Is there any harm in buying 3D TV?

[DesiPower]

In market for a "smart" TV, whatever that means... and I wanted to go for a 3D TV, I do not currently own 3D player or any TV channels but it's always good to have it in case we want to watch something occasionally. I don't mind paying the extra bucks... question is, is there any downside of a 3D TV?

Brand preference is strictly Samsung or Sony.

Also, are there different types of 3D TV? Do all the ones ones listed above have the same 3D technology?

 

[ControlD]

I can't imagine there is any "harm" in buying a 3D TV except for the extra cost if you aren't planning on using it.

There are different types of 3D technology: active and passive (I'm sure these aren't the actual names for them). Active 3D uses the expensive powered glasses while passive uses the movie theater style cheap glasses. I have a Visio passive 3D television and I have found the experience to be much, much better than I expected. I believe that the Samsung and Sony 3D units are almost always active 3D. Keep that in mind if you have more than a couple of people watching. The active sets I looked at generally came with two sets of glasses and extras were expensive ($150 or so at the time).

 

[poofyhairguy]

Active glasses really have come down recently. Like $20 a pair.

 

[ControlD]

Active glasses really have come down recently. Like $20 a pair.

Wow. That didn't take long. I have never had a chance to use active glasses in the proper environment to see how well they work. It seems like in the big stores with all of the overhead lights they just don't work very well.

 

[ImpulsE69]

No harm, 3D tv's don't really cost more than normal, but I do believe the 3D sets tend to have better electronics in them regardless than their non 3D counterparts, at least on some brands.

 

[Joeydubbs]

No, having the ability to watch 3D will not effect 2D viewing...

FYI, you will need a 3D player to watch 3D movies (which also need to be 3D!)...3D broadcast through cable is usually fairly limited as well

I have a passive 3D set which works fairly well and is kind of "cool" I guess. Just note that the 3D novelty wears off quickly, too much hassle in the end IMO...

Enjoy shopping for a TV, thats more fun than watching a 3D movie lol

 

[mmntech]

The technology effectively died when ESPN shut down their 3D sports channel. Leaves little hope for broadcast content ever being viable. There's still 3D Blu-ray and a steady glut of superhero movies guarantees content for awhile. However, the novelty does wear off very quickly.

For 2D viewing, it's no different than any other TV. Stores will be keen to clear out their 3D stock so you might get one for a great price.

 

[Pacfanweb]

3D tv's, at least prior to the current model year, had better pictures than the same company's 2D sets.

They basically included 3D with their best TV's, which forced people who wanted the best picture possible to also have 3D.

I think I've read that changed a bit this year, but IIRC the best TV's from any maker even this year are still automatically 3D.

 

[dagamer34]

3D movies are good, 3D television was never going to take off because it required a separate production team unlike doing SD vs HD (only need to be 4:3 safe) and HD vs. 4K (no change).

Would I still get a 3D HDTV today? Certainly, simply because no high-end TV is 2D only. And the fact that I regularly see full theaters for 3D versions of movies 4 years after Avatar shows it's clearly past any hypothetical fad stage (which means more 3D movies will be produced).

I'd recommend you buy one.

 

[Midwayman]

I keep hoping that games will support it on the ps4 or xb1. Even with no real use for it, I'd buy it simply 'cause it is included in the better TVs anyways. FWIW you mention- smart TV. That's better done with a box like roku, etc IMHO.

 

[Aikouka]

Actually, you don't really need a 3D-based device to play all 3D content; you only need it for full-frame stereoscopic content. To be clear, transmission methods such as top-bottom, side-by-side and checkerboard all use standard 720p and 1080p packets, so as long as your TV allows manual setting of 3D content (most of them do), you can play that content. By full-frame, I mean methods such as frame-packing, which is what Blu-Ray and 3D gaming over HDMI uses. On that note, do you own a PS3? The PS3 does 3D with Blu-Ray and games. My usual go-to game for 3D is Super Stardust HD since I don't have to put a disc in.

Also, passive TVs use film-patterned retarders for polarizing the light, and sometimes, those retarders are glossy, which may cause problems for those with a lot of ambient light.

 

[Matt1970]

I get a headache every time I watch something in 3D

 

[mkmitch]

The Samsung plasma I recently purchased didn't cost more because of 3D, the smart ones have it. If you want a plasma with a screen that isn't too reflective in their plasma line up its a smart TV. I had intended to just buy a "dumb" tv but the picture was way better next step up and that is the smart TV with included 3D. I watched Top Gun in Bluray 3D the other night and meh.

 

[Gintaras]

I get a headache every time I watch something in 3D

Not only you...most get headaches or pain in eyes...it happens when you just take off those 3D glasses....

Only a few would admit it....

 

[ControlD]

Not only you...most get headaches or pain in eyes...it happens when you just take off those 3D glasses....

Only a few would admit it....

Are you talking about the active glasses here? I have never experienced headaches from passive 3D glasses, either in theaters or at home. I always wondered about the active glasses however.

 

[purbeast0]

Are you talking about the active glasses here? I have never experienced headaches from passive 3D glasses, either in theaters or at home. I always wondered about the active glasses however.

ive watched plenty of 3d movies with active glasses on and never once experienced a headache.