PS3 General Discussion

[Sanji Himura]

(as mentioned just a few posts earlier)

Different sources (OTA, Cable, Satellite, DVR, DVD/Blu-ray players, consoles, etc) have different audio output levels. If you use multiple sources then most often you'll need to adjust the volume (manually or automatically) on your TV/pre-amp/receiver when you change sources.

Very few sources ever let you adjust the audio output level, and the PS3 is no different - thankfully there is an easy solution: Change the volume when you switch sources... and thankfully there are several options for doing it automatically for those that find it too inconvenient to simply adjust the volume manually.

That is actually, to elaborate further, quite common on many Televisions today. I have a 32" Vizio that actually does this.

To prevent something like that from happening, I would recommend that you use those composite cables from the old playstation systems, and hook them into your surround system in the game port. Go into Audio settings in the PS3, and set it as composite, not HDMI, and adjust the surround system to the level that you want.

 

[bevo]

Would anyone be able to help me out here? When watching normal TV I usually have the volume on 12-15 odd but with the PS3 (HDMI) it seems to be much louder so I have to turn it down to about 8 or even as low as 5 in a quiet room.

I was okay with this until I hooked up my new JVC reciever. Playing Skyrim and listening to dialogue up close the PS3 must be pushing max volume limits as the EQ bar on the display shows the volume bars on full and the sound is obviously distorted even at low reciever volume. This is extremely annoying and ruins the gameplay at best, if not damaging the new speakers. Is there any way to reduce the volume output? I looked up on Google and found that the PS3 is loud but to be so loud it distorts the speakers is ridiculous. 👎

Normal TV through these speakers sounds great. 👍

Are you sure you have your PS3 settings right. My receiver sounds great with the PS3. MAybe you have HDMI set to some really low quality or something. The best sound you can get is through HDMI so I really don't know why it would be distorting like that.

You could have your input your using for the PS3 on the receiver set to some weird setting also. Maybe a bass boost, or perhaps the EQ just for that input is boosted way up. Does your receiver have a self calibration mic. If it does try doing the calibration while you have the PS3s input selected.

 

[JohnBM01]

Sorry to go off-topic, but I managed to FINALLY reach Level 6 with the PSN trophies! Getting the different Trophy honors helped me to finally get over the Level 5 hump. This PS3 experience is PURELY different from all the PS2 years I've logged. Almost sort of wished I had the $600 USD to get the PS3 when it first came out. Of course, upgrading the hard drive notwithstanding.

 

[Robin]

(as mentioned just a few posts earlier)

Different sources (OTA, Cable, Satellite, DVR, DVD/Blu-ray players, consoles, etc) have different audio output levels. If you use multiple sources then most often you'll need to adjust the volume (manually or automatically) on your TV/pre-amp/receiver when you change sources.

Very few sources ever let you adjust the audio output level, and the PS3 is no different - thankfully there is an easy solution: Change the volume when you switch sources... and thankfully there are several options for doing it automatically for those that find it too inconvenient to simply adjust the volume manually.

But as I said changing the volume on the output device does not make a difference, what's coming from the PS3 is distorted and turning the volume down on the TV or amp for example just makes it quieter and still distorted.

I have to disagree about many sources not letting you adjust the output level, most AV equipment I have seen lets you independently set the output volume. With every DVD and Blu Ray player I have seen its certainly the case as well as many digital TV and satellite boxes.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

But as I said changing the volume on the output device does not make a difference, what's coming from the PS3 is distorted and turning the volume down on the TV or amp for example just makes it quieter and still distorted.

Then you have a problem with your system or the way you have it set up, as that's not normal.

I have to disagree about many sources not letting you adjust the output level, most AV equipment I have seen lets you independently set the output volume. With every DVD and Blu Ray player I have seen its certainly the case as well as many digital TV and satellite boxes.

You can disagree all you like, but I've been designing commercial and residential audio and video systems for years, have regularly attended CEDIA and CES to test out many of the latest gear, and I can assure you that is most certainly not the norm. The vast majority of audio sources do not allow you to manually adjust the audio output level. Instead, that job is almost always handled by the equipment that powers the speakers in a system.

Regardless, if (as you claim) you have a distortion problem even when you lower the volume on your TV or amp (as you claim), then even if you could adjust the output level from your PS3 that wouldn't effect distortion.

Maybe you should try contacting a local AV tech to come and check out your system to identify what is causing the distortion.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

More good news:

PS3: The First Console to Offer Amazon Instant Video

 

[Emman1984]

I was happy when I seen that but then was disappointed cause Amazon.com have a bigger selection so I might as well buy from there then from the app

 

[Robin]

Then you have a problem with your system or the way you have it set up, as that's not normal.

I believe the problem might lie in the sound type the PS3 is outputting through this menu, its possible that it has automatically selected a format which is not ideal / compatible with the TV's built in speakers.

It's not the TV because every other piece of AV equipment sounds fine plus its only a few months old. I have the same problem as VEHoldenSS and his equipment is not faulty either.

Regardless, if (as you claim) you have a distortion problem even when you lower the volume on your TV or amp (as you claim), then even if you could adjust the output level from your PS3 that wouldn't effect distortion.

Yes it would, if you put an iPod at full volume and then actually control the volume with lets say a dock the sound will be distorted at any level of volume because the source is too high.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

I was happy when I seen that but then was disappointed cause Amazon.com have a bigger selection so I might as well buy from there then from the app

Are you guessing or you know for a fact? The article suggested there were 120,000 titles available... which seems like a lot to me.

As for using your PC, that's almost always a better option with any video download service assuming you set it up properly, but most people don't have their PCs connected to their TVs and sound systems, and most probably don't know how to properly connect at setup their PCs to their TVs and sound systems, and many wouldn't want to go through the hassle even if they did know how... which is why these video service aps for consoles, internet TVs, and digital media receivers, like the Apple TV, Hauppauge MediaMVP, Google TV, Roku, and others are all so popular.

For the mass market, there is almost no appeal to connecting your PCs to your entertainment systems... despite years of attempts by computer and software companies to make the PC a central part of everyone's home entertainment system.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

I believe the problem might lie in the sound type the PS3 is outputting through this menu, its possible that it has automatically selected a format which is not ideal / compatible with the TV's built in speakers.

It sounds like you need to find out what signal your TV supports, and if it supports that signal and you still have distortion, then you have a problem with your TV and you should get it fixed or replaced.

Yes it would, if you put an iPod at full volume and then actually control the volume with lets say a dock the sound will be distorted at any level of volume because the source is too high.

I don't think you understand what causes distortion, and lowering the volume would only mask it. If you are getting distortion from your PS3 you have a problem with your system, and lowering the output would only mask the issue, not fix it.

It should after all, be common sense that if the PS3 caused distortion by design, it would cause it for everyone, not just you and your limited sample of friend(s).

You have a problem with your system. I suggest you get it fixed, replace it, or live with it, but one thing I know for sure is that even if you had the ability to adjust the output level on a PS3 it would do nothing more than what you can do already by simply adjusting the volume on your TV/receiver/pre-amp. If you have distortion now, you'll still have it then.

 

[Emman1984]

Are you guessing or you know for a fact? The article suggested there were 120,000 titles available... which seems like a lot to me.

As for using your PC, that's almost always a better option with any video download service, but most people don't have their PCs connected to their TVs and sound systems, and most probably don't know how to properly connect at setup their PCs to their TVs and sound systems, and many wouldn't want to go through the hassle even if they did know how... which is why these video service aps for consoles, internet TVs, and digital media receivers, like the Apple TV, Hauppauge MediaMVP, Google TV, Roku, and others are all so popular.

For the mass market, there is almost no appeal to connecting your PCs to your entertainment systems... despite years of attempts by computer and software companies to make the PC a central part of everyone's home entertainment system.

No I downloaded it on my PS3 looked for Final Fantasy Advent Children and it say no match so I went to amazon.com and search and it found 4 different version so that what my experience was didn't see too many show on the PS3 app

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

No I downloaded it on my PS3 looked for Final Fantasy Advent Children and it say no match so I went to amazon.com and search and it found 4 different version so that what my experience was didn't see too many show on the PS3 app

Interesting. Maybe because it was just added they have not added access to the complete library yet, or perhaps it's a glitch. You might want to contact Amazon support and find out what they have to say about it.

 

[Emman1984]

Interesting. Maybe because it was just added they have not added access to the complete library yet, or perhaps it's a glitch. You might want to contact Amazon support and find out what they have to say about it.

Naw it not serious enough to contact them I'll wait til more show are added or just go to my account and buy the physical copy

 

[FoolKiller]

No I downloaded it on my PS3 looked for Final Fantasy Advent Children and it say no match so I went to amazon.com and search and it found 4 different version so that what my experience was didn't see too many show on the PS3 app

What 4 versions did you have?

Advent Children is not available on any of the streaming services I use. This includes Netflix (available on disc), Amazon (available for purchase on disc), Vudu, and Cinema Now. It is likely a distributor issue, which makes it Sony Pictures Home Entertainment causing you grief.

I hope you compared many other movies on the PS3 app vs the Web site's streaming service before declaring the Web store has a better selection.

 

[Emman1984]

Yes I did compare others movie with every ps3 app available and I found more movies and shows that interest me on Netflix then any other app on the PS3 if you go to http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_?k=Final+Fantasy+VII+Advent+children you'll seen lot of editions of Final Fantasy Advent Children I'm still undecided on which edition I want I might get the special or the regular one

 

[FoolKiller]

Yes I did compare others movie with every ps3 app available and I found more movies and shows that interest me on Netflix then any other app on the PS3 if you go to http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_?k=Final+Fantasy+VII+Advent+children you'll seen lot of editions of Final Fantasy Advent Children I'm still undecided on which edition I want I might get the special or the regular one

Netflix has been around longer and has better relationships with distributors as well as a larger audience. And as Netflix is a paid for service, unless you have Amazon Prime you cannot compare the two. That said, as Netflix is now producing their own shows some distributors are pulling their streaming content as their contracts expire. Starz has already pulled all of their stuff.

But Netflix streaming does not have Advent children, and no version of Advent children on your link is streaming. There is no streaming version of Advent children available anywhere.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

But Netflix streaming does not have Advent children, and no version of Advent children on your link is streaming. There is no streaming version of Advent children available anywhere.

I think he is comparing streaming selections to physical (DVD/Blu-ray) selections:

Naw it not serious enough to contact them I'll wait til more show are added or just go to my account and buy the physical copy

 

[FoolKiller]

I think he is comparing streaming selections to physical (DVD/Blu-ray) selections:

Then the complaint applies to every streaming service, and every movie/TV app on the PS3.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Then the complaint applies to every streaming service, and every movie/TV app on the PS3.

Agreed. Besides relatively poor audio and video quality when compared to disc versions, video streaming services are far away from ever being able to offer the same amount of content as one can find on physical media - especially now that more and more content owners are restricting video streaming distribution to specific services, where as disc versions are readily available from a wide range of distributors and retailers.

The net effect of this is that one would have to subscribe to multiple services (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, etc) in order to have access to all video streaming content. If this trend continues, I would not be the least bit surprised if these services start focusing more on POS pricing instead of subscriptions.

 

[FoolKiller]

Agreed. Besides relatively poor audio and video quality when compared to disc versions, video streaming services are far away from ever being able to offer the same amount of content as one can find on physical media - especially now that more and more content owners are restricting video streaming distribution to specific services, where as disc versions are readily available from a wide range of distributors and retailers.

The net effect of this is that one would have to subscribe to multiple services (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, etc) in order to have access to all video streaming content. If this trend continues, I would not be the least bit surprised if these services start focusing more on POS pricing instead of subscriptions.

POS will kill the main benefit of streaming services: "Oh hey, I have nostalgia for that movie, but wouldn't pay $0.99 to watch it."

And it will kill the direct-to-video and/or B-movie market back to obscurity. I could see The Asylum starting their own streaming service if everything went POS. Plus, POS has some serious pricing issues to overcome. $1.99 for a TV episode is ridiculous. I watch Netflix constantly, but Vudu and Cinema Now get used maybe three times a year in my house.

I am pretty sure the issues you mention are why Netflix split their services. And it is still a good deal.

 

[Emman1984]

I think he is comparing streaming selections to physical (DVD/Blu-ray) selections:

Yea that exactly what I'm comparing I'm saying I'm going with buying physical copies cause it fix my need and interests more

 

[Emman1984]

Then the complaint applies to every streaming service, and every movie/TV app on the PS3.

I wasn't really complaining I'm just writing my reviews on it. I'm still keeping it cause I'm giving it time to develop their library and I think it have the power to be awesome. Like Everything get better with time

 

[bevo]

Agreed. Besides relatively poor audio and video quality when compared to disc versions,

The audio and video quality is why I stopped downloading any movies from the ps3. I tried 3 different movies about a year ago. All 3 were in HD, and all 3 had audio or video problems. One of them was in stereo, one had really bad dolby digital, that crackled everytime someone talked, and the other one had really, really bad video artifacts. I haven't really had those problems with the 360 though. I've downloaded several movies from it, and even though they were just dolby digital they sounded fine, and looked like they were suppose to.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

The audio and video quality is why I stopped downloading any movies from the ps3. I tried 3 different movies about a year ago. All 3 were in HD, and all 3 had audio or video problems. One of them was in stereo, one had really bad dolby digital, that crackled everytime someone talked, and the other one had really, really bad video artifacts. I haven't really had those problems with the 360 though. I've downloaded several movies from it, and even though they were just dolby digital they sounded fine, and looked like they were suppose to.

It has nothing to do with hardware (have you watched a movie on Blu-ray on a PS3?)... the issue is with the source (in this case Netflix, Amazon, etc), and the compression they use to transfer the data. In fact, Sony's own PSN video service has better AV quality than Netflix... but it also costs more and has no subscription... So your 'assessment' that downloaded movies on the 360 somehow look better is without merit, but we have been down this road before you and I. Glad you still love your 360 and those green tinted glasses of yours.

 

[LaBounti]

Well I just picked up SSX and NFS the Run for $50 for PS3. SSX must not be selling well for it to go on sale for $30 so soon..... Sale is over but still. Best buy only has 50% sales on game they over stock on. I got a "launch" Copy of New Vegas a year after it came out for $10 new.

I now have 84 PS3 games since getting my PS3 December 17th 2006( Ok second one June 2009).

 

[Sanji Himura]

Playstation Network down for maintenance TOMORROW from 9:00 AM EDT to 10:00 PM EDT. Sony wouldn't talk **** about what it is about.

 

[FoolKiller]

Playstation Network down for maintenance TOMORROW from 9:00 AM EDT to 10:00 PM EDT. Sony wouldn't talk **** about what it is about.

Routine scheduled maintenance. You know, oil the widgets and top off the ether.

Most places don't give details for "routine maintenance." Either they are making changes to allow unannounced future plans to take place or it is something as boring as switching out a few machines that are acting up, increasing sever capacity system wide, or even just an update to server-side software. Chances are they have a few small things that they save up for occasional scheduled 12 hour outages as opposed to monthly scheduled 2-3 hour outages. It could even be something quick and simple, but due to being international they can't do it all at once. Local labor laws may even be in place.

It could be none, any, or all of the above. Not telling us anything is likely due to them protecting competitive advantage or security, or because fans on the Internet are so self-entitled and whiney these days that if it is boring they will hear crap about interrupting gaming for "nothing important."

There is also the chance that PR really knows nothing because network admins think their job is too important to need to explain what they are doing within their own company, much less to customers. Anyone in a large company that uses a computer has likely gotten the "logout but leave your PC on overnight for routine maintenance. The network will be down for X hours, starting at X:XX."

Maybe I've been in a corporate environment so long that these kinds of vague messages barely phase me.

 

[Sanji Himura]

This isn't a matter of 2-3 hour maintenance that one can shrug off as nothing. Sony has had these long outages to "fix things" since November of last year. Want proof? Here are the times, as logged by the PSN blog in the US that the network has been down(retrived as of post time):

November 17th, 2011: 8 AM to 10 PM PST
January 19th, 2012: 8 AM to 9 PM PST
February 1st, 2012: 6 AM to Midnight PST
March 4th, 2012: Noon to 2 AM March 5th, 2012 PST.

 

[Darren.]

You should stop being so angry about it. It keeps the network running right, and as per the norm, if you're signed in before it starts you should stay in. I see no problems with that.

 

[Emman1984]

It don't matter to me I hardly play online in GT5 when I put my game in I'm just tuning cars and collecting cars then try for platinum each time I get