PS3 Died! What shall I do??? What to replace it with?

Sonny · « **on:** 24 Jun 2013, 05:49 pm »

So, last weekend, our 4-5 year old PS 3 finally stopped playing BD, then DVDs. It still streams but we need a DVD player at least.
Anyways, we don't need all the bells and whistles, here's what we need, can you recommend?

-Plays BD and DVD
-Streams Amazon and Netflix

That's really it!

Thanks

Johlke · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 07:34 pm »

If you can live without Amazon then the Oppo BDP-105 is a no-brainer.

WC · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 07:56 pm »

Depends on how much you want to spend. A Panasonic BD player will give you everything you are looking for less than $200. Now the quality won't be the same as an Oppo and the streaming interface may not be as easy to navigate as a Roku would be.

Sonny · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 08:08 pm »

Quote from: WC on 24 Jun 2013, 07:56 pm

Depends on how much you want to spend. A Panasonic BD player will give you everything you are looking for less than $200. Now the quality won't be the same as an Oppo and the streaming interface may not be as easy to navigate as a Roku would be.

Ah, not looking to spend much, especially the Oppo 105 price...though its supposed to be a great player...
We don't need Amazon, but we have it and paid for it already, just renewed a week ago.

Thanks

WGH · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 08:41 pm »

Amazon Instant Video Compatible Devices
http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/devices/ref=amb_link_365411962_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0PX6G4WTBVNW03T196AT&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=1480163142&pf_rd_i=1000663511

Phil A · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 08:48 pm »

Sounds like the laser. If so, it is about a $100 fix at EFX Computer. There is pinned thread on the hi-rez music circle. As everyone pointed out, there are lots of choices out there

Phil A · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 08:49 pm »

Here's the thread I noted - http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=106312.0

Rclark · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 10:36 pm »

No way, wait for the PS4, out probably in September, October for sure. Willing to bet it will give an Oppo 105 a run for its life.

kingdeezie · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 11:52 pm »

Quote from: Rclark on 24 Jun 2013, 10:36 pm

No way, wait for the PS4, out probably in September, October for sure. Willing to bet it will give an Oppo 105 a run for its life.

No way it will be out that early. During E3, Sony said "this holiday, " for a release date. That usually means mid to late November/December.

Sonny · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Jun 2013, 11:57 pm »

Quote from: Rclark on 24 Jun 2013, 10:36 pm

No way, wait for the PS4, out probably in September, October for sure. Willing to bet it will give an Oppo 105 a run for its life.

But I am going to need something in between, for sure!

persisting1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 12:02 am »

Try repairing it yourself. There are many free tutorials online.

Here's just one of many YouTube videos that might help.

persisting1 · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 12:22 am »

Quote from: Phil A on 24 Jun 2013, 08:49 pm

Here's the thread I noted - http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=106312.0

The link I provided was the heat gun repair. I've never tried this and wouldn't do so.

Just posted any like from YouTube to show that you can repair it yourself if one wants to go that route. Hopefully it's just the power supply.

Phil A · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 01:44 am »

Mine was the laser and I had it repaired since it is the model I use to burn SACD disc images

Sonny · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 01:46 am »

Quote from: Phil A on 25 Jun 2013, 01:44 am

Mine was the laser and I had it repaired since it is the model I use to burn SACD disc images

Can you tell which version of the software is needed for SACD ripping?
Thanks

Phil A · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 02:11 am »

Quote from: Sonny on 25 Jun 2013, 01:46 am

Can you tell which version of the software is needed for SACD ripping?
Thanks

Ted has a whole thread with the model and everything but you need a PS3 that will play SACDs (I believe they all have 4 USB inputs on the front) and can't be upgraded beyond firmware version 3.55. Ted has posted that it is being worked on (to roll back firmware) but I do not know of anyone who has been able to do it (and I would be wary if someone makes claims).

Phil A · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 02:12 am »

Quote from: Sonny on 25 Jun 2013, 01:46 am

Can you tell which version of the software is needed for SACD ripping?
Thanks

Here's the thread which has the link to the models too - http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=95396.0

Rclark · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 02:26 am »

Quote from: kingdeezie on 24 Jun 2013, 11:52 pm

No way it will be out that early. During E3, Sony said "this holiday, " for a release date. That usually means mid to late November/December.

All sources are pointing to in production now with a much earlier launch than usual. Sept, Oct, it's been done before. We'll know soon.

Phil A · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 02:54 am »

I have no idea what the PS4 will be like but the PS3 if the primary purpose is Blu-Ray is not all that great a player picture quality wise. It does many different things, stream, games, etc., and if you use those it may be good for you. I have a non-SACD 80GB PS3 too. Had it in the basement system for a long time with a Sony 720p projector. Never could get it looking all that great with the Spears and Munsil disc or my colorimeter. Always attributed it to the projector. A couple of years back, I picked up an Integra DPS6.9 DVD universal on close-out and moved the BDP-93 to the basement system and the PS3 to the bedroom system (now that I had the Integra) and did a quick calibration with the Spears and Munsil disc, looked at a couple of minutes of the 5th Element Superbit DVD and had to run off to meet a friend for dinner. We intended to see a movie afterwards but it was too late. He had seen Avatar once and wanted to see it again. I had watched it just the week before with the PS3. I was shocked and he was even more shocked that the projector was 720p. So I am not impressed with the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player. I've read the PS4 will be able to stream 4k movies with a service. So I'll wait and see what it is like.

Rclark · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 04:55 am »

Quote from: Phil A on 25 Jun 2013, 02:54 am

I have no idea what the PS4 will be like but the PS3 if the primary purpose is Blu-Ray is not all that great a player picture quality wise. It does many different things, stream, games, etc., and if you use those it may be good for you. I have a non-SACD 80GB PS3 too. Had it in the basement system for a long time with a Sony 720p projector. Never could get it looking all that great with the Spears and Munsil disc or my colorimeter. Always attributed it to the projector. A couple of years back, I picked up an Integra DPS6.9 DVD universal on close-out and moved the BDP-93 to the basement system and the PS3 to the bedroom system (now that I had the Integra) and did a quick calibration with the Spears and Munsil disc, looked at a couple of minutes of the 5th Element Superbit DVD and had to run off to meet a friend for dinner. We intended to see a movie afterwards but it was too late. He had seen Avatar once and wanted to see it again. I had watched it just the week before with the PS3. I was shocked and he was even more shocked that the projector was 720p. So I am not impressed with the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player. I've read the PS4 will be able to stream 4k movies with a service. So I'll wait and see what it is like.

That's not entirely fair. The PS3 came out basically at the dawn of Bluray. It's not a 2013 model player. But when it came out, and for many years, it was considered top of the line, "you're wasting money spending more on a Bluray player."

Of course, time moves on, but the point remains, for quite a long time, it was considered a high end player, but was then overtaken just like any technology.

Now PS4 is going to be a 2013 model and Sony does not skimp, as we know, on these things. And as it will be a showcase device for delivering their new 4K movie service, I don't doubt that the Bluray and video output has been brought up to the level PS3 was in 2007, and for at least three years, which was, fabulous.

Phil A · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Jun 2013, 11:35 am »

I had a Samsung Blu-Ray player of the same vintage (model 2500) as the PS3 I bought. I gave it to a friend recently. It blew the PS3 out of the water on both DVD and Blu-Ray. As I noted earlier the PS3 does many things other players won't. That being said, the PS3 was never a top flight Blu-Ray player in its prime. I've owned a bunch of them in multiple systems. The PS3 of course could do things like get 5.1 from Netflix, where if someone was to use my Samsung, although it had Netflix just does not do what the PS3 could. There were various tests done (I believe Benchmark) that came to the same conclusions. It is easy to see that when one blows it up on either an 88 inch screen or a 100 screen as I have in the basement and main systems. It is not so apparent when you play it on a smaller screen. The PS3 slim was also redesigned not horribly long ago and had a better chip to pass DD and DTS to the receiver vs. the earlier design as well. I also have a Sony BDP-BX37 in the office system (in case I want to play an SACD and pass it to the Pioneer 1120). It looks fine on the 25 inch monitor but its flaws get magnified on a bigger screen (where I had both an Oppo BDP-83 and the Samsung at the same time at one point).