3D TV essential guide 3D TV overview
3D TV - the next big thing?
3D isn’t new but, inspired by the success of 3D movies at the cinema, the home entertainment industry is set on making 3D TV the next big thing in your living room.
In 2010 expect to see many high-end 3D-ready TVs, 3D Blu-ray players and 3D Blu-ray movies. Sky is also launching a 3D TV subscription service.
What do I need to watch 3D TV?
• A 3D-ready TV (40 inches plus)
• 3D glasses
• A subscription to Sky 3D TV - or -
• A 3D Blu-ray player and some 3D Blu-ray movies
We now have full test results of the first 3D TVs to be available in the UK. We’ll be testing more models and 3D Blu-ray players as they launch, so keep an eye on our expert reviews.
Likewise, we’re testing new 3D-ready TVs as they launch throughout the year and will bring you full comparative picture quality results as soon as they’re available.
Check out our 3D TV reviews here, and see how the 3D models compare with other 2D models in our regular plasma, LCD and LED TV reviews
Why now?
The latest digital technology has made 3D TV a viable proposition for the home – though it’s the recent success of 3D at the cinema that’s really inspired the home entertainment industry.
3D cinema
3D movies are nothing new, and in the past enjoyed a couple of boom periods in the 1950s and 1980s. Poor image quality and complaints of headaches and nausea meant the old red/green glasses rarely made it past the gimmick stage, however, and 3D certainly didn’t get anywhere near the serious blockbusters.
Yet the rise in 3D films over the past couple of years has gripped the imagination of the movie-going public. Advances in technology (the red/green glasses are a thing of the past) have inspired some of Hollywood’s leading directors to take on 3D with some gusto.
The best, and certainly most profitable, example of the new wave of 3D success is James Cameron’s Avatar.
3D blockbuster Avatar has paved the way for 3D TV.
Now the world’s biggest-grossing film of all time, Avatar is a pioneering and stunning example of how far 3D technology and filming techniques have advanced.
But Avatar is likely to be just the beginning. In 2007 there were just seven 3D films on release. In 2009 there were over 30 and more are expected in the next couple of years.
For instance, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland has been filmed in 3D, and Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg are filming a Tintin trilogy in 3D.
3D technology
Digital projectors are at the heart of the 3D cinema revolution – with a special adaptor, a digital projector can easily separate the left and right images.
In contrast, trying to synchronise two traditional mechanical projectors was a tricky process, and often led to blurry images and motion sickness among the audience.
Cinema chains are delighted with the prospect of the extra revenue (a 3D ticket usually sells for a premium) and 90% of new installations in cinemas are being fitted out with the necessary 3D kit .
Will 3D TV be a success?
Samsung 9000 series 3D TV
3D at the cinema has been a runaway success and the major brands in home entertainment are hoping it takes off in the home too. Sky, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Toshiba and Philips have invested a lot in 3D.
Sky’s move to launch the first 3D TV service in Europe is very much in line with its ‘get there first’ innovation strategy (think Sky+ and HD TV), while Panasonic has placed 3D at the centre of its Viera TV strategy and Samsung says it’s been working on perfecting the technology for the last five years .
The demonstrations we’ve seen have been impressive, both from Sky and on 3D Blu-ray systems. Good depth and resolution means, on first impressions, the TVs do exactly what they say on the tin – and deliver an impressive 3D effect.
Though to find out which models deliver the best 3D pictures, we’ll reserve final judgement till we get them in the test lab.
Keep an eye on our expert HDTV reviews for new 3D tests through the year.
3D words of warning
Despite the impressive technology and favourable first impressions, looking good and being a hit with customers are sometimes two different things. We reckon there’s a whole bundle of caveats worth mentioning.
• Cost The 3D TVs we’ve seen are all top of the range affairs and priced in the thousands. 3D Blu-ray is likely to be priced at a premium.
Active shutter 3D glasses
• 3D glasses The need to wear glasses will put many off. A couple of pairs of glasses will normally come packaged with the TV, but extra pairs for the rest of the family will cost more (around the £100 mark for active shutter glasses to watch 3D Blu-ray).
• 3D TV size The impact, even when watching on a huge 65-inch TV can feel, perhaps unsurprisingly, muted compared to the immersive effect of watching in 3D at your local big-screen cinema. 32 inches is still the most popular screen size so 3D may pass a sizeable chunk of the population by.
• 3D content Just like the early days of HD there’s not a lot of it about, though there should be a steady stream of 3D titles making the leap from the cinema.
In light of all this, estimates of a 40% 3D-TV market penetration within 5 years by some industry watchers feel over optimistic. However, just like HD TV before it we'll likely see a 3D capability built into an increasing number of TVs, meaning by default 3D finds its way into many homes
