Which Blu-Ray Player

[admin_exported]

For the last few years I have been using a PS3 as my player. After updating my amp and speakers I'm now looking at a dedicated player.

I have been looking at the sony s570 great reviews and features but will I be better sticking with the same brand as my amp (Marantz SR6003)?

Second question if I go with the same make will it be better to wait for the UD5005 or get the current BD5004, 3D is not a priority but a like to have for future proofing.

Looking forward to some sound advice.

Cheers

 

[professorhat]

Hi Gary - welcome to the forums!

Are you able to do any auditioning? I ask as various people have indicated on the forums they can't see any difference between the PS3 and some of the top of the range players (not that I'm suggesting there is no difference mind, just that some people are unable to differentiate any). This was highlighted in the current Big Question feature in the latest issue of WHF.

However, I would recommend pitting your PS3 against both the BDP-570 and the UD5004 and see what you think. Most good dealers will let you do a comparison. As for the UD5005, it's tricky to say whether it's worth waiting for - admittedly it has 3D but it's not always a guarantee that a new model performs as well as an older model and if you're not interested then it may not be worth considering - remember to take full advantage of the 3D abilities of this player you'd need not only a new 3D TV but also a new home cinema amp with HDMI 1.4 ports so you can still get HD audio whilst sending the 3D signal onto the TV. If you can wait though, there'd be no harm in doing that comparison too.

 

[Anonymous]

Gary Hudson:For the last few years I have been using a PS3 as my player.

Gary..I've been looking at upgrading to Blu-ray recently and am undecided whether to go for PS3 Slim or get the Sony S570 due to reported fan noise from PS3 disrupting movie-watching experience. If you've been using one for a few years, I'm guessing it's not the Slim you have, but have you found fan noise to be an issue at all with PS3 on quieter films with more dialogue and less bullets / explosions / chaos?

 

[Anonymous]

professorhat:

Hi Gary - welcome to the forums!

Are you able to do any auditioning? I ask as various people have indicated on the forums they can't see any difference between the PS3 and some of the top of the range players (not that I'm suggesting there is no difference mind, just that some people are unable to differentiate any). This was highlighted in the current Big Question feature in the latest issue of WHF.

However, I would recommend pitting your PS3 against both the BDP-570 and the UD5004 and see what you think. Most good dealers will let you do a comparison. As for the UD5005, it's tricky to say whether it's worth waiting for - admittedly it has 3D but it's not always a guarantee that a new model performs as well as an older model and if you're not interested then it may not be worth considering - remember to take full advantage of the 3D abilities of this player you'd need not only a new 3D TV but also a new home cinema amp with HDMI 1.4 ports so you can still get HD audio whilst sending the 3D signal onto the TV. If you can wait though, there'd be no harm in doing that comparison too.

Unless the player has 2 HDMI outputs , one direct to TV for 3D the other to existing HD amp , no need to change amp in this case.

Of course Manufacturers would have no interest in providing 2 HDMI outputs as standard

 

[professorhat]

lesmor:Unless the player has 2 HDMI outputs , one direct to TV for 3D the other to existing HD amp , no need to change amp in this case.

True, though only the Panasonic has this at the moment I think - certainly neither the Sony nor the Marantz offer this.

 

[bigboss]

Gary Hudson: I have been looking at the sony s570 great reviews and features but will I be better sticking with the same brand as my amp (Marantz SR6003)?

No, you don't have to stick with the same brand as your amp. There is no performance improvement just because the blu-ray player is of the same brand as the amp. You can buy any blu-ray player. The only 2 reasons for you to buy a Marantz blu-ray player would be:

1) If you want to use one remote to operate both (although I'm not sure if you can operate both the amp & the player with one Marantz remote.

2) If you want a player that matches your amp aesthetically.

 

[Anonymous]

athenry:
Gary..I've been looking at upgrading to Blu-ray recently and am undecided whether to go for PS3 Slim or get the Sony S570 due to reported fan noise from PS3 disrupting movie-watching experience. If you've been using one for a few years, I'm guessing it's not the Slim you have, but have you found fan noise to be an issue at all with PS3 on quieter films with more dialogue and less bullets / explosions / chaos?

As a player the PS3 has served me very well, your correct the main reason for the change is the fan noise and the limitation of LPCM for the audio I would prefer to let the amp do the decoding. There is also the power consumption to consider too the PS3 is power hungry in comparison to dedicated players (or so I'm led to believe).