Criterion Collection uses PS3 as reference Blu-ray player

[TheMoose]

Criterion Collection uses PS3 as reference Blu-ray player
From Engadget

Yeah, you read that correctly -- the obsessive audiophiles / videophiles at the Criterion Collection use Sony's PlayStation 3 as its reference Blu-ray player. In all honesty, we can't say we're too surprised. Time and again, Sony's latest console has been rated very highly as a dedicated BD deck, and the plentiful firmware updates ensure that it's always at the forefront of whatever interactive functionality is next. This snippet of factual goodness was extracted from a recent writeup that took an in-depth look at how the CC would be revamping its home theater, and even famed calibration guru Joe Kane gave his approval at using the console for playing back Blu-ray Discs. The real kicker? They also settled upon a DVIGear HDMI cable over one of those obscenely overpriced Ogre cables -- and that was after running clean out of coat hangers.

[hodedofome]

Yeah, and everyone is failing to mention they also own a DVDO VP-50 Pro video processor, so the PS3 is nothing more than a transport. Heck a Funai blu-ray player would give the same results.

[DaViD Boulet]

The real problem with Criterion isn't their choice of disc-playback hardware, it's been their choice of *monitors*.

Watching a 1080p Blu-ray Disc, via any player on the market, from a viewing angle of 2 screen-widths or greater on a small 1080p plasma or CRT isn't going to reveal the Halmark problems of Criterion DVDs: Edge-Enhancement and lack of fine detail.

Crtierion needs to get with the program and get a 1080p front-projection system where they can critically evaluate detail/resolution issues from a screen with of 1.25 or wider to ensure that their masters are as transparent as possible.

Then, use CRT to evaluate black level and contrast as a separate exercise. Using small CRT displays as the overall evaluation tool is useless when you're trying to replicate theatrical viewing angles in the home from, what could be, a visually transparent 1080p medium.

[jjgasp]

Originally Posted by hodedofome

Yeah, and everyone is failing to mention they also own a DVDO VP-50 Pro video processor, so the PS3 is nothing more than a transport. Heck a Funai blu-ray player would give the same results.

I'm not quite so sure about that. I demoed the DVDO VP-50 Pro a few months ago, and felt that it wasn't worth anywhere near the bang for the buck (thanks God for Audiogon.) Alot of the newest pre/pro's and televisions already have pretty high-end video processing chips and hardware installed already. Granted, they don't have all the tweakability found in the DVDO. The Sony PS3 has been acknowledged by many to be one of the best BD players on the market, and with the added bonus of being a game console, an absolute bargain.

[hodedofome]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

The real problem with Criterion isn't their choice of disc-playback hardware, it's been their choice of *monitors*.

Watching a 1080p Blu-ray Disc, via any player on the market, from a viewing angle of 2 screen-widths or greater on a small 1080p plasma or CRT isn't going to reveal the Halmark problems of Criterion DVDs: Edge-Enhancement and lack of fine detail.

Crtierion needs to get with the program and get a 1080p front-projection system where they can critically evaluate detail/resolution issues from a screen with of 1.25 or wider to ensure that their masters are as transparent as possible.

Then, use CRT to evaluate black level and contrast as a separate exercise. Using small CRT displays as the overall evaluation tool is useless when you're trying to replicate theatrical viewing angles in the home from, what could be, a visually transparent 1080p medium.

Have you read the article from Sound and Vision? They have a snazzy new Samsung SP-A800B projector and 110"(?) screen. The projector is supposed to have a fantastic lens to show fine detail. In fact in the article it talked about how they are watching movies in the screening room during the mastering process because it is better than their CRT's.

[hodedofome]

Originally Posted by jjgasp

I'm not quite so sure about that. I demoed the DVDO VP-50 Pro a few months ago, and felt that it wasn't worth anywhere near the bang for the buck (thanks God for Audiogon.) Alot of the newest pre/pro's and televisions already have pretty high-end video processing chips and hardware installed already. Granted, they don't have all the tweakability found in the DVDO. The Sony PS3 has been acknowledged by many to be one of the best BD players on the market, and with the added bonus of being a game console, an absolute bargain.

You must have had a bad unit or not set up right, the VP-50 Pro is highly reviewed and the technology it has is in the Oppo 983 dvd player which is known to be about the best (video quality) you can get. To say the PS3 has the processing power (and implementation) of a $3500 video processor is silly, just look at the upconverting capability and HQV tests.