BluRay players | FerrariChat

BluRay players

Discussion in 'Technology' started by 8 SNAKE, Dec 13, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. 8 SNAKE

    8 SNAKE F1 Veteran

    Jan 5, 2006
    6,948
    Springfield, MO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    My wife and I went shopping for a Blu-Ray player at Best Buy today and the sales guy told us that a PS3 is the absolute best player in that price range. We do not care one bit about the video game aspect of a PS3 and would only consider one if it truly was the best Blu-Ray player. The guy was telling us something about the PS3 wirelessly downloading any updates automatically, and that it was a nice benefit to have in a Blu-Ray player? Is this guy blowing smoke, or should we seriously consider a PS3 instead of a standard Blu-Ray player?

    I want to emphasize once more that we absolutely do not care about any other aspect of a PS3 except the Blu-Ray player.
     
  2. deville94

    deville94 Karting

    Mar 26, 2009
    123
    I bought the Playstation and have only used it as a blu-ray player. It is the best one I've used and it's relatively cheap.
     
  3. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    25,977
    Las Vegas, NV
    Full Name:
    Ryan Alexander
    The Panasonic Viera series players have internet connectivity and can download stuff too. For $159.

    IMO PS3 is worth it for the gaming, but I wouldn't buy it to be a standalone player... when it came out BluRay players were $300-500 too.
     
  4. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    The PS3 is an excellent Blu Ray player but not worth the premium if you don't game. Check out the LG's. Like others, they have built in streaming for Netflix, Youtube and others. The PS3 also does this but you have to load a startup disk to do so. I watch more Netflix than play disks on mine.
     
  5. DriveAfterDark

    DriveAfterDark F1 Veteran

    Jan 1, 2007
    9,148
    Norway
    Sums it up...

    If I didn't play videogames, I would much rather get a 300 $ Bluray player than a 300 $ PlayStation 3.

    There are tons of Bluray players reviews in Audio/Video magazines all the time, pick a couple and read the latest models' pros og cons and make up your mind.


    Good luck, this technology is awesome.
     
  6. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #7 powerpig, Dec 13, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2009
  7. wingfeather

    wingfeather F1 Rookie

    Feb 1, 2007
    3,653
    rock bottom
    Get a Sony from Wally world for $150 & be done with it. They have the best on screen interface I've seen, and compliment a stereo rack (unlike a PS3 which wouldn't stack well).
     
  8. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    Very interesting.

    I know nothing whatsoever about gaming, but have been "pondering" giving it a go - It appears there are some very good driving "games/sims" out there now - Might be fun. I don't think I'd be into "online", multiplayer gaming [I reckon i'd get my ass kicked ;)] Streaming, net access etc is also appealing.

    I also "need" a Blu-Ray player, and the G/F is asking me what Father Xmas should bring...

    However, I'm still happy with my "old" Mitsubishi 55" rear projection TV. But, it doesn't have any HDMI ports. It does have a couple of spare component inputs - Can I use those?

    Furthermore, it doesn't do 1080p - 1080i is the best I can do - Will a Blu-Ray player/PS3 be worth it? Handle it ok?

    Does the PS3 do it's thing wirelessly? Or does it need ethernet string?

    TIA, cheers,
    Ian
     
  9. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    You may want to look into at least a 46" LCD. Very cheap nowadays.
     
  10. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    #11 EnzymaticRacer, Dec 14, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2009
    http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-Component-AV-Cable/dp/B000MIXFWA

    1080i is still going to look incredible for gaming... 1080i has the same number of pixels, the only difference is that the signal is interlaced instead of progressive. You shouldn't see any major differences.

    PS3 has both 802.11g and ethernet, so you can pick whichever you want to use.

    To the OP, I will just echo what others have said, the PS3 is a great blu-ray player, BUT if you don't game, then it is not worth the premium these days.

    A year ago, you couldn't get a better player for the money, but this year has seen drastic price cuts, and so now it is far more cost effective to go with a standalone unit.
     
  11. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,958
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    #12 285ferrari, Dec 14, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2009
    Just got a BluRay---Holy Cow---can't believe the pic quality with just regular DVD's---Worth every penny of the $197 I paid for it, the quality that is----I have since learned my lesson after buying a Sony TV on Nov 16, that did not work from the box----today is Dec. 14, still no replacement has been sent....Never will I ever buy another Sony product
     
  12. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    Thanks for that - Very cool - At least I know it can be done with acceptable quality. However, reading the comments on the cable seem to suggest (I'm hoping wrongly?) that the ability to output at 1080i is dependant on the game itself? I'm hoping it's a setting in the box? Or, do all games, Netflix (etc) support that output?

    Powerpig - Trouble is, I've really got nowhere "suitable" to put yet another TV :(

    Thanks again,
    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  13. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    That got me thinking - I guess some of 'em do a better job at "up-sampling" regular DVD's than others? - I wonder if the $78 unit (Holy-cow!) suggested is as good as, for example, the PS3?

    Thanks again for the comments, cheers,
    Ian
     
  14. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    All Blu Ray players upconvert. You should be fine with the $78 player. Just keep in mind that it doesn't stream if that matters.
     
  15. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    The output resolution for gaming is entirely dependant upon the game. Most games are 720p, very few are at 1080i, and I know of none that are 1080p.

    The 1080i will benefit Blu-Rays the most.

    This is technically correct and not correct. All blu-ray players will upconvert.

    However, the quality of the upconversion depends on which chip the player has to do the processing. A cheaper player will have a lower quality chip for upconversion, and the quality will suffer. The new generation of chips are significantly superior to previous generations, so if upconversion is an important feature, make sure to buy a blu-ray deck with a quality chip. That said, the PS3 does a very nice job at up converting.

    Keep in mind, that there are movies out there that will actually look worse by comparison when up-converted, as that will have a lot to do with the quality of the video coming off of the DVD. Movies filmed earlier than the mid-to-late-90s are where you are most likely to see this happen.
     
  16. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    Darn it!.... I need to go check again, but IIRC my TV doesn't do 720p :)eek:) - Again, IIRC, I had to do some tweaks in the DVR (or my "processor", can't remember now) to get it to output a 720p signal as 1080i.

    I guess that's something! :cool:

    That's what I figured - I can't help thinking the $78 model *must* have cut some corners somewhere along the line....

    Understood, and thanks again. I do have a pretty good DVD player in the system already, so will continue to use that for my "classics".....

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  17. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    FYI, there are ways to force the PS3 to output in 1080i. However, this can cause problems. When I did this to try to force my games to play in 1080p... some worked, some worked but froze the PS3 often, and then some just plain refused.

    YMMV, especially with newer games. But if your tv doesn't do 720p, you will most likely end up running the games in 480p. It will still look 'good', but won't have that 'wow' factor of playing the game at its proper resolution.
     
  18. wahoowa

    wahoowa F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2008
    10,913
    _East Coast_
    Full Name:
    Bill
    Fast_Ian,

    IIRC the PS3 will only push 720P through the component out, 1080 i/p is only available through HDMI.
     
  19. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    hmm... I was never aware of that limitation. If that was a problem in the early days, it may have been fixed by a firmware update since.

    This will require some research.
     
  20. wahoowa

    wahoowa F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2008
    10,913
    _East Coast_
    Full Name:
    Bill
    I think it's a "feature"....satisfied the studios copy concerns...I'll check mine and see if I can enable 1080 under the component out. Still (almost 3 years later), I think it's the best BR player value out there...amazing video and audio.
     
  21. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    TIA for that.

    I'm not sure now, but my G/F just got a couple of new TV's and I seem to recall reading somewhere in their manual(s) that you needed HDMI for 1080[i|p] - Component was limited to 720p. I'm sot sure, but have a "bad feeling".....

    Hmmmm, maybe I'll get *her* a PS3 :D

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  22. powerpig

    powerpig F1 World Champ

    Oct 12, 2008
    11,078
    Huntsville, AL
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    1080p can't be done over component. Not enough bandwidth for the digital audio or video.
     
  23. frefan

    frefan F1 Veteran

    Apr 21, 2004
    7,370
    I didn't like using the PS3 because its bluetooth remote didn't integrate with my home theater IR system. Maybe somebody has made a IR to Bluetooth converter for the PS3 but last year I couldn't find one.

    Currently using the panny db80k, I really like the Amazon on-demand HD movies. Not all players support this. If you connect it to the Internets then make sure you buy an SD card for it too.

    1080p over HDMI is the way to go. Picture quality is stunning. I don't watch regular DVDs anymore.
     
  24. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    Incorrect.

    1080p/60 is entirely possible *bandwidth* wise over component and Component is an *analog* connection.

    When it comes to movies, the issue is the Studios. Through licensing they only allow 1080i to be output over analog connections, which means you must use a digital connection (HDMI) to receive 1080p while watching movies.

    Since games do not have the same licensing agreements, it is entirely possible for them to output 1080p over component connections, however, if wahoowa is correct, there is some type of firmware/hardware limitation that will prevent that from occuring on the PS3.

    Also, you would have to make sure that your TV is capable of receiving 1080p over the component connection, as not all TVs have processors capable of doing so.
     

Share This Page