PS3 or Sony BDP-S360?

craptakular

craptakular

craptakular

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Some may have read my "my HTPC is pants thread" :)

So I maybe able to sell my HTPC parts to my dad for his homeserver, I could buy a ps3 with the proceeds. I had a ps3 before and it was awesome for multimedia, dunno why I sold it :(

I could keep HTPC, relegate it to a simple DIVX player and occassional BBC & ITV HD veiwing, then buy the Sony BDP-S360 for £105 for some trouble free blu-ray playback.

or stick with the HTPC and buy a bluetooth mouse so I can change the refresh rate at everytime I wanna change media.

I'm just sick of this HTPC idea, it's become a mini money pitt.

What do people suggest?
 
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I only really use my HTPC for parties, general music/spotify goodness or sticking on the odd video or photo album. I've never fully explored what a HTPC can do really.

If you liked the PS3 before, isn't it a bit of a win-win to pick one up? Multimedia playback, Bluray and the games? Obviously more expensive though.
 
Syph said:
I only really use my HTPC for parties, general music/spotify goodness or sticking on the odd video or photo album. I've never fully explored what a HTPC can do really.

If you liked the PS3 before, isn't it a bit of a win-win to pick one up? Multimedia playback, Bluray and the games? Obviously more expensive though.
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yeh it is, google is saying that it may even support blu-ray 3D with a firmware update. Not that I'll get 3D anytime soon but it is another plus.
 
the ps3 is quicker at downloaded content and playing discs in general. the s360 isnt slow though - id be happy with one if i didnt have a ps3. audio and sound wise of course there's nothing in it, and as the s360 uses the xmb, it even works like the ps3.

for £100, they are a bit of a billy bargain really. Id only go for the ps3 if you want everything else that comes with it. ie, gaming.
 
I built a HTPC last year I spent a fair bit. Remote control case....blu ray etc....


I sold it all last month and turned a profit. I just wasn't using it enough I got a PS3 in September and I use that for blu rays and I use PS3 Media server to stream HD MKV files.
 
I would be going for the ps3 as playing blurays and dvd's is just part of it. I think its brilliant for streaming movies/music and of course playing games too :)
 
nbkpsycho said:
I would be going for the ps3 as playing blurays and dvd's is just part of it. I think its brilliant for streaming movies/music and of course playing games too :)
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yeh the ps3 is awesome, I'm just low on money for a while so £250 is a lot of cash, I could get the blu-ray for £100-£120.

Need to sell some DDR2 ram to take the pain away. :p
 
I haven't read your other thread:

I've gone the other way as my primary use of the PS3 was streaming, where its lack of native mkv support was restictive. I've now bought a BDP-S360 (not installed) and have been using my Revo 3610 with WMC 7 MC / Mediabrowser successfully doing all the streaming duties.

I've got no complaints re the PS3 blu-ray playback but for streaming, it relies too heavily on the power of the server to transcode 1080p mkv (or any mkv with DTS) on the fly - in fact I used to get stuttering (on a gigabit lan) with any 1080p with DTS even when I had previously transcoded them to a native PS3 format. My server is a very low power Windows Home Server running ps3 media server and that was the problem. An HTPC sorted that out.

I don't play games much so the PS3 is probably gonna be relegated to the bedroom as a streamer.
 
yerh i think im ognna keep the htpc, but just use it for mkv, divx and BBC HD.

Gonna order the player Sony 360 tonight. Weird Sony choice 360 as put of there model number :p
 
i have a ps3 rather than a dedicated blu ray player and only use my htpc for hd dvd's and media files.
the ps3 can just do so much more than a dedicated player and there always adding new stuff like vidzone and now downloadable movies so its made of win :)
 
easyrider said:
PS3 can playback DIVX
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yeh I know I owned one before but sold it.

I'm looking at LG and samsung blu-ray players now because after some research they have a DTS re-code feature so they convert HD audio into 1.5mb/s DTS, which according to avforums so close to HD audio sound on non-audiophile hardware, like mine.
 
Oxy said:
yeh I know I owned one before but sold it.

I'm looking at LG and samsung blu-ray players now because after some research they have a DTS re-code feature so they convert HD audio into 1.5mb/s DTS, which according to avforums so close to HD audio sound on non-audiophile hardware, like mine.
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Be aware that re-encode is only partially effective.
HD-audio on BD typically exists in two key formats now, i.e. DTS-MA and TrueHD. There are some very early generation LPCM disks, but I've only ever seen one.
Both DTS-MA and TrueHD have the equivalent of a Core signal which can be outputted via SPDIF to legacy processors, which is as follows:
DTS-MA > DTS@1500bps
TrueHD > DD@640bps
In short, you'll get DTS@1500bps from a DTS-MA disk regardless of whether or not your player can re-encode.
So the real question is how many disks have TrueHD (ie. where you'll get a genuine benefit). Last time I looked, 90% of the disks that I had in my Tesco rental list were DTS-MA. So for me it was hardly worth the effort spending the money for something with limited benefit.

I'd suggest you go have a scan at your films to see whether it's worth the effort.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Be aware that re-encode is only partially effective.
HD-audio on BD typically exists in two key formats now, i.e. DTS-MA and TrueHD. There are some very early generation LPCM disks, but I've only ever seen one.
Both DTS-MA and TrueHD have the equivalent of a Core signal which can be outputted via SPDIF to legacy processors, which is as follows:
DTS-MA > DTS@1500bps
TrueHD > DD@640bps
In short, you'll get DTS@1500bps from a DTS-MA disk regardless of whether or not your player can re-encode.
So the real question is how many disks have TrueHD (ie. where you'll get a genuine benefit). Last time I looked, 90% of the disks that I had in my Tesco rental list were DTS-MA. So for me it was hardly worth the effort spending the money for something with limited benefit.

I'd suggest you go have a scan at your films to see whether it's worth the effort.
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ah I see, you right, most of my gear appears to be DTS-HD. ok, I made a post on avforums and basically one guy was "helping" me. I asked on there if people could tell me if my AV reciever has the 5.1 analogue ports so I could send HD audio (I know I need a BD plaer with the analogue ports too) the LPCM feed.

Then the guy on avforums was talking about bass management and saying that cheap players ain't got it so it will sound poor, he then linked me to a £700 blu-ray player. :eek: I was looking at the £100-£200 bracket :D

sounds like this DTSre-encoding feature may not be something to worry about.

Can you recommend me a player?

I'm after a player that has good blu-ray Q, and really good DVD quality.

I was not to keen to buy the samsung as theres loads of posts with them breaking on avforums.

I have found the Toshiba DBX2000 for £99 with 12 months free lovefilm subscription. Not sure withc lovefilm package though. This a good player? or Should I be looking at the panny DM 60/80?
 
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