PS3 or stand alone player??? Which has the best video and sound???

[kstang99]

Hi guys I'm ready to buy a blu-ray player but I don't know which one is the best for video and sound. I know a lot of people like the PS3 because they get more bang for their buck but I'm not looking to use the PS3 as a game machine(I have an XBOX 360 and a Wii already). If it is the best one then I'm cool with having a game machine for a blu-ray player, but if the Sony S350 or the Panasonic is better then I'd rather get the one with the best picture. Thanks for you input!!!

[themiz69]

sound i guess isnt really a factor. i started this post and got very mixed reviews.

PS3 LPCM vs. standalone bitstream???

[kstang99]

I read your thread on sound... but what about video?

[chris gerhard]

Originally Posted by kstang99

I read your thread on sound... but what about video?

I own the PS3 and a couple of stand alone players and I can't tell any difference and believe the PS3 is the better value and better player because it does so much and does it all so well. I have read a lot of opinions and believe I see more people indicate that the PS3 is not as good as the Sony BDP-S350 or some other stand alone players in terms of video performance. When the PS3 first came out, it was reputedly not as good as the BDP-S1. I don't believe most people will be able to tell any difference.

Chris

[themiz69]

honestly i trust cnet when it comes to reviews. they say that the ps3 is the best value in blu ray players (not sure if the 350 was included). im not sure how thatll change when the 550 comes out but i also dont think ill be able to wait, lol. also the guys over at criterion also seem to agree and the ps3 is their player of choice as well. the way i see it is if the sound is gonna be similar(im not an audiophile), then i might just go with the ps3 for A) the option to play games in the future, B) video and music streamed from the pc, etc.

im in the same boat and dont wanna make a $400 mistake, but it seems like whatever u decide on will be a good choice either way!!!

[GrilledCheese]

Some folks don't like the shape of the PS3. Either they find it ugly, or things don't fit on top of it like the square-shaped standalones. There are no analog outs. Universal remotes don't work on it without an adapter. It doesn't bitstream the advanced lossless. None of these mean anything to me, so I bought an 80gb Metal Gear bundle, and I love my PS3. I can't imagine owning a standalone instead.

It plays SACD over HDMI, it decodes the advanced lossless codecs and passes as LPCM over HDMI, which is fine for me as my Yamaha amp doesn't decode either. It has its own shelf in my theatre, I like the design, and I wouldn't dream of putting anything on top of it. Obviously it plays games, and it does a great job of media streaming also. Profile 2.0, firmware updates over broadband, etc. To me, it is a no brainer.

[John32]

No brainer. PS3 is the one to get, hands down. Great value.

[rded]

I have the PS3 and it comes up short on the video aspect compared to the BH200. On the audio side the BH200 is better than the PS3 for DVD and BD audio but is hands down better than the Bh200 asfar as redbook CD capabilities as it upsamples tracks. Depends on your budget but if you dont need another gamnig machine, then the BH200 is a no brainer at 339.99 at BB online. Oh did I mention that the BH200 plays HD DVDs and can be hacked to play PAL and multi region DVD plus it blows away the PS3 on upconverting DVDs???

[themiz69]

so both r no brainers??? lol

[kstang99]

lol... I think I'm more confused now than before. Sounds like there are more than one really good player out there. Do you guys know how well the PS3 upconverts SD SVDs?

[abbazappaplant]

I owned a Panasonic BD30 and now own a PS3.

Without doubt, get a PS3.

Yes, I "perceived" a difference between bitstream and LPCM audio... but to be honest, neither sounded "better" just a miniscule amount different.

On the video side, I have seen 4 different blu ray players and to me, they all appear to do the same damn thing. With the quality of video here, we're talking minute differences. I personally prefer the PS3 video over the BD30... blasphemy to the standalone crowd

Also, load times. My PS3 loads movies so much faster than any standalone on the market that I wouldn't look in a standalones direction.

For upconversion, it does an adequate job. Better than most of the upconverting players on the market, just not in the creme de la creme. My a35 blows it away which is mildly outdone by my Oppo. I've only used the PS3 twice to upconvert, and both times I was satisfied, but not "impressed."

The PS3 is not only the best blu player right now, but it is also one of the singe most impressive and well integrated home theater pieces ever manufactured, it can do so much, at an amazing price point.

[JAWoOKIE]

[quote=abbazappaplant;1154393]I owned a Panasonic BD30 and now own a PS3.

Without doubt, get a PS3.

QUOTE]

[rded]

Originally Posted by kstang99

lol... I think I'm more confused now than before. Sounds like there are more than one really good player out there. Do you guys know how well the PS3 upconverts SD SVDs?

The BH200 has the QDEO chip and is significantly better than the PS3-really no contest here! There are lots of debates and threads about which is better the REON(found on Sammys) or the QDEO. I own the Sammy 5000 dual player briefly and swapped it out with the BH200... I thought that the REON was slightly better than the QDEO as far as upconverting but at that time the frickin 5000 could not bitstream the new codecs. On the downside to stand alones or dual players, they are NOT GLITCH FREE and the PS3 is just that. To me, profile 2.0 is not really important but the LG is supposedly going to get this soon or atleast that's what the LG customer service says.Well, its up to you... You can definitely wait till CEDIA... I know there's a flagship Denon, Pioneer and 2 models of Sherwood coming out if you really want HIGH end. Rumor has it that Lexicon is working on a BD player and its gonna be around 5K

[rded]

Originally Posted by themiz69

so both r no brainers??? lol

If you can afford both the PS3 and the LG then you're a happy camper

[Ergo-Proxy]

I always hear that the PS3 is the best option (assuming that you have the income of a normal consumer) and one of the reasons except from the high quality sound and video is its ability to upgrade easily via firmware everytime a new BR feature becomes available.

I also believe that its interface is much more userfriendly and flexible than the majority of BR players out there

Currently it is the most future-proof BR device available and as much as it can get