Top 5 Tips To Consider Before Purchasing a 3D Television

Buying a 3D television at this point is an ambitious task given that there are so many manufacturers competing for your attention.  We’ve collected what we consider are the top 5 tips to consider before purchasing a 3D television to help make your buying experience that much better.

1. Glasses – the new TVs require 3D glasses and although some promotions add in one or two pairs, typically they are sold separately with a price range from $99 to $299 each. If you have a lot of TV viewers in your household, that can add up quickly. Most are not compatible with more than one brand, so if you have Sony glasses they won’t work with a Panasonic. Monster Cable is expected to release a line of 3D glasses that will be compatible with all brands later this year.

2. Choosing between 2D, HD2D and HD3D – London Drugs points out that if you’re in the market for a new TV, the 3D models offer the best 2D HDTV performance. I’d suggest though that you think back to the early days of flat screen models and how fast prices dropped for them. If you simply must spend $3,000-plus on a new TV right now, make it a 3D model. Otherwise, wait a bit until prices come down and there’s a choice of content that makes it worthwhile having a 3D TV.

3. Formats – If you’ve bought a TV in recent years, you’ll already have gone through the plasma versus LED backlit LCD debate. I decided on the LED format and so far most of the new 3D models now are that format. But in its tip sheet, London Drugs suggests that since the formats handle panel speed, black levels and viewing angles differently, you should talk to an expert to make sure the TV you’re considering is best for 3D performance.

4. Blu-ray compatibility – the bad news is if you bought a Blu-ray player pre-2010, it’s likely not compatible with the 3D TVs coming out. If your player is BD-Live compatible (BD-Live is a feature that lets you access content via the Internet with your Blu-ray player) it’s expected that you’ll be able to get a 3D upgrade via firmware although that would get you 3D (at 540p) but not high definition 3D.

5. What can I use it for? That is probably a key question you should ask before you rush out and buy the latest 3D technology. Content and programming are currently lagging so you could find yourself paying a premium for a 3D TV only to watch Avatar over and over again. A number of announcements have been made in the US but no word on prospective availability of 3D channels from the US in Canada yet. Service providers here haven’t announced any broad offerings although Shaw HD customers can tune in to the 2010 Masters Tournament in 3D. 3D Blu-ray movies and 3D video games will also be coming out in increasing numbers so the content situation will change fairly quickly. Sports are getting 3D attention, with the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be available in 3D with Disney’s ESPN in the US.

In addition to these 3D TV buying tips, do some research on your own to ensure the best value for your money.

Related 3D TV Information:

• 3D Television Edges Closer To Reality (PRWEB) September 18, 2006 The IST-sponsored project 3DTV is at the forefront of European efforts to bring the promise...

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