Which Game Console to Buy?

[brlaw]

Hello,

I am new to gaming and would like to buy an XBox or Playstation Two or whatever else is on the market that is comparable. I have a plasma TV that accepts progressive scan and I have a Denon 3802 with Keff Egg speakers (5.1) which I bought based on advice from this forum. If anyone could give me advice on the game consoles I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

Bruce

 

[neilo]

..oO(please god no..not again)

 

[groundy]

See here:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50360

 

[ytgti]

If you can afford all that gear then just buy them all.

 

[Fuddle]

I picked an Xbox because it connects rather nicely to my DD 5.1 setup and sounds incredible.

I will probably get shot down in flames here but I am led to believe that although the PS2 can produce 5.1 it is only on FMV parts in games and not on the main games themselves. I can confirm that in game sound on the Xbox is in 5.1 and sounds quite fantastic.

It plays DVD's ok, although not as good as a standalone player. Not having a PS2 I cannot compare.

 

[gringottsdirect]

Originally posted by ytgti
If you can afford all that gear then just buy them all.

Who can argue with that ...

 

[Sinzer]

Can we get a sticky thread for which one is best?

The X-Box is best if you want to have the best outputs and inputs. It also serves well as a coffee table, foot stool or small step up for those hard to reach places while you are dusting.

In all honesty, they are not AV equipment in a true sense, they do not play the same media. It is in reality pointless asking, which one is best to buy as they cannot be easily compared like an amplifier or speakers. It is down to personal preference of what games you like.

 

[whistlingDogg]

I would recommend the xbox purely on the dd5.1/dts sound capabilities (this is avformus is it not).

I don't want to get into which is better for games etc they all have their good games.

 

[Sinzer]

Originally posted by whistlingDogg
I would recommend the xbox purely on the dd5.1/dts sound capabilities (this is avformus is it not).

I don't want to get into which is better for games etc they all have their good games.

LOL

Each to their own, however that is like saying get a region 2 only DVD player, because it has a nicer remote control. Both regions have good DVDs.

If consoles all played the same games (I wish) then you could recommend them based purely on their specs, but they don't. It is ridiculous to recommend a console based on it's sound output, especially when alternative sound outputs (from Gamecube) are pretty similar if you have a PL2 amp.

There is no definitive answer to the question, however the worst answer in this case is get XXXXXXX based on the fact it can potentially output a better sound, regardless of the fact that sound may be composed by a retarded monkey on acid.

Must admit the only in-game tunes I ever hum are usually Square related games, Zelda or Super Mario. And none of those particuarly benefit from 5.1 reproduction.

 

[whistlingDogg]

and DPLII is so like DD5.1 isn't it?

Please, give me a break

 

[groundy]

Originally posted by whistlingDogg
and DPLII is so like DD5.1 isn't it?

Yes actually it is. In gaming terms, DPL II has benefits over DD5.1 because it is decoded in real-time so lag is not a problem. On the other hand DD 5.1 lag in games is very much a problem, as anyone whose played Halo will attest.

The DPL II seperation on some amps is so good that you would be hard-pushed to tell the difference even on DVD viewing. Indeed, I've experimented with some films (mainly older) where DPL II sounds better than it's native 5.1 track.

 

[whistlingDogg]

sorry, played halo to death and noticed not lag. the xbox has a seperate chip to do the dd encoding.

As to dplii vs dd5.1. I agree that dplii is a massive improvement over dpl but doesn't aproach dd5.1 or dts imho. I have a denon 3802 amp a usa xbox and gamecube so am comparing dplii from the gamecube with dd5.1 from the xbox.

 

[groundy]

Originally posted by whistlingDogg
sorry, played halo to death and noticed not lag.

Well the lag is there (especially in Multi-Player) - I can assure you. It is a recognised problem not just with Halo but with DD 5.1 gaming in general.

As to dplii vs dd5.1. I agree that dplii is a massive improvement over dpl but doesn't aproach dd5.1 or dts imho. I have a denon 3802 amp a usa xbox and gamecube so am comparing dplii from the gamecube with dd5.1 from the xbox.

You have a decent Receiver in the 3802 so I can only assume your system is not calibrated correctly when you say the DPL II doesn't even approach DD5.1. In gaming terms, DPL II can, and often does, equal it - due to ZERO lag.

 

[whistlingDogg]

saying that i only use dplii when watching sky so I'm not really in a position to argue.

 

[groundy]

No arguement mate .

Take a closer look at your DPL II ch levels and bass output. It takes some amount of tweaking to achieve a nicely balanced sound with DPLII.