Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Blue Ray or PS3?

There was no change to the digital side of things in the SE version of the Oppo player. All they did was beef up the DACs and a few other minor parts of the analog chain.

If you're planning to use the HDMI interface, then there's no reason to get the SE upgrade. If you're using the analog 7.1 output, it's time to get a new receiver rather than the SE upgrade.

While I believe that decoding to PCM in the player is the right thing to do, after that it should be passed digitally to the receiver so any room correction (even if it is just delay and trim, if you don't like EQing and the rest of that stuff) can be done by the receiver. The receiver drives the speakers, so it should make the output adjustments. Imaging if you had to calibrate each source component. That way madness lies.

You're making hard for me to NOT buy a PS3.

I Had a sony 300 model which i picked up on boxing day for 199 2 years ago .(good price at the time)

I bought the new ps3 and i love it , never thought i would play games but i have gt5 , formula one 2006 and Ferrari Challenge with the Logitech steering wheel but not into games that require using the controller .

The oppo on consumer reports was rated best blu ray player if that helps .

I think it comes down to what you will do with it. The PS3 has soooo many value adds for the money, if you would use them.

PS3 for streaming music and movies to your HT area without buying separate gear, picture collection viewing, Netflix access (if you are US), gaming, and I'd like to say web browsing but until they get better browser software, it's way too cludgy for surfing. Rumors they are talking to Mozilla.

If you seriously think you will never use any of those features, then a good player like the Oppo is easier to manipulate. Although with that 12 dollar USB gadget I recently bought, I am now back to one single remote for everything, including the PS3.

Also the PS3 Slim is $300 (always get the smaller drive, it's user upgradeable for less than what Sony charges), while the Oppo is $500. If you don't have DVD-Audio discs or SACDs, require the best possible SD upscaling (the PS3 is good, but the Oppo is better), and plan on using HDMI (you should); then there's not much reason to look at the Oppo.

My thoughts right now are to buy a PS3 as my BR player (hopefully have one tossed in with the TV) and in the future buy a used Oppo 981 or similar, for any SACD/DVD-A I may be interested in, this combo would still be cheaper than a new 83 from Oppo.

You might try Ebay, Craigslist, etc. for an older style 80GB version that plays SACD and DVD-A. However, personally, I am very hesitant to purchase a used game console online. In fact I don't recommend it at all but put it out there if you are brave.

I want the PS3 slim..... OK my wife mentioned she liked the look better, I know what that meant.

What is this gadget you refer too?

Thanks

It's actually only the 60 GB version which supported SACDs. The PS3 never played DVD-Audio. The 80 GB dropped SACD support, and went to a half-software solution for PS2 emulation. New 60 GB PS3s routinely go for over $900, they're that sought after. Even the used ones fetch a good price. Probably not worth it, although I do enjoy my PS3 for SACD, and DV-79AVi for DVD-A.