Criterion Collection uses PS3 as reference Blu-ray player

Yeah, you read that correctly -- the obsessive audiophiles / videophiles at the Criterion Collection use Sony's PlayStation 3 as its reference Blu-ray player. In all honesty, we can't say we're too surprised. Time and again, Sony's latest console has been rated very highly as a dedicated BD deck, and the plentiful firmware updates ensure that it's always at the forefront of whatever interactive functionality is next. This snippet of factual goodness was extracted from a recent writeup that took an in-depth look at how the CC would be revamping its home theater, and even famed calibration guru Joe Kane gave his approval at using the console for playing back Blu-ray Discs. The real kicker? They also settled upon a DVIGear HDMI cable over one of those obscenely overpriced Ogre cables -- and that was after running clean out of coat hangers.

[Via CNET]

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 13th 2008 7:38PM]

Or their problem.

I love my PS3. Why does Sony make crappy Blu-ray players for more $$? To get more people to buy a PS3 and overtake 360 sales.

[afwjam Posted Aug 13th 2008 7:41PM]

So sad that the reference blu-ray player is a PS3, what a joke. To this day not a single stand alone unit has gotten it right like the XA2 did for HD DVD.

[sr1329 Posted Aug 13th 2008 9:24PM]

Very true. No flagship player. Sony really dropped the ball on that one. They did DVD right with the DVP-S7000. They did SACD right with the SCD-1. I have both. But I guess it's a blessing in disguise. I paid $600 for my PS3 Christmas 2006 and it still is the best player. Dirt cheap if you ask me for a launch player.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 14th 2008 11:57AM]

Um, wrong. PS3 IS the flagship player. Supports every feature of Blu-Ray perfectly. Easily upgradable and future-proof. Upscales DVDs very nicely and passes all Silicon Optix HQV upscaling tests. Oh, and it also plays games, browses the web, and functions as a media center with at minimum a 20gb hard drive. And it retails at $400 vs. the $999 MSRP for the XA2.

So what was it you were saying about no flagship player again??

[Jamesology Posted Aug 13th 2008 8:10PM]

I like Pancakes

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 13th 2008 8:18PM]

The PS3 is also a VERY good upconverting DVD player. It's nearly just as good as my old Oppo DVD player. Maybe even better. I don't know how this could be, but it is. I've compared the Oppo and PS3 to several under $100 DVD players and the cheap units just can't compare. The Ps3 is also great for older lower quality DVDs, same as the Oppo players. I have the OPDV971H. I use this over the PS3 just due to the energy savings. Strange, I know, but my DVD player is on hours a day.

[Jamesology Posted Aug 13th 2008 8:20PM]

I just said I like pancakes, geeezzzz. Oh yeah with maple syrup too

[Jonthomasdesigns Posted Aug 13th 2008 8:50PM]

I am a fan of french toast But i respect your pancake choice

[Jamesology Posted Aug 13th 2008 11:13PM]

well how about french pancakes? Called CREPES! FTW i must say.

[Ryan Trevisol Posted Aug 13th 2008 8:28PM]

This will be great in justifying my purchase of one when GT5 comes out. :)

[zargon Posted Aug 13th 2008 8:45PM]

While the PS3 may be considered one of the better Blu-ray players now and its ability to upgrade is nice. I will stick with standalone players which now will get you better feature rich and a more home theaternomic unit, ala Panasonic BD50.

With more companies releasing players and these companies releasing a wider range of players, prices will be coming down on these better players to make them a better value than the PS3. The PS3 may have kicked of the first phase of Blu-ray, but it will be left in the dust as better and better players make their way to the market.

I am looking forward to being able to purchase a actual high end player from Denon, Pioneer or Oppo a little down the road for what they should actually be going for.

[Apocalyptic 0n3 Posted Aug 13th 2008 9:06PM]

I'm a self proclaimed 360 Fanboy but I have to admit that I have a PS3 (Came with our 58" TV) and it is the absolute best DVD/Blu Ray/HD DVD player I have ever used. In the words of Apple, "It just works."

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 13th 2008 9:35PM]

PS3 doesn't play HD-DVD.

[PynkFloydd Posted Aug 13th 2008 9:21PM]

...in all fairness, it's probably good to mention that they're using a $3,500+ video processor (with upgrades) to clean up the signal from the PS3.

http://www.anchorbaytech.com/products/systems/vp50pro.php

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 13th 2008 11:25PM]

This is true. It's also true that 99.9% of Blu-Ray discs being natively 1080p would not require any post-processing. The external video processor would primarily be there for use with TV or DVD.

[PynkFloydd Posted Aug 14th 2008 12:26AM]

I'm not that familiar with processors but, I read some of the specs.

"PReP™
Progressive Reprocessing of 480p, 576p, and 1080p input signals allows poor deinterlacing of any source to be undone and done correctly using Precision Deinterlacing™

Precision Video Scaling II™
10-bit Scaling with Enhanced Sharpness Control up to 1080p

Progressive Cadence Detection™
Enables 24/48/72Hz and 25/50/75Hz output from film-based content at 480p, 576p, 720p and 1080p resolutions

Precision Gamma Correction™- Individual R/G/B Adjustments

Precision AV LipSync™
intelligent digital audio delay technology to match Audio & Video timing"



I'm just assuming... I'm sure that the PS3 benefits at least a little from those. I get what you're saying though... It's an uncompressed signal so it wouldn't require much filtering.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 14th 2008 10:14AM]

I resisted getting the PS3 because I'm really not a gamer. However, the thing is amazing. DVD upscaling is beautiful, and as a side bonus, the thing is an amazing CD player (plus SACD if you have an older model). I am hearing my entire CD collection like I've never heard it before. I highly recommend getting it, and if you don't have an amp, try out the Sony 5300ES.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 24th 2008 3:27PM]

Okay so which PS3? 40 GB or 80 GB??