Spec Me A Sub £150 Blu-Ray Player

K1LLSW1TCH · 9 Nov 2009 at 16:27

Hello. I've been looking at Blu-Ray players over the past week and have a budget of around £140. The player in question is a Sony BDPS360B (Google if you're not sure). I'm not very good with A/V equipment so I just wanted a bit of advice really. It's going on that website named after the river for £134.89.

I wondered what the quality of this player would be like considering the low cost. If anyone could say yay or nay, or maybe recommend an alternative then I'd be very grateful.

Sasso · 9 Nov 2009 at 16:30

spend a lil more and get a ps3

that's what i did, so i now have a blu ray player, games console, internet browser and a network media streamer all in one xD

K1LLSW1TCH · 9 Nov 2009 at 16:32

Hah! I was just sitting here thinking that maybe I should mention I don't want a PS3. I can't justify spending more than around £140-150 and I already have an Xbox 360 and a laptop. If I want to play games I use the xbox, if I want to watch iPlayer I use the laptop, if I want to watch Blu-Ray's then, well, that's what the player is for.

TALON1973 · 9 Nov 2009 at 21:34

the players fine mate it replaces the Sony BDPS350 which was an award winner .. this is better so they say. id have got either myself but went media centre route

Fr0dders · 10 Nov 2009 at 13:17

get yourself a second hand 40gb PS3

job done.

Biggest advantage of the PS3 ? upgradability. When profile 2.0 was announced barely anybody was able to offer over the internet firmware upgrades to support it. Except for the PS3 !

Any more big changes like this will render your BluRay player obsolete. Plus, the PS3 can stream networked video and music from your PC or DNLA network storage Device. And you can use it download video from the upcomming Playstation Video Store as well.

Did we also mention it can play games ?

bargain !

Banzai_Joe · 10 Nov 2009 at 13:24

The LD BD370 gets some damned good reviews. I was gonna buy one, but had to buy an upscaling LG dvdplayer for now.

Secret_Window · 10 Nov 2009 at 14:09

I don't really recommend a PS3 anymore because a lot of the standalone players have surpassed the PS3 in terms of playing Blu-rays. Obviously a PS3 does a lot more, but if you don't need those other features, definitely get yourself a decent standalone player.

Sasso · 10 Nov 2009 at 14:14

Secret_Window said:
I don't really recommend a PS3 anymore because a lot of the standalone players have surpassed the PS3 in terms of playing Blu-rays. Obviously a PS3 does a lot more, but if you don't need those other features, definitely get yourself a decent standalone player.

how do you mean.... standalone players have surpassed the ps3? im not picking, just curious as to what ya mean

Secret_Window · 10 Nov 2009 at 14:16

In terms of PQ and sound. Read around and check some reviews.

Sasso · 10 Nov 2009 at 14:26

how could the PQ be different? i mean if you get a 1080p film, and have a 1080p tv surely thats a given PQ?

-Ad- · 10 Nov 2009 at 15:24

Secret_Window said:
In terms of PQ and sound. Read around and check some reviews.

Have you actually seen a difference on a side by side comparison or are you just reguritating what you have read on the web

There is no definative answer out there.

Sasso said:
how could the PQ be different? i mean if you get a 1080p film, and have a 1080p tv surely thats a given PQ?

It's not that simple, and even I don't understand it all. There are differences, but people saying that an entry level Sony/samsung etc player surpasses the PS3 without doing a side by side test really is kidding themselves.

TheOtherOption · 10 Nov 2009 at 18:18

The older PS3 can't pass the audio out via HDMI iirc whereas the new slim version can (talking about Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio formats).

TALON1973 · 10 Nov 2009 at 19:56

ive seen the phillips bdp3000 in asda ( i think i'm ok mentioning them , if nto please remove mods ) for £99 in store atm .. checked in various of the purple shirt brigade and the dsg and thats a good £30 or more difference .. tsp is £160

Tythus · 10 Nov 2009 at 21:22

TheOtherOption said:
The older PS3 can't pass the audio out via HDMI iirc whereas the new slim version can (talking about Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio formats).

I belive that is a lie I have a HDMI and have it done via HDMI and if your that mad on it wouldn't you use optical anyway?

matthewprince · 14 Nov 2009 at 18:37

Sasso said:
how could the PQ be different? i mean if you get a 1080p film, and have a 1080p tv surely thats a given PQ?

Hi,

I have both the LG BD370 bluray player and the PS3 Slim and can tell you immediately that the LG BD370 has far superior Bluray playback.

I bought the LG BD370 for Bluray playback and then thought if i buy the PS3 and its as good i can sell the BD370 and be better off.

I connected them to my 47" LCD tv (one on hdmi1 and the other on hdmi2) and the ps3 is good but the LG is stunning and much much better than the PS3 in the following areas..

1: No jaggies , PS3 has these no matter how good the cable used
2: LG much better for colour
3: LG is silent in operation , PS3 is not
4: PS3 Bluray playback just slightly stuttery in parts , not at all on the LG

This is obviously my own opinion , but thought i would contribute as i have them both.

Matt

Drizmod · 14 Nov 2009 at 20:37

I have the LG BD370 which cost me just over £130. Bought it mainly for the varity of files it supports. So far it has played everything i have thrown at it.

Blu ray disc up to 1080p24/50Hz
Network / BD Live BD Profile 2.0
BD-ROM
BD-R
BD-RE
DVD(NTSC)
DVD(PAL)
DVD-R
DVD-R/-RW(Video/VR Mode)
DVD+R / + RW
DVD+R Double Layer
DVD+RW(Video mode)
DTS CD
Audio CD
CD-R/CD-RW
MPEG2
MPEG4 AVC (H.264)
SMPTE VC1
DivX
MKV
AVCHD
LPCM
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby TrueHD
DTS
DTS-HD
MPEG 1/2 L2
MP3
WMA
LPCM