PS3 no longer the cheaper blu-ray player?

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

So I was doing some research, because all the people I know with a PS3 keep spamming me to return my Blu-ray player, and pick up a PS3, because it is a "cheaper blu-ray player" and it "plays games".

So I set out to check prices online, at www.futureshop.ca, and compared the price of blu-ray players, to the price of the cheapest PS3.

Blu-Ray Players:

Link here

PS3 Prices:

Link here

I can see 6 blu-ray players for cheaper than a PS3, 3 the same price, and 3 prices higher than a PS3.

These prices are listed as Canadian, and taken on todays date.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

It's not been the cheapest for quite a while (many months), so I dunno who's been "spamming" you with that.

Standalone players would always end up catching up and become cheaper fairly quickly - All they do is play movies, the PS3 does a lot more than that and therefore has higher manufacturing costs = longer lengths of time to drop in price.

People still recommend it due to how well it plays Blu Rays/DVDs and the fact it's a media hub and game player. If your budget can stretch value wise it's a good all in one home theatre device to have under your TV.

That is why on places like Neowin, it's still going to be recommended over a standalone. But if your on a tight budget, standalones are quite a bit cheaper now.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I don't understand why I would return my blu-ray player either, (after I got it for free (long story)).

the stand-alone players were priced over $500+ before, but seem to of taken a huge price drop, something that was long awaited for.

Even if the Playstation 3 does have both capabilities, I think the stand-alone would be the pick for the majority of the consumers, who don't game.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I think over xmas there was a blu-ray player for ?99 somewhere. That's a 3rd of the cost of a PS3. Quite a saving..

Then you could buy a 360 for gaming needs for less than ?200. Of course all that is useless if you want PS3 exclusives..

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I don't understand why I would return my blu-ray player either, (after I got it for free (long story)).

the stand-alone players were priced over $500+ before, but seem to of taken a huge price drop, something that was long awaited for.

Even if the Playstation 3 does have both capabilities, I think the stand-alone would be the pick for the majority of the consumers, who don't game.

Well I dunno why you'd return either, unless you want to game.

Of course the stand-alone is going to vastly outnumber PS3 sales worldwide for the format. There's many more people out there just interested in movies, than there is gaming. Then by the time things are even cheaper you're going to end up with multiple blu ray players in households, like most of us probably have about "8 devices" than can play DVDs.

Couple that with costs of standalone, and there you go.

Majority of every day consumers will be buying with their wallets, over brands and elaborate features.

The flip side is for those interested in gaming and/or a home media server also, the all in one option saves them money.

[Ironman273]

It's not the cheapest anymore but it's still the best choice for most people because of the firmware updates and the added game console.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I have to ask,

Has the PS3 received an upgrade to the blu-ray player at all? Is it some what comparable to the stand-alone players (newer models)? I would think the PS3 holds a cheaper quality rom inside of its system.

It's not the cheapest anymore but it's still the best choice for most people because of the firmware updates and the added game console.

Players also offer firmware updates, not just PS3.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I have to ask,

Has the PS3 received an upgrade to the blu-ray player at all? Is it some what comparable to the stand-alone players (newer models)? I would think the PS3 holds a cheaper quality rom inside of its system.

Quite the contrary, the PS3 has always been an upgradeable Blu Ray player, which was crucial near the beginning of the format wars as some of the standalone players couldn't be updated.

I believe pretty much all of them can be now though.

Sony have updated a few things, first of all the biggest being upgrading it to profile 2.0, then they also added DTS-HD and DTS-MA decoding capabilities (HD audio).

And no, quality wise the player ranks highly on HD playback, and DVD upscaling.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

I think over xmas there was a blu-ray player for ?99 somewhere. That's a 3rd of the cost of a PS3. Quite a saving..

Then you could buy a 360 for gaming needs for less than ?200. Of course all that is useless if you want PS3 exclusives..

there was a $99 (US) blu-ray player on black friday in the states.

Quite the contrary, the PS3 has always been an upgradeable Blu Ray player, which was crucial near the beginning of the format wars as some of the standalone players couldn't be updated.

I believe pretty much all of them can be now though.

Sony have updated a few things, first of all the biggest being upgrading it to profile 2.0, then they also added DTS-HD and DTS-MA decoding capabilities (HD audio).

And no, quality wise the player ranks highly on HD playback, and DVD upscaling.

I was about to ask about the DTS, since blu-ray.com says it does not, along with TrueHD surround.

[soniqstylz]

I think over xmas there was a blu-ray player for ?99 somewhere. That's a 3rd of the cost of a PS3. Quite a saving..

Then you could buy a 360 for gaming needs for less than ?200. Of course all that is useless if you want PS3 exclusives..

That ?99 is probably BD 1.0 at best, which means you lose PiP and BD-Live (plus a few other things) that the PS3 still offers. Depends on what your needs are.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I was about to ask about the DTS, since blu-ray.com says it does not, along with TrueHD surround.

Link me?

I can 100% assure you the PS3 can pretty much decode absolutely everything out there right now (DD, DTS, PCM, ect), and being able to decode DTS-HD and DTS-MA being two big pluses for home theatre enthusiasts.

I have my PS3 decoding HD audio for my amp/speaker system right now :)

You just need an amp that can accept audio (PCM to be specific) over HDMI.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

That ?99 is probably BD 1.0 at best, which means you lose PiP and BD-Live (plus a few other things) that the PS3 still offers. Depends on what your needs are.

I honestly don't know, I only seen a link for it while hunting for deals.

[soniqstylz]

I honestly don't know, I only seen a link for it while hunting for deals.

Still not a bad deal if you don't care about that stuff :)

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

Link me?

I can 100% assure you the PS3 can pretty much decode absolutely everything out there right now (DD, DTS, PCM, ect), and being able to decode DTS-HD and DTS-MA being two big pluses for home theatre enthusiasts.

I have my PS3 decoding HD audio for my amp/speaker system right now :)

You just need an amp that can accept audio (PCM to be specific) over HDMI.

http://www.blu-ray.com/players/compare.php?p=1

it also says my blu-ray player only does 1.1, but has since upgraded to 2.0

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

http://www.blu-ray.com/players/compare.php?p=1

it also says my blu-ray player only does 1.1, but has since upgraded to 2.0

That list is right, it does True-HD, it just doesn't do True-HD bitstream.

What bitstream means is it would be passing the audio to your amp/decoder for it to decode it.

Instead, the PS3 just decodes it itself, and sends the already decoded audio to your amp for playback.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

That list is right, it does True-HD, it just doesn't do True-HD bitstream.

What bitstream means is it would be passing the audio to your amp/decoder for it to decode it.

Instead, the PS3 just decodes it itself, and sends the already decoded audio to your amp for playback.

Oh, I must of moved over a column when looking up. I thought the X was under the TrueHD column, not the bitstream.

[Michael1406]

I can only compare my PS3 to my parents' Sony S300, but I can safely say the PS3 is the better choice there. A hell of a lot faster.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

I work in an electronics store, and we don't sell the PS3 as a games console.

We sell it as a 'Connected Home' device. Cause it's a Media Streamer, you can watch TV on it (with a little bit of software), and it plays Blu-Rays, and it has internet access.

.. Oh, and it does play games if you want it to.

[Revolution.]

i think what they meant was "cheaper" to buy a ps3 then a blu ray player is that

you get the blu ray fuction of playing those supported disc

and that the PS3 has additional stuff like playing games, watching movies from the HDD or a network etc.

so i think, you save money so to speak then to buy lets say

an xbox 360 and a blu ray player when you game as much as you watch HD movies.

(i am an xbox fan boy so dont attack me :D)

but yeah

if you dont game then go get the blu ray player !

:D imo but if you do game and want the blu ray fuction,

why not consider the ps3 as it tends to deliver great quality pictures, as i heard.

good luck.

[Waylander]

like people have said yes there are cheaper options but they are not very good (like that cheapest samsung listed thats profile 1.1 only, and samsungs bd players are so bad that a customer has started to sue them link) probably the best lowcost player is the sony bdp-s350 (profile2.0) but i would get a divco tvix myself, with there beta firmware you can play ripped blu-rays also the hdi bd prime plays most popular file formats plus bluray and isnt much more expensive than some bluray players

Edited January 9, 2009 by Waylander

[Joel]

I wouldn't be too proud of those first 3 on the Futureshop list, they're not great players.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

i think what they meant was "cheaper" to buy a ps3 then a blu ray player is that

I think it was dollar to dollar. Nothing to do with options, or multi-purpose.

I wouldn't be too proud of those first 3 on the Futureshop list, they're not great players.

lol.. they are outdated models, but still a bargain for that price.

You get what you pay for :p

[FlibbyFlobby]

Players also offer firmware updates, not just PS3.

I think the difference (at least for me) lies here. The PS3 has wireless so I can have it anywhere I like the house (I move it around a bit) and it will update firmware without a problem as soon as I switch it on. I gather with a standalone player you have to either plug it in via ethernet or burn the latest firmware to a disc. Not difficult I guess, but a bit of a chore.

[Joel]

I think the difference (at least for me) lies here. The PS3 has wireless so I can have it anywhere I like the house (I move it around a bit) and it will update firmware without a problem as soon as I switch it on. I gather with a standalone player you have to either plug it in via ethernet or burn the latest firmware to a disc. Not difficult I guess, but a bit of a chore.

You generally don't move all of your other equipment around, do you? The TV, DVD player, speakers, subwoofer, etc.?

[FlibbyFlobby]

You generally don't move all of your other equipment around, do you? The TV, DVD player, speakers, subwoofer, etc.?

I have it hooked up to my PC monitor for gaming, but move it to my TV for playing when friends are round or I want to watch a Blu-Ray or something. Once standalone Blu-Ray players are a bit cheaper I guess I'll buy one and it won't move around so much.