PS3 blu-ray player

[tigersty1e]

Is the blu-ray player on the PS3 a genuine player?

Are there any foreseeable format changes that would make the player obsolete?


Also, is the PS3 backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games?

 

[Modeps]

What do you mean by "is it genuine"? Its probably the best blu ray player that you can buy because it has been seen at CES demoing the BluRay 2.0 spec (something that other players do not yet support). It is the most future proof BR player on the market at the current time.

PS3 is BC with PS1. PS2 however, is a grey area, depending on which model you pick.

 

[sswingle]

The blu ray group flat out said the PS3 is what you want for the best player. Only player in existance that started out as 1.0 spec, is now 1.1, and will be able to go to 2.0.

 

[tigersty1e]

That's what I mean about the 1.0...2.0....

So if you had a 1.0... could you play bluray discs that are coming out now.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
That's what I mean about the 1.0...2.0....

So if you had a 1.0... could you play bluray discs that are coming out now.

All of the Blu-Ray discs are backwards and forwards compatible, in terms of profile. If you have a 1.1 player, you can play a disc with 2.0 features (albeit you won't get access to the 2.0 features, just the stuff compatible with 1.1). And your 2.0 player can play 1.1 discs, no problem.

I actually disagree with the assertion that the PS3 is the best BR-D player - audio support is mediocre compared to the new Sony players recently announced (and those are profile 2.0!). But, that said, it's still a pretty good option if you want to play games on it.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
That's what I mean about the 1.0...2.0....

So if you had a 1.0... could you play bluray discs that are coming out now.

All of the Blu-Ray discs are backwards and forwards compatible, in terms of profile. If you have a 1.1 player, you can play a disc with 2.0 features (albeit you won't get access to the 2.0 features, just the stuff compatible with 1.1). And your 2.0 player can play 1.1 discs, no problem.

I actually disagree with the assertion that the PS3 is the best BR-D player - audio support is mediocre compared to the new Sony players recently announced (and those are profile 2.0!). But, that said, it's still a pretty good option if you want to play games on it.

Yes, future audio is where the weakness will be seen but if you do not have a home audio system which isn't supported fully and do not plan to purchase one anytime soon then the PS3 is easily the way to go for a blu-ray player right now. They have proven to be by the far the most capable hardware when it comes to providing software/firmware updates to support future blu-ray formats.

Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Oh, and to answer the OP's last question:
1. The 20gb and 60gb PS3s have PS2 hardware in them - they are very compatible with PS1 and PS2 games.
2. The 80gb PS3 has some PS2 hardware in it, and uses software emulation for the rest. It's less compatible with PS2 games than 20gb and 60gb, but still reasonable.
3. The 40gb PS3 can't play PS2 games at all, but can do PS1 games just fine.

The bad news is that the 20gb, 60gb, and 80gb models are currently out of production. They might have a new model with 80gb-like compat in the future - there are rumors.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Two questions:

1. What will 2.0 offer that the current format does not?
2. Is there currently any proven reason why the PS3 cannot or will not adopt 2.0 through a software/firmware update?

Being that I have not purchased anything yet, I will need to know this info before making a decision.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Oh, and to answer the OP's last question:
1. The 20gb and 60gb PS3s have PS2 hardware in them - they are very compatible with PS1 and PS2 games.
2. The 80gb PS3 has some PS2 hardware in it, and uses software emulation for the rest. It's less compatible with PS2 games than 20gb and 60gb, but still reasonable.
3. The 40gb PS3 can't play PS2 games at all, but can do PS1 games just fine.

The bad news is that the 20gb, 60gb, and 80gb models are currently out of production. They might have a new model with 80gb-like compat in the future - there are rumors.

I wonder if/when I will/would be able to sell my launch 20gb(now with 80gb) for a profit?

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Two questions:

1. What will 2.0 offer that the current format does not?
2. Is there currently any proven reason why the PS3 cannot or will not adopt 2.0 through a software/firmware update?

Being that I have not purchased anything yet, I will need to know this info before making a decision.

2.0 requires additional video and audio processors, more ram, and an ethernet port for hardware. The processors are for PIP style features (that HD had from the start), the RAM allows for better buffering, and the ethernet port allows for BDLive functionality (think DVD extras, games, downloadable stuff, but online and much more interactive, also something that HD spec'd from the beginning)

wait, why did Bluray win again?

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Two questions:

1. What will 2.0 offer that the current format does not?
2. Is there currently any proven reason why the PS3 cannot or will not adopt 2.0 through a software/firmware update?

Being that I have not purchased anything yet, I will need to know this info before making a decision.

2.0 requires additional video and audio processors, more ram, and an ethernet port for hardware. The processors are for PIP style features (that HD had from the start), the RAM allows for better buffering, and the ethernet port allows for BDLive functionality (think DVD extras, games, downloadable stuff, but online and much more interactive, also something that HD spec'd from the beginning)

wait, why did Bluray win again?

Thanks. I just found this article too which does an excellent job talking about the different formats and why the PS3 is currently the only 2.0 capable blu-ray player out there right now.

Blu-ray Formats

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: Modeps

2.0 requires additional video and audio processors, more ram, and an ethernet port for hardware. The processors are for PIP style features (that HD had from the start), the RAM allows for better buffering, and the ethernet port allows for BDLive functionality (think DVD extras, games, downloadable stuff, but online and much more interactive, also something that HD spec'd from the beginning)

wait, why did Bluray win again?

Because HD-DVD is dead.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
That's what I mean about the 1.0...2.0....

So if you had a 1.0... could you play bluray discs that are coming out now.

All of the Blu-Ray discs are backwards and forwards compatible, in terms of profile. If you have a 1.1 player, you can play a disc with 2.0 features (albeit you won't get access to the 2.0 features, just the stuff compatible with 1.1). And your 2.0 player can play 1.1 discs, no problem.

I actually disagree with the assertion that the PS3 is the best BR-D player - audio support is mediocre compared to the new Sony players recently announced (and those are profile 2.0!). But, that said, it's still a pretty good option if you want to play games on it.

Yes, future audio is where the weakness will be seen but if you do not have a home audio system which isn't supported fully and do not plan to purchase one anytime soon then the PS3 is easily the way to go for a blu-ray player right now. They have proven to be by the far the most capable hardware when it comes to providing software/firmware updates to support future blu-ray formats.

Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

So, what are the audio shortcomings of the PS3 as a blu-ray player? Also, the PS3 will play standard dvds too, right?

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Two questions:

1. What will 2.0 offer that the current format does not?
2. Is there currently any proven reason why the PS3 cannot or will not adopt 2.0 through a software/firmware update?

Being that I have not purchased anything yet, I will need to know this info before making a decision.

2.0 requires additional video and audio processors, more ram, and an ethernet port for hardware. The processors are for PIP style features (that HD had from the start), the RAM allows for better buffering, and the ethernet port allows for BDLive functionality (think DVD extras, games, downloadable stuff, but online and much more interactive, also something that HD spec'd from the beginning)

wait, why did Bluray win again?

Yeah, I've got a decent collection of HD-DVDs along with a 360 add-on drive and really enjoy the seamless interaction of the special features, not to mention the "my chapters" feature, or whatever it's called where you can select your favorite scenes from a movie and save them in a sort of video playlist. Oh well, now I'll just have to wait on some blu-ray players to drop in price. I did see a 120Hz Samsung hooked up to a blu-ray player playing Pirates of the Caribbean at Circuit City and it looked absolutely amazing, almost to the point of blinding me to the cost of the setup.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Personally, I will be buying a PS3 in the future despite the audio because even though there are no exclusive games that I am interested in now there will probably be at least a couple in the future. Plus, I really want a reliable Blu-ray player.

I actually just bought a PS3, too - I'm just being realistic in terms of "best BR-D" player, and the PS3 just isn't it, in light of the newly-announced Sony Blu-Ray players (which have profile 2.0!). No matter what you buy, though, you won't go too wrong.

Oh, and to answer the OP's last question:
1. The 20gb and 60gb PS3s have PS2 hardware in them - they are very compatible with PS1 and PS2 games.
2. The 80gb PS3 has some PS2 hardware in it, and uses software emulation for the rest. It's less compatible with PS2 games than 20gb and 60gb, but still reasonable.
3. The 40gb PS3 can't play PS2 games at all, but can do PS1 games just fine.

The bad news is that the 20gb, 60gb, and 80gb models are currently out of production. They might have a new model with 80gb-like compat in the future - there are rumors.

the 20gb and 60gb ones are out of production but the 80gb ones haven't stopped. Sony today annouced a 80gb bundle with mgs4 and dual shock 3 controller. Whether that 80gb bundle would include software emulation is not known. But I hoenstly doubt sony would suddenly decide to yank it completely. Then again this is Sony we're talking about.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: tdawg
So, what are the audio shortcomings of the PS3 as a blu-ray player? Also, the PS3 will play standard dvds too, right?

It's a very good upscaling player for regular DVDs.

The PS3 works perfectly for Dolby & DTS 5.1 and has a standard optical digital out connector (doesn't require a Sony AV cable for it). What it doesn't have is decoding some of the fancier surround formats beyond 5.1.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: tdawg
So, what are the audio shortcomings of the PS3 as a blu-ray player?

Blu-Ray Player comparison chart (I have not verified it myself for accuracy)

Also, the PS3 will play standard dvds too, right?

Yep and it will upscale them as well. But, do update to the latest firmware if you plan on using this feature....

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: herkulease
the 20gb and 60gb ones are out of production but the 80gb ones haven't stopped. Sony today annouced a 80gb bundle with mgs4 and dual shock 3 controller. Whether that 80gb bundle would include software emulation is not known. But I hoenstly doubt sony would suddenly decide to yank it completely. Then again this is Sony we're talking about.

Give me a little credit here - I posted before the bundle was announced, but after all the previous 80gb ones were out of the stores.

Anyways, I'll be curious to see what they do about BC, but I'd be a little stunned if they yanked PS2 BC from the new 80gb entirely.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: herkulease
the 20gb and 60gb ones are out of production but the 80gb ones haven't stopped. Sony today annouced a 80gb bundle with mgs4 and dual shock 3 controller. Whether that 80gb bundle would include software emulation is not known. But I hoenstly doubt sony would suddenly decide to yank it completely. Then again this is Sony we're talking about.

Give me a little credit here - I posted before the bundle was announced, but after all the previous 80gb ones were out of the stores.

Anyways, I'll be curious to see what they do about BC, but I'd be a little stunned if they yanked PS2 BC from the new 80gb entirely.

I wouldn't, I think you're going to see Sony distancing themselves from BC even more in favor of selling PS2 titles on PSN for $10+. That's why I went ahead and bought a 60GB model, so I won't have to worry about it.

 

[secretanchitman]

ps3 is blu-ray firmware upgradable...it'll become blu-ray spec 2.0 eventually.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
ps3 is blu-ray firmware upgradable...it'll become blu-ray spec 2.0 eventually.

It's one of the few players that are upgradable. I would recommend getting a player that can be upgraded later.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: Modeps

2.0 requires additional video and audio processors, more ram, and an ethernet port for hardware. The processors are for PIP style features (that HD had from the start), the RAM allows for better buffering, and the ethernet port allows for BDLive functionality (think DVD extras, games, downloadable stuff, but online and much more interactive, also something that HD spec'd from the beginning)

wait, why did Bluray win again?

Because HD-DVD is dead.

... that wasn't my point at all. My point was that HDDVD had these new BR features from Day 1, so how could a technically inferior spec win out? I guess HDDVD didn't have the marketing or the iPod effect (recognition, cool name, cool logo)

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
ps3 is blu-ray firmware upgradable...it'll become blu-ray spec 2.0 eventually.

It's one of the few players that are upgradable. I would recommend getting a player that can be upgraded later.

The firmware is NOT the problem, don't pretend that it is, and don't tell people that this is the reason the PS3 is the best bet. Its the hardware. Many of the stand alone bluray players have USB inputs that allow flashing the firmware to the latest revision (or, the latest revision the player can support). My television (Sharp Aquos 42") has a similar USB port in it that allows for user upgradeable firmwares.

Try finding a BluRay player, other than the PS3, that has an ethernet port or the extra video & audio processors (the PS3 doesn't technically, but its got the horsepower to deal with it).

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: tdawg
So, what are the audio shortcomings of the PS3 as a blu-ray player?

No DTS-HD MA (lossless) or DTS-HD HR (lossy, but better than DTS) support at all. It also can't pass raw DD-TrueHD or DD+ streams to your receiver - it will always decode them and pass them as PCM, denying your receiver the opportunity to do some forms of post-processing work on them. And, for some people, the lack of analog surround outputs is also a problem.

If you want a pure Blu-Ray player, wait for the Sony BDP-S350 ($400) or Sony BDP-S550 ($500). Both have better features than the PS3 for this task, and will have upgradeable firmware (like basically every other HD disc player on the market - not sure why there's claims that you can't upgrade firmware on other players).

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Try finding a BluRay player, other than the PS3, that has an ethernet port or the extra video & audio processors (the PS3 doesn't technically, but its got the horsepower to deal with it).

...and has at least 1GB of internal storage. Remember that 2.0 requires at least 1GB.

Originally posted by: erwos
No DTS-HD MA (lossless) or DTS-HD HR (lossy, but better than DTS) support at all. It also can't pass raw DD-TrueHD or DD+ streams to your receiver - it will always decode them and pass them as PCM, denying your receiver the opportunity to do some forms of post-processing work on them. And, for some people, the lack of analog surround outputs is also a problem.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR, DD-TrueHD, and DD+ require codec support and nothing else correct? If I am correct, doesn't that mean the PS3 can add support through software/firmware updates?

Also, last I read, Sony is moving away from PCM in favor of these lossless codecs. Would it not make sense that they will add the necessary support to the PS3 being that they currently are in control of the Blu-ray format and are aware that a great many people are relying on their PS3s to provide the best of the best when it comes to blu-ray?