Choosing a Blue-Ray Player

[wheels686]

I am trying to decide which blue ray player to get to go along with my 40 inch Sony Bravia T.V. Ive been researching this for a while and havent decided which one would work the best. Ive heard some bad things about the sony and the samsung players but was wandering what people have had and has worked or not worked for them. I know with the samsung there is hookup to netflix and with the sony it can link with the tv. Ive heard consumer report like the panasonic or something like that. Any input is appreciated. thanks

 

[1100011CS]

I am trying to decide which blue ray player to get to go along with my 40 inch Sony Bravia T.V. Ive been researching this for a while and havent decided which one would work the best. Ive heard some bad things about the sony and the samsung players but was wandering what people have had and has worked or not worked for them. I know with the samsung there is hookup to netflix and with the sony it can link with the tv. Ive heard consumer report like the panasonic or something like that. Any input is appreciated. thanks

PS3

 

[HOTDON]

I'm sure you left it out for a reason, but get a PS3. Blu-ray, a hard drive, Netflix and additional multimedia capabilities are still bonuses even if the gaming part is useless to you.

 

[HawkfromNorwalk]

I would just get a PS3 and get all the benefits that come with it. The Blu-ray player is on par with many of the other stand-alones on the market and they usually release software updates every other month or so. It also supports Dolby HD and DTS Master Audio formats which are the two main HD sound formats that Blu-ray disks use (as long as you have a receiver capable of playing those modes). I've had my PS3 for almost two years and I am fully satisfied with the Blu-ray functions.

Then with a PS3 you get to add in the game play options, the internet capablility, and the fact that through a wireless network you can make it a home media system. I personally think it's a win-win.

 

[1100011CS]

I would just get a PS3 and get all the benefits that come with it. The Blu-ray player is on par with many of the other stand-alones on the market and they usually release software updates every other month or so. It also supports Dolby HD and DTS Master Audio formats which are the two main HD sound formats that Blu-ray disks use (as long as you have a receiver capable of playing those modes). I've had my PS3 for almost two years and I am fully satisfied with the Blu-ray functions.

Then with a PS3 you get to add in the game play options, the internet capablility, and the fact that through a wireless network you can make it a home media system. I personally think it's a win-win.

What do you mean by the bold part? I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet but this might put me over the top if it's what I'm thinking you mean.

 

[wheels686]

The main reason I havent really looked at the PS3 is because it is $300 compared to about 150-200 for a stand along blue ray player.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

The main reason I havent really looked at the PS3 is because it is $300 compared to about 150-200 for a stand along blue ray player.

That's the beauty of your situation (if you like gaming). For an extra $100 you get the blu-ray you plan to buy with an awesome gaming system included. :wink:

 

[ISUcy08]

I am trying to decide which blue ray player to get to go along with my 40 inch Sony Bravia T.V. Ive been researching this for a while and havent decided which one would work the best. Ive heard some bad things about the sony and the samsung players but was wandering what people have had and has worked or not worked for them. I know with the samsung there is hookup to netflix and with the sony it can link with the tv. Ive heard consumer report like the panasonic or something like that. Any input is appreciated. thanks

I also have a PS3 and am very impressed with the way it plays Blu-Rays. If you don't want to spend $299 on a PS3, get a Sony Blu-Ray player. My brother in law has a Sony Blu-Ray player and a two year old Toshiba 32" 720i TV. The picture is amazing using his Sony!

 

[3TrueFans]

I think a year ago the choice was obvious, but good blu-ray players with the features most people want have come down in price so much that you really need to figure out what features the PS3 has that you really want. If you're looking for gaming or home media capabilities then it may be worth the extra $150.

 

[wheels686]

That's the beauty of your situation (if you like gaming). For an extra $100 you get the blue-ray you plan to buy with an awesome gaming system included. :wink:

Thats true, I already have an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo wii though. With being a senior in College im having a hard enough time trying to play my other systems though.

 

[wheels686]

I think a year ago the choice was obvious, but good blu-ray players with the features most people want have come down in price so much that you really need to figure out what features the PS3 has that you really want. If you're looking for gaming or home media capabilities then it may be worth the extra $150.

What are the home media capabilities? I guess im not up to speed on how good those are?

 

[alarson]

What do you mean by the bold part? I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet but this might put me over the top if it's what I'm thinking you mean.

It'll detect the shared media on your other computers and stream it to your tv. Works great on my home network. And it does it much more seamlessly and over more formats than the xbox360 does (own both)

 

[HILLCYD]

PS3 - $299

 

[CyLoboClone]

the media server capabilities are amazing. get PLAYON by media mall and it will run many streaming sites like hulu and cbs. Full video catalogs are available. We dont need a dvr or cable anymore. I can watch modern family in near high def- you just need a computer and a wireless network with high speed connection. plus you can put movies and music on your computer and the ps3 will play stream them to your tv.

it's like having those new blu ray players that stream netflix, only there are more sites that can stream to your ps3. however, playon will work for 360- but the ps3 is the only console to play BD so it isnt a close call. ps3 wins.

 

[JHudd]

What do you mean by the bold part? I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet but this might put me over the top if it's what I'm thinking you mean.

I am curious as well, I have the PS3, can see my computer listed on the home screen, but cannot connect to it. I was also happy to read that you can connect an external HD directly to the PS3 via USB, just wish it would play MKV files though.

 

[cylonewannabe]

I think Blu-ray will be useless in just a few years. Everything will be downloaded and stored on memory in the TV. As soon as you buy something even better will be out

 

[3TrueFans]

Not sure how this turned towards being a PS3 vs. 360 thread, but the PS3 does have very nice media center features, the 360 is limited, although there are workarounds for everything. Since you already have a 360 for netflix streaming you may be fine with a middle of the road player, Sony makes one that gets pretty good reviews for around $129, the BD-S360 I think.

 

[HawkfromNorwalk]

What do you mean by the bold part? I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet but this might put me over the top if it's what I'm thinking you mean.

With the PS3 if you are set up on a home network (wired or wireless) the PS3 can detect any media you want it to off of any computer hooked up to the network. So then you can use it to view pics on you TV our you could also play any digital movies you have saved on your computer hard drive. You could also play any MP3 and other music files on your computer hard drive through your home theater system as well. For instance, my theater setup is in the basement and my main computer and router are in a bedroom upstairs but if I am downstairs dinking around I can play my mp3's downstairs over my system. Pretty sweet really.

 

[CyLoboClone]

I dont think you can connect anything over 4gigs via usb, unless a new firmware changed that. you need a media streamer program to do it- vuze will, and it is free. Nero 7 has mediahome which will stream as well, I dont like nero 8's mediahome. Playon is $20 right now and will go up to $40 but is well worth it, as it streams sites AND serves files from your hd in the computer. no more burning a disc or usb stick and walking to the ps3 and copying to the ps3's hd!

 

[1100011CS]

It'll detect the shared media on your other computers and stream it to your tv. Works great on my home network. And it does it much more seamlessly and over more formats than the xbox360 does (own both)

What formats does it support for movies? I have all my "backup copies" stored on a NAS that I'd like to be able to stream to my TV. The media server i have now doesn't work worth a crap.