Buyer's Guide to 3DTVs

Could You Have 3DTV?
What Kit Do You Need?
Cost

Due to the success of the latest 3D films at the cinema, the entertainment industry is keen to bring 3D to our living rooms. But what do you need to get 3D content at home? Find out now…

Over the last 20 years, digital 3D film has improved dramatically – directors of 3D blockbusters, such as Avatar and Alice In Wonderland, are now able to deliver clear, full-colour images that create an incredible illusion of depth. This makes for breathtaking action, which looks like it’s rolling out in front of you.

Movie studios are keen to bring 3D to your home and are now releasing their films on 3D Blu-ray disc. With Sky launching its 3D channel and Virgin Media launching its 3D on Demand service, it’s only a matter of time before 3DTV becomes the norm in our living rooms or dedicated home cinemas.

Watching the content at home may not be as impressive as a trip to the local flicks, but if you black out the windows, get yourself some comfy seating and a bowl of popcorn you’ll have a pretty amazing experience.

Whether you decide to jump on the bandwagon now or in the future, the technology has been popular and it looks set to become a standard fixture in our homes…

Could You Have 3DTV?

For those of you who’ve just splashed out on a new High Definition TV, you might want to look away now. Unfortunately, you can’t watch 3D content on a 2D HD TV. This is because High Definition 3DTV requires video processing capabilities not found in 2D sets.

To view 3D content, you’ll need one the latest 3DTVs, which have just been released on the market from manufacturers such as LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony and Philips. Expect to find 3DTV designs 32in and above – the bigger the screen, the better the sensation. (If you have the room or a dedicated home cinema, you might want to opt for a pull-down screen and 3D projector instead of a TV).

As well as being able to receive 3D content, you can also view non-3D content on your 3DTV. And, you’ll find each 3DTV comes packed with other fun and useful features too - depending on the model you can expect to find internet widgets for browsing online video and photos, accessing Skype, BBC iPlayer and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. On some designs you’ll also find built-in Freeview and/or freesat TV, so you can enjoy subscription-free TV channels.