Is PS3 Blu Ray PQ noticeably worse than standalone budget players?

[admin_exported]

Hi everybody!!! 

I am looking to buy a Blu Ray player and in the future I want to buy a gaming console as well.

Will I notice much difference in picture quality from the PS3 to a standalone blu ray player priced at around 250 pounds?

 Thanks for your advise!!! 

 

[Messiah]

I would say go for the PS3. I really do not think you will be disappointed!

I think it produces a great picture.

 

[Big Chris]

Current issue has a Blu-ray mega-fest. States the the PS3 is good, but picture and sound are inferior to stand alone players, with pictures not being as sharp and sound not being as full-bodied. Not bad you understand, just not as good. a 4 star verdict.

But then again, you can't play games on a stand alone player, can you.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies!ÿ

I ÿwonder if this "not as good" picture and sound quality is something that an "average user" will appreciate or just something a test expert is able to measure and notice.

 

[ear]

Well if you want a game console go for it.then you'll know if you are satisfied with image. Does anyone know if xbox 360 can upscale dvd to 1080p? I'm trying to see in their website and I cannot find sufficient information.

 

[Anonymous]

I had been using the PS3 for about a year for Bluray. Got a Sony BDP-S550 recently for £230 and it has noticeably better pictures and sound. Pictures look more three dimensional and detailed and as for sound, well I think WHF gave the best description by saying the PS3 was only scratching the surface. That is just how it feels after you listen to something else. One other thing is that the BDP is almost silent compared to the PS3 which I found to be a nice bonus. The PS3 is good it's just that you can get better for relatively little now.

 

[kinda]

Hello,

That's interesting. I was looking at getting the PS3 for about £250. The main aim was as a BlueRay / DVD player, but I might play the odd game and use it for some HD video media functions.

I've never seen one in action, but had sort of decided against it as reviews were telling me that the budget players now have significantly better picture and sound. (I do have to go for a player that can output the HD sound as PCM over HDMI though).

I'd be interested in an opinion on if there is a big difference, and if the PS3 will continue to improve via firmware. If it's marginal I might still go for one.

Any opinions much appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

These are interesting points. I started out with a ps3 [like you, i am a gamer too!], and used it to watch blu-rays too.I don't think though that you need to be a 'test expert', to appreciate picture and sound qualities.I now also have a standalone player[ Panasonic BD35] and to be honest, it trounces all over the ps3 with regards sound and picture.What is important is that you buy what you feel will serve you well.Many of us are constantly buiding our systems, as different people want different things from them.It's all about personal choice.

 

[kinda]

Sounds like its still standalone player for me!

 

[Messiah]

Best thing to do would be to compare a PS3 against another player and see how they perform. I would also decide upon how much you scrutinise your picture. If you are an 'average user' then you may be very happy with the PS3. However, if you are someone that scrutinises your image a lot you may prefer a standalone player.

Just try and demo and then decide!

(As you mentioned gaming though I would take into account the fact that you may end up buying a PS3 anyway)

 

[Anonymous]

Messiah:

(As you mentioned gaming though I would take into account the fact that you may end up buying a PS3 anyway)

ÿ

But I think I would rather have an Xbox360 instead of the PS3... ÿI guess I will go for a standalone player now and get the console later on.ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I have had a PS3 since 07/07 and play Blue Rays, Games, and Digital Picture viewing with it.

Am very pleased with it in all respects, do find the sound track on films much fuller and enjoyable on the bitstream setting allowing my 875 to do the decoding 5-1 DD.

Plugging the TV into a Tacima 929 and running the PS3 along with Amp, Sub through Mains Conditioning has improved things noticeably.

Friends are blown away by how good everything is so no plans to ditch it for a stand alone player.

If you want to do gaming as well why not buy a PS3 along with a Tacima and see what you think?

 

[Anonymous]

i have had a ps3 for a year now and have been very happy with it(gaming and watching blu-ray).time moves on,so does tech and therefore i am looking to upgrade to a standalone player,but i remember seeing a whf article telling someone to wait until mid 2009 before upgradingto see a real improvment (again its always your eyes and ears that will tell,never anyone els'es) Have to ask trevor a question,i have asked a few times about mains conditioners,here and on other forums,never got a straight answer(a bit like the cable question,0's and 1's,cheap v's expensive).You alway's reccomend a tacima block,filter,conditioner,etc.I have a pioneer 5090,ps3,pioneer lx50 amp,can an upgrade on the mains really make that much of a difference to stop me upgrading to a standalone player,or is it really eyes and ears again???

 

[kinda]

Does anyone know where a PS3 can be demod properly against other players, with proper amplifiers?

I've been assuming that HiFi places don't carry them, but maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Anonymous]

A PS3 serves me very well and as a media hub as well. My friends kids have one each and they use them as part of a big hub with shared pics etc.

Not sure you can do this with a standalone BD player ?

 

[Anonymous]

airwolf
Yes I do think the Tacima 929 is a excellent inexpensive introduction (£24) into showing the noticable effect of cleaning the Mains.
Of course whilst it does improve matters there are still further big gains to be had, but then the costs increase.

If the mains is thorouly cleaned out of the consumer unit it does not require expensive mains cables, kettle leads are just as good providing they don't take on board any RV in their run.

 

[Messiah]

tellybr:Messiah:

(As you mentioned gaming though I would take into account the fact that you may end up buying a PS3 anyway)

But I think I would rather have an Xbox360 instead of the PS3... I guess I will go for a standalone player now and get the console later on.

Your initial post gave me the impression that you were leaning towards a PS3. If you are going for an Xbox (FPS fan or do you play games loud to drown out the noise of the fan

) then I would just go for a standalone player.

 

[Anonymous]

I would be happy with either PS3 or Xbox, but I guess Xbox offers a better game library plus Xbox Live... ÿBut I do admit that in the long run the PS3 may be a better choice.

 

[professorhat]

I have to say, I'm surprised by comments of how a stand-alone player like the Panny BD35 "trounces" the PS3. I used the PS3 as my main Blu-Ray player for quite a while and recently bought the Sony BDP-S550, mainly because I needed a multi-region DVD upscaler, but didn't see the point of buying old technology and also there were some serious bargains on this player just before Christmas. Is the S550 better than the PS3 - yes, if you really look for it, it is. Sound quality is definitely improved as well. But it in no way trounces it. The PS3 is an excellent Blu-Ray player, and for the price, it's a steal considering its many other talents like playing games, streaming music and video (wirelessly if necessary), acting as a media hub etc. It's also a top notch DVD upscaler, unfortunately just not for region 1 DVDs, hence my need for the S550.

Yes, in my opinion, at the moment, the Xbox 360 is a better games console, but I'm reckoning that will change this year (just my own personal prediction).

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's that easy to judge the PS3 by reading what others
say. As surely it, to some extent, has a lot to do with what your
watching it on??

I have a PS3 only for Blue Ray, never play games (yet), and it looks fantastic on my Pioneer LX5090.

My son has one on his Samsung 50" and it doesn't look as good to my eye's, and he says it's great, games too.

I'm no expert, but would this be a fair assessment?

 

[professorhat]

Very true - for example, it could well be a lot easier to pick up on the improvements of a stand-alone player over the PS3 when used on a 100" projector image. Personally, I was using a 42" HD Ready Panasonic plasma (TH-42PX600 to be exact) so the lack of 1080p might explain why I didn't see such a difference.

Good point well made, sir!

 

[Anonymous]

I have a ps3 as my blue ray player, i dont have a stand alone 1 so i cant tell u if they are better, but there are many settings on the ps3 for blue ray and i watched a video on youtube that showed you the best settings for blue ray on the ps3. I have to say the picture quality improved on both blue ray and dvd. the video is by the editor of ign.com, i dont have the link but if you put (ps3 blue ray settings) in youtubes search bar nit should be the first video link. Try it and see if your blue ray improves like mine

 

[Anonymous]

yes xbox 360 can upscale dvd to 1080p as long as you have a newer one with hdmi of course

 

[Anonymous]

just tried the you tube ps3 settings guide and it does make a difference,

cheers

Pete.

 

[Anonymous]

petesneds:
just tried the you tube ps3 settings guide and it does make a difference,

cheers

Pete.

Do you just type PS3 settings in the search bar to view the video on youtube?
Cheers