Our new scribe James Holland returns to Three Speech for a run down on additional hardware to ‘pimp'’ your PS3. Over to James.
The PlayStation 3 is an amazing piece of kit, but most gamers only use a fraction of its abilities. Follow the steps below and you’ll soon have a game station doubly worth shouting about:
(Un)wired for soundSure, the PS3’s HDMI cable carries sound as well as pictures, but your TV’s speakers simply can’t do the console’s games justice. Instead, get a truly top-of-the range surround system with wireless rear speakers. It’ll get your PS3 pumping noise from every corner of the room, without trailing wires along the skirting board, or hiding them under the carpet.
Best on a budget:Logitech’s Z-5450 Digital 5.1 speaker systemThis full surround system is THX certified for cinema-standard surround sound, but it won’t break the bank. Clocking in at just over £200, it’ll transform any game or movie experience, guaranteed.Where to buy: Kikatek
If money is no object:Sony BRAVIA Theatre DAV-DZ660This system won’t come out until May, but represents one of the most hi-tech wireless surround solutions available. That’s because it’s the first to be completely compatible with Sony’s new S-AIR wireless speaker system. Not only will it let you use wireless rear speakers, but it’ll stream sound around the house too, so you needn’t miss the audio from a film when you nip to the kitchen to grab more biscuits!Where to buy: SonyStyle (in May)
Get picture perfectGetting a great picture out of the PS3 isn’t as simple as hooking up a HDMI cable. Few screens are set up perfectly out of the box, and many struggle to cope with the top-notch visuals the PS3 has to offer. For the finest image available, choose a TV or projector with “exact scan” or 1:1 pixel matching. This will deliver the PlayStation’s exact output. It’ll avoid the cropping that occurs on some inferior HDTVs, and means you’ll see more of the game around the edges of the screen, giving you a slight advantage over opponents.
If you use your PS3 to watch films it’s a given that you’ll want a 1080p TV, but also make sure your screen supports 24 frames per second for the best picture quality. It’s important because Blu-Ray films are encoded using 24fps, but most HDTVs can’t handle at that speed. Instead, they speed it up by around 4%, which results in slightly higher pitch audio, and visible juddering in the picture. Newer HDTVs generally support 24 frames per second playback, and give a smoother result, so look for one with a 24p sticker on the side.
Best on a budget:Philips 37PFL9632This 37-inch TV might not dwarf your living room, but its picture quality is absolutely sublime. Packing in full 1080p HD, it’ll also pull off 1:1 pixel matching and 24p compatibility. Add to that Philips’ Ambilight for minimum eye strain, and it’ll make your PS3 look better than any of your mates, guaranteed.Where to buy: Amazon
If money is no object:Pioneer PDPLX508DThis Kuro-branded TV has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a screen costing over three grand, but the price is well worth it. Kuro screens not only process images in full HD and with 24p, but they’ll also perform pixel matching and display some of the deepest black levels in their class. This screen is also a whopping 50-inches across, so make sure you clear a space in the living room before clearing a space in your bank account.Where to buy: Amazon
Ultimate upgradesThe PS3 is one of the few consoles to allow upgrades to its insides. Sony’s made it extremely easy to upgrade the hard drive, for instance. Flip out the panel on the side of the console, undo a single screw and you’ll have access to the disc’s cradle.
If you fancy upgrading it to a larger capacity, make sure you buy a 2.5″ SATA replacement. Installing it is a piece of cake, and Cnet have put together a simple tutorial here.
Of course, if you don’t want to delve inside your PS3, you can always hook up an external drive using USB. We’d recommend it, as there’s less chance you’ll fry the drive with the smallest bit of stray static electricity while installing it.
Best on a budget:LaCie 500GB External Hard DriveLaCie make extremely reliable hard drives, and their external versions are quieter than most too. This model’s roomy 500 gigabytes will put your PS3’s internal drive to shame, and it’s a snip at just 60 quid. Plus, because it’s clad in a tasteful black shell, it won’t look out of place next to your console.Where to buy: ebuyer
If money is no object:Western Digital 2TB Mybook External Hard DriveThis monster USB drive packs in four times the capacity of the LaCie model above, but is still small enough to sit next to your PS3. Inside there’s enough room to store thousands of films, and still have space left over. At £373, it is quite pricey though.Where to buy: ebuyer
Stream genieYes, the PS3 has Wi-Fi built in, which makes it one of the best TV companions when it comes to shifting media around the house, but because it’s only b/g standard, it’s not terribly fast.
The good news is that the ethernet port on the back of Sony’s wonder-box is of the gigabit variety. Bag yourself two powerline adapters, hook up your PC to one and the PS3 to the other, and you’ll soon be streaming data at up to 200Mbps, rather than the paltry 54Mbps available through Wi-Fi. That’s fast enough to stream HD content around the house. Perfect if you’re prone to keeping your media in more than one place.
Best on a budget:Dabs Value Powerline Homeplug Network KitThis twin pack is a snip at just under £40, and will provide double the speed of Wi-Fi networking, provided your home’s wiring is in a decent condition. Their 85Mbps speed limit is plenty fast enough for shoveling files around, but might struggle a little when it comes to HD content.Where to buy: dabs
If money is no object:These 200Mbps mains adapters are perfect for flinging HD video around the home. They’re more expensive than some models, but if you’re looking for maximum speed with the minimum fuss, it’s worth shelling out the extra cash.
Become a telly addict:Sony PlayTVIt’s worth mentioning that one of the best ways to add more functionality to the PS3 is through Sony’s official add-ons. PlayTV is the most exciting yet, and it’s due out in the near future. As well as turning your console into a Freeview PVR, it’ll let you stream live or recorded TV to a PSP outside the home. It’s also worth noting that the Freeview tuners inside are of the HD variety, so it’s one of the few truly future-proof TV adapters available.Where to buy: play
The PlayStation 3 is an amazing piece of kit, but most gamers only use a fraction of its abilities. Follow the steps below and you’ll soon have a game station doubly worth shouting about:
(Un)wired for soundSure, the PS3’s HDMI cable carries sound as well as pictures, but your TV’s speakers simply can’t do the console’s games justice. Instead, get a truly top-of-the range surround system with wireless rear speakers. It’ll get your PS3 pumping noise from every corner of the room, without trailing wires along the skirting board, or hiding them under the carpet.
Best on a budget:Logitech’s Z-5450 Digital 5.1 speaker systemThis full surround system is THX certified for cinema-standard surround sound, but it won’t break the bank. Clocking in at just over £200, it’ll transform any game or movie experience, guaranteed.Where to buy: Kikatek
If money is no object:Sony BRAVIA Theatre DAV-DZ660This system won’t come out until May, but represents one of the most hi-tech wireless surround solutions available. That’s because it’s the first to be completely compatible with Sony’s new S-AIR wireless speaker system. Not only will it let you use wireless rear speakers, but it’ll stream sound around the house too, so you needn’t miss the audio from a film when you nip to the kitchen to grab more biscuits!Where to buy: SonyStyle (in May)
Get picture perfectGetting a great picture out of the PS3 isn’t as simple as hooking up a HDMI cable. Few screens are set up perfectly out of the box, and many struggle to cope with the top-notch visuals the PS3 has to offer. For the finest image available, choose a TV or projector with “exact scan” or 1:1 pixel matching. This will deliver the PlayStation’s exact output. It’ll avoid the cropping that occurs on some inferior HDTVs, and means you’ll see more of the game around the edges of the screen, giving you a slight advantage over opponents.
If you use your PS3 to watch films it’s a given that you’ll want a 1080p TV, but also make sure your screen supports 24 frames per second for the best picture quality. It’s important because Blu-Ray films are encoded using 24fps, but most HDTVs can’t handle at that speed. Instead, they speed it up by around 4%, which results in slightly higher pitch audio, and visible juddering in the picture. Newer HDTVs generally support 24 frames per second playback, and give a smoother result, so look for one with a 24p sticker on the side.
Best on a budget:Philips 37PFL9632This 37-inch TV might not dwarf your living room, but its picture quality is absolutely sublime. Packing in full 1080p HD, it’ll also pull off 1:1 pixel matching and 24p compatibility. Add to that Philips’ Ambilight for minimum eye strain, and it’ll make your PS3 look better than any of your mates, guaranteed.Where to buy: Amazon
If money is no object:Pioneer PDPLX508DThis Kuro-branded TV has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a screen costing over three grand, but the price is well worth it. Kuro screens not only process images in full HD and with 24p, but they’ll also perform pixel matching and display some of the deepest black levels in their class. This screen is also a whopping 50-inches across, so make sure you clear a space in the living room before clearing a space in your bank account.Where to buy: Amazon
Ultimate upgradesThe PS3 is one of the few consoles to allow upgrades to its insides. Sony’s made it extremely easy to upgrade the hard drive, for instance. Flip out the panel on the side of the console, undo a single screw and you’ll have access to the disc’s cradle.
If you fancy upgrading it to a larger capacity, make sure you buy a 2.5″ SATA replacement. Installing it is a piece of cake, and Cnet have put together a simple tutorial here.
Of course, if you don’t want to delve inside your PS3, you can always hook up an external drive using USB. We’d recommend it, as there’s less chance you’ll fry the drive with the smallest bit of stray static electricity while installing it.
Best on a budget:LaCie 500GB External Hard DriveLaCie make extremely reliable hard drives, and their external versions are quieter than most too. This model’s roomy 500 gigabytes will put your PS3’s internal drive to shame, and it’s a snip at just 60 quid. Plus, because it’s clad in a tasteful black shell, it won’t look out of place next to your console.Where to buy: ebuyer
If money is no object:Western Digital 2TB Mybook External Hard DriveThis monster USB drive packs in four times the capacity of the LaCie model above, but is still small enough to sit next to your PS3. Inside there’s enough room to store thousands of films, and still have space left over. At £373, it is quite pricey though.Where to buy: ebuyer
Stream genieYes, the PS3 has Wi-Fi built in, which makes it one of the best TV companions when it comes to shifting media around the house, but because it’s only b/g standard, it’s not terribly fast.
The good news is that the ethernet port on the back of Sony’s wonder-box is of the gigabit variety. Bag yourself two powerline adapters, hook up your PC to one and the PS3 to the other, and you’ll soon be streaming data at up to 200Mbps, rather than the paltry 54Mbps available through Wi-Fi. That’s fast enough to stream HD content around the house. Perfect if you’re prone to keeping your media in more than one place.
Best on a budget:Dabs Value Powerline Homeplug Network KitThis twin pack is a snip at just under £40, and will provide double the speed of Wi-Fi networking, provided your home’s wiring is in a decent condition. Their 85Mbps speed limit is plenty fast enough for shoveling files around, but might struggle a little when it comes to HD content.Where to buy: dabs
If money is no object:These 200Mbps mains adapters are perfect for flinging HD video around the home. They’re more expensive than some models, but if you’re looking for maximum speed with the minimum fuss, it’s worth shelling out the extra cash.
Become a telly addict:Sony PlayTVIt’s worth mentioning that one of the best ways to add more functionality to the PS3 is through Sony’s official add-ons. PlayTV is the most exciting yet, and it’s due out in the near future. As well as turning your console into a Freeview PVR, it’ll let you stream live or recorded TV to a PSP outside the home. It’s also worth noting that the Freeview tuners inside are of the HD variety, so it’s one of the few truly future-proof TV adapters available.Where to buy: play
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