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Edgeymacate me: Blu-Ray
Locust76
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm currently in the phase where I'm spending the majority of my time not playing WoW and, instead, furiously pouring over Sony.com and other websites attempting to amass as much information as possible about the things I'm going to buy in the near future.
So, I've pretty much decided that I'm going all-Sony, because of the way their products interface with each other. I'm going to get a Sony HD camcorder (AVCHD), a new Bravia flatscreen, a new receiver with HDMI and perhaps a Blu-Ray disc player.
My question is about the Blu-Ray player. I was reading the specs on the Sony website, and their players list (under compatibility) the following:
BD-R/RE Playback YES (only BDMV)
I checked out BDMV and found out that it's basically the format for Blu-Ray movies, like VIDEO_TS and .vob files are for DVD.
Does this mean that I can ONLY play BD-R/RE discs if they're burned in the Blu-Ray movie format, or can I, say, fill up a BD-R disc with movies (in .mts format) straight from the camcorder? Does that also mean that I wouldn't be able to, for example, put all my personal photos (in excess of 20 gigs over 10 years) on a Blu-Ray disc and view them using the player? What about DivX compatibility?
So, I've pretty much decided that I'm going all-Sony, because of the way their products interface with each other. I'm going to get a Sony HD camcorder (AVCHD), a new Bravia flatscreen, a new receiver with HDMI and perhaps a Blu-Ray disc player.
My question is about the Blu-Ray player. I was reading the specs on the Sony website, and their players list (under compatibility) the following:
BD-R/RE Playback YES (only BDMV)
I checked out BDMV and found out that it's basically the format for Blu-Ray movies, like VIDEO_TS and .vob files are for DVD.
Does this mean that I can ONLY play BD-R/RE discs if they're burned in the Blu-Ray movie format, or can I, say, fill up a BD-R disc with movies (in .mts format) straight from the camcorder? Does that also mean that I wouldn't be able to, for example, put all my personal photos (in excess of 20 gigs over 10 years) on a Blu-Ray disc and view them using the player? What about DivX compatibility?
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I don't believe it - I'm on my THIRD PS3, and my FIRST XBOX360. What the heck?
No, you're thinking of the 360. It's very quiet, even when playing games.
I don't believe it - I'm on my THIRD PS3, and my FIRST XBOX360. What the heck?
I have no clue why anyone would buy a standalone player right now, it just doesn't seem feasible considering the PS3.
Weaboo List
As far as stand alone Bluray players go, they're just not there yet.
Edit: Nevermind, looks like someone at Nyko already addressed this serious flaw.
What's the hard drive used for in these things? Can a PS3 be used to view, say, discs (Blu-Ray or DVD) from a different Region? I live in Germany, but have many region 1 DVDs. I have a region-free DVD player which I can keep, but I'd actually kind of like to get rid of the thing.
Not without teh hackery.
Honestly, there's not that that much benefit in going all-Sony since all that stuff you listed interfaces fine even when they're made by different manufacturers. I'd spend some time shopping around for the best price/features.
Also, never ever buy a game system unless there are games out now that you absolutely have to play, etc.
that doesn't solve the DVD problem, but it's a non-issue for BD.
The PS3 fans kick on if the room is hot. If the room is above 80F or so, the PS3 will probably turn its fans on. Otherwise, it's nice & quiet.
I will also second (third?) the fact that going all-sony isn't really worthwhile. Yes, the Bravias are nice TVs, but receivers? The Onkyo 605 is better than receivers twice its price. Camcorders? Sony does some OK stuff, but Panasonic and others make much better camcorders. I paid the "sony tax" on a camcorder which was nice at the time because it had a touchscreen menu. Of course, 2 years after owning it (and not filming that much) it decides to die on my wedding day. I've not had much love for Sony electronics after that point.
The PS3 is an exception to the ire I level at most Sony products, though. It's an exceptional Blu-Ray player, it's one of the best DVD upscalers out there, it comes with built-in wireless, built-in storage, and, hey, it even plays a few video games. It uses boring ol' USB for ports, regular wireless, regular HDMI, regular bluetooth. For once, Sony actually used common standards instead of coming up with their own crazy, proprietary specs, and for that I will applaud the PS3.
The PS3 hard drive is a standard 2.5" drive. As long as you don't buy one with a weird physical attachment or something, you can buy as big as you want.
PSN: TheScrublet
Rumor has it you wanna stick with 5400rpm drives because the faster ones don't have enough ventilation for the heat they generate.
Just to save someone the possible heartache if they drop money on any ol' 2.5" drive, it does need to be a SATA 2.5" drive.
I bought the IR receiver from Schmartz (now schmartstuff.com) last November to use with my Harmony remote. It's neat, but honestly the PS3 controller is just easier to use when navigating menus.
the ps3 is a rare exception to this because, while it's probably not the norm, i could imagine someone who used all features but the video games would still get their money's worth out of it as a media centre
consider that you're getting a ridiculous subsidy (via the console war) on a system that was (perhaps mistakenly) stuffed with a vast number of home entertainment features. it plays videos brilliantly, you can use it to access your music in a heap of ways, it's a fantastic photo viewer - and for futureproofing, it's the best way to guarantee you'll get spec updates as quickly as possible.
which, while i don't have personal experience playing say .jpeg files from a blu-ray, is why you're best to go with a ps3: though it's unlikely to be possible at the moment, once blu-ray takes hold as a standard storage medium and people have the need for it, it's quite possible the feature will be included in one of the many firmware patches
also, there are certainly blu-ray discs with enforced region codes: check out this site for a comprehesive list. be careful with fox films in particular. tough luck about the dvds, though, the ps3 is an incredible upscaler but you'll only be able to watch dvds from the console's native region
Weaboo List
Weaboo List
Rack width stuff tends to have feet on them that keep space between components so you can stack them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not slagging the game selection. Stopping for a moment and making sure the current game selection is really appealing to you standard advice I'd give to anyone buying any game system. Way too many people buy on excitement/potential and get let down.
That said, yeah, if you're planning on playing Blu-rays regularly that's a good point in its favor.
I don't believe it - I'm on my THIRD PS3, and my FIRST XBOX360. What the heck?
I know others have said it, but man... all Sony? Well, to each their own, but in terms of components of a home theater that Sony makes better, it's pretty much just displays. Even then, I'd argue you can get almost as good quality for significantly less money. For other components, I would strongly recommend mixing brands. Onkyo makes fantastic receivers, thought I have a Yamaha receiver I'm really happy with because Onkyo doesn't distribute in Canada, or at least didn't when I was buying. I really don't think you'd go wrong with a Bravia TV, a PS3, and an Onkyo or Yamaha receiver.
I totally agree. I've got an Onkyo receiver, a Sharp Aquos TV, PS3, 360, DirecTV HDDVR, and Paradigm speakers. Nothing wrong with mixing and matching to get quality.
I don't believe it - I'm on my THIRD PS3, and my FIRST XBOX360. What the heck?
(For reference: I have a Sony Bravia A3000, PS3, 8 year old Yamaha receiver that still serves me well, and a mix of Paradigm and Boston Acoustics speakers. Definitely mix and match your components, because no company makes everything the best.)
Decided to wait on the receiver upgrade, as I just got an AVCHD (Canon) camcorder. I think the PS3 is supposed to be able to play the files directly off the SDHC card, but I've not yet tried this.
If you bought a Sony TV and a Sony Receiver, I'd think both remotes ought to be able to control both devices to some extent, but since I mix component makes often I don't know this from personal experience. The PS3 controller is a little fiddly for movie playback, but I love not needing line of sight.
Also, Sony's Bravia TV series have the best color right now so you can't go wrong with them. Just research the features/functions before you buy.
As for HDMI. gon't fall into the Monster cable trap. Get an HDMI cable from Monoprice or Bluejeans Cable if you want higher quality at a good price.
I used to work at Best Buy, I know all about the Monster cable fallacy.
But re: region free... Blu-Ray region free or Blu-Ray/DVD region free? I imagine only Blu-Ray. If so, I'm gettin' me a PAL version fo' sho.
Edit: Oh, region-free games, not movies. Still, NTSC machines can't display PAL, but PAL can do both, so I'm still gettin' me a PAL version
Re: Bluetooth remote
The idea of needing two remotes, one universal Logitech Harmony to control everything else and one to control the Blu-Ray player, absolutely grinds my gears. In the world of digital HD goodness, having anything more than 1 remote control is heresy, so I'll get one of the IR USB dongles and program the codes into my universal remote. I'm sitting in front of my TV when I watch it, and I don't carry the remote around with me, so having to point the remote at the setup is a minute detail in comparison to needing to juggle remotes to pause/change volume.
I hear what you guys are saying about my "all Sony" idea. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting some kind of miracle to occur as soon as I get more than 4 Sony devices connected to one another.
My idea was initially the TV/Camcorder thing, since the camcorder I want records in x.v. Color, which the Bravias support. Other brands support it too, but I've had A/V equipment from other brands and have been consistently disappointed. All the Sony stuff I've ever bought has served me well, even the venerable Trinitron TV I used to have.
Then I thought to myself, if I'm going to get a new TV and camcorder, I might as well look at a receiver with HDMI to connect it all, so I thought about replacing my Sony (which has done me nothing but good over the past 4 years) with another Sony. I looked into Onkyo, but I found that the Onkyo model that had the number of inputs/outputs that I wanted cost exactly the same as the Sony, so I really don't see a reason to go away from my first choice. I then thought about Blu-Ray, and people here recommended the PS3 as a player, so hence all-Sony.
I'm not one of those guys that believes what the Best Buy "specialists" say (Monster cable = better picture quality, leprechauns shit gold bricks in your house if you have all Sony gear, etc.. etc..), I just looked at it from a point where I asked myself which brands have I hated (JVC/Panasonic and others) and which brands have been good to me (Sony). I decided to stop fuckin' around and do it right this time.
Edit: Oh yes, there IS actually a benefit to having all Sony gear, and that's "Bravia Sync," where the TV remote can control other Sony equipment via HDMI. With my setup, the camcorder would be controllable with the TV remote.
Thankfully I never got into the black voodoo magic that was MiniDisc/Digital Audio Tape