AAC Low Complexity (unprotected)

Video formats

* MPEG-1 (MPEG Audio Layer 2)
* MPEG-2 PS[e] (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2, AAC LC, AC3(Dolby Digital), LPCM)
* MPEG-2 TS[e] (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2)
* VC-1 (.wmv)
* AVCHD (.m2ts / .mts)
* AVI
* DivX, DivX VOD
* XviD
* Motion JPEG (Linear PCM)
* Motion JPEG (μ-Law)
* MP4 Video
* MP4 via DivX AVI
* MP4 SP
* MP4 AVC / MP4 H.264[h]
* DVD Video
* BD Video format on Blu-ray disc
* BD Video format on DVD-ROM

It will refer to improved Audio,Video,Picture playback. Hope this helps. 1 thing when it say's PS3 format software it doesn't apply to games only but to all of the above.