PS3 vs Blu-ray player

[Methost]

Now that HD-DVD is going the way of the dinosaur, I can invest in an HD player. Assuming I am going to dish out $300 for a Blu-ray, for only another $150 I can just grab up the PS3. My question is this ... How is the quality of PS3s Blu-ray player? Is it comparable to stand alone model?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The PS3 gives you a lot for the money. The easy firmware updates make it worth the extra money to me not to mention everything else you can do with it. I just bought a 500gb external hard drive, loaded all my music on it in uncompressed WAV files and connected it to my PS3. Now I can play every CD I own without ever getting off the couch!

 

[Seth=L]

The PS3 is the most current in the fact it features 2.0 spec for Blu-ray. It loads faster than any Blu-ray player. The PS3's SD DVD scaling is very good at the moment and can get even better assuming firmware updates are made for it. It can decode Dolby TrueHD internally and may be able to decode DTS-HD internally with firmware updates. On top of that, it's a gaming system. I prefer the PS3 for Blu-ray because it runs faster, it's cheaper, and it does more than just play movies and music.

 

[mudrummer99]

The only negative thing I have heard about the PS3 as a Blu-ray player is that it wears out relatively quickly with heavy movie use (7-8 BD movies a week). Other than that it is a stellar unit.

Mike

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have never heard that.

The only negative thing I have heard about the PS3 as a Blu-ray player is that it wears out relatively quickly with heavy movie use (7-8 BD movies a week). Other than that it is a stellar unit.

Mike

 

[GlocksRock]

I have never heard that.

Me either... wouldn't it also wear out just as quick from heavy game usage, since the games are on blu ray discs? It was designed to play games and movies, so hopefully Sony put in a drive that can stand the test of time.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I chose a stand alone player because I specifically didn't want a gaming console. My player still has an Ethernet port, so I can perform firmware updates online if I choose to do so. I've done it both ways and prefer to burn the iso file to disc for my updates. Firmware updates are just as easy to perform with any type of player, so that isn't even a factor in the decision process.

PIP and web surfing ability aren't concerns/interests of mine because I'll never use them anyway. Every TV I have owned since 1995 had PIP......and I don't think I've used that feature since 1995 & 1/2.......LOL

 

[mudrummer99]

Me either... wouldn't it also wear out just as quick from heavy game usage, since the games are on blu ray discs?

Not necessarily, the hardware does not have to have the game disc running continually during game play where as it does when watching a movie. The ability to buffer the info from the video game and not from the movies is the difference in the wear and tear on the unit.

Mike

 

[dobyblue]

The only negative thing I have heard about the PS3 as a Blu-ray player is that it wears out relatively quickly with heavy movie use (7-8 BD movies a week). Other than that it is a stellar unit.

Mike

I have never heard this from anyone.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It's kind of like I have no idea what I am talking about

I chose a stand alone player because I specifically didn't want a gaming console. My player still has an Ethernet port, so I can perform firmware updates online if I choose to do so. I've done it both ways and prefer to burn the iso file to disc for my updates. Firmware updates are just as easy to perform with any type of player, so that isn't even a factor in the decision process.

LOL

 

[darien87]

Not necessarily, the hardware does not have to have the game disc running continually during game play where as it does when watching a movie. The ability to buffer the info from the video game and not from the movies is the difference in the wear and tear on the unit.

Mike

HHmmmm...

I watch a lot of movies and I probably only watch 3 or 4 Blu-rays a week. I can't see anyone watching twice as much as me. Geez, get a life or a girlfriend.

But even with all of the use that mine gets, I've never had a problem with it. *Knocks wood*

 

[Seth=L]

I don't see how playing a lot of Blu-ray's will harm the PS3. If this turns into one of those "it's too hard for the PS3 to play Blu-ray movies" I am going to LMAO.

 

[mudrummer99]

I don't see how playing a lot of Blu-ray's will harm the PS3. If this turns into one of those "it's too hard for the PS3 to play Blu-ray movies" I am going to LMAO.

Not leaning that direction at all seth more towards the direction of the motor constantly running (I know better than the old fashioned "it wears out the laser"). This is from a lot of discussions I've had with friends and co-workers. Although I am having trouble finding print evidence of this so I may have to concede that I have no idea what I'm talking about in which case I will be picking up my PS3/BD player in 10-14 days (coinciding with my tax return ETA).

Mike

 

[The Chukker]

Not leaning that direction at all seth more towards the direction of the motor constantly running (I know better than the old fashioned "it wears out the laser"). This is from a lot of discussions I've had with friends and co-workers.

In that case, you may want to stay far away from the Xbox 360 which tends to blow up for no apparent reason at all -- haven't watched a movie on it once. I am not aware of any endemic reliability issues with PS3; it makes a fine BD player that is quite upgradeable firmware and profile wise unlike my far more expensive (and less versatile) stand alone player.

 

[Seth=L]

Not leaning that direction at all seth more towards the direction of the motor constantly running (I know better than the old fashioned "it wears out the laser"). This is from a lot of discussions I've had with friends and co-workers. Although I am having trouble finding print evidence of this so I may have to concede that I have no idea what I'm talking about in which case I will be picking up my PS3/BD player in 10-14 days (coinciding with my tax return ETA).

Mike

The longevity of the PS3 vs. Blu-ray player is a moot point then.

 

[skads_187]

WiFi, bluetooth, updates, Hard drive... just to name a few, plus you can play games if you want. change wallpaper, download demos of games for free, etc the list goes on, get a PS3, i have one and love it. Only once blu ray players fall in price and are considered to be be better than the ps3 will I get another one.

 

[dobyblue]

Not necessarily, the hardware does not have to have the game disc running continually during game play where as it does when watching a movie. The ability to buffer the info from the video game and not from the movies is the difference in the wear and tear on the unit.

Mike

The PS3's drive isn't going to wear out any quicker watching 7-8 Blu-ray movies a week than any other Blu-ray drive in any other Blu-ray player.

WiFi, bluetooth, updates, Hard drive... just to name a few, plus you can play games if you want.

And in addition on the 20/60 and 80GB models you get DSD>PCM conversion through HDMI at 24/176.4 with Super Audio CD. I have tested the SACD playback versus the Pioneer Elite DV45a and was very impressed.

 

[Seth=L]

The only place that the PS3 falls short with me is the analog outputs, they emit noise.

 

[satish536]

I believe the PS3 passes most HD Audio Formats in bitstram via HDMI (namely DD+, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio )

But i believe that the PS3 is not capable of passing DTS-HD Master Audio in the bitstream via HDMI? I also believe this feature is a hardware oriented and cannot be upgraded by new firmware.
Can someone who owns a PS3 please confirm this?

satish

 

[Seth=L]

I believe the PS3 passes most HD Audio Formats in bitstram via HDMI (namely DD+, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio )

But i believe that the PS3 is not capable of passing DTS-HD Master Audio in the bitstream via HDMI? I also believe this feature is a hardware oriented and cannot be upgraded by new firmware.
Can someone who owns a PS3 please confirm this?

satish

The PS3 cannot bitstream Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital TrueHD, or DTS-HD via HDMI because of hardware limitations. The DTS-HD processing has not been added to the PS3 yet, but apparently it's capable of decoding it internally with a firmware update that has yet to be released. The PS3 has to decode the HD formats internally and convert them to PCM for output. You wouldn't be able to utilize the HD audio decoders on the newer HDMI 1.3 receivers that have Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD, and DTS-HD decoders. You can still get that same fidelity though, it's just converted to uncompressed multichannel PCM which even the HDMI 1.1 repeating receivers and pre/pros can decode.