Home audio & video forum: 3D TVs: True innovation or hype?

James,

I have had a Samsung 55" LED LCD (3D) television for about 3 months and I love it! I went to Best Buy before I bought it and they had a demo set up with several easy chairs and a large 3D TV. The DVD was "monsters and Aliens" and is used as a 3D demo.

The picture quality is the best I have ever seen, in either 3D or regular TV. The 3D can be turned on and off at will. When watching 3D, you must wear special Samsung glasses that use the shutter technology (the left and right lens alternate and are synchronized by the TV). The glasses are battery powered and cost about $150 each. (there are deals out for these items).

If you want to watch 3D movies via DVD, you also must have a blu-ray player that is designed to display 3D. The player will also play regular blu-ray DVDs.

I am on Comcast and found I needed a DVR box (provided for no additional charge). I was able to watch the Masters golf tournament and the World Cup Soccer tournament in 3D. Comcast has a special channel designed exclusively for 3D events on ESPN3.

There will be more 3D out in the future, but you have to be patient. This is NOT the same 3D where you had to wear the cheap glasses with each lens a different color. Right now, it is mostly selective sporting events. The DVD movies are, at this time, animated movies, but the entertainment people state that they are coming out with 3D movies for the home market.

You will have to pay about $1000 more for a 3D set and another three hundred dollars or so for a 3D Blu-ray player. The sets will play 3D or regular TV or movies. Both the TV and Blu-ray players can receive firmware updates from the net or USB connections. Panasonic also has a 3D setup and I believe Sony is coming out with one.

Good Luck