Six reasons you shouldn't use the PS3 as your Blu-ray player
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
OK, before the angry fanboy comments roll in, let's get this out of the way: the PlayStation 3 is the best Blu-ray player on the market right now. It sits at the top of our best Blu-ray players list, we consistently use it as the reference that we judge other Blu-ray players against, and it's the only player on the market right now that supports Blu-ray Profile 2.0 and onboard decoding for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. And it will always be the only Blu-ray player that streams media, has a browser, and plays PS3 games. Virtually everyone looking to buy a Blu-ray player should go with the PS3 right now.
However, with that in mind, there are a few legitimate reasons why someone wouldn't want to use a PlayStation 3 as their main Blu-ray player. Let's check them out.
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, so you'll have to use the PS3 controller or the separate PS3 BD remote 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 and Panasonic DMP-BD50. 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 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. (Check out our guide to TV power consumption 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.
What do you think? Are any of these a legitimate reason to get a standalone Blu-ray player instead of the PlayStation 3? Or is anyone who buys a standalone Blu-ray player wasting their money on an inferior product?
Thanks for pointing that out.
I'm not sure why I even bother with CNET any longer.
All that is, is just photoshopped pictures of a head swap.
LAME.
Delfairen-
I agree, I really don't know why i even bother clicking the news links anymore.
This post was lame. If you have a GRAIN of knowledge on computers you know that the technology isn't that different from a console these days. console makers simply chase the idea of having made a computer with proprietary connections.
You also know that the more advanced you get, the more cooling you will need.
PS1 - no fan
PS2 - a pathetic attempt to cool with a single fan smaller than 80mm.
PS3 - well I don't own one. So I can't really speak on the loud fans you speak of. All I can say is "I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE YOU WASTED MONEY ON IT!"
As for energy consumptions, well no kidding, sherlock? More advanced technology? MOAR HEAT!
Screw this I'm done pointing out the obvious to some of the dimmer bulbs around here.
2. I have the 40gb ps3 so the noise is never an issue.
3. No issues with the bd remote.
4. Totally stupid point who would want to output multichannel audio dolbyhd? thats what 8 seperate phono plugs??
5. I guess this all hinges on which ps3 you have. the 40gb has a lower power consumption.
6. No comment. I don't have an amp that nice/new and live in an apartment so can't even crack up the volume.
Now I'd like to see an new article to balance everything "Why you shouldn't buy a Blu-Ray player to play games"
Clearly, there are some people for whom the PS3 is a perfect Blu-ray player. If you're in a reasonably small apartment, having a remote coordinate your TV, receiver, and movie reader all at once is a bit of a waste; you might not have a surround sound setup that even justifies the receiver. And if you're a budget HD junkie, a $400 game/movie player hybrid makes infinitely more sense than a $500-plus player that only reads movies.
I also disagree with the interface issue. You can set up the PS3 to auto-play movie discs, which eliminates most of the menu navigation. If you want, you can even tell the PS3 to bookmark BD and DVD movies so that you can eject them without losing your place -- that's a feature many parents would appreciate as they find themselves watching "300" over two late nights rather than one.
The software upgradability also shouldn't be ignored; while it's doubtful the Blu-ray Profile spec will change much past today, it's clear that PS3 owners are the only ones who haven't been given the short end of the stick in terms of feature support. Just ask those who bought Panasonic DMP-BD30s for the holidays only to find out that they're forever locked out of Internet extras! Even a hybrid device with Internet support, like LG's Super Multi Blu players, might not have the option of Profile 2.0.
The PS3 owners might end up turning their devices on one at a time and having to use a new receiver, but they'll still be using their boxes for movies three years from now. You can't say that for most others.
a bluray unit that also plays games plus if and when bluray 2.5
comes out will a stand alone bluray player be able to download
it or will i have to buy another standalone unit sony will just put it in a new ps3 firmware if that happens
There are tones of feature that make this the best BD player for the money on the market, but just like everything else some of the few things it lacks will be a drawback for some people. Lots of people like the simplicity of stand alone individual devices. When standalone player drop significantly in price and incorporate wifi this will all be mute point.
It plays DivX in High Definition as well. So when you convert the Blu-Ray to High Def DivX, thn You can have a High Def collection like a mp3 collection playin from an external Hard drive.
The remote is BluTooth! Every remote should be BluTooth No frustrated pointing toward the device, You can even useit with Your back Turned Awesome! I could tallk about t till my tongue got ful of long hair!
2. Is the PS3 loud? With HD audio I never noticed. lol
3. PS3 does auto play a blu-ray disc
4. Old receiver + new blu-ray player with HD digital audio doesn't make sense
5. Enable Folding@Home and you'll be doing a lot of good and feel less guilty about the green
6. See #5... if you can't see the DTSHD light isn't it more green?
Though, the power consumption is a very good point, and the lack of an IR port is an annoyance, but Crave has covered simple work arounds..
This post is equivalent to the ramblings of the Unabomber's manifesto.
The second reason is also stupid, i can't hear my PS3 at all when it plays Blu-Ray's. NEVER and I'm an audiophile :P
LOL
Thanks.
1) It's the most future-proof player there is. Any future functionality Bluray will get, PS3 will get
2) It has so much more multimedia functionality than any other player. It lets you stream media to PSP, stream media from PC, play media off of USB/CD/DVD/flash cards/etc.
3) It loads movies faster than any other player
4) It's quiter than stand alones (who wrote that list, are they on crack?)
5) "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" It can as of the last update that came out
6) It costs less than most standalones, and is easier to find in stores
7) It also plays PS1/PS3 games, (and most PS3s also do PS2)
- by Carlox1 May 14, 2008 9:27 AM PDT
- Very exagerated title(cheap way to catch attention) of the post "dont use ps3......" . after read reasons, are all these really reasons? are these reasons the only and best you can find? seems the ps3 its doing well, and seems that use a ps3 as a movie player is a very good idea je. following the level of these reasons i can say that ps3 also doesn`t comes whit a beatiful hot sexy girl included, only the energy part is interesting, but i heard 45 nm cell is coming, its consumption is 40% less than the 65nm cell, and 65nm is 40% less consumption than 90nm cell so this is a big solution for power consumption and for the noise because runs cooler, better you should make a list "Things wii and 360 don`t do and ps3 does" and also "how much a wii cost you if it were able to do all ps3 does" .I got a great console and a great blu-ray dvd etc etc, player in one shot.
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