Whats a good blu ray player for my media room?

Question

I watch tons of movies in my media room and i want a blue ray player, but I dont want one thats too pricey. can you help me out here?

Answer 1

While the PS3 certainly gives you the most for your money when purchasing a Blu-ray Disc player, it won't allow you to take adavantage of most forms of "uncompressed" HD audio.  Even with future firmware upgrades from Sony, the PS3 would require you to purchase a new Home Theater Receiver before you could take full advantage of the sound on Blu-ray Discs.

The new Panasonic "DMP-BD50" stand-alone" Blu-ray Disc player has all three HD audio decoders ("Uncompressed PCM", "DolbyTrueHD" and "DTSHD Master Audio") already built in.  And it's completely backwards compatible with your old Home Theater Receiver.  Even if you bought a new "HD audio" receiver today, the PS3 can only deliver "Uncompressed PCM".

Pansonic "DMP-BD50" ($500):  http://panasonic.net/pavc/blu-ray/dmp-bd...

The people that aren't impressed by the "uncompressed" audio formats available on Blu-ray Disc, haven't actually heard them yet.  Click this link to see the specifics of hooking it up properly: http://www.avtruths.com/uncompressed.htm...

Answer 2

ps3 is best answer and not because of its blueray capability.

It also had built in wireless internet connection where with a wireless router it is possible to connect to main computers windows media player 11 and have access to thousands of songs,pictures, and video. I have my ps3 connected to high quality surround system and great plasma.

Now thats a media room.

Answer 3

I think PS3 is the one thing needed to enhance any media room.  Strike that, if you have a PS3, you have a media home.  For its value, I would shell out the extra bucks.  It enhances your television, doesn't just add a Blu-Ray disc player.  Your television can now play digital movies from your PC, digital music, and serve as a huge digital photo frame and slideshow viewer with digital music in the background.  It's like getting one of those popular 7" digital photo frames to a much bigger scale for free.  You can get on the internet from your television.  Video chat with other users.

It enhances your sound system.  Imagine streaming music from your computer to your surround sound or even home sound system by channeling it through your PS3 wirelessly and being able to hear music throughout your home.

It can network wirelessly to other devices.  If you have a PSP you can actually operate your PS3 throughout your household and you can also operate the system remotely through a wireless internet connection.

Oh, and it's one of the premier Blu-ray players on the market, sure to be the latest version at any point with a simple update.

I've already ruled out getting a standalone Bluray player once we get an hdtv in our bedroom, we're getting another PS3.  

Sounds crazy, but we like the multifunction of it all.

Answer 4

I second the PS3. As good as any other blueray player, and its a game console, and who knows what else may develop for it. Cheapest available but does more.

Answer 5

What is "too pricey"?  They are a minimum of $300+, and the best choice is a PS3.  

But a) can you benefit (minimum HDTV and preferably 40"+ / 1080p), and b) are you sure you are ready to pay the premium prices for Blu-ray disks?  With lesser equipment an upconverting DVD player may be a better choice ... at least until Blu-ray prices come down.