360 vs PS3 - Which Offers a Better Home Theater Experience?

Written by Administrator Friday, 22 October 2010 05:00

This is part 3 of our 10-part series entitled, The Best of The Goozex Report. This article was originally published September 8, 2009.

360 vs PS3 - Which Offers a Better Home Theater Experience?

Welcome to part two of my comparison of the Xbox 360 Elite and the PlayStation 3. This article will focus on which system offers the optimal home theater experience.

I will briefly go over the structure of this series. During the comparison I will first look at the simple facts of each category and pass a judgment based only on the facts. I will then take a deeper look at each system's strengths and weaknesses in each category. For example, I will offer a counter-point in some instances or discuss any hidden fees or required accessories that aren't mentioned in the simple facts.

Most people might immediately think that the PlayStation 3 is the better deal, simply for Blu-ray. But is it really? Simple Facts:

• The PS3 and Xbox 360 can play CD and DVD format discs.
• Both can be easily set up to stream video over a home network, from a Windows-based PC running Windows Media Player 11.
• Both can output resolutions of up to 1080p.
• Both systems have standard and high-definition television and movie content that can be "rented" from their respective online video service.
• Each video services has some exclusive content only viewable on that console.
• Only the PS3 has the option to buy and own select digital movies from its online video service.
• Only the PS3 can play high definition Blu-ray discs.
• The Xbox 360 can play HD-DVD formatted discs by using the official HD-DVD drive, however the HD-DVD format is no longer supported.
• On average, Blu-ray titles are significantly more expensive than the DVD version.
• Both systems have one HDMI port.
• Only the PS3 has an optical digital output port.
• Both systems come packaged with standard definition cables. HDMI or component cables require additional purchases.
• The Xbox 360 has Netflix integration, but requires a Gold membership and a Netflix account to use.

Judgment: Blu-ray is a really good selling point for the PlayStation 3. However, you're not going to experience the benefits of Blu-ray unless you have an HD television and either an HDMI or component cable. On standard definition television, using the included composite cables, both systems are equal. However, on high definition televisions, the PlayStation 3 is the better deal, hands down.

Deeper Look: Both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 are capable of high resolution graphics and video, but neither system comes packed with the required cables. The non-Arcade versions of the Xbox 360 used to come packaged with a set of component cables, but this is no longer the case with the new Xbox 360 Elite packages. I find it a little more forgiving for the Xbox 360 not to come packaged with any HD cable, simply because it doesn't have a high-definition disc drive. The PlayStation 3, however, because of it's Blu-ray functionality should, in my opinion, come packaged with at least a set of component cables. Essentially, some additional costs are required for high-definition, regardless of which system you own.