Pioneer Vs Sony Bdp-s1 Vs Ps3

The only player that meets/will meet all of your criteria is the Panasonic. It does 1080p (albeit 1080p/60, not 1080p/24, but you didn't specify), it has 7.1 analog outputs, and will be adding Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding with a firmware update that's due in April. The three players you list do some but not all of what you're looking for.

don't the ps3 do all of that right now but the 7.1 analog outputs?

Yes, technically it will. However note that while PS3 will decode DTS HD (lossy), it will not currently decode DTS-HD-MA (lossless). There is no way to currently decode the lossless DTS-HD-MA track, although it is expected that the Pioneer and PS3 players will both receive firmware updates to decode this track in the future.


I should note that a point has been brought up that receivers will also be able to decode these tracks (and may do a better job handling them) in the future. This does require that the player be hdmi 1.3 compliant......currently only PS3 meets this criteria.

Thus what I wrote, that his player choices meet some but not all of his criteria.

Regarding the Pioneer, please cite your source, as that has not been confirmed anywhere, even by Chris Walker, the Pioneer representative who posts here at AVS. If there is such an announcement, then I'd definitely reconsider my decision to not buy a Pioneer.

No, you're right....I was thinking Panasonic but I wrote Pioneer by mistake. It has not been confirmed that the Pioneer unit will decode any advanced audio tracks at this time.

From all that I've read, the Pioneer has the best PQ. Check the Pioneer Owner's thread for more.

Most members that have seen all the players (and there have only been a handful) agree that the Pioneer is top for PQ. Keep in mind that a common statement too is they are all so close that the differences are subtle. So that tells me you would have to see them side by side and "look" for small differences in the image. All of this information is readily available in the existing comparison threads....there are a number of them

I agree with rboster. Yes, the concesus is that the Pioneer does have better PQ, but the degree of "better" seems to vary from person to person. Best to make the comparison for yourself, if possble.

The concensus is that the Pioneer has the best PQ, because it is the most expensive
Keep in mind you can buy 3 PS3s for 1 Pioneer, which is slow to boot and to load movies, does not support TrueHD (no problem as it is no used but...) and has no plan to be upgraded for DTS MA (very important to me).
I tested one yesterday, it did not want to read LXG at all, which plays fine on the PS3.
We had to unplug the player everytime !

DTS MA has been announced on both the Panny and the PS3...

After having experience with all these units I would have to say the Pioneer is the FLAGSHIP unit for Blu ray...

Is the Pioneer the same as the Sony on audio?...This is the only player I have not tested yet...Every time I see a poster ask if the Pioneer will allow the back channels for PCM such as PCM + PLII X MV well, no one responds!...So far the PS3 and the Panny "do" allow you to hear the PCM + modes on my Pioneer Elite receiver, but the Sony doesn't....and since it is very similar to the Pioneer, I was wondering if the Pioneer also "does not" allow you to hear these back channels added to the 5.1 PCM tracks?...Without this I will never own the Pioneer...BTW, I am only concerned with HDMI audio...Thanx...

I will check it out and let you know because to be honest with you I have not worried about the audio lately. The sound has been excellent anyway. But I will let you know soon...

I have not seen the Pioneer.

I own both the PS3 and Bdp-S1 and the picture is identical. Except the BDP-s1 does have less judder because of the 1080p/24 output (using a sony "pearl"). Of course the PS3 is supposed to upgrade to this feature in spring.

If you need analog outs you have to look at the Pioneer or the Sony BDP-s1. If you run everything via HDMI, the PS3 is a very viable option at the moment.

Do'nt forgen the Pionner is only NTSC !!!

Chukken,

I have been on the phone with Sony support twice on this issue. Have you tried contacting them? It would be nice if some of the members with the BDP-S1 would hassle sony about this problem.

Spend $500-$600 on the future proof PS3 and then buy a bunch of BDs with the money you would've spent on the much more expensive Pioneer.

I second Mr. Cinema's motion. And hell, if Blu-Ray and HD-DVD die you can still play war games with it.

I second that vote. I picked one up at B.B. on the first of January. I did so primarily because it has HDMI 1.3 and wireless internet. Not to mention its cheaper and the whole family gets involved. It very fun!!!

I have a PS3 already paid for arriving on Tuesday because even though I already have a HD-DVD player I really want to see Kingdom of Heaven: The Director's Cut in HD. But according to highdefdigest Kingdom of Heaven only has DTS HD Lossless Master Audio and my preamp only has standard digital audio inputs, no HDMI. So this means I get to watch the movie with no sound what so ever?!?!

Thank you...I am much obliged!...

Relax. Players that can't decode the full lossless DTS-HD MA can still decode or pass through bitstream the regular DTS "core." And you know what? These discs still sound great!

No I just returned the Sony (because of freeze ups and no back channel support) and went back and bought the Panny again....The guy at tweeter said I could exchange it for the Elite if I want to when they come in.... I have gone full circle!...

Does anyone know how the firmware update will happen? Download by getting the ps3 online?

I don't have a xxxxload of dough so i vote with my wallet. PS3 looks awesome, sold my Panasonic BDP9000 and made some money in the process.