3D TVs are set to become the next must-have in top notch home entertainment - sooner than later everyone will be enticed into buying one. Previously only available in cinemas, this technology is still new as a viewing option for your home.
The following guide will summarise the key factors you need to know when shopping around for a 3D TV that suits both your needs and your budget.
Best 3D Display
At the moment, you have two top choices when it comes to display quality - at the highest end you'll want a Polarised 3D Projector as your home entertainment system, or coming in second you're advised to choose Active Shutter Display 3D technology.
LCD Verses Plasma
You will need to decide whether your 3D TV is to be a Plasma and LCD model - the truth is that both options come with their benefits and weaknesses. Currently it is Plasma TVs that stands out as the best due to their refresh rates and ability to display full 1080p 3D content without negatively impacting onscreen resolution. That being said, at this time Plasma models only come in sizes of 42 inches or above, so if you're looking for the 3D thrill on a budget, LCD TVs comes in smaller sizes.
Refresh Rates
The refresh rate factor again depends on whether you have a Plasma or LCD TV.
If you have a Plasma model, you won't need to worry about the refresh rate because they all come standard with a refresh rate that is high enough to render quality 3D images.
LCD 3D TVs however vary widely in refresh rate capacities, so you need to be careful about this because otherwise you'll end up with an annoying flickering when watching in 3D. As a rule of thumb, the minimum refresh rate for LCD 3D TVs is 120 Hz, which allows a 60Hz refresh rate per eye. If your eyes are sensitive to image flickering, even this might not be sufficient so you'd have to opt for a 240 Hz LCD display. The best way forward is to try out both types of models when shopping around to see what suits you.
Also, don't fall for offers of TVs with a 480 Hz refresh rate - the truth is that the advantages of any refresh rate over 240 Hz are minimal at best to the human eye, so it's actually not worth the extra cost.
Screen Resolution Verses Viewing Distance
Screen resolution and viewing distance factors are highly important when it comes to experiencing impressive 3D viewing. For one thing, if you're sitting too far away from the TV, you won't be able to tell the difference between a 1080 pixel or 720 pixel resolution - the reason for this is that even with 20/20 vision, the human eye is limited when perceiving small details.
So, it would be pointless paying for a pricey 1080p display if you're sitting too far away to appreciate it - your best bet in this scenario would be to spend your money on a larger screen size.
Nevertheless, if you sit too close to a 720p display, you'll be irritated by being able to see the pixilation because of the lower resolution capability.
All in all, if the space logistics of your home necessitate you sitting further from the TV screen, you might as well go for the 720p display, but if you have to sit closer, you might want to opt for the 1080p display.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, unless you're an avid gadget fan who simply has to have the best and latest on the marketplace, the best all-round choice in a 3D TV would be a good quality mid to high end model with a decent sized screen, since for most people this will be more impressive than minimally noticeable improvements in 3D image technology. The main thing however is to always take the time to thoroughly research your options online, where you can narrow down a list of models that fit both your preferences and your budget. Also don't forget to read a fair amount of online user reviews so you can weed out the options that perform the worst.
The following guide will summarise the key factors you need to know when shopping around for a 3D TV that suits both your needs and your budget.
Best 3D Display
At the moment, you have two top choices when it comes to display quality - at the highest end you'll want a Polarised 3D Projector as your home entertainment system, or coming in second you're advised to choose Active Shutter Display 3D technology.
LCD Verses Plasma
You will need to decide whether your 3D TV is to be a Plasma and LCD model - the truth is that both options come with their benefits and weaknesses. Currently it is Plasma TVs that stands out as the best due to their refresh rates and ability to display full 1080p 3D content without negatively impacting onscreen resolution. That being said, at this time Plasma models only come in sizes of 42 inches or above, so if you're looking for the 3D thrill on a budget, LCD TVs comes in smaller sizes.
Refresh Rates
The refresh rate factor again depends on whether you have a Plasma or LCD TV.
If you have a Plasma model, you won't need to worry about the refresh rate because they all come standard with a refresh rate that is high enough to render quality 3D images.
LCD 3D TVs however vary widely in refresh rate capacities, so you need to be careful about this because otherwise you'll end up with an annoying flickering when watching in 3D. As a rule of thumb, the minimum refresh rate for LCD 3D TVs is 120 Hz, which allows a 60Hz refresh rate per eye. If your eyes are sensitive to image flickering, even this might not be sufficient so you'd have to opt for a 240 Hz LCD display. The best way forward is to try out both types of models when shopping around to see what suits you.
Also, don't fall for offers of TVs with a 480 Hz refresh rate - the truth is that the advantages of any refresh rate over 240 Hz are minimal at best to the human eye, so it's actually not worth the extra cost.
Screen Resolution Verses Viewing Distance
Screen resolution and viewing distance factors are highly important when it comes to experiencing impressive 3D viewing. For one thing, if you're sitting too far away from the TV, you won't be able to tell the difference between a 1080 pixel or 720 pixel resolution - the reason for this is that even with 20/20 vision, the human eye is limited when perceiving small details.
So, it would be pointless paying for a pricey 1080p display if you're sitting too far away to appreciate it - your best bet in this scenario would be to spend your money on a larger screen size.
Nevertheless, if you sit too close to a 720p display, you'll be irritated by being able to see the pixilation because of the lower resolution capability.
All in all, if the space logistics of your home necessitate you sitting further from the TV screen, you might as well go for the 720p display, but if you have to sit closer, you might want to opt for the 1080p display.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, unless you're an avid gadget fan who simply has to have the best and latest on the marketplace, the best all-round choice in a 3D TV would be a good quality mid to high end model with a decent sized screen, since for most people this will be more impressive than minimally noticeable improvements in 3D image technology. The main thing however is to always take the time to thoroughly research your options online, where you can narrow down a list of models that fit both your preferences and your budget. Also don't forget to read a fair amount of online user reviews so you can weed out the options that perform the worst.
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