New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available... - Page 18

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

There are literally zillion threads about the "fan noise" in every forum. Both "opinions" and "facts" (and loads in the middle). Perhaps you didn´t read them?

The problem is (well, *seems* to be), that there are PS3-models with "louder fan" I guess, and then models that are pretty quiet (you get *slight* fan noise with these type of equipments - you just can´t help it). E.g. I have "louder" PS3, but I have two friends (I have "heard" them myself) with "normal" PS3 (other has the first 60gb-model from the US like myself, and other has 60gb euro-model). That being said, there are as much talk about those 40gb-models as there are about those 60gb-models, so I doubt that 40gb-models run much cooler in the end... Both have some "louder" ones.

Our house is also quite "hot" (well, everyone are saying that - and it´s summer here now), so that might have an effect on the PS3 also. We don´t really have e.g. windows near the console, so not much I can do. Obviously you can´t put PS3 in the "closed cabin" or anything in the first place. And yes, you can hear the fan noise better if the PS3 is close by where you sit, etc. So there are several issues here.

I don´t have any ultimate answers on this one, but it´s a fact, that not *all* PS3-models have that much "fan noise". I have heard it myself. With "normal" PS3, "fan noise" IS NOT a problem. You just might heard it if you go closer (PS3) or something like that (or use "Folding Home" or something - that usually get the fan going in higher speed), but generally it´s not an issue. E.g. projectors and such has also some *minor* fan noise (some are probably louder than others, I´m not sure). Hell, my HD DVD-player has also some minor "fan noise".

Older there here:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...d-silence.html

PS. My PS3 might be the "louder one", but it´s nothing compared to Xbox 360. I mean, that´s super-loud. (Don´t get me wrong, I still love "Halo3", "Gears Of War", etc. - it has some quality game for sure)

PS1. What is actually "quiet home theater"? Just curious.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Fan noise is completely dependent on your personal factors:

1. Where is the PS3 kept from your listening position?
2. How loud do you listen to movies?
3. What types of movies do you watch most (i.e. silent/quiet films = noisy PS3)
4. How sensitive are your ears to the pitch of the PS3 fan (some people hear different parts of the audible spectrum more clearly than others).

I have a 60GB PS3 fan that, for all intents and purposes, I thought was silent. I'm your typical 1960s-2000s movie fan, sit 12' from the system, and don't listen at reference volume, but do listen at moderate sound levels. I've never heard my PS3 while watching a BD or gaming.

But the other day I paused my PS3 mid-movie, and went to the HT rack to adjust something, and was like "what's that whirring noise? wow, it's the PS3!" So mine clearly isn't silent. But in normal viewing situations I never hear it.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Well, it is a fact that the current 80GB generates a lot more heat than the 40GB model, and draws more current. Different electronics (more) and a different method of chip construction (requires more power = hotter). So that's not just an opinion.

As for the 40GB model, the fact that for the *current* version Sony moved some of the (hot) electronics to a new/better position for cooling means they acknowledged the heat/fan issue to a large extent, besides offering warranty replacement for it. So the loud fan issue in some 40GB models is a fact too, it's not just an opinion of a few fussy owners.

Also, Sony probably used different types of fans to keep the production line going, and some were not very good. I don't know what else they could do at this point to further acknowledge the problem some people have.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I got the U.S.60GB not only for BD but SA-CD playback and as I listen to lots of classical music on SA-CD. I was more than put off by the fan noise when I first plugged it in. However, running it vertically greatly reduced the noise level to next to nothing and I am now a very happy camper!
I would recommend(and frequently do)the PS3 as the best BD player on the market!

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

"Fact"? I would like to see some links etc.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

^ You can find out (or measure) the power consumption. You can measure the temp too (yes, we have done all that). Also, you can check out the chip geometry in the current 80GB model, and what that means.

I have absolutely no idea why you find this so hard to believe...nobody else seems to have an issue with it, from their experience, or what Sony themselves say...and why does it matter? The only thing I objected to was people saying "it doesn't happen" when fan noise was brought up, and since the fan running level correlates to heat...it plainly does happen, though not to me...

It won't happen (much) in the future because the currently shipping 40GB models have been "reconfigured", and the next 80GB models will just be the new 40GB models (more or less, as far as we've been told) with an 80GB drive.

All 40 GB models are not equal re the heat problem. I have an "old" one that's fine, but some apparently aren't. The new 40GB models are said to be much improved re heat (when I say "new", they've been around for ~6 months).

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

About those "trophies"...

Uncharted Trophy support introduced News - Page 1 // PS3 /// Eurogamer

-Drake's Fortune to include Trophies.
-At the moment, you can also compete for Trophies in Super Stardust HD and PixelJunk Eden.

Warhawk Trophy patch dated, detailed News - Page 1 // PS3 /// Eurogamer
-Warhawk 1.5 patch introducing Trophy support.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

With regards to drawing more current, looking at some manufacturer's specs (Seagate, Hitachi) for their 2.5" hard drives, the power draw specs are the same regardless of size of HD (from 60GB-120GB).

I was also unaware that there were significantly different electronics between the 40GB and the 80GB versions. I know the original 20GB and 60GB versions had the "Emotion Engine" which was essentially the PS2 chip so that it wouldn't need emulation to run PS2 games, but that was stripped out of the 40/80 versions. The 60GB also had media reader slots whereas the 20GB didn't.

So if you meant there are different electronics between the 20/60 (Gen1) and 40/80 (Gen2, no Emotion Engine), I'd agree. But to my knowledge, the architecture between the 40/80 should be pretty close if not identical.

And while yes I'll agree that fan quality can and does vary, so does noise tolerance. Put the exact same fan in front of ten people, you'll get some who say it's too loud, some who say it's just right for the cooling power, and some who say it's silent.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

This is very true. "Loud" and "silent" mean different things to different people. And it seems, that the "fan quality" varies here (you don´t necessarily get "silent" model by buying e.g. 40gb-model). I would say, that my PS3 is one of the louder models (when the fan goes in higher speed, it doesn´t really came "back down"), but like I said, at least two of my friends have just normal, minor "fan noise" (=if you really listen, get closer to the console, etc).

My plan now is to take my PS3 to the balcony outside and just to turn it "on". If it actually behaves the same way as it does inside, it´s probably faulty..

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Placement also makes a difference; you'll want to avoid placing the PS3 straight-on infront of you / under the monitor, where the soundwaves might be directed right at your couch. Since the remote doesn't need to be in line of sight anyway (thanks to its use of bluetooth) you may as well stick the PS3 off to a far side, ideally where the wall of a cabinet will block most of the direct sound waves.

Also, I suspect that the fan comes on less if you put the PS3 in its vertical position rather than the horizontal. Just a feeling.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I just wanted to post that my PS3/80 is very quiet, I run it vertically, and even when the volume is down on the sound system you can barely tell its on. ps Is anyone else out there doin the whole remote play thing with a psp, because it has some cool features. For instance, I have a couple of outdoor speakers, and when I have friends over we sit outside and use the psp to flip through the many cd's that I have copied onto the ps3 they love it.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I actually bought the PSP expressly for that purpose. Although, I returned it. I dont know why they dont open that thing up - it has so many possibilities. It was a huge step forward to allow the sounds to stay with the PS3 - I think that was a relatively recent update.

Anyway, if they would allow simultaneous veiwing of the PSP and the TV at the same time I would be sold. Well, I also need them to allow me to change sound settings at the PS3 from the PSP as well (I hate that so many PS3 settings are not allowed within remote play).

Either way - they have SO MUCH potential with what they have and the hardware is right there!

Let me say how impressed I was though with how responsive it was using remote play over my local wifi. Very cool stuff.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I would have to agree, but the updates have really increased the functionality of the psp during remote play I just hope they continue to do so in the future. All in all though if you are going out to get a blu-ray and your thinking about dropping big cash on a "high end" stand alone player you would get so much more functionality and performance by purchasing a ps3 and a psp. I think most people would be blown away by what they can do with the system and they would have money left over to apply to a compatible reciever and some Martin Logans! Oh and by the way i'm typing this on my wireless logitech keyboard as I surf the web on a 61" 1080p using my ps3. What stand alone can do that!

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Off topic a bit, but does anyone know the exact street date in September that the new 80 gig PS3 - retailing at $399 - is being released? I can't find it anywhere - even on Sony's site - and it's not up for pre-order. It was announced a couple of weeks ago at E3.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I don't know if anyone on this thread participated in the thread in which a gentleman wanted to get a blu-ray that had decent upconvert along with the new codecs and some other features, but absolutely refused to get a ps3. I found that really frustrating. It was like saying " I want to eat this cereal, but I refuse to use a spoon". I'm sure it can be done but there's no reason to put yourself through the mess.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

He was just a troll. He's done the same stuff on a lot of other boards.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I was contemplating buying a PS3 this fall, but it's going to have to wait until I get a new receiver. I only have one optical input, and it's currently occupied by my A30. I might as well get an HDMI receiver before getting into BD.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Yep, an HDMI receiver is a natural third step (first comes lcd monitor, then comes BluRay player, then comes an HDMI receiver, then comes two more speakers to make it 7.1).

Check out the Denon AVR-1909. Just arriving now.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Can the PS3 output 1080i video on component and simultaneously output bitstream audio on HDMI to the receiver to decode advanced codecs? I don't have an HDMI display but I want the advanced codecs over HDMI to a receiver.

Edit: Either bitstream to reciever or simply multi-channel LPCM after internal decoding, I don't care. The key is HDMI audio with component video.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Yes. The PS3 has one menu for the Display settings and another for the audio settings. You can set up your video for component and the audio on HDMI. I believe the PS3 does all decoding internally, therefore it will send out the data as multi-channel LPCM. IIRC, it will not bitstream raw undecoded audio data.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

I just picked up the 40 gig PS3 and have a couple of questions. First, when upscaling (aka upconverting), should I choose normal or double - and what's the difference? Also, how do I program the PS3 to playback 4x3 material in 4x3 and not stretched to full mode on my display? Thanks in advance for your help.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

"Normal" upscaling will resample it to your set resolution, while "Double" will literally double the size of each pixel.

For the 4x3 material, depending on what you're watching there's a video sub-menu available when you press TRIANGLE, that allows you to change aspects. If you're watching DVDs I don't think it's available, if the PS3 is sending out a 4x3 signal then I would just change the aspect on the TV set.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

It´s best to use "Normal" ("Set to upscale and display at a size that matches the screen size").

PS3™ | BD / DVD Settings

This will e.g. leave proper black bars (both sides) with 4:3 aspect ratio. So "normal" keeps the original aspect ratio of the source.

Others (IMO and with HDMI connection/1080p TV):

*Cinema Conversion = Automatic
*DVD Wide Display = Letterbox
*BD / DVD Video Output Format (HDMI) = Y Pb / Cb Pr / Cr

Display:

**Cross Color Reduction Filter = "Reduce color noise when the system is connected using an AV cable (composite) or S VIDEO cable."

So if you´re using HDMI, I guess this doesn´t matter.

**RGB Full Range (HDMI) = "Adjust the output settings for TVs that support RGB full range. For RGB video signals, the range of color scale that is input varies depending on the TV in use. This setting is for use when the TV is connected to the PS3™ system using an HDMI cable:

Limited: RGB output signal is output in the range from 16 to 235.
Full: RGB output signal is output in the range from 0 to 255."

I guess many keep this "limited", since most DVD/Blu-ray-releases are using "16 to 235" (not "under" or "over"), I believe. Mine is "full" for some reason, though.

**Y Pb / Cb Pr / Cr Super-White (HDMI) =

"Adjust output settings for TVs that support Y Pb / Cb Pr / Cr input signals. Super-white signal can be output when playing a DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD), or AVCHD-format video. This setting is for use when the TV is connected to the PS3™ system using an HDMI cable."

I have this "on".

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Zack and Jari - Thank you for the advice. Leaving it on Normal fixed everything. I will also check out the other settings. Gotta say I've been very impressed with the PS3 so far as a Blu-Ray player.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Hi can anyone tell me if there is a way for the PS3 to remember the point at which I have stopped a movie. With my DVD player if the telephone rings, I can press stop and then play again and the DVD starts up from the spot I left it. With a Blu-Ray on the PS3 if I press play again it starts back at the menu screen (i.e. it loads up as if from scratch). Is there a way around this or am I missing something or is it likely to be fixed with a future upgrade?

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

The PS3 will remember the last place your where on SD-DVDs and some Blu-rays. The Blu-rays it won't remember are the BD-Java titles. It should remember any non BD-Java titles.

From what I know there is no way of disabling or enabling this feature.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

If you hit "pause" instead of "stop" it is easy to get going again after a short interruption. For longer interruptions, just hit the on-screen-display and take note of the chapter and time.

Somehow or another I was able to punch in a time and jump directly to that time without using the chapter select.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

So I've made the plunge on buying a PS3 and it's coming in a week or so, I've got my HDMI cables, my Optical cables but from what I gather, I'm limited on my audio if I don't have a receiver with HDMI hook-ups, correct? So a new receiver would have to be purchased in order to take advantage of that HDMI sound? Are optical connections that bad? I always thought they were better than analog hook-ups? Where does Coaxial fall on the scale in comparison? I've had my DVD player hooked up with the Coaxial and recently made the switch to Optical (last night) as I have three optical inputs for my Yamaha receiver. I probably won't be buying a new receiver until after the new year but hope the package I have on the way with my new LCD TV will hold me over...

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

If I am correct it's HDMI, optical and then coaxial.

Re: New to Blu? Buy a PS3: the most featured BD hardware available...

Optical and coaxial connections are both "digital audio", having the same "DVD Quality". You probably would be hard pressed to notice a difference in sound quality between either type of transport medium, but a number of audiophiles have preferred coaxial in their systems, swearing the sound is optimised with shorter runs. When length (connection distance) is an issue, optical has a longer distance advantage before a repeater is needed.

Analog hook-ups are not digital transports. The cables have standard RCA connections (sound quality can depend on the build of the cable) and are used to carry the analog audio signals directly from the source or converted from a digital source (CD/DVD/Blu-ray etc.) and transported to a preamp/receiver or processor that has analog inputs. The quality of sound would depend on the quality of the audio track and the quality of the digital-to-analog converter chip in the player.

With the proper player, preamp/processor/receiver and amplifiers, an analog connection can give you the same quality high-resolution audio obtainable from Blu-ray disc through PCM, DD TrueHD or DTS HD-MA audio tracks via an HDMI transport.

Optical or coaxial will give you "DVD quality" after conversion.

Paul