Should I go Blu Ray with a 1080i set?
 

Im looking to get a Blu Ray player soon. I currently have a 1080i set. Its Hitachi 52" Rear Projection set. I have it calibrated and it looks beautiful.

1) My question though is should I go Blu Ray or wait til I get a 1080p set?

2)If I should go Blu Ray then which ones should I get or avoid considering my current set up?


Thanks in advance

Well I can certainly say YES to number 1. Go for it, and you will not be disappointed.

I would visit AVS for the thread where they rate all the releases. You can find some good information there regarding which to surely get and which to avoid.

To answer question (2), I'd go for the PS3 ... it's got everything you need in a BD player and more. After getting mine online, I'm finding it neat to be able to go on the Playstation Network and download select HD theatrical trailers.

Look's like we most likely own the same tv. I say go for it. You'll notice a big difference sometimes.

Thanks fo rthe help so far and keep it coming! Yea I was leaning toward the PS3. I have the 360 and love it but the PS3 gives you games and movies. How is the PS3 as a Blu Ray player. Since Ill be using it almost primarily for movies I dont want a second rate BP.

By far the BEST Blu-ray player available.

The only thing it lacks in analog inputs, front display (to see runtime) and the ability to use a Harmony remote (though you can buy adapters to make the PS3 use them). It also decodes all High Def codecs (TrueHD, DTS MA).

Do you have a receiver at all or are you going to use your TV Speakers?

How does the PS3 perform playing sd dvd's? I understand it cannot upconvert unless you have hdmi (I have an HD-A1 hooked up via component to an older Toshiba rptv), but I'm curious if it is at least comparable to the A1 (which is okay.) Since the PS3 is a slot loading player, does it cause any disc scratching? One would think that discs are more susceptible to scratching.

Its probably one of the better BD players that can upconvert (besides the Smasung 1200/5000/2550 which have a REON chip and the LG 200 which has the QEDA). I personally never used my PS3 to play DVDs but never had any issues with it scratching my BDs.

No player can upconvert DVDs with CSS encryption over component unless you have some special hacked player. PS3s have very good upconverting and I've used one for a couple of years now and it has never scratched a disc. Maybe this could happen with a bad drive though.

The one nice thing about the PS3 is it remembers where you leave off on every disc you put in which can be handy on TV sets. I'm usually watching several at a time and its nice to have a player that remembers the episode I just exited from.

Yes. At 52", your naked eye is going to have a hard time discerning 1080i vs. 1080p, even if it was a full 1080p set. Heck, I have a 65" 1080p set and still can't distinguish between the two - if it wasn't for my set "telling" me, I'm not sure I could pass a "blind" test.

What Shannon said.

Also, even at 52" depending on viewing distance, some critical eyes have a difficult time distinguishing 720p from 1080p, let alone 1080i.

You mean to tell me you had your set professionally calibrated (which can be costly), but don't know if 1080p will make a difference? It will make all the difference in the world!

Gizmo would you happen to know how Sony's 350 fairs with up converting? What chip does it use? Looking to get that player for 150 clams thru the Sony CC offer.

I personally like it better than the PS3. On my system the color-scheme for example is much stronger (as recently as 48 hours ago I compared both on L'aventura and hands down the 350 is the better upconverter - the blacks are much stronger when not looking at close-up shots and I also happen to share the opinion that definition through the 350 is also marginally better). I will have a 550 probably by the end of the week to test but at this point I am definitely in favor of the SA over the PS3 in terms of upconversion.

Pro-B

Hells yeah go get yourself Blu right now!

Ok so Im set on the PS3. I now have to find the cheapest solution to getting one. Since I wont be using it for gaming, Ill probably get the smallest harddrive and get it refurbished at a Game Store.

What Sony CC offer are you referring to? I haven't heard of any $150 Sony deals, so I'm interested in hearing about this...
Not sure if CC means Circuit City, or if you are talking about a Sony Credit Card...

Own a Hitachi 51" 1080i with a PS3 and A2...never looked back.

btw, hit up Monoprice for some HDMI cables, not Best Buy or Circuit.

I have a question. Does anyone know if the Sony card prohibits a husband and wife getting seperate cards to each take advantage of the $150 off. I want both a 920 Receiver and a PS3...looked over the terms and conditions and didn't see anything regarding my question, was wondering if anyone might know. Thanks.

I have a 46" 720p/1080i DLP TV with a PS3 as a Blu-ray player, and it makes a huge difference. I would highly recommend Blu-ray on a 1080i set and the the PS3 as a player.

Not quite ... it lacks a co-ax SPDIF port, something which preempted its use with our budget Pioneer receiver.

if you preferred the PS3 aside from that issue, you could have always gotten something like this: http://www.trianglecables.com/pof-830.html

I have a 1080i 32" Samsung with a PS3, it looks fantastic.

I have a 1080i set (Panasonic 50" DLP) and a PS3 and BD's look great. I use my Oppo for sd DVD's, but I let my Integra pre-amp (Reon chip) do the upconverting. Fine piece of equipment that is, some of my sd DVD's have never looked that good. :)

I put the new BD player out in the rec room with my older Mits RPTV (does 1080i) and it's made the set look great and brought new life in the current DVD's. I did a complete over-haul of the RPTV doing a through cleaning and calibration and frankly the set is going to have to roll over and die before I get another.


Kenny J