One-and-Only PS3 as Blu-Ray Player Thread - Page 558

hi was thinking about getting a ps3 for my second bluray player and i have a few questions(i apologise if they have already been answered but i dont have the attention span to go through 600 pages)((if it helps i was thinking of getting a 60gb or 80gb model)
1. is the fan really THAT loud while watching bluray movies/ does the 80gb have a quieter fan than the 60gb or does it not matter.
2. hows the sd upconversion, i keep seeing mixed opinions.

What is your current BD player? It would help to know so that people who've owned both in the past can give you comparative feedback. I know cappy and a couple others have owned several models including the PS3.

Also, the sd upconversion is good to very good.

Brandon

I say no and yes, but others would disagree.

Only you know the answers to these subjective questions. Buy one, try it. If you don't like it, return it.

i have the samsung bdp-1400

As you say, most people had to wait to own a DVD player until the prices dropped. If you want a BD player now the prices are what they are, pay it or wait. Looks like you'll be waiting. There isn't much else to discuss on the matter.

I have the 40GB model and I've never heard the fan.

I owned the Toshiba XA2 which is said to be the best upconverter, I see no difference. I never compared them side by side, if I did I might notice a small difference. But going by memory, I can't tell at all. I am extremely satisfied with the job that the PS3 does. Sometimes I forget that I am only watching an SD DVD.

I agree, and said exactly that in my followup to him.


So, don't put words in my mouth.


I didn't say I was being ripped off, and I didn't say it was a sham. Again, don't put words in my mouth I understand the reality of things very clearly. That being said, I *do* believe that the prices for BD players are artificially inflated due to the total lack of competition from additional manufacturers and formats.


I am not ignoring the fact that HD-DVD players were priced below cost. I think its what should be *expected* of such a device. They're going to make a killing off of BD discs, while everyone replaces all of their DVD collection with BD discs! Its the razor/blades model we've all come to know and love.

And, for the record, I don't think the prices are *hugely* off. I just think its sad that Blu-Ray has won the war, and all we have are a bunch of stale, overpriced players on Amazon.com, and think its a really sad state of affairs that a console is the best BD player on the market.

I have no interest in discussing the rest of your post since it's so off-base (ex: implying hardware manufacturers should take a loss on hardware so studios can make money off of blu-ray discs), but it's even more off-topic.

However I'll just say that I didn't put words in your mouth... you said he was being crazy when speaking on the PS3's value . And I apologize about using the word "sham." I reread the post and what you actually said was "shaft"...as in "shafting the consumer on price." So I was inaccurate there, but not trying to put words in your mouth.

Brandon

Sure, and I don't really mind waiting that much. The library of titles available on BD is still fairly small, and the price *will* drop eventually. My main goal of posting in this thread was to see if anyone had an idea of when that "eventually" might roll around for the PS3

Hey, no problem at all. I do that sometimes too when skimming through posts. Point taken as well about the *studios* being the ones that are primarily making the money off the discs. I suppose the only manufacturer that could really benefit off the sale of discs would be the ones who own the patents on the tech, since they're the ones licensing it.

Which would be the ones making the players as well.

Yes, now that there's no competition from HD DVD, there's no rush to bring down the prices of the players. I think current players may get price drops when the next models come out. Don't know how long it will be until prices hit sub-$300, though.

Like others have said, it probably won't be anytime soon. We'll probably seem some $50-100 price drops on other BD players around the Christmas season, and maybe a price drop on the PS3, but I doubt any non-used player will be at the price point you're looking for.

I don't want to keep this OT discussion going much further, but I think people tend to forget that before the firesale the high end HD DVDs were comparably priced to what BD players are now and were then. I don't know what /quote paid for his XA2 but my A35 was pretty close to what I paid for my PS3.

Can I run an HDMI cable from the PS3 to the TV and get audio from the composite cables from PS3 to my A/V receiver. My equipment rack is in another room with my A/ V receiver (which doesn't have HDMI I/O).

^Yes you can. Just not audio/video simultaneously out of 2 outputs. You can only specify one output for each.

I paid $600 plus shipping for my XA2 from J&R.

I still maintain, the PS3 is cheap as hell.

bcturns- stated:at least this is what i tell my wife every time i bring home a new a/v component.

He, he like that one we can get away with it a few times and that is about it.

I have a 40GB. I have never heard the fan except by getting up close and listening for it. My PS3's ventilation is completely unobstructed.

I also have a Toshiba HD-A2. I would rank it and the PS3 approximately equal in SD upconversion.

Composite doesn't have audio. Composite is a type of video signal.

You can use the PS3's analog audio outputs while using HDMI video, but you will only get stereo.

If your AVR has an optical digital input, that would be the best choice for use with the PS3.

Analog audio, that's what I meant. Thanks for the input.

You don't have fiber-optic? This would be a much better choice for Audio than analog.

I personally doubt the price points will change much if any for a while. With blu ray itself being still new and expensive, along with steady updates theres no reason to have a big price drop until the market gets saturated. Now saying that watch em drop next week..lol after all they have sold a ton, just not quite enough yet.

DVD players didn't hit $29 over night either. Consumer demand, available movies, competition and most importantly a refined and streamlined manufacturing process all need to be in place for price drops to occur. The Bluray profile just got sorted out not all that long ago, and as of yet no standalone players (PS3 aside) on the market support all features available. That is slated to change within the next few months, but don't look for price drops until around Christmas time. It is RUMORED that the Sony BDP-S350 will be upgradable via firmware to profile 1.1 AND may hit $300 around Christmas time, or so says Sony. It's starting price will be $400 however.

Keep in mind there was a long period of time where a DVD player could not be purchased under the $300 mark.

The price will drop but your mind may always be set on certain players that priced slightly higher.

With Sony's $100 PS3 promotion and various other sales that have been offered by the various big box retailers, it's been pretty straightforward to buy a PS/3 for somewhere between $250 and $300. I paid $255 for mine after rebates. That didn't include the remote, though.

http://www.sony.com/sonycard/ps3

I used the link above to apply for a Sony card, then bought my PS/3 from Target when they were running a promotion (free $40 gift card with PS/3 purchase). I also had an extra $5 coupon for any "toy" purchase at Target, lowering my effective price to $255.

I think the message most people are giving me is clear: the price of Blu-Ray players will hold steady for the most part this year, including the PS3. I think that, in order to get the price I want, I am either going to have to wait a *very* long time, or get really lucky with some sort of coupon or promotion.

Last night after my initial post, I read through many pages of this thread, and am blown away by the positive feedback on the PS3. I did this as I watched "The Fifth Element" on TNT via my Comcast cable, lamenting how poor the picture quality was. As a result, I've changed my mind...

I think the best thing for me to do is to wait three months, setting aside $50 each month toward a PS3. If I see a coupon or deal in the meantime, I'll buy right away. Otherwise, at the end of three months, I'll bite the bullet and spend the $50 Amazon gift card, plus the $150 I've saved, plus an additional $200 out of pocket, and get a PS3. At least it'll *feel* like the player has hit my price point!

I think I've finally been convinced that a Blu-Ray player, especially the PS3, is the *only* way I can get the best out of my TV. I shelled out plenty for the TV, and I think that in the end, waiting over a year to save a few hundred bucks just isn't worth it...

Off topic posts removed, suspensions issued. Thread rolled back. Some legitimate posts may have been lost in the rollback. For that, I apologize.

Well I must say that I was little hesitant about buying a PS3 for a blu ray player. After the PS2 came out and was a weak at best DVD player I had doubts. Plus no DTS-MA left me waiting because I wanted a player that can "do it all"!

After hearing many good things about the PS3 and blu ray and seeing that PS3 is getting DTS-MA, I decided to pull the trigger.

Last night I watched my first Blu Ray in my theater--I Am Legend. I have a 1080p HC4900 and a 100inch dragonfly screen. The picture was stunning....no... honestly unreal! The other people who were there were also experiencing blu ray for the first time and the remarks were:

"It is so clear and real it almost looks fake"

"The picture and sound are way better than when I saw this movie in the theater"

"How can you ever watch a normal DVD again"

"The Audio is so clear and powerful"

Picture quality was top notch--no grain or pixels visable from 10-11ft away on a 100inch screen. Also, PS3 makes very audible little noise and to be honest who can hear it anyways when your HT system is on! Heat doesn't seem to be much of an issue, but I don't have it inclosed in any sort of cabinet. I also find that using the controller for Blu Ray playback is totally easy. I am not one of those people who needs to have 1 remote for everything. I don't mind having a couple remotes because I hit play, set the volume within the first 5mins of the movie and then I'm remote free.

I would rate it like this:

Picture Quality:10
Audio Quality:10
Usability/Ease of Control:9
SD Upscaling:8.5 (Not a 10 because I am sure something like the Oppo is better)

I'll add more feedback and input the more I use it. I hope this thread remains open so that I may help people out there who are looking for a top notch blu ray player and wouldn't mind having a game system as well.

Threads merged

Just FYI, the Sony card promotion that I mentioned earlier can be used with any authorized Sony retailer, including Amazon. The only drawback is that you have to apply for (yet) another credit card. But for $100, I consider it worth the hassle. Your $50 Amazon card plus $100 from Sony should get you pretty close to the price you are seeking. And some clever people have figured out a way to get the Amazon site to automatically offer them a 5% discount on the PS3 - that would subtract another $20 from the price (via Amazon's "Gold Box"). Good luck with your shopping!

Thanks a lot for the tips! I probably won't do the credit card route, just because I don't want another credit card, but I almost certainly will try and find this 5% discount you refer to on Amazon.

Appreciate the guidance, everyone. You've been very helpful.