PS3 as BD Player

[Duffinator]

From a BD DVD player perspective what are the advantages of the PS3 compared to other players and what's the difference between the 40GB and 80GB models. Sony's website is pretty worthless. I did a search here but didn't come up with the specifics I'm looking for. Or should I wait for a few more months and get the new Panasonic 50 that decodes all the formats and is 2.0 compliant? Please post any links if you have them that does a good comparison between the two players.

Initially I'll be using only component at 1080i and DD and DTS digital audio as my TV and AVR do not have HDMI. I understand I will not get the new audio formats this way.

 

[The Chukker]

There was a pretty decent overview here about the PS3's upcoming profile and firmware updates due later this year:
http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/blu-ray-format-war-civil-war
The PS3 looks quite capable of holding it's own compared to its more expensive (and less flexible) siblings.

 

[rgriffin25]

The PS3 is really nice as a stand alone BD player. One of the best features is the fact that it can be updated to the newer profiles, which is important to some people. The 80GB decodes SACD and has 4 usb ports on front and Memory a multi card reader. The 40GB lacks those features listed above. Its also nice because it can play games and you can surf the web with it as well.

I bought my panasonic BD player for the Bitstream audio output which the PS3 does not do.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Another advantage of the 80gb PS3 is it will play some PS2 games whereas the 40gb model will not play any ps2 games. I don't have any firsthand experience with the 40gb model, all my friends who have a PS3 have the 80gb version, myself included. I'm pretty happy with it so far with the PS3. BD movies look and sound great, older sd movies are upscaled to 1080p and look good too.

Jack

 

[astrodon]

Another advantage of the 80gb PS3 is it will play some PS2 games whereas the 40gb model will not play any ps2 games. I don't have any firsthand experience with the 40gb model, all my friends who have a PS3 have the 80gb version, myself included. I'm pretty happy with it so far with the PS3. BD movies look and sound great, older sd movies are upscaled to 1080p and look good too.

Jack

I second that! I'm very happy with my 80-GB PS3 for playing Blu-Ray movies. The Profile 2.0 software is now available from Sony. I downloaded this upgrade last week. The PS3 does so many other things on top of playing BD disks (e.g, web surfing) that I feel it is well worth the investment. (I still play my SD disks on my Denon DVD-5910 since it does a better job than my PS3 in both video and audio output -- but that should be expected for a $3500 DVD player!)

 

[Duffinator]

So what about the remote, can I program my MX-500 to operate a PS3? Or do you need a IR repeater to operate it?

I stopped at BB on my way home and they said the 80GB players are no longer available. Is there some update coming in the next few weeks so they pulled the current ones from the shelf?

What exactly are the audio limitations of the PS3? Will it pass all the new formats via HDMI? What formats will it pass via 5.1 analog? Will it pass SACD via HDMI as well?

 

[rgriffin25]

So what about the remote, can I program my MX-500 to operate a PS3? Or do you need a IR repeater to operate it?

I stopped at BB on my way home and they said the 80GB players are no longer available. Is there some update coming in the next few weeks so they pulled the current ones from the shelf?

What exactly are the audio limitations of the PS3? Will it pass all the new formats via HDMI? What formats will it pass via 5.1 analog? Will it pass SACD via HDMI as well?

One of the only downsides to the PS3 remote is that it is Bluetooth. Which will not allow you to operate it with your current remote. However I have heard there are some aftermarket IR units that can be used with the PS3 so you can use your remote.

The PS3 cannot decode or pass DTS Master audio, all other formats are decoded internally and output as Multi channel PCM including SACD. To get the higher bitrate audio you must use HDMI, there is not a 5.1 channel output.

 

[Duffinator]

It won't pass DTS MA? I thought the software update was 2.0 compliant, isn't that part of the new specs? The remote is a problem as well. Maybe I'll just wait for the new Panasonic BD50.

 

[The Chukker]

It won't pass DTS MA? I thought the software update was 2.0 compliant, isn't that part of the new specs? The remote is a problem as well. Maybe I'll just wait for the new Panasonic BD50.

Since you mentioned above that you will need to upgrade your panel as well as receiver eventually, be comforted in knowing that when the time comes to get a new player with all of the audio/video functionality you crave that unit will be the least expensive of the things you "need" . The PS3 was designed primarily as a game machine in the same sense I don't use my 360 to watch DVD's nor do I expect it to competently do so.

 

[Duffinator]

Everyone is always saying what a great BD player it is so that's why I'm checking it out. I want a BD player that has all the 2.0 capabilities and all the audio formats so I'll keep looking. But if the PS3 is 2.0 compliant with the software update shouldn't it do DTS MA? Will the update add it as a pass through?

The current TV on my list is the Pioneer Kuro 6010FD and AVR is the Denon 3808. The BD player will be the least expensive but I want one that does it all. I don't update my equipment very often so I want to do it right the first time.

 

[allargon]

This is from a dyed in the wool HD DVD supporter, the PS3 is the BD player to get--not just for the profile 2.0 (and likely DTS-MA) support, but for the AVCHD, DivX and WMV HD support as well. A lot of errr...independent Internet content is WMV HD.

 

[Duffinator]

I don't think the current update adds DTS MA. Here's the info. If it will eventually pass DTS MA I'd probably buy it. I can live with remote issue but the player needs to support all the new audio formats. BTW I do have a Toshiba A2 HD DVD player.

 

[rgriffin25]

I second that! I'm very happy with my 80-GB PS3 for playing Blu-Ray movies. The Profile 2.0 software is now available from Sony. I downloaded this upgrade last week. The PS3 does so many other things on top of playing BD disks (e.g, web surfing) that I feel it is well worth the investment. (I still play my SD disks on my Denon DVD-5910 since it does a better job than my PS3 in both video and audio output -- but that should be expected for a $3500 DVD player!)

Could you elaborate on the "update" I can't seem to find it anywhere?

 

[bandphan]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/24/control-your-playstation-3-with-ir/

http://www.amazon.com/Playstation-3-Blu-Wave-Remote/dp/B000R5H7KE/ref=s11/?tag2=slickdeals&tag=slickdeals&ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1182603405&sr=8-1

for ir set up,

 

[astrodon]

Could you elaborate on the "update" I can't seem to find it anywhere?

If one has a PS3, just scroll to the Update Software icon and select it. The PS3 then does whatever the latest update version Sony has available. When I did this last week, my machine had the Profile 2.0 version on it.

 

[gus6464]

If one has a PS3, just scroll to the Update Software icon and select it. The PS3 then does whatever the latest update version Sony has available. When I did this last week, my machine had the Profile 2.0 version on it.

Profile 2.0 update is not out yet. The latest fw was 2.10 which included Profile 1.1.

 

[Duffinator]

Profile 2.0 update is not out yet. The latest fw was 2.10 which included Profile 1.1.

I was confused on this. Software update 2.X is not Profile 2.0. So can anyone confirm that the Sony Profile 2.0 update will include DTS MA? I thought that I read that somewhere.

 

[obscbyclouds]

I was confused on this. Software update 2.X is not Profile 2.0. So can anyone confirm that the Sony Profile 2.0 update will include DTS MA? I thought that I read that somewhere.

I've been reading mumblings about this for some time now myself. I can't find any direct statements by Sony, although we can all hope and pray!

 

[Duffinator]

http://www.amazon.com/Playstation-3-Blu-Wave-Remote/dp/B000R5H7KE/ref=s11/?tag2=slickdeals&tag=slickdeals&ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1182603405&sr=8-1

for ir set up,

Perfect, thanks.

 

[Duffinator]

I've been reading mumblings about this for some time now myself. I can't find any direct statements by Sony, although we can all hope and pray!

If I'm not mistaken the Profile 2.0 includes DTS MA. So if Sony is going to provide a Profile 2.0 update it should include it. Yes hope and pray!