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Comments on: Criterion Collection's reference Blu-ray player is a PS3

Criterion Collection's new theater features a PlayStation 3 as its reference Blu-ray player, opting for Sony's game console over more expensive standalone options.

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by tae_kwon_doh! August 13, 2008 3:40 PM PDT
I wish this were true because the PS3 is amazingly cheap. It's not a bad player by any means, but when it comes to video performance on a high-end projector like a Marantz VP-11S2 or a SIM2 Grand Cinema C3X 1080 on a screen width of 100" or greater, the PS3's playback flaws with noise and motion artifact are clear as day. Even my non-videophile friends remark at the difference. Granted, a solid video processor will make up for the deficiencies, but why not forgo the cost of one and get a better Blu-ray player. That said it's the best option for 99% of us; however, it isn't the best player out there by a significant margin.
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by rikkuotaku August 15, 2008 12:08 PM PDT
Both Criterion and the fine folks at the amazing site dvdfile.com disagree with you. When those that actually critique BDs use PS3s to do so, you know there must be something to it.

http://www.dvdfile.com/article/panasonic-dmp-bd50-blu-ray-disc-player-12620
by odysseusg August 13, 2008 6:01 PM PDT
Yes, they use a $400 PS3 with.... a $3500 video processor? Seems like an odd (and uncommon) couple. One the one hand, you'd better get good image quality from a $4k video source. Then again, if you're already spending that much on the processor, it's not the PS3's low price that you're interested in.
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by tae_kwon_doh! August 13, 2008 6:12 PM PDT
What they're probably interested in is the PS3's fastest-of-the-bunch boot time.
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by jshin32 August 14, 2008 6:38 AM PDT
Take it from a former a/v snob, HDMI is the great equailizer. It really has made super expensive gear voodoo. The PS3 with a good amp that has HMDI inputs, and you also have an amazing CD player, it's all about the linear PCM output. My whole CD collection sounds like I've never heard it before. And for those of you who have large MP3 collections, just get a pc with an HMDI out. I recommend the PS3 with SACD if you can still get it, with a Sony 5300 amp, and a pair of high resolution speakers like KEF iQ9, for a great bang for your buck system.
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by Carlox1 August 14, 2008 7:53 AM PDT
well i prefer to believe what the video quality expert Joe Kane and cnet experts and many other technology experts say about ps3 je
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by hodedofome August 14, 2008 12:35 PM PDT
Look guys, the PS3 has nothing to do with the video quality they are experiencing. They have a DVDO VP-50 Pro video processor that takes care of the video, so whether they use a Funai, PS3 or Marantz it's going to look the same - excellent. In order to get the same results you need a processor equivalent to the one they are using.
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by rikkuotaku August 15, 2008 12:13 PM PDT
It is widely known at dvdfile.com and other premier video sites that the PS3 is an exceptional BD player.

I've also owned/compared a BD30 and S300 to the PS3. There are some differences in the units default output settings/options that can cause a difference in picture quality depending on how the display is calibrated. For example the PS3 is limited to RGB and YCbCr 4:4:4 colour space. The BD30 default in my setup was YCbCr 4:2:2 meaning colour may look different depending on how my display decodes/upsamples 4:2:2. I also observed that the BD30 appeared to have more edge enhacement applied at default compared to the others. This can be perceived as more detail but increasing my displays sharpness setting a couple of clicks resulted in similar amount of "enhancement" from the other players.

If you just swap the players withour calibration one may appear different. Personally I think many of the claimed differences are down to settings and calibration.
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by michaelprete August 22, 2008 9:10 PM PDT
I purchased a PS3 along with my purchase of a 50" Panasonic plasma at Circuit City on July 20, 2008. I am still waiting for the 40GB model to be delivered. I'd love to take advantage of this machine, but there seems to be some problem in obtaining the product. Anyone know what's going on here? Is the model being discontinued? Any suggestions on what to do now?
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by MEGA_MAN_X August 28, 2008 9:45 PM PDT
I want a LCD panel TV for Playing Playstation 3 . I want you to tell me which of these 2 LCDTVs is better to buy for playing : Panasonic Viera TC32LX85 or the Samsung LN32A450.I have another question I want you to tell me if there is another LCDTV that cost $800 or less that is better for playing than this two LCDTV models that I told you .Plese answer my question on my Email because I am going to Buy the LCDTV in these Week. Right now I only have 800$ to buy a high definition LCD TV because I am a middle class man so I would like you to tell me other tv model choices at that price please (800$).
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