Standalone bluray player?

[nath]

They've been out a while now, anyone know if there's any reason to get one of these instead of a PS3 (assuming saving ~£150 isn't the issue). It's all digital all the way to the amp so my assumption is that it makes no difference, but if I get myself a PS3 will I be missing out on anything from the latest BD players?

Cheers!

 

[soze]

In terms of software revisions and Blu Ray profiles the PS3 is constantly updated. But i do think i read it does not do some of the new HD Sound stuff so if sound is your thing a high end stand alone might perform better but they will cost about the same.

 

[FuzzyLogic]

Bear in mind the power usage of a PS3 compared to a standard blu ray player also if you just need it solely as a BD player, could be something like ~150w difference as the PS3 doesn't stepdown when certain functions are used. The PS3 is planned to allow for 3d bluray however (if it doesn't already).

As far as I know though as long as the player is profile 2.0 you should be fine. The PS3 will be updated for the next however many years (seem to remember Sony committing to support it for 10 years) but outside of purchasing a 3d player you should be fine with a normal one mehtinks.

Soze it's possible you may be referring to the PS3 fat which passed the sound as linear pcm rather than bitstream. The slim does do bitstream now but in all honesty i'm not entirely sure there was really a discernable difference anyhow.

 

[ford prefect]

I have a Sony BDP-S370, which is a very good blu-ray palyer, the sound on it is superb and it does a slightly better job than the PS3 at upscaling standard DVD's. It does some fancy iplayer / Bravia internet crap that I never use and one or two other things. Its fast too at navigation ect.

Having said all that, if you are using a budget or middle of the range TV, say under £800, then to be honest the PS3 is a perfectly respectable Blu-ray player, and without a good amp, and a fancy panel, you aren't going to notice any real difference.

 

[Ch3tan]

Soze, fuzzy. The ps3 (all versions) decode the sound format in the box and output it as linear PCM enabling you to get HD sound from your a/v amp and speakers. If you chose bitstream, it will only output the dolby or dts 5.1 streams, not the HD stream.

If you are really concerned about a fancy light on your amp saying DolbyHD, then it's not for you, but in terms of sound quality you don't lose anything by using linear PCM. You really should not be using bitsream, unless you are not using HDMI for audio, as it is compressed. LPCM is uncompressed.

 

[nath]

I like to think I have a good panel and amp (Bravia KDL-40w5710 and a Denon 2311, plus an Infocus IN76 which will be installed in a few months once I get my arse in gear). So I am concerned about getting the most out of it, I'm not bothered about upscaling DVD's as I don't really do that anymore except with old TV shows and I'm not worried about quality on them.

So Chet, I'll be getting a 320gb PS3 that'll be out in a few days (probably) and you're saying there's no bother with sound output, it's max quality going to my amp?

 

[ford prefect]

Go into somewhere like Richer Sounds and get them to show you the difference on a similar model TV to yours, that way you can make an educated choice.

 

[Ch3tan]

Well it's as good as the ps3's decoder is, I've certainly not been dissapointed. You get the uncompressed streams going direct to your amp.

As for your setup, I'd disagree with ford. Unless you have very expensive kit, then you are unlikely to notice any quality difference. Obviously if you have a £2.5k plasma, you are going to get a very good BD player to compliment it.

The ps3 will be more than enough for your setup.

 

[nath]

I don't really like to demo kit at places unless I'm confident I'm willing to buy from them (unless they're a scummy chain but then my local richer sounds doesn't do demos :\).

Anyway, sounds like the PS3 is a safe enough bet, I'm interested as to why an expensive BD player would be better for picture though, does it add a load of post processing or some such? Otherwise isn't it just sending the BD info digitally with no loss?

 

[Ch3tan]

Go over to avforums and check the user threads for some of the standalone players?

 

[nath]

A brief spell over there suggests that there's not a great deal of diff between a PS3 and a lot of standalones. Possibly ever so slight sound quality difference down to "jitter correction" being better on other devices but nothing even remotely significant.

Anyhoo, I think I'll start fishing for deals . Cheers all.

 

[Bodhi]

I'd say unless you've got around 5k's worth of telly and amp the Piss3 will do you fine. It also means you can get Wipeout HD, and I can kick your Daily Mail loving ass at it!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I have that bods, add me. Although I haven't really played it yet, just Tiger.

Is the PS3 region-free bluray?

 

[Ch3tan]

Yes, for now. Sony could implement a lock through software if they chose. Most games are also region free...

Way round it is to be Aus BD's when the exchange rate is good, as the are in region B the same as Europe, so they can never be blocked.

 

[Bodhi]

I have that bods, add me. Although I haven't really played it yet, just Tiger.

Is the PS3 region-free bluray?

Whats your PSN ID monkey bitch?

 

[old.user4556]

Is the PS3 region-free bluray?

Yes, for now.

Are you sure Chet? Wazz asked if the PS3 was region free blu-ray (assuming movies); I understand that one can't play region A blu-rays (american) in a PS3 bought in the UK, so it's still region locked for blu-rays.

 

[Ch3tan]

I'm positive you can, sony removed the region coding for dvds and bd. Let me double check

 

[Ch3tan]

Okay my bad, it's region free for DVD's currently, Sony unlocked this about a year ago via firmware, but they could just as easily change it back.

As for BD's, it's the publishers choice, most are not region coding their discs, WB for example have said they never intend to region lock their BD's. You can search around and find out which discs are region free.

So to revise my answer, the piss3 is unlocked for DVD's, region locked to B for BD's in Europe and Aus, but most BD's are not region coded.

edi:// Just tried my r1 fight club It doesn't work again Fucking Sony.

 

[old.user4556]

Aye DVDs, BDs on the other hand weren't.

PITA, because I've been waiting for a region B WotW BD to come out for years.

Edit: they have it on Amazon! (/orders)

 

[Ch3tan]

You sure the War of the Worlds BD was even ever region locked? Like I said most aren't encoded.

Anyway, fucking pissed off that Sony have put DVD region locks back in via firmware. Glad I didn't get rid of my standalone DVD player like I was planning now.

edit, nope it wasn't: War of the Worlds Blu-ray You could have bought it ages ago

 

[FuzzyLogic]

Found this which is rather a cool collection of ps3 specs: PlayStation 3 Secrets

 

[old.user4556]

edit, nope it wasn't: War of the Worlds Blu-ray You could have bought it ages ago

FUCCCCCCCK

 

[nath]

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Whats your PSN ID monkey bitch?

Unsurprisingly it's wazzerphuk, your lack of brain power would astound me if you weren't Scottish.

Aye DVDs, BDs on the other hand weren't.

PITA, because I've been waiting for a region B WotW BD to come out for years.

Edit: they have it on Amazon! (/orders)

Confoosing! Cheers. Was thinking about importing Breaking Bad BR since there's no sign of that UK-wise... :/

 

[old.user4556]

A BD region free PS3 would be a formidable tool.

 

[Ch3tan]

Breaking BAd is locked: Breaking Bad: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray

Shitty Sony.

 

[FuzzyLogic]

A dvd region free PS3 would make Fuzzy a happy bunny also, but alas