What is the best Blu-ray Player on the market today? Is the PlayStation 3 still considered one of the best? With all the advances in recent years to the Blu-ray Player, is Sony's PlayStation 3 even a good choice when it comes to selecting a Blu-ray Player? The answers to these questions might surprise you.
There is no denying the fact that while the PlayStation 3 has not performed the best when compared to other gaming consoles. It has consistently ranked high on many best of Blu-ray Player lists. A recent poll conducted by Nielson rating system showed 65% of the people who purchased a PlayStation 3 did so because they wanted a Blu-ray Player. Clearly,
many people still view it as a good Blu-ray option. But why would anyone still consider it the best Blu-ray Player on the market. By today's standards it is a rather old piece of equipment, having first been released a few years ago. Here are some reasons why many still perceive the PlayStation 3 to be the best Blu-ray Player and will be for some time to come.
It's Not Just a Blu-ray Player
Sony has made the PlayStation 3 into a multi-purpose entertainment system. It is a gaming console, upscaling DVD player, Blu-ray Player and has many other multimedia capabilities. Obviously, the fact that it is a gaming console is the big difference when compared with other Blu-ray Players. The PlayStation 3 can play video games like Grand Theft Auto IV, Uncharted 2 and Little Big Planet. And with the release of a firmware upgrade, it will be capable of 3D Video Gaming. This is a nice extra feature for those just looking to buy a Blu-ray Player.
Many predict the future of home Entertainment will not be Blu-ray but streaming digital media. If this is the case, Sony has prepare the PlayStation 3 to handle digital streaming and distribution. The PlayStation 3 is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) certified. Meaning you can connect the PlayStation 3 to your Home Network, via the Ethernet Port or built-in Wi-Fi, and stream data from your computer or mobile device to the PlayStation 3. With it's PlayStation Network you can download High Definition videos and TV shows. And Sony recently added online streaming media services in it's deal with Netflix. The simple fact is, no other Blu-ray Player can provide the consumer with such a high return value for their investment.
Blu-ray Quality
A few years ago, the PlayStation 3 was really the only game in town when one considered to purchase a Blu-ray Player. This is no longer true. Today there are many stand-alone players that perform extremely well, producing great video and audio quality. However, the PlayStation 3 still holds up rather well when compared to the new Blu-ray models. It still has very fast operational and disc loading speeds. With 1080p playback via HDMI, it produces excellent image quality on both Blu-rays and DVDs. Audio quality is equally impressive. The PS3 supports internal audio decoding for Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. With the new PS3 Slim you can bitstream out Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio to your A/V receiver to decode over HDMI. Also, with the new PS3 Slim you get 55% less power consumption when playing Blu-rays. A feature that should appeal to many consumers.
Sony's Investment
In the High Definition format wars between Blu-ray and HD-DVD, Sony sided with Blu-ray and helped create and develop the HD format. Needless to say, Sony has a lot invested in Blu-ray's success. Adding Blu-ray to the PlayStation 3 was an attempt to secure this success. It provided a great feature other gaming console did not have. To compete with the other gaming console Sony has to keep it's Blu-ray Player relevant. The only way to do this is to continue to upgrade the Blu-ray Player on the PlayStation 3.
PlayStation 3 is Future Proof
The PlayStation 3 is a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Player. So as Blu-ray technology continues to develop, PlayStation 3 owners are able to download firmware to update the players features and functions. For example, many experts predict 3D viewing will be the next big thing in the home entertainment market. To view 3D movies a 3D Blu-ray Player is required. Those who own a PlayStation 3 will not have to invest in purchasing new equipment. Sony will release a firmware upgrade making their system capable of playing 3D Blu-ray Discs. The benefits of this are limitless, as there will certainly be other upgrades to Blu-ray technology in the future. The PlayStation 3 is able to accomplish this due to its extremely powerful internal processor, large hard drive and peripheral support.
THE PROS:
- PS3 Slim is 32% reduction is size
- PS3 Slim is more energy efficient
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Excellent HD Images and Audio
THE CONS:
- No Backwards support for PS2
- Remote Control is sold separately
- No IR Port
The Final Word:
With so many advances in stand-alone Blu-ray Players over the last couple of years, it is debatable to still consider the PlayStation 3 the best. But with a price tag of $299.99, it definitely remains one of the best choices when it comes to purchasing a Blu-ray Player.
