3D TV: What do I need and what should I expect?

By Ken Cranes Sales Associate Chuck Radar from the Torrance Showroom

When you have all four required elements, 3D theater in your house is quite impressive.  But do your homework to set a realistic expectation.

You need 4 elements to deliver 3D to your TV:

1. A 3D-ready TV.
2. A 3D source like Playstation 3 (for Mitsubishi), or the 3D Blu-ray player from Samsung (sold with their 3D-ready TV).
3. 3D glasses, which are specific to each brand and come with a 3D kit.  2 for $149 for Samsung; and Mitsubishi glasses cost $149 each.  Unlike the 3D glasses you get in the theater - which are polarized - the 3D glasses you'll get for your TV are shuttered, so that the picture flashes in each eye.  Everyone in the audience will need their own set of glasses, and they are not interchangeable between brands.
4. Blu-ray disc or video game.  ESPN's 3D channel is available through certain cable providers and has 3D golf pay-per-view.  There is currently only one video game available and Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D is available with Samsung's 3D kit when you purchase their 3D Blu-ray player.

While 3D movies and games are being produced, they are not plentiful at this time.  James Cameron is waiting for the industry to sell more 3D TVs before releasing Avatar in 3D later this year.  Playstation 3 has a Monsters, Inc. game, but that's about it.  ESPN will be broadcasting the FIFA World Cup in 3D this June, along with 85 other sporting events later this year.

For the best 3D effect - the bigger the better.  60" or larger is really recommended for optimal 3D viewing.

HDMI 1.4 is required for the 3D effect.  Old or new receivers with 1.3 need to upgrade to actually see the 3D.  They would have to hook up to the TV directly.  People who currently have one receiver that controls everything will need to hook up the TV to the Blu-ray player directly and have audio alone through the receiver.

One way to solve the manual switching problem when you want to watch 3D would be adding a universal remote to your system.  That way, one controller can be used to switch between 3D and 2D shows.  It is well worth the $400 to have Ken Cranes' expert custom installation team program the remote, unless you want to get up from the couch and change the hook up.  Universal remotes can control your system with one controller in addition to controlling your lighting, should you want an all-in-one theater-quality solution.