Home audio & video forum: Owners of LG Cinema 3D and Samsung 3D TVs

Before I started using this site and reading up on anything Samsung, LG related, I just coughed on them. Now it seems like Cinema 3D is actually a good TV and Samsung's TVs are looking a bit overrated according to users.

There are some big misconceptions out there about passive 3D technology (LG and Vizio sets) versus shutter style systems (Samsung, Sony, etc.). People have made claims that passive systems (sets that use the same glasses as the movie theater without batteries) are only getting 540p resolution, where shutter systems (battery operated glasses that blink back and forth) get 1080p resolution. This claim is completely false, and I'll explain why the naysayers are not only wrong, but why passive systems have better motion, brightness, and look a whole lot better.

The Technology:
Passive 3D TV's have a polarized screen and lenses, that alternate horizontal lines of resolution per eye in every frame you see. What this means is that each eye sees a 540p picture in every single single frame of a movie. BUT, it takes the image combined from both eyes to create a 3D image in your brain. Since both L and R eye images exist in every frame you see, your brain combines them as a single 1080p 3D image! What's better is that if you are watching a 24 frames per second blu-ray, with a passive 3d set, you get both L and R eye images 24 times per second as you should, giving you a full 1080p 3D image 24 times per second, with very smooth motion and a brighter picture, along with no headaches that some people get from blinking lenses! Want proof? Watch "Open Season 3D" and look at the millions of hairs on the bear. Each hair can be seen vividly, with no breakup in resolution or clarity. If it weren't 1080p that infinitely small detail would not be possible.

Now, what about the active shutter system? This system alternates frames of a movie, a 1080p image for the L eye, then a 1080p image for the right eye, back and forth, and the glasses blink back and forth to match the frames on the screen with your eyes. What people don't realize is that your brain still needs to combine one image for each eye in order to see a 3D image in your head. When you are watching a 24 frames per second blu-ray, there are only 12 frames per second for each eye, blinking back and forth! So you really only see 12 frames per second of 1080p 3D watching 3D with active shutter sets! This is what creates very blurry motion, a darker picture, and helps enhance the headache people get from shutter systems.

Conclusion:
So the truth is that both types produce a 1080p 3D picture, but with a passive set like in the movie theaters (RealD, Vizio, LG, Cinema 3D) you still get 24 frames per second 1080p 3D, but with an active shutter system (Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, etc.) you only get 12 frames per second 1080p 3D! Also, both types of 3D systems will display all of the 3D blu-ray discs. (as long as you have a 3D blu-ray player)

In the real world:
I tested every set I could in person. I took a 3D blu-ray with me so that I could see the same material on all the sets in broad daylight in the stores. I was very disappointed in the active shutter systems that I viewed. They lost a lot of brightness under daylight, and the motion was blurry. Plus I didn't want to pay hundreds of dollars for glasses and batteries. When I tested the LG and Vizio Theater 3D systems, I was happily surprised. The pictures were brighter, crystal clear, and I could bring home recycled glasses from the movie theater for free to use with the sets! I loved LG's 50" and 55" Theater 3D sets, but since a bigger screen is better in my house, I bought the 65" Vizio with Theatre 3D from Sam's Club. It's an amazing set with fantastic wireless internet apps as well, but for 3D content, there is not a better TV out there to date! (until they make an 80" Theater 3D set! maybe in a couple years).

Please feel free to copy, paste, and share this review anywhere you like! More people need accurate information on 3D technology!

Thanks,
Steve S.

I recently purchased an LG Cinema 3D (47LW5600) and I love it. I love the passive 3D, and everything else about my choice. Although the Smart TV features are still in their infancy and I'm underutilizing them, I love being able to access Amazon Instant Prime so easily. The Magic Motion wand remote is really handy, but I haven't found that it totally replaces the other remote. One of my pet peeves is multiple remotes but I am living with it.

There is some discussion here whether ARC works or not and it seems to be working for me, but I'm not sure I know what I'm missing.

I am connecting wirelessly with a supplied dongle (included). It takes up one extra USB port but I don't think that's an issue.

All in all I'm very happy with my choice and personally wouldn't consider active 3D due to being prone to light-triggered headaches (like flickering fluorescent lights.) No problems so far with passive. Plus the glasses are cheap and comfortable!

Good luck on your decision.

I would prefer the Samsung 3D TV - you should prefer a good Hifi Cinema Sound System also, so you can get a very good Sound in physical demonstration. I have a very good german News about this found here about audio physic
You should read this - its very interesting about the perfect harmony with the Sound.

Since July 2011 I have enjoyed the SmartTV picture quality and built-in speakers with all DVDs, including the new Blu-ray format that have outstanding reality coming right out of the 55" screen that is framed by a very thin titanium edge. Depending on the DVD format the movie may fill the entire screen or there may be those upper and lower black bars. Also, older DVDs do not have as sharp resolution as the HD and BD DVDS, so those do show less picture quality. I passed on getting Samsung 2.1 Sound Bar as the volume and audio quality from the TV is excellent as is. The BD player and Monster Power Center sit on a smoked glass 52" TV stand with some crystal-brass lamps and other knic-knacs and DVDs.. Monster HDMI cable with the best and fastest signal is used to connect the player and TV. Black out drapes cut out most outside light and give me lots of privacy.

Also, I watch some internet international TV news on full screen that is quite awesome. My 55" screen makes everything bigger than life. It is mounted with a Rocket Fish mount high up on the vaulted ceiling in my bedroom where I sit on my futon at the other end of my 13' bedroom or on the bed facing the SmartTV. It is very laid back for me.

There are so many features including internet access, slower than PCs - a con, and so many applications to choose from.

One other con is that I have no control over Samsung's updates, whether or not to allow them, like you can do with Microsoft's Windows Updates.

Skype video calls are fantastic using Samsung's Smart TV Camera CY-STC1100.

So as you can see, I got all Samsung Smart TV, Player, and Camera products. Best Buy set it all up for me, especially the wall mount that needed tools that I did not have. I used to have my misgivings about Samsung. However, I recommend Samsung at this time. My 2011 Samsungs are all good.

I used to always go with Samsung when it comes to TV but recently, I've noticed a great deal of improvements in LG's TV technology and I wasn't disappointed when I switched over. Their quality and designs are outstanding, especially the LG 3D Cinema screen TVs. Choosing a TV really depends on your preference but i just wanna say ignore all the bias and really look at the TV. You might find something different.