The original PlayStation 3 has proved far and away the most popular Blu-ray player on the planet. And while there are better-performing dedicated BD-spinners available, a rich combination of talents have made it a well-deserved market leader. So how does the new PS3 Slim compare? Does it offer a step-up in AV performance, and should existing PS3 owners rush to part exchange their old consoles for this year’s trendy new model? Let’s find out…
Out of the box
There’s no shortage of quoted percentages bandied around to describe the size reduction Sony has achieved with the PS3 Slim, but these numbers fail to paint a picture of what is a significantly smaller product.
Comparing the new PS3 to the original is akin to comparing a laptop to a desktop PC. It’s a world apart. The console retains the signature curves of the original, so you still can’t put anything on its roof, but the contours have been greatly reduced.
Pictured below is the new model alongside the original (dig the funky white finish of this Japanese edition – great huh?). In build and material it’s every bit as impressive as the first iteration; corners haven’t been cut to reduce weight.
Aesthetically, I’ve got to say I love the matt finish. It’s very contemporary, although handle the console with care, as the surface does seem to mark rather easily. The new Power On and Disc Eject buttons are also way better than the infuriating soft-touch ‘buttons’ on the original machine.
In terms of connectivity, everything is where you expect it to be. There are a couple of USB inputs on the front, with HDMI, Ethernet, Sony's legacy multi-pin proprietary output and power on the rear.
The old chunky kettle power lead which juiced the original has been replaced with a smaller flying-eight. The power supply is still universal though, designed to work on supplies ranging from 100V to 240V.
In operation
When you power up the console, the first thing you need to look for is a System Update. My console found v2.80 and within a few minutes this had downloaded and installed. V.3, which brings some extra functionality, has yet to make an appearance at the time of writing.
The original PS3 was significantly quieter than its Microsoft rival when it came to operational noise. While the Xbox 360 sounds like a hyperactive vacuum cleaner, the PS3 maintained a dignified hum.
This model, at least initially, is quieter still. However, heat builds up quickly during use and the fan noise accelerates accordingly. Midway through X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I noted that the console was disgorging a lot of heat through its rear vents, and at that point, in terms of fan noise it did not seem to be an improvement on what’s gone before. The huge 95mm,17-blade fan beneath the hood clearly has its work cut out...
AV performance
There was a time when the PS3 was the only Blu-ray player in town worth serious consideration. Of course, the dedicated player market has evolved considerably and the PS3 is just one of many options hi-def hunters have. So how does this new, cheaper model stack up as a home cinema source? Well, it’s a bit hit and miss.
We submitted the unit to our Tech labs, and in their opinion it measures worse than the original machine. While the console can spin CDs, it’s no replacement for a CD player. The original was actually surprisingly good in this regard, delivering only 137.9ps of measured audio jitter; it was let down mainly by issues relating to the cabinet and its rigidity.
But with this iteration there’s a notable increase in audio jitter, which is up to 461.7ps. And as a DVD player it’s poor, with a measured high frequency response of -6.14dB (@ 5.8MHz). ‘This is where the wheels fall off - a dreadful figure,’ bemoans the Lab report. But does anyone really care about DVD playback on the PS3 Slim? I doubt it.
The player has a more significant tech ace up its sleeve. Unlike the original PS3, which decoded high-rez soundtracks to linear PCM, you can now bitstream out Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio to a waiting receiver over HDMI.
This means that the sonic quality of your PS3-based system is dictated not by the games machine itself but by the DACs and electronics in your AV receiver. It’s a welcome refinement and one that puts the console on par with current standalone players.
Of course, this also opens up a can of compatibility worms. I hooked up the PS3 Slim to two different AV receivers and had two totally different user experiences. First I partnered the Slim with an Arcam AVR-600 (probably one of the nicest-sounding new receivers available), and was plagued by some horrible buzzes and pops when in bitstream mode. Before the ‘stream locked I winced as my system buzzed disrespectfully.
I then swapped out the Arcam for an Onkyo TX-NR906, another very capable AVR. All the buzzes and digital hash problems vanished. The PlayStation streamed perfectly to the Onkyo and the resulting hi-def sound performance was delicious. From this I would conclude that there are issues regarding HDMI handshaking between the PS3 Slim and the Arcam, which Arcam needs to investigate.
It will be interesting to see if any other console/AVR combinations are flagged up as hostile when more Slims get into general circulation.
Phenomenally fast
I have no issues with picture quality from the Blu-ray drive itself. During the review period, I’d rate BD performance as comparable to the original and totally satisfactory, given the nature of the product.
As on the original console, Java loading speed is phenomenally fast. Crank 2: High Voltage, which has more than its fair share of creative code, bedded-in faster on the PS3 Slim than it did on a high-end Sony BDP-5000ES. Yet this win is mitigated by average disc-loading speeds – the slot mechanism on this model inferior to that of the first-gen model. Few will be impressed by the grumpy mechanical noise it makes when loading discs.
Conclusion
While there are (undeniably pedantic) caveats regarding the unit, I think there’s little doubt that the PS3 Slim is destined to re-energize Sony’s PlayStation brand. It’s priced right, looks great and performs well. In this regard, Sony has got its game groove back.
For much more on the PS3 Slim and its performance in our Tech Labs, look for our report in an upcoming edition of Home Cinema Choice.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
In the latest Home Cinema Choice:
PS3 & DVD's
Ohio Mike (not verified) - 28 August 2009 - 3:27pmPersonally, I use the PS3 solely for DVD playback as the 360's quality is lower in this regard. So, yes, I care a great deal about its ability to play DVD's...as I'm sure many others do as well.
i care a geat deal about the
G4NGSTA KHAN (not verified) - 28 August 2009 - 6:21pmi care a geat deal about the dvd playback as i use it for all multimedia purposes.
DVD Playback
Mike Johnson (not verified) - 28 August 2009 - 10:18pmI find it funny that you criticize the DVD playback, instead of actually visually testing it. You need to pop in a couple of DVDs and go back and forth between the 2. I highly doubt the PS3 Slim upconverts any worse than the Fat PS3.
I suppose I could be wrong, but without a proper test, you could be wrong too.
i agree mike
kiahhlah muhhamad (not verified) - 29 August 2009 - 12:16ami agree, the new one is shitee and you are right, i bought this today and had them both hooked up with the same dvd on in my games room, the differance is miniscule and not worth the 12 hours worth work it took to buy the damn thing, if you have the old ps3, stick to it, the slim is not worth the hassle.
DTS-HD Master 7.1
Wilfredo (not verified) - 29 August 2009 - 1:56amMy Slim PS3 does not recognize the DTS-HD Master 7.1 in bitstream. My receiver (Denon 2801) shows DTS-HD Master in front panel, but in the output indicates 3/2.1????. When I select bitstream in the Playstation audio output the message indicates that some portion of the audio may not be reproduced.
Intrigued by your comment,
Steve May - 29 August 2009 - 9:21amIntrigued by your comment, Wilfredo, I’ve just played the Disney Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray, which has a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 sound mix. The disc was bitstreamed out from the PlayStation 3 Slim to an Arcam AVR-600 (which after spluttering and buzzing) correctly identified it as a 7.1 DTS soundtrack and played it back with all channels working. So compatibility seems fine. However, I’m not saying that you’re wrong. There may be some underlying incompatibility at play here with your kit combination. If anyone else out there has a PS3 Slim, perhaps they can report back their 7.1 experiences...
Steve is the Editor of Home Cinema Choice and www.homecinemachoice. com
PS3 Slim Console
PS3 Slim Console (not verified) - 29 August 2009 - 10:06amLooking forward to unboxing my own PS3 Slim in the next few days...
slim ps3
grant scott (not verified) - 29 August 2009 - 7:23pmIm sorry people it looks cheap and nasty.lol just like most of the british public.oh sony sony sony just pull out of the uk market.your to good for the uk,ill stick with my orig 60gig works like a dream 4 usb imputs sacd playback.and if i wish to go retro plays all my ps1 and 2 games.multi card reader.
wanker
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 29 August 2009 - 10:01pmwanker
DTS-HD Master 7.1
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 30 August 2009 - 5:58amAfter several tests with my 7.1 DTS-HD Master Blu-rays I got the following results:
Identifies as Format 3/4/.1 in bitstream
Bangkok Dangerous - Bank Job - Black Mask - Chaos -
Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian - Cutthroat Island -
Dark City - The Forbidden Kingdom - Golden Compass -
Haunting in Connecticut - The Midnight Meat Train -
The Ninth Gate - The Orphanage - Rambo IV -
Repo! The Genetic Opera - See No Evil - The spirit -
Transporter 3
Identifies as Format 3/2/.1 in bitstream
Pan's Labyrinth - The Arrival - Hell Boy II -
My Bloody Valentine 3D - Punisher: War Zone -
Rush Hour 3 - Shoot 'Em Up
All are identified as 7.1 in Lpcm. Would be interesting if someone did the test with some of those which appear to be a problem.
slim ps3
grant scott (not verified) - 30 August 2009 - 10:13amAlan i hope you were not name calling me,we are all allowed to voice our opinions.and buy name calling you are letting yourself down.oh and anyone still wanting a "fat ps3" as people call it there will be a software update to bitstream hd audio.so then people will be able to see the dolby true hd or dts hd master audio display on there amps.
A disc issue?
Steve May - 30 August 2009 - 11:43amI’ve just popped my Bloody Valentine 3D (from the above list) into the PS3 Slim. The bitstream output was recognised by my Arcam AVR-600 as a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. However, when the output is assigned as LPCM, it’s recognised as 7.1 (and yes there is sound from the rear backs). However, exactly the same thing happened when I spun the Valentine disc in a high-end Sony BDP-S5000ES. So I suspect this is a disc issue and not anything specific to the PS3. I’ve also played the official DTS demo disc Blu-ray on the PS3 Slim, and it correctly identified every DTS-HD MA variant on the disc (5.0, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1).
Steve is the Editor of Home Cinema Choice and www.homecinemachoice. com.
The most bizarre comment I've read in a while...
English Bob (not verified) - 30 August 2009 - 5:14pmTo quote...
"The new Power On and Disc Eject buttons are also way better than the infuriating soft-touch ‘buttons’ on the original machine."
In what way are the old touch sensitve power and eject buttons "infuriating"? I thought they worked well?????????????????????????
no..really infuriating
mathew (not verified) - 31 August 2009 - 12:22amthe soft-touch eject worked ok, but the on/off button gave me issues.
Steve, have you tried a direct comparison on dvd playback, the FR might be 4dB to the bad over a good dvd player, but what does that mean to the readers who have no idea what that means? Some corners of the internet are melting with speculation...
very infuriating
mathew (not verified) - 31 August 2009 - 12:30amthe eject button was fine, but the on/off gave me many issues.
Steve, can you get a direct comparison between dvd playback on the 2 models, although some folk know what a 4dB difference between the slim and dedicated DVD player, some folk dont, and some corners of the internet are melting with speculation..
Main part of a system, what about use with universal remotes?
David Freeman (not verified) - 31 August 2009 - 6:55pmSony maintain that the PS3 can be at the heart of a home cinema system, but unlike when they did the update to the newer slim PS2, have missed the opportunity this time around to add any kind of infra-red control.
Big deal, you may say, but for those wishing to use a single learning remote or touchscreen remote with macros to control their entire system they leave no easy option as far as remotes go.
You can of course use the Sony bluetooth remote, but the point is to have a single universal controller for the whole system. For the sake of a few pence worth of extra electronics a lot more home cinema intergration could have been achieved.
DTS-HD MA
Mitja Pufic (not verified) - 2 September 2009 - 10:15pmHello,
DTS-HD MA specifies a lot of profiles for 7.1 channel/speaker placement and not all are required to be decoded by the hardware to get the DTS-HD MA label. Those titles in question (from New Line Cinema, LionsGate) are one of those that are mixed for a setup with 2 pairs of "side" surrounds. Information that decoder should also mirror the sourond channel to side ones is flaged in the track, but decoder does not see it.
AS far as I know this behaviour was corrected with PS3 firmware and if you let PS3 decode those films you will get "proper" 7.1 signal. So this is an issue of the receiving end of the bitstream - the receiver.
DTS-HD MA
Mitja Pufic (not verified) - 2 September 2009 - 10:17pmHello,
DTS-HD MA specifies a lot of profiles for 7.1 channel/speaker placement and not all are required to be decoded by the hardware to get the DTS-HD MA label. Those titles in question (from New Line Cinema, LionsGate) are one of those that are mixed for a setup with 2 pairs of "side" surrounds. Information that decoder should also mirror the sourond channel to side ones is flaged in the track, but decoder does not see it.
AS far as I know this behaviour was corrected with PS3 firmware and if you let PS3 decode those films you will get "proper" 7.1 signal. So this is an issue of the receiving end of the bitstream - the receiver.
IR vs BT
Alan Smithée (not verified) - 3 September 2009 - 12:42amSure there is a way, (many in fact) you can simply get one of them third party remotes for it and thus get a IR-sensor for it. Now some will object, it plugs one USB. But really, only if it's not that important so is the weight of a sacrifice. ;)
Either case, I support the BT only choice. The PS2 had wired controlers so it was more motivated to have a wireless upgrade on that one.
I would even prefer if every electronic product started using BT instead, no more blind spots behind vases or plates or whatever.
IR vs BT
Alan Smithee (not verified) - 3 September 2009 - 12:45amSure there is a way, (many in fact) you can simply get one of them third party remotes for it and thus get a IR-sensor for it. Now some will object, it plugs one USB. But really, only if it's not that important so is the weight of a sacrifice. ;)
Either case, I support the BT only choice. The PS2 had wired controlers so it was more motivated to have a wireless upgrade on that one.
I would even prefer if every electronic product started using BT instead, no more blind spots behind vases or plates or whatever.
PS3
amal (not verified) - 3 September 2009 - 11:58amSteve , please i want to know if my ps3 [2007] will output the latest audioHD tracks when i download their latest update ?thank you.
Reciver problem(mabye)
Zero Amano (not verified) - 4 September 2009 - 3:21pmI'm start thinking it might be disc/reciver problem.
Here is some test infomation.
PS3 Slim + DEMON2808/SR606/DA2400ES
DEMON 2808 can`t work.show 5.1 in Bitstream
ONKYO SR606 show DTS-HDMA 7.1 and DTS-HD BD DEMO is work too.
2400ES is working too.
reciver problem(mabye)
Zero Amano (not verified) - 4 September 2009 - 3:30pmI'm thinking it might be revier problem.
We tested some recvier for DTS-HDMA 7.1 and heres result
PS3+DEMON 2808/ONKYO SR606/SONY DA2400DES bitstream Hellboy2
DEMON 2808 show 5.1 in bitstream
SR606 and 2400ES show 7.1 in bitstream
and SR606 play DTS-HDMA Demo show 7.1 too
probally just the reciver firmware problem?
ps3
danny lindley (not verified) - 4 September 2009 - 5:13pmdoes it still have the wireless router? plz reply!!!
Bitstreaming from original PS3
Steve May - 5 September 2009 - 11:31amHi Amal: Just to confirm, that if you take the bitstream output from the original PS3 running the latest V3.0 firmware, you do NOT get lossless audio. Both Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 and Dolby Digital True HD soundtracks will output as standard DD5.1, ditto DTS-HD MA which comes out as DTS 5.1. Indeed, the bitsream output is of little use if you are interested in hi-rez audio. My advice is keep your PS3 decoding internally to PCM and output multi-channel over HDMI.
Steve is the Editor of Home Cinema Choice and www.homecinemachoice. com.
The DVD issue
Steve May - 5 September 2009 - 11:42amMathew, I’m not sure if people should tie themselves in knots over the DVD playback issue.
The bottom line is that the PS3 Slim is an average, but interesting, DVD player. Yes, I think it's a step down from the performance of the original PS3. This is confirmed by our Labs, which report the new model measures worse than the original. But I should qualify this by saying that I don’t consider the first-gen PS3 a particularly good DVD player either.
Conversely, while I don’t think the new mech is particularly refined, the upscaler seems to do a reasonable job with what’s available. Remember this is a PAL spec PS3 Slim, so I’m not sure how this will play out on NTSC iterations. I’ll be reading US reports with interest.
Personally, I don’t think those with relatively small displays (32-37inch) will have an issue with it. But the lack of sharpness may be a factor for those PAL viewers with bigger screens who don’t have other players at their disposal. I have a number of other DVD capable devices in my stack and I’d rate them all as superior to the PS3 Slim. I certainly wouldn’t retire my Oppo for it. That said, I don't think I'd let the issue put me off buying one...
Steve is the Editor of Home Cinema Choice and www.homecinemachoice. com.
audio opinion
chief (not verified) - 5 September 2009 - 9:51pmsorry steve, bit confused as in your review you state the bitstream as a significant tech update but later on in the replys you say that if hd audio is important leave it to the ps3 to decode?. for example i have a sony strdg 820 receiver would you consider this likely to handle hd audio better than the ps3
PS3 Slim not PS3 Original
Steve May - 5 September 2009 - 10:45pmHi Chief, the bitstream output on the original PS3 is not lossless from BD. On the new PS3 Slim, where it is lossless from BD, it's is a significant upgrade. If you have a PS3 Original, let the console do the decoding and output as PCM. Hope that makes sense...
Steve is the Editor of Home Cinema Choice and www.homecinemachoice. com.
RE: DTS-HD Master 7.1
ShadyJones (not verified) - 7 September 2009 - 12:57pmThe reason the PS3 is saying that you'll potentially loose som portions is that when bitstream is used some audio mixing the BD disc requests can't be perfomed. This could for example be the mixing in a commentary track over the "normal" audio of the movie. This is, as far as I know, true for all BD players, not just the PS3.
Otherwise there should be absolutely no difference in audio quality at all between the two options. Think of the audio as a cd that's in it's case. The choice of letting the PS3 decode the audio or the receiver is like choosing wether you or your mate will take the CD out of the case and put in into the CD-player.
thanks
mathew (not verified) - 7 September 2009 - 1:50pmThanks for the info Steve, i will admit to being very happy with my original PS3, though the Oppo unit is certainly starting to make me think seriously about an upgrade...