Six reasons you shouldn't use the PS3 as your Blu-ray player

[dennie]

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
Sony decided not to include an IR receptor on the PlayStation 3, and home theater fans have been complaining ever since. The lack of an IR receptor means that the PlayStation 3 won't work with universal remote controls (http://reviews.cnet.com/best-universal-remotes/), so you'll have to use the PS3 controller or the separate PS3 BD remote (http://reviews.cnet.com/game-accessories/sony-playstation-3-blu/4505-10110_7-32327368.html?tag=nefdprod.rev) to control it. It's definitely a pain for anyone who is used to activity-based macros such as "Watch TV" and "Watch Blu-ray" to control their home theater.
2. It's louder than standalones.
Although every PS3 seems to be different, the PS3 can occasionally get loud once its fans start spinning. For audiophiles, that can be a pretty big drawback, especially if you start to hear a whirr during every quiet scene in a movie. You'll have better luck keeping the PS3 quiet by keeping it in a well-ventilated area, but standalones are quieter in general and don't mind having other gear stacked on them.
3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
This isn't an issue for tech enthusiasts, but Sony's Xross Media Bar (XMB) is packed with options and can be intimidating for neophytes. Although we generally like the XMB for zipping around the PS3's functions, using a standard Blu-ray player where you just need to put in the disc and hit play is definitely a lot easier.
4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
If you're using an older receiver and want to use its multichannel analog inputs to get high-resolution soundtracks, you can't do it with the PlayStation 3. You're better off going with a standalone Blu-ray player with onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, like the upcoming Pioneer BDP-51FD (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9937405-1.html) and Panasonic DMP-BD50 (http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd50/4505-6463_7-32815617.html?tag=nefdprod.rev). Of course, if you're OK with standard DVD-style surround sound, you can still get that with the PS3's optical SPDIF output, which is compatible with nearly all modern receivers.
5. You want to be green.
The PS3 is great at a lot of things, but conserving power isn't one of them. If you're looking to stay green and limit your power consumption, you'll be much better off using a standalone Blu-ray player. For example, the PS3 sucks up about 170 watts while playing a Blu-ray movie, while the Samsung BD-P1400 (http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/samsung-bd-p1400/4505-6463_7-32514521.html?tag=nefdprod.rev) only uses about 25 watts. That's a fairly huge difference and can easily wipe out any power savings from using other green products such as the Philips Eco TV (http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9843645-67.html). (Check out our guide to TV power consumption (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6475_7-6400401-1.html) for more green tips.)
6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
Even if you do have a new HDMI-capable receiver, you'll never get the Dolby TrueHD light to turn on with the PS3. That's because although the PS3 can decode both DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, it can't send those soundtracks in bit stream format and allow the receiver to decode them. Of course, this isn't really a legitimate reason, as you're still getting the same high-resolution audio, but some people just need the comfort of seeing the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lights on their receiver.Source (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9941740-1.html)

So what do you guys think about those reasons?

[Eddian!]

The third one and the last one are pretty gay.... all others are understandable

[sonickev]

Source (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9941740-1.html)

So what do you guys think about those reasons?
1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
Hopefully, everything else will move toward Bluetooth and we will laugh about the days when we used IRDA...Sony's way of moving things forward. You could get the IR2BT and use your universal remote with that.
http://ir2bt.com/
2. It's louder than standalones.
When watching a movie, my fan sounds like it switches off...the fan only runs when the processor is busy...not when movies are playing
3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
You put the disk in and it plays. The only menu then is the one on the Blue-Ray disk...press the menu button on your universal remote.
4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
No idea about this one...sounds great on my system
5. You want to be green.
I guess this only applies if you don't want a games console...otherwise the green issues of having two pieces of electronics are probably more significant than the power consumption during movies.
6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
What it sounds like is more important to me than what my receiver says.

[jamesyfx]

I can't say I care.

Because Blu-Ray players are expensive, and 80% of Blu-Ray players in peoples homes ARE PS3's. And in actual fact the video quality is better than some players that are out there (Since there are no silly filters in place).

[ChildOfIllusions]

This seems like a bad case of nit picking not to mention a lot of the issues have been resolved such as power consumption, not working with Universal remotes and Noise levels.

[F34R]

I have to agree with sonickev's points. They all apply to me. The main reason I bought the PS3 was for Blu-ray movies lol. Who knew I'd like the games too? lol

I might move towards a stand-alone player a year down the line when I upgrade my entire system. For the time being, it will do just fine.

[the_End]

:lol: are you serious? I mean I can understand with #5 but I guess there not factoring in that it's also a game system.

1. That's fine, considering my PS3 and my HDTV are the only things in my room that require remotes. I use my 5.1 computer speakers for my PS3. Also, I'm fine with using my PS3 controller as a remote.

2. Nope, not that I can hear of.

3. Confused, this doesn't matter because the menu is the menu set up on the disc....there all the same.

4. No idea about this one.

5. Sure, but there forgetting it's a game system as well. It's going to use more power.

6. Uh, no I don't because I wouldn't care what it says on my bloody receiver.

[kryton101]

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
This is a pain not so much for audiophiles but for the average person who either wont see why they have to spend extra money to get a basic remote unit or just wont want to use a controller which is a very specific and non universal interface (i.e. tricky to use.)

2. It's louder than standalones.
I was going to say that audiophiles would be the only people who are bothered by this until I remebered my GF commenting on how loud she thought the PS3 was when watching a movie in bed.

3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
See number one also, complex interface for non computer/console users and without the remote a complex controller if you've never used one before.

4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
Again, if your that big into sound you probably are not considering getting a PS3 in the first place as your primary player. If you are your not that bothered. End of.

5. You want to be green.
If your that concerned on being green you only have two lightbulbs and they are powered from car batteries charged from a photovoltaic array on your roof. You grow your own food and make your own clothes. Come on people! When was the last time you saw someone make an electronic choice based on the fact it used 50 Watts or more power consumption than another?

6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
No comment, this is just ridiculous. See point 4.

[WuTangBlade]

Pretty rubbish reasons tbh, I don't care about any of them.

[mickice]

Firstly .. I don't really get the point of this artical, HD-DVD is long gone, so at most all this could do is sway some poor chap into buying a standalone player when he desn't really need to.

[SharkOutofWater]

Yes cause I am going to spend an extra $600 so that my receiver has a light that turns on..... /sigh And again with the loud factor. I have a 60 gig, which is known as the loudest, and I can never hear it when I am playing a movie, the fan runs at its lowest setting when playing a movie.

As for the menu, I thought this was pretty funny myself, as it autoplays movies.

[MajorZero]

Source (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9941740-1.html)

So what do you guys think about those reasons?

What do I think? I think this is one of the most idiotic articles I have ever read...almost, but not quite

[REFLEX]

They are all valid reasons. People think the PS3 is quiet, yes it is. But compared to my BD30 its not that quiet. People who are saying this article is stupid are simply not thinking about the reality of most peoples situations.

I got a stand alone Blu-ray player because the PS3 did not quite meet all my expectations, and it still hasn't to this day.

People, you need to realize this list is aimed more at videophiles, not video game players.

The PS3 is a great machine for Blu-ray, but it also has its limitations with software and hardware.

What if people have a huge set up and want to use an IR Remote? Its a pain to get around, what about silence? What about full DTS:Ma support on ALL titles? (it isn't even there yet, sony!!), no analog outputs for surround sound, etc.

These are all extremely valid reasons!

Of course there are many reasons why its great, but these are valid for a lot of people.

[SharkOutofWater]

I sitll wouldnt pay 600-1000 extra for those minor differences (and I have a big set up), but to each their own I guess.

[THUGGEDOUT]

I got a stand alone Blu-ray player because the PS3 did not quite meet all my expectations, and it still hasn't to this day.


Could you go into some of the reasons why it hasn't met your expectation, does some of it have to do with picture quality?

[REFLEX]

I payed 600 for a quieter player (absolutely silent, literally during playback) and full Bitstream support, originally because of DTS:MA. Also I wanted my Denon to show the DTS:MA logo and TrueHD logos, pretty funny huh?

Ok ok.. so half joking, but the reality is the BD30 is 100% silent when playing a movie (which is important if you are somewhat of a videophile or audiophile), and that it can 100% use DTS:MA.

The PS3 still cannot use the New Line 7.1 DTS:MA tracks, it outputs 5.1, so this is further evidence that the BD30 was right for me, worth every penny! Especially when you're like me and own a few hundred HD discs.


Edit: Just as the article states.

Most people have equipment they have gotten throughout the years. Most people cannot upgrade every 2 years or less to have the newest of the new.


No IR Support for IR Remotes

Not 100% silent like some players

No full DTS:MA 7.1 support yet (STILL!) for New Line discs.

No analog outputs for surround sound



These are all vital factors that can effect people when looking to get a player.

For me it was the noise issue (the PS3 is still very quiet) and the lack of actual FULL DTS:MA support.

[Buddha]

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
And? So you have to pick up another romote. Adapt....

2. It's louder than standalones.
The Volume button will override the console.

3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
Refer to #1.. Adapt

4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
If your not hearing cracks and pops in the movie, whats the big deal?

5. You want to be green.
Ohhs nooos... I pay for it so it doesn't matter...

6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
No comment, A light indicator as a reason? If you told me my ps3 would crap out faster if I watched movies as compared to playing games, that might have sold me. But thats not the case. Sorry.

Thanks for the information though.

[REFLEX]

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
And? So you have to pick up another romote. Adapt....

2. It's louder than standalones.
The Volume button will override the console.

3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
Refer to #1.. Adapt

4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
If your not hearing cracks and pops in the movie, whats the big deal?

5. You want to be green.
Ohhs nooos... I pay for it so it doesn't matter...

6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
No comment, A light indicator as a reason? If you told me my ps3 would crap out faster if I watched movies as compared to playing games, that might have sold me. But thats not the case. Sorry.

Thanks for the information though.


The reality is that most of you don't have the proper equipment for a full experience, the reality is also that most of you aren't actually into the huge Home Theater thing, the other reality is (one that a lot of you seem to ignore) is that most people have spent years buying equipment, not all of it is HDMI, Bluetooth or whatever else.


The volume button overriding the console? What about you know... ALL those quiet parts in movies? A true movie or videophile doesn't want to hear the fan or the console when their movies are playing.

"Adapt", you are talking about people with extremely expensive and large set ups, they have adapted around all of that to have an IR system in place, they have adapted, and they want to continue adapting but being forced to use Bluetooth is making them stop adapting to that, another remote is unacceptable for most people.

Even on my set up, if I didn't use a few remotes for other stuff then I'd have like 6 remotes AND a PS3 controller for movies. Yeah..... not acceptable sorry.

"Cracks and Pops", what does that mean? We aren't talking about a Vinyl record. You know... how audio has been done forever, through component cables. Analog. Send a HD signal through analog for audio and one through HDMI, you won't hear a difference.

Light indicator. Yes, its a reason.



So again, we have a situation where someone isn't thinking very hard about other people when reading this list, as if everything applies to them and them only. The very idea that someone else has issues, older equipment, very high quality equipment, set ups and remote systems doesn't factor in, so the list is invalid because it doesn't apply to you.

The list is FULL of valid reasons for a lot of people.

[dionusos]

I have NEVER heard my PS3--when playing games, Blu-Ray movies, or what-have-you... even when the room is completely silent. And most other PS3 say something similar. So #2 is just a matter of the author getting a bad luck of the draw with loud PS3 (minority) versus silent PS3 (majority).

[flowmastah]

I can't even come close to hearing my PS3 over the sound of my stereo.

IR remote? Who cares. I actually think the plain old PS3 controller makes a great remote. I suppose I might be bothered if I owned a universal.

The only criticism I think is actually valid is the power consumption. My PS3 is drawing ~130W during BD playback, which seems really excessive. Sony should probably have worked harder at turning off unneeded subsystems while the PS3 is in DVD/BD mode.

[Saigon]

The reality is that most of you don't have the proper equipment for a full experience, the reality is also that most of you aren't actually into the huge Home Theater thing, the other reality is (one that a lot of you seem to ignore) is that most people have spent years buying equipment, not all of it is HDMI, Bluetooth or whatever else.


The volume button overriding the console? What about you know... ALL those quiet parts in movies? A true movie or videophile doesn't want to hear the fan or the console when their movies are playing.

"Adapt", you are talking about people with extremely expensive and large set ups, they have adapted around all of that to have an IR system in place, they have adapted, and they want to continue adapting but being forced to use Bluetooth is making them stop adapting to that, another remote is unacceptable for most people.

Even on my set up, if I didn't use a few remotes for other stuff then I'd have like 6 remotes AND a PS3 controller for movies. Yeah..... not acceptable sorry.

"Cracks and Pops", what does that mean? We aren't talking about a Vinyl record. You know... how audio has been done forever, through component cables. Analog. Send a HD signal through analog for audio and one through HDMI, you won't hear a difference.

Light indicator. Yes, its a reason.



So again, we have a situation where someone isn't thinking very hard about other people when reading this list, as if everything applies to them and them only. The very idea that someone else has issues, older equipment, very high quality equipment, set ups and remote systems doesn't factor in, so the list is invalid because it doesn't apply to you.

The list is FULL of valid reasons for a lot of people.


its only valid to them if it effects them...i doubt there is one person that all these issues effect...one or two maybe...but again i doubt all of them at once...

when buying the PS3, you have to know what it is...a gaming system that can play HD movies...you should kow the limitations if any, that are present...

This article should had stayed on the editing board...

[bonehead848]

Most "true" audio/videophiles have a rack of equipment with loud pro audio gear opening into adjacent rooms so fan noise is not a problem. Besides, I have never even heard the fan come on during movie playback. That is a pretty pathetic list of reasons imo. I was expecting something more like it will age your ps3 faster or something.

[REFLEX]

Its all valid, if people find reasons, its 100% valid. You can't take away the validity.


If someone says "thats valid to me", then its valid.


The list is fine. Go over to any major A/V forum and you get the same issues arise with people who own the PS3 as a BD player.




How is it pathetic that you'd want a player with full DTS:MA playback? Or one that is silent, not all PS3s are 100% silent. Give me a break you guys. The PS3 isn't a perfect BD machine and this list is just saying that a lot of people have reasons why NOT to get the PS3.

Analog output is very important to many people, so that automatically cuts the PS3 off a lot of people's list. Is that not valid?

DTS:MA not fully capable on PS3: VALID.

NO IR for people with fully set up IR systems: VALID

FAN NOISE DURING BD PLAYBACK happens to many many people, the majority: VALID

NO ANALOG OUTPUT FOR MULTICHANNEL AUDIO: VALID



Telling me or anyone those are not valid reasons is being extremely foolish. If you are effected by these things then its valid.


I got a BD30 because the PS3 was noisier in comparison, the PS3 cannot play New Line 7.1 DTS:MA discs as 7.1, the PS3 cannot bitstream audio. VALID.

[Lefein]

I'll do the same thing with my PS3 that I did with my PS2. I used my PS2 as my primary DVD player until decent $250 DVD players came out.

[ChildOfIllusions]

Like you said REFLEX if your an audiophile you pretty much know what you want without compromise but for everyone else who has not upgraded there system the PS3 does a perfectly fine job at playing BD's and DVD's for that matter. Sometime down the road when i do get an HD television im sure more of this will matter to me .I would say a majority of people are in my shoes. But the validity argument goes both ways what may be valid for someone is not nesseccarily valid for somone else.

Ans to Lefein that will probably be what sells a whole lot of people on it once it gets down to that pricepoint but i wouldnt expect that anytime soon with no competition.

[SharkOutofWater]

Ok, I just tested about 3 different movies, in both my ps3, and then 3 more in my top end dvd player (mind you a couple years old, and never gets used since PS3 is a perfectly fine DVD player). Skipped to quiet sections, and I can honestly say I do not hear the difference in noise level of the 2 machines.

Now I do have a 70" so am a fair bit back from where the PS3 is (and there is also a display door between me and it) but there is absolutely no sound coming from the PS3 (if I was sitting right beside it of course I would hear it), so in my opinion this point is silly since if you have enough money to get a good set up, then you should have the setup to null any sound that is coming from the PS3 (not that there is much of any). Floresent lights make more noise then my ps3 lol.

I can see a couple of the other points that are valid, and will make a minor difference (have tested it, and it is a very small difference if any with my current set up) (not the little light one, as stated in toy story, "It's a light, it blinks!"). I think I have spent more then enough money on my Home theater system, and can not even think of justifying the extra money on a seperate Blueray player When I have a player that is currently being upgraded with most new features anyways.

As for the remote thing, in the not to far off future, most of the devices will be on bluetooth, and there will be a remote that does both, so voila, we will have only 1 remote (compared to the 2 I use now).

[RuneRules]

Well i guess you could say that the PS3 is a excellent blu ray player but its far from perfect. It is a more than capable player for the average gamer/blue ray enthusiast but I do agree that it has some downsides if your an audiophile or videophile. But IMHO i think that those are the most nit pickiest reasons ever, excluding the IR problem. As for the 6th point, if you really wanted to know what your outputting just press select when the movies playing, the PS3 throws as much info at you as you could ever want. I've never known any A/V receiver that told me I was playing 5.1 linear PCM audio data at XXMbps......

[RuneRules]

[quote=andonino;2831990]Ok, I just tested about 3 different movies, in both my ps3, and then 3 more in my top end dvd player (mind you a couple years old, and never gets used since PS3 is a perfectly fine DVD player). Skipped to quiet sections, and I can honestly say I do not hear the difference in noise level of the 2 machines.quote]

Ok correct me if im wrong but i thought the fan only kicks on when watching a Blu-ray movie and not a standard DVD. I mean thats my case but it could differ for you guys....I can hear my fan kick on sometimes but its never obnoxioulsly loud to the point i cant stand it.

[mcav]

I guarantee you, I will continue to use my PS3 as my primary BD player until cheap stand alone players come out.

[gruddy]

none of those reasons bother me :)

1. you dont NEED to use a universal remote - the ps3 control is just fine
2. this may be a little annoying, but shouldnt put you off watching blu ray movies on the ps3
3. i find things easy to understand and navigate, so this doesnt bother me
4. ?
5. green speen! why have a computer? why play with the ps3? everything isnt green
6. not a big deal

all i need now is to buy my first blu ray movie

[dennie]

1. Adding 1 more remote for me to use is not a big deal. Actually I prefer the bluetooth remote than the IR.

2. Perhaps it's louder than the standalone, but I'm not sitting that close to the PS3 and plus it's not like I'm watching silent movies.

3. What can I say, I'm used to PS3's interface. It's easy although it's not as easy as put it in and press play. Actually we can turn on the feature when you insert a BD it will play it right away right? Yea, turn on Disc Auto start feature and there you go, a put it in and play mode. How hard can it be?

4. No comment.

5. Green? I left my PS3, PC and laptop on 24/7. So I don't care about "green"

6. I'm not going to stare the receiver when the movie is playing, so no.

[Hunnter]

Eh, some of these reasons are a little bit, well, silly to be honest, but some are good.

But being green, i mean, come on, you are watching a Blu-ray movie, that isn't exactly a "green" process.
And seeing as these reasons apply more to "media-freaks" (no offence), i can assure you that they will be using significant power from that little socket.

if anything, i'd care more for my system dying from the drives motors / heads breaking or being mis-aligned.

[chartwel]

thanks for the read. that was total garbage IMO, but hey oh well...........

[Tyrien]

I like how some reasons to not use it are for the non-tech friendly and movie enthusiasts, where other reasons are only for that small percentage that pop a stiff one for perfect little details.

But as long as one isn't "It will kill your PS3 faster!". Dun care.

[Drawshot]

Those are all good points if those are things that are really important to you. I can be pretty picky about my entertainment and computer equipment. I'm not what you would consider an video/audiophile, but I do have some pretty decent equipment in my entertainment setup. However, I'm pretty satisfied with the PS3 for playing Blu-ray movies.

[REFLEX]

How is any of it BAD or invalid? I don't understand a lot of your guy's reasonings....


If anyone of those tings applies to you then its perfectly valid and the article makes sense.

If the person writing the article intends it for the purpose of getting people to NOT buy the PS3 then its stupid, but IF its for some people wondering about a Blu-ray player, telling them to make sure they know what they are getting, then its fine.

If someone has analog inputs only and has NO use for HDMI, then is the PS3 their best choice? Obviously not.


If someone wants full DTS:MA support right now, is PS3 the best choice? Obviously not.

If someone wants a 100% silent (EVERY SINGLE UNIT, which most PS3s are not silent) player in general, is the PS3 their best choice? No, it isn't.

If someone wants less power usage, is it their best choice? No, it isn't.


If someone has an IR set up and wants to keep things their way, is the PS3 the best choice? No it isn't.


So the article sucks if its trying to convince people in general to stay away, but if any of these things effects you and your choice...... then by all means, the article is totally valid.

How is it not?

[grcswoosh]

I think this is completely idiotic for the masses since most people don't have the money to blow on another player. These are very minor issues. Only people with a lot of money AND a serious interest in home theater would even consider getting a second player and I think the reasons would be restricted to best Picture Quality and the most Audio Options.

[GameSpawn]

This is idiotic and pure anal. While I can see what Reflex is getting at, you have to be INSANELY concerned about audio/video quality. Problem is people like this (Sorry, I don't mean to alienate anyone) make up a VERY VERY VERY small portion of the entertainment market. There are a lot of average Joe's out there who (1) don't care or (2) can't afford all those glorious things. I want 7.1 surround and I want a 52" 1080p screen (I REALLY WANT a 52" 1080p screen, BADLY), but frankly I just do not make the kind of money to afford said things and neither do most other people out there.

The fact still stands that the PS3 is for the most part an appealing player because it has the best value for the money, affordable (especially now), very decent Video and Audio quality (maybe a little shy of what a Audio/Video-phile wants, but more than enough for everyone else), functions as a gaming console, and also works fairly well as a DLNA media hub. The PS3 is just a very good introductory machine to the HD world.

[REFLEX]

I got a second player........ very happy with that choice.

[RedDragon7]

REFLEX, I won't say any those reasons are invalid. If they exist they are valid. It's more of importance in my opinion.

1. Sorry but to me that's lazy. I'm use to using a TV remote, my PS3 gamepad, and speaker system remote... all of them. Yes it is more convenient, but I would never hold this as a REAL reason to not use the PS3. It's just if you have a BD player, then great no need to fuss with the controllers, but that's all it is... convenience.
2. Unless you have hyper-sensitive hearing, ADD, or something else, the movie is going to be louder than the PS3... by a LOOOOONG shot. Otherwise there's no point in the audio system and then most of the other reasons disappear.
3. Again, convenience. If you bought a PS3, more than likely you know how everything works. This really borders on plain laziness. How long does it take to scroll over to the Video section of the XMB and click on the BD... honestly.
4. Ok, I'll give you this one. This is valid and a solid point to anyone with an older set that doesn't want to/need to upgrade to a newer one.
5. Ehhh.... I guess if your trying to save on the electricity bill.
6. REFLEX whats the reason for this one? I honestly don't see anything except EXTREME nit-picking... does this effect the audio or video? If not..... whats the problem???

[gumionday]

I think this guy is grasping for straws. I will probably only ever own a Blu-ray player via my PS3. I don't agree with his six reasons. Most of them are opinions any way. I don't want a universal remote; It is not the end of the world if I have to use more than one controller to make a viewing pleasure all that it can be.

[dennie]

In my opinion, those reasons are valid for home-theatre enthusiast/audiophiles. Like reason #1,2,4 and 6, maybe 5 also. They wanted the best in everything they can get from their setup, where they will get a stand alone player just for playing BR movies. Because of the features provided by the stand alone player. But for people who just wanted to watch BR movies without the fancy stuff, a PS3 should be enough for them to use as a BR player. I still think that reason #3 shouldn't be there.

[Shadowstar]

Come on people! When was the last time you saw someone make an electronic choice based on the fact it used 50 Watts or more power consumption than another?
Well, actually... I decided on an LCD instead of a plasma television/monitor based on the energy consumption and heat generation factors. It was one of my earliest criteria-- I think second after determining that the real expected life-span of (modern) plasma and LCD sets were approximately the same.

Yes, it's a small choice considering I was still buying a television, but a whole bunch of small choices can add up... It's not as out-there a reason as you think, assuming you're not going to get a PS3 for playing games as well as for watching movies.

[bobtheduck]

The only time I ever hear my PS3 is when I'm running Folding @ home, but I wager that's because my PC is in the same room, and my PC sounds worse than a 360... It didn't when I first got it, but as updates and new software started coming, the fan kicks in ALL THE TIME... I'd hate to think what would happen if I updated to SP3 or *gasp* VISTA!

I also use the Sixaxis to control movies, which is great EXCEPT for lack of dedicated subtitle / audio buttons... On the PS2, it was L3 and R3, but those do NOTHING on the PS3...

Honestly, I would love a standalone for the front room, but not for my bedroom because the standalones take time to load the movies, wheras the PS3 loads them right away, just like a DVD player.

[REFLEX]

in quiet parts in a movie you can hear all sorts of stuff, no matter how awesome or loud your movie is......

[PoisonRemedy]

Doesn't the PS2 remote come with an IR receiver? Just buy one of those and plug it in usinga converter. Done. All the other reasons are complete crap. Oh noes there's not a light on my receiver. Lol.

[SharkOutofWater]

in quiet parts in a movie you can hear all sorts of stuff, no matter how awesome or loud your movie is......

I am kindof curious about this comment, and the reason you havent solved this already. As I stated above, a simple piece of glass between me and the electronics that are in my Home Theater set up is all that was needed to remove every single sound I have ever heard from them. They still have perfect ventilation, but no sound (My PVR was getting annoying, every time it updated, you could hear the harddrive going like crazy, not near my xbox sound, but getting close)

My PS3 at one point was even on the other side of the wall behind the TV at one point in a cubby of sorts I had built(one advantage of bluetooth), but then I rebuilt my setup, and turned things around, so now all my electronics are molded around the TV.

I will admit though, if I wasnt into gaming, I would buy a standalone instead of the PS3, but I will not buy a second player for a difference that I consider about $20 worth max.

[kryton101]

These 'points are very dependant on your approach vector....

Firstly, this is in the home theatre section so the folks in this area are naturally more inclined towards the lets say 'finer' elements of home cinema set up.

Reflex makes some good points which a lot of you appear to either get but disregard or just dont get.

An audiophile cares about the really small stuff like the quality of speaker cable, room acoustics, getting all the speakers calibrated, where a person sits, what height they at, the cables (did I say that?)

The average gamer is a bit more plug and play, some noise and a remote issue isn't a big deal or even a deal at all. True HD is a world away......

Anyway, I've been there and stuff like the noise would be a massive issue if you've just spent 4 to 8 thousand on speakers, amps, cables and nice chairs. By comparison the whirring van engine noise from a PS3 isn't very complimentary in that scenario. Movies can have a lot of very quiet scenes in which the smallest sounds can affect the mood and feeling. External noise can have a very detrimental affect on that IF your ears are sensitive to it. The PS3 is the first BD player so of course everything that comes after should be better in most senses. Just the way it goes.

So, valid points for a portion of people but as you move towards the more casual gamer they become generally highly irrelevant.

[REFLEX]

I find it frustrating that some of you just ignore the valid points and shrug it off as "Crap".


To YOU it might seem pointless because these things do not effect you... but to the people who need analog, or want silence or need IR these reasons make perfect sense.

This is the downside of the internet, everyone thinks if it doesn't apply to them then everything is useless and crap.

People need to realize that a lot of people are not gamers. But no.. not here.

[bonehead848]

I guess for me this list of reasons would be kind of like buying one subwoofer for movies and one for music. If someone has the money and thinks its worth it then whatever, but I think that it just seems silly. Sure there are very minute differences between a LLT alignment and a couple equalized sealed subs but come on, there is no need to make a list about it.

Reasons like the lack of "True HD" lighting up (despite getting the same quality) and the interface are just really silly reasons. Anybody truly concerned with those things is not going to be happy with anything and needs to learn to relax.

Also, just because someone buys separate components to replace their HTIB does not make them an "audiophile." Most true audiophiles use pro audio gear that uses much more power and has way more fan noise than a ps3. If they can remedy those problems, they can remedy a ps3 fan and power consumption.

Reasons 1 and 4 are understandable. But 1 can be fixed by buying a ir plugin and 4 represents a very very very small percentage of HT users that would care about high quality and yet not have a new enough receiver. Seems to me that someone would pay the $600 to get a new receiver instead of paying $600 for another blu-ray player.

[RedDragon7]

These 'points are very dependant on your approach vector....

Firstly, this is in the home theatre section so the folks in this area are naturally more inclined towards the lets say 'finer' elements of home cinema set up.

Reflex makes some good points which a lot of you appear to either get but disregard or just dont get.

An audiophile cares about the really small stuff like the quality of speaker cable, room acoustics, getting all the speakers calibrated, where a person sits, what height they at, the cables (did I say that?)

The average gamer is a bit more plug and play, some noise and a remote issue isn't a big deal or even a deal at all. True HD is a world away......

Anyway, I've been there and stuff like the noise would be a massive issue if you've just spent 4 to 8 thousand on speakers, amps, cables and nice chairs. By comparison the whirring van engine noise from a PS3 isn't very complimentary in that scenario. Movies can have a lot of very quiet scenes in which the smallest sounds can affect the mood and feeling. External noise can have a very detrimental affect on that IF your ears are sensitive to it. The PS3 is the first BD player so of course everything that comes after should be better in most senses. Just the way it goes.

So, valid points for a portion of people but as you move towards the more casual gamer they become generally highly irrelevant.
I find it frustrating that some of you just ignore the valid points and shrug it off as "Crap".


To YOU it might seem pointless because these things do not effect you... but to the people who need analog, or want silence or need IR these reasons make perfect sense.

This is the downside of the internet, everyone thinks if it doesn't apply to them then everything is useless and crap.

People need to realize that a lot of people are not gamers. But no.. not here.Ok, I'll give the PS3 loudness to audiophiles. I remember watching I Am Legend on my PS3. Even with only ambient noise in the movie I still couldn't hear my PS3. Unless its in a hot room, the fan is dead nuts silent to me. HOWEVER, to an audiophile, or even just because of a different setup I'll grant you loudness. Maybe its not the PS3 as krypton101 mentioned his PVR.

But, on things like interface (scrolling to the DVD/BD on the PS3 XMB) and the TrueHD light... what technical problem are those? And I'm asking honestly. I'd like to understand the problem from your side of it (REFLEX) than to just be ignorant simply because it doesn't pertain to me. Can you explain how those two things are a true problem? And not just convenience. I'll honestly grant both of those as valid issues if you can explain to me their validity.

[SharkOutofWater]

hmmm, guess Reflex has decided to ignore my last question, I was sincerely curious (and not sarcasticly sincere either).

Oh well, to each their own.

[SomaXD]

How is any of it BAD or invalid? I don't understand a lot of your guy's reasonings....


If anyone of those tings applies to you then its perfectly valid and the article makes sense.

If the person writing the article intends it for the purpose of getting people to NOT buy the PS3 then its stupid, but IF its for some people wondering about a Blu-ray player, telling them to make sure they know what they are getting, then its fine.

If someone has analog inputs only and has NO use for HDMI, then is the PS3 their best choice? Obviously not.


If someone wants full DTS:MA support right now, is PS3 the best choice? Obviously not.

If someone wants a 100% silent (EVERY SINGLE UNIT, which most PS3s are not silent) player in general, is the PS3 their best choice? No, it isn't.

If someone wants less power usage, is it their best choice? No, it isn't.


If someone has an IR set up and wants to keep things their way, is the PS3 the best choice? No it isn't.


So the article sucks if its trying to convince people in general to stay away, but if any of these things effects you and your choice...... then by all means, the article is totally valid.

How is it not?

they may not be BAD or invalid, but isnt it a bit of a stretch to say that those are good reasons NOT to use your PS3 as a blu-ray player?

its along the lines of saying you shouldnt play PS3 games because the controller isnt great, or its loud when you play gpu-demanding games... or choosing the correct settings for optimal resolution is confusing, theres no good games out right now, might as well get a 360... right?

its meant to play games... its meant to play blu-ray movies... if you choose not to play movies because of those decisions... that fine..

but i dont think people should be saying "Dont play blu-ray movies on your ps3 because of such-and-such"

personally not one of those is a concern of mine. however it doesnt mean that some people dont feel different about it.

i just think its a little silly to use those as reasons not to use it as a blu-ray player.

[babylon5]

From my experience, the only reason of that list that might compelle me to buy a stand-alone player will be number 2 ie PS3 is noisy.

But besides that, I'm quite happy with the PS3 as my only Blu-ray / DVD Player.

[mcav]

Here is a good reason to use your PS3 as a blu ray player.

It is STILL one of the best BD players out there. Fully profile 2.0 compliant with excellent output in audio and video.

But aside from that - the best reason to use it as a blu ray player...

Because... it..... is....one.

[SaltDoc]

Hmm, maybe this could have all been avoided by a different title, like "6 reasons you may want a stand-alone blu-ray player" or some-such. I mean, I don't see one reason that I shouldn't use my ps3, but several that would make me consider using a stand-alone.

Now can we get along?

[F1Rules]

Source (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9941740-1.html)

So what do you guys think about those reasons?

I was in agreement with this article until i reached their third point. Which just shows a lack of knowledge about the ps3 as a whole. And for the guys out there watching chci flicks on their ps3 i say grow some balls;) lol One would have to be listening intently to here the ps3 over a true audiophiles entertainment system.

[Strung Out]

if you guys would let your ps3 woodies subside for just a few minutes, you would see the article makes sense.

For you in your bedroom, yeah ps3 is good. For a family, or in the living room...my wife is going to have a much easier time using a normal blu-ray player than a ps3. All the points were valid, and if you were concerned about any of them, it's something to think about.

if your not broke, and you don't mind spending the money...then I think it's a definite positive to get a stand alone...not to mention less wear and tear on the ps3, as well as fewer family members using it.

[mcav]

OF COURSE THERE IS A POSITIVE TO GETTING A STAND ALONE!

But these are NOT reasons to stop using the PS3 as a BD player. They are reasons to buy a standalone player!

[superJoel]

So what do you guys think about those reasons?
I think that if you already have a PS3, then use it as your blu-ray player. If those are your reasons to not buy a PS3 as a blu-ray player, then by all means buy a stand-alone player.

1... I actually like the bluetooth remote... I never have to point it directly at my PS3 to get it to work... although I find myself doing it every once in a while... hmm? I can see the universal remote thing being a problem, I have 5 remotes, and man if I just had ONE universal remote that'd be great.
2... I've never heard my PS3 make abnormal noises during playing a movie... but I usually don't watch "quiet" movies either.
As for number 3, the PS3 can be set-up to automatically play a BD when put in.
Number 4 ... I use the optical out... it sounds good enough to me... really good, but I've never heard a great system to compare mine to, either.
5... green... puh-lease.
6... I still use optical out, I have little lights that come on... I could care less which ones light up and which ones don't, but if you need that little light to come on and you are willing to spend $600 bucks or more to get it to come on, then by all means... do it!

[Wasley]

I can hardly hear my fan when playing blue-ray disc's or Gran Turismo 5. But could this be due to it being new?

[the_End]

I find it frustrating that some of you just ignore the valid points and shrug it off as "Crap".


To YOU it might seem pointless because these things do not effect you... but to the people who need analog, or want silence or need IR these reasons make perfect sense.

This is the downside of the internet, everyone thinks if it doesn't apply to them then everything is useless and crap.

People need to realize that a lot of people are not gamers. But no.. not here.

These things don't affect me but for audiophiles of course it would. It would also affect someone with a custom built HT room as well. I'm 18 so a lot of those reason are pointless for me but I can say my PS3 is pretty damn quite, even during those quite scene's in movies. Anyways, I can see what your saying though.

[madhi19]

The remote point is moot and it canceling the noise point because Bluetooth means that you don't need to have your ps3 in the same room as your home theater setup. That the big drawback of IR remote universal or not they always need to see the IR eye. IR tech is old and it on is way out so it would have been stupid for Sony to downgrade their new console to support it.

Now the ps3 Blu Ray player is upgradeable so firmware upgrade might just fix some audio issue like full DTS:MA that not the case of all the stand alone especially the early model. Another big point the ps3 has an Hard Drive and it support mp4 video! So the media server side give the ps3 a serious edge on stand alone.

The energy point is completely stupid no offense I heard it before and it still a stupid point your HDTV is using 1/10 of what a three years old tube TV of the same size would use. For that matters your home theater audio receiver and amplifier is using far more juice than your ps3. Hell you want to save energy buy energy efficient light bulb and you will make some real saving!

My main counter argument is simple I got enough crap hooked has it is! I don't want one more fracking box to connect, setup and just use for Blu Ray Disk.

[sailordude1]

well it makes me feel pretty good that i can turn my ps3 on, put a bluray movie in and watch it at the highest resolution available today, surf the internet, talk to friends, PLAY GAMES!, listen to music, watch videos and help cure cancer for around $400! oh, and it wont burn out after a few months. the ps3 is the best bluray player on the market today, just because i cant use an IR remote or its louder than a standalone isnt enough to pay hundreds of extra dollars for less features.

[superJoel]

well it makes me feel pretty good that i can turn my ps3 on, put a bluray movie in and watch it at the highest resolution available today, surf the internet, talk to friends, PLAY GAMES!, listen to music, watch videos and help cure cancer for around $400! oh, and it wont burn out after a few months. the ps3 is the best bluray player on the market today, just because i cant use an IR remote or its louder than a standalone isnt enough to pay hundreds of extra dollars for less features.
true that! I guess for the people that don't want all those things in one unit should just buy a stand alone player. I just don't see any reason to buy another player when I already got the PS3... and it's pretty awesome.

[uofmtiger]

1. Buy a Nyko remote and set up your universal to use its codes. Then set your PS3 to autoplay BDs. When you take the disk out, turn off the PS3 manually. This eliminates the need for a PS button on the remote. Problem solved for less than $20. For people that are not tech savy enough to handle this, I doubt they would be setting up a universal with macros anyway. They could buy the Sony remote or use the controller.

2. Any serious audiophile does not have a BluRay player with their audio equipment. A lot of them do not even have monitors in their audio setups. However, the fact that some PS3s can play SACDs gives it more audiophile worth than most stand-alones.. HT enthusiasts usually have their components in a rack out of view and out of earshot of the seating area. For the rest of us, we can live with the sound...it blends in with the air conditioning unit, refrigerator, dogs barking next door, birds chirping during the day, etc...

3. If all your using the PS3 for is BD, set it to auto-play and forget about it. Problem solved.

4. "If you're using an older receiver and want to use its multichannel analog inputs to get high-resolution soundtracks, you can't do it with the PlayStation 3. You're better off going with a standalone Blu-ray player with onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, like the upcoming Pioneer BDP-51FD (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9937405-1.html) and Panasonic DMP-BD50 (http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd50/4505-6463_7-32815617.html?tag=nefdprod.rev). "

The key word here is "upcoming". The BD30 that has been discussed in this thread does not have the ability to decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio internally, so you need a newer receiver that can handle that task. Anyone buying a receiver with the ability to decode these formats will want something with an HDMI input. Therefore, other than upcoming players, nothing else is any better.

As for upcoming players, we will need to wait and see if they have their own set of issues. I think the biggest selling point is that they decode internally and they have multi-channel outputs. For those with old receivers, this would be important.

Right now, I think the best BD player is the PS3. The players that can't decode high rez formats internally will have a disadvantage when it comes to playing audio that can't be bitstreamed (secondary audio tracks, PIP, etc... have been reported to have problems).

[JamesP]

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
Sony decided not to include an IR receptor on the PlayStation 3, and home theater fans have been complaining ever since. The lack of an IR receptor means that the PlayStation 3 won't work with (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9941740-1.html)universal remote controls (http://reviews.cnet.com/best-universal-remotes/), so you'll have to use the PS3 controller or the separate PS3 BD remote (http://reviews.cnet.com/game-accessories/sony-playstation-3-blu/4505-10110_7-32327368.html?tag=nefdprod.rev) to control it. It's definitely a pain for anyone who is used to activity-based macros such as "Watch TV" and "Watch Blu-ray" to control their home theater.
2. It's louder than standalones.
Although every PS3 seems to be different, the PS3 can occasionally get loud once its fans start spinning. For audiophiles, that can be a pretty big drawback, especially if you start to hear a whirr during every quiet scene in a movie. You'll have better luck keeping the PS3 quiet by keeping it in a well-ventilated area, but standalones are quieter in general and don't mind having other gear stacked on them.
3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
This isn't an issue for tech enthusiasts, but Sony's Xross Media Bar (XMB) is packed with options and can be intimidating for neophytes. Although we generally like the XMB for zipping around the PS3's functions, using a standard Blu-ray player where you just need to put in the disc and hit play is definitely a lot easier.
4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
If you're using an older receiver and want to use its multichannel analog inputs to get high-resolution soundtracks, you can't do it with the PlayStation 3. You're better off going with a standalone Blu-ray player with onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, like the upcoming Pioneer BDP-51FD (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9937405-1.html) and Panasonic DMP-BD50 (http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd50/4505-6463_7-32815617.html?tag=nefdprod.rev). Of course, if you're OK with standard DVD-style surround sound, you can still get that with the PS3's optical SPDIF output, which is compatible with nearly all modern receivers.
5. You want to be green.
The PS3 is great at a lot of things, but conserving power isn't one of them. If you're looking to stay green and limit your power consumption, you'll be much better off using a standalone Blu-ray player. For example, the PS3 sucks up about 170 watts while playing a Blu-ray movie, while the Samsung BD-P1400 (http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/samsung-bd-p1400/4505-6463_7-32514521.html?tag=nefdprod.rev) only uses about 25 watts. That's a fairly huge difference and can easily wipe out any power savings from using other green products such as the Philips Eco TV (http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9843645-67.html). (Check out our guide to TV power consumption (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6475_7-6400401-1.html) for more green tips.)
6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
Even if you do have a new HDMI-capable receiver, you'll never get the Dolby TrueHD light to turn on with the PS3. That's because although the PS3 can decode both DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, it can't send those soundtracks in bit stream format and allow the receiver to decode them. Of course, this isn't really a legitimate reason, as you're still getting the same high-resolution audio, but some people just need the comfort of seeing the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio lights on their receiver.

I think these reasons are absolutely stupid...here's why.


1. Doesn't work with universal remotes. - There are adapters such as the Nyko Bluwave USB or the IR2BT adapter that are compatible with universal remotes such as the Logitech Harmony models with very little stress setting up.
2. It's louder than standalones. - There is almost always something running in the background such as a ceiling/floor fan, A/C, or something similar so you don't even notice the fans on the PS3, and the noise to most PS3 is so ridiculously low you can't even tell the difference otherwise. Let's not forget that you are watching a movie too, how the hell are you going to hear your PS3 fans over whatever is going on during the movie.
3. Interface isn't as easy to use. - I don't know what Sony could do to make it easier to navigate having menu titles such as Settings, Game, Video, Music, etc. make navigating the XMB EXTREMELY easy so I'm not quite sure where this reason came from.
4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs. - Not sure what you mean by this but I think outputs would be related to the receiver and speakers only and not the PS3...
5. You want to be green. - Chances are if you are going to spend upwards of a thousand dollars minimum for a system, games, movies, etc. on a system not to mention you have to have a TV and a home theater system for most, the extra 150-200W load of a PS3 several hours a day isn't going to make that big of a difference to you.
6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD." - Who cares what the receiver says...you are still getting HD sound. Why are you looking at the receiver during a movie anyways? Watch the movie!

[PS3fan15]

none of that makes sense..

These two are the only legitimate reasons..

4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.

5. You want to be green.
The PS3 is great at a lot of things, but conserving power isn't one of them.

funny how he could only come up with six reasons and most of them weren't even a reason.. lmao.

[ttech10]

Here's my one reason you SHOULD use your PS3 as your Blu-Ray player.

1. It's just as good if not better than any other Blu-Ray player.

[Pgsley]

why would i buy a separate blu ray player when my ps3 does that with no problem?

[Don G.]

I read this article. He did mention that it is considered one of (if not) the best blu ray players on the market. I'm happy I read it. There was a link to their top rated universal remotes. I picked up a Phillips one that was on 39.99 at Buy.com.....it was 80 or so everywhere else. :)

[The_One]

Shouldn't the article title be "Six reason you shouldn't use the PS3 SOLELY as your Blu-Ray Player".

I'm buying a PS3 this June 12th (Okay, I'm sure you know why... Haha), and I've already bought 2 Blu-Ray for it before I even got it (Appleseed Ex Machina, and Letters from Iwo Jima).

Guess what else I'm going to use my PS3 for? Hmm, I don't know, let me think for a minute... It's advertised as being a "Computer Entertainment System"... So, hey... why don't I play some, you know, those things that people call... What was it again? Oh, right, Gheymes! Or was it Games? Right, Games! That's it!

A 500 dollar device that came play Gheymes--err, Games--AND play Blu-Ray discs, I think that's a pretty good deal for me ;).

Oh, and #3 does NOT make ANY sense whatsoever. The XMB is so effective that Sony now uses it as the standard navigation interface with ALL their new TV's...

I can see #6 being a valid reason for the sole reason of YOU wanting to know that your PS3/Receiver IS working properly. I can't tell you how many times I'd look at the light indicator on my electronic devices to see what it's doing.

Bottom line: The article should have been titled "Six reason you shouldn't use the PS3 SOLELY as your Blu-Ray Player". If you're going to use the OTHER huge portion of the device (a.k.a. PLAYING GAMES), then these points obviously won't matter to you--but if you're a moron who wants to buy a game console to watch movies... Hey, you get what you pay for; literally.

@REFLEX: Those points are valid, you're right, but at the same time, the article title needs some tweaking. In my opinion, anyone who buys a device solely to use 10-20% of its features is simply wasting his/her hard earned money. Someone who buys a PS3 for playing Blu-Rays only should suffer for their stupidity.

[mcav]

Actually the title of this article should be "6 reasons why a standalone player is better than a PS3"

It contains no reasons at all as to why you should NOT use your PS3 as a BD player.

But it confuses me as to why this thread is still open. It's as stagnant as a.... er.... stagnant pond.

[catman2]

for me power consumption is a big issue. the PS3 is so hungry....i run a 6 foot screen with a hi-def projector/500 watts 5.1 surround, twin subwoofers and the ps3, but i no longer use the ps3 to stream music as it takes 10 times more power than my apple laptops to do the same thing !

i would love an update that reduced power consumption. my whole house runs off solar power, but the ps3 uses more than my fridge !! cold beer more important.

ohh and kryton101..your quote,

"When was the last time you saw someone make an electronic choice based on the fact it used 50 Watts or more power consumption than another? "

here I am. Free electricity for the next quarter century.:-D.Only got 12 rooms and 5 boats all powered by solar power. When was the last time you realised you just don't get it?

[IIxTECHNIQUExII]

SOO...you bought it, it has an intergrated blue ray discr player, should you use it to play blue ray films or not? Hmmm...not a hard question.

[makidian]

These reasons mean absolutely nothing to me, I guess if I was really hardcore about movies, then maybe.

[Strudel]

Some good points, but not worth spending a further £200-400 on. Blu-ray player was one of the reasons why I bought a PS3 in the first place so to replace it would be defeating the object of having a PS3.

I'm a student, so my biggest concern is cost, maybe once I get a great job I'll worry more about these things.

[uk-guy]

yep as i am just investing in blu ray one of the reasons i bought the ps3 was mainly for blu ray and all i can say it has not disappointed me .yet i am a light game player and feel it was the best purchase for me. when the 2.0 players hit the market then i might look into selling my ps3 for a stand alone blu ray player after i add the 320gb hard drive to it it should still be a highly desirable
game and blu ray machine all in all i am very happy and can see no reason why the ps3 wouldn't be a good machine to play hi-def movies on. why else would sony have added it if it dident think it was up to the job i think sony invested very heavily in the ps3. they wanted the next generation games machine and added the latest cell technology they wanted the next generation movie format and added blu ray me thinks the were betting the next 10 plus years of there growth on this machine so i dont think they went into it lightly.

[Hulk1215]

Those ain't going to stop me from using my PS3 as a Blu-ray player. Now I'm going to use it it even more because of that post. :p

[dennie]

It ain't gonna stop me either. The only thing that's stopping me is the price of BD's :p here in Canada.

[Bitbydeath]

1. Doesn't work with universal remotes.
Doesn't bother me i just use my controller, no extra remote needed.
2. It's louder than standalones.
The only sound i hear my PS3 make is the beep sound when it turns on.. if you can hear it your probably sitting right next to it and have a tiny TV.
3. Interface isn't as easy to use.
There's a menu that says "Play Movie" doesn't get much simpler.
4. You have an older AV receiver and need multichannel analog outputs.
Time to upgrade?
5. You want to be green.
Might as well turn off your TV too while your at it hippie
6. I need to see my receiver light up and say "Dolby TrueHD."
That's just too picky and not even worth responding too :neutral:

Seriously i think they're just trying to get hits.....

[Evoking1230]

number 6 is my #1 reason for thinking about getting a standalone blu-ray player

lol

[fbodyamerica]

are any of these reasons gonna break the ps3 from what i read i say no so why did you even post it if there was something that should have us worried then that be different but that was just a waste of a thread

[borrissey]

Isn't one advantage of the PS3 that you can update it with firmware updates?

[dennie]

are any of these reasons gonna break the ps3 from what i read i say no so why did you even post it if there was something that should have us worried then that be different but that was just a waste of a thread

Why can't I post the article in here? Something wrong with the article? It's just for us to read and discuss, you just have to take it easy when reading the article. If you have something against it, then don't reply to this thread. It's not like it's going to stop me from using the PS3 as a BD player.

[borrissey]

Why can't I post the article in here? Something wrong with the article? It's just for us to read and discuss, you just have to take it easy when reading the article. If you have something against it, then don't reply to this thread. It's not like it's going to stop me from using the PS3 as a BD player.

Justin Timberlake................

[Judgegeo]

What rubbish. Noise? Havnt noticed in the slightest. Power conservation? The new 40gb model uses little energy, about the same as a standard PC, if that.

[dnut24]

well it's good to know it doesn't light up the trueHD up. I don't have one of those recievers, but plan on buying one eventually, and this would've driven my crazy thinking something is not wired or configured correctly. Like if my "5.1" doesn't show up on my reciever i know something is wrong, so it's not a show stopper but good to know.

[Jikoo]

Does it matter about the sound quality? HD sound is hardly any different. so two of those reasons are wiped out. the power consumption bit, you can get converters that make the most of your power so thats gone. The XMB is easy to use.