Tallyho:I'm playing the PS3 through my Stereo Amp...and have the sound set to Linear PCM and not Bitstream...is this correct?
Presumably you are only hooked up to your stereo amp using RCA phono leads? In which case, I don't think this matters as this choice is only available over HDMI or digital optical outputs.
Tallyho:Is there also a setting within the PS3 to increase the volume of the sound?
No.
Tallyho:Also have Display Output settings set to 720p as My TV is HD ready only and doesn't support 1080p
Should be okay, though on some 1080p games, I've noticed a slightly higher quality picture from setting the PS3 to export 1080p rather than 720p. I put this down to the resolution of my TV actually having 766 horizontal lines rather than 720. I suggest trying it and seeing. Of course my TV does accept a 1080p signal, even if it can't display it. If yours can't, you don't have any choice so no point in thinking about it without a TV upgrade.
Tallyho:I also have the Upscaler on the PS3 set to Normal instead of Double Scaling or Full Screen
Yup, this is what I have it as also and I don't think you can improve on this unless you want 4:3 material upscaled and displayed full screen on your 16:9 TV. In which case, choose Full Screen.
Tallyho:Meanwhile I would say one thing here.....yes Blu Ray film is very clear on the PS3 at 720p...I am Legend for example £17.99....but you know it certainly is not leaps and bounds ahead of standard DVD picture quality produced by my DENON DVD 1940...for example when watching The Day After Tomorrow £5.00 upscaling to 720p
Well, fair enough, if you really can't see (or crucially hear) a difference then I'd recommend only buying DVDs from now on. They are much cheaper after all. Personally, I can see (and very much hear) a big increase in a well produced Blu-Ray over DVD. And I think that is a crucial statement. Unfortunately, Blu-Ray is suffering very much from the same disease DVD had when it first came out which is bad transfers. Gangs of New York on Blu-Ray for example is a travesty picture wise. Don't get me wrong - great film, but it looks to me like, other than a few bits, they've forgotten to actually make the picture look fantastic. And the picture has to look fantastic as, unfortunately, most people don't really consider the soundtrack when they look at a film to be impressed. Unlike me.
On the other hand, watch 30 Days of Night and be amazed how immersed you are in the story. Both picture and sound are fantastic and are a true testament to Blu-Rays' potential. And trust me, the sound is a massive factor in this, so if you're really only relying on picture, find someone with a Blu-Ray system and a proper HD audio system, then watch something in the true way it was meant to be watched before dismissing it.
colinbw:That's pretty cheap for a BluRay disc too .......I remember seeing the Usual Suspects on DVD for sale in Virgin at over 30 quid
And finally, £17.99 is not cheap for a Blu-Ray, you just have to be patient and shop around. I refuse to buy a Blu-Ray over £15 (and even at that price I have to really want the film). However, my average Blu-Ray purchase so far has been £12 (and that includes Casino Royale, all the Spiderman films, 30 Days of Night, 300 and Blood Diamond) and they were all bought within a few weeks of their release. Just forget the high street stores though, for some reason, they will charge a ridiculous amount for a Blu-Ray film, but then the same is true for a DVD.
I'm not trying to be confrontational, but I'm a massve home cinema fan and, in all honesty, the Onkyo 905 is the best purchase I made in a long time because my movies sound phenomenal now. If you really care about home cinema, I suggest you check out Blu-Ray audio before comparing it to DVD.
EDIT - Oh and before someone says (whining voice) "but £12 is loads considering the price of the DVD" - can I just suggest you read my post again?! I'll bet you initial taker uppers of DVD had the same arguments with some people over the price of DVD compared to VHS as it took off and I'll bet DVDs were a lot more expensive comparatively then than Blu-Rays are now.
I'm not saying Blu-Ray will overtake DVD in sales (I'm honestly not sure it will given the general public's want for mobile rather than quality, proven by the audio wars). I'm just saying, before you say Blu-Ray is not much better than DVD, make sure you experience a proper Blu-Ray transfer in a proper home cinema setup. Then make your decision!