Ask Engadget HD: How can I get my home theater ready for 3D, right now?
by Richard Lawler 
posted Jul 2nd 2009 at 12:01PM
"I just moved into a new house with a room I'm specifically planning for my home theater setup and need something that will beat all the equipment my friends have. The way I figure, a 3D setup should keep me ahead of the curve for some time, but I can't decide who to go with. Dual projector, plasma, LCD? Samsung & Mitsubishi are two I know already offering 3D ready equipment, but is there anyone out there that's tried them out yet?
Well, there it is, instead of just keeping up with the Joneses some people want to get way ahead of them. So c'mon, if anyone's been brave enough to invest in the future, let us know where you found the proper equipment right now (and content) for a 3D experience worthy of an upcoming Avatar viewing party.
Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Condor @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:30PM
Honestly I'd just get the biggest 2D plasma/LCD you can and then build a spot to put two projectors when the technology grows up a bit. Right now the only "good" solutions I've seen are the $20k+ ones installed in movie theaters which (unless I'm wrong) is a little out of your range. Also there's not a lot of available 3d content yet...
I just figure if you overspent or cobbled together a setup now, in two years when your buddies get the consumer-market 3D tech, yours will look outdated. Remember what the first 60" rear-projection TVs look like? I know I'm glad I waited for the tech to really settle in.
Just my two-cents.
riverside_guy @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:40PM
Seems like a fools choice as we don't really have a single 3D standard. There seem to be 3 different versions w/glasses (red/blue, polarized, and something Intel has done) AND who knows what non glasses tech is bubbling around.
Wryker @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:43PM
I have a 73" 3D 'ready' mitsubishi that i have YET to find out how to use it! I'd love it if they could get the 3D information on how to use it (for like the Coraline BD that's coming out)!!!
IseWise @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:52PM
If you read the manual to your TV it will probably tell you. I just looked up on Mitsubishi site and you'll probably need a 3D Glasses Emitter that connects to the back your TV.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=How+does+3D+work+with+my+Mitsubishi+TV%3F
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/support.html
Chris @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:13AM
Your TV is "3D ready" which all that mean is that it outputs images at at least 120hz. As IseWise pointed out you need extra hardware. You can get third party stuff here:
http://www.ultimate3dheaven.com/3dstac1.html
I'm not familiar with your TV but I highly doubt that it uses polarization technology yet, too expensive. So that means it just a regular TV with a high refresh rate and you need 3D Shutter Glasses to see things in 3D and the appropriate source. 3D Shutter glasses basically only shows an image for only one eye at a time, the other eye sees nothing (thanks the the LCD's in the glasses). That's why the refresh needs to be so high so that you do not notice the shuttering of the glasses. Most TVs are 60hz and you can really see it to the point that it gives you an instant headache.
Ex-hulu @ Jul 4th 2009 9:14AM
Read further in the mitsubishi paragraph and it clearly states that the 3D ready might be worthless if the 'standard' is different than what mitsubishi has. Any tv right now can use Anilithic 3D, and we know that is not the best way. The only real solution is with the shutter glasses and Blu-ray with builtin ir emitter and/or with an external output for an ir addon box. I personally hope they build it in the player. You should be able to use the two projector - polarized glasses method with the same Blu-ray disc by splitting the signal out for left and right signals, either internally or with an external box. But that would be if you want to spend twenty grand ot the set up.
Quite frankly, could have this now, and we already know how this will play out, it is just that the industry is draging its feet and yanking our cords.
Jon @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:47PM
If you are really interested in setting up a 3D system go to MTBS3D.com (they are the largest 3d group out there). You can find lots of useful information from people who have lots of experience in 3d. When I had 3D questions I went there and they were quickly answered.
Note: I coudln't find a better spot for 3D projector information.
Charles @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:49PM
You can buy a 3D ready TV set right now (Samsung and Mitsubishi DLP, and Panasonic), but the problem you will have is that right now there are no 3D blu-ray players. So content can only be played from a computer hooked to your TV using the HDMI3 port. And there is also no content yet rendered for these TV's. So even when studios issue 3D blu-ray (my bloody valentine, hannah montana etc.) it's still the old red/blue anaglyph inferior method of 3D that pales in comparison to what the 3D TVs are capable of. I have seen the real 3D on these TVs and it looks amazing, but until the blu-ray player comes out, they are really only good for 3D Video Games.
earthling @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:50AM
The problem is that there is no standard. The differing 3D systems require very different electronics and physical technologies. It is WAAAYYY to early to be considering 3D for the home. all you can purchase today is something that is 3D capable, meaning that it has the proper framerate, and the ability to synchornize the frame to its incoming video stream. It may further has some form of circular polorizing but maybe not. This is very early days, much like the original HDTVs that came out.
Ordeith @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:50PM
Disney should bring back Captain EO for a limited time.
Wryker @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:58PM
Charles
That's my complaint - to use the 3d w/a BD player and not have to hook up a PC to it.
charles @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:26PM
Right now, you cant. Hopefully by the end of the year there will be either a stand-alone player, or a special encode on a disk, or a go between, or a chip set in a TV that will let you use existing bd player.
Josh @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:17PM
That's a question with a very simple answer. You drive to Costco to purchase the largest tub of Advil or Tylenol they have. Your going to need it when your head starts to pound and your eyes pop-out. 3D is a joke. Just provide an non-compressed video feeds with lossless audio.
Stop the mindless gimmicks!
Shenanigans @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:45PM
Uncompressed video- keep dreaming!
Evan @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:38PM
Without a single universally accepted standard, there's too big a risk of a current 3D television not working with future players. With 3D still in the air and OLEDs around the corner, it'll be much better to wait a couple of years.
gamedude360 @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:03PM
mits has an 82 inch dlp 3d tv coming out around july or august. ive tried 3d on a 73 inch one and its pretty good, i used a pc and tried out halo life 2 in 3d
Isaac @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:17PM
Having 3D now is like having Deep Color or 7.1 audio. There's virtually no content that have either so it sounds great on paper but its useless (for now) in reality. Go with something cheaper now and get a 3D setup in 5 years.
Shenanigans @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:03PM
Sounds like a bad idea. I hope 3D does not become mainstream.
Michael @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:20PM
How to get ready for 3D: take $5,000 pour gasoline over it and burn it all
dmccall @ Jul 2nd 2009 6:46PM
Good Lord! Enough with the Michael Jackson garbage. At least when I had a monochrome computer connected to Videotex I didn't have to be exposed to force-feeding of Michael Jackson.
Richard Lawler @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:40PM
Dude i've been moving the Captain EO movement for a while now http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/23/smpte-working-out-how-to-bring-3d-home/
Andrew Woods @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:11PM
There's a full list of most "3D Ready" displays here:
http://www.3dmovielist.com/3dhdtvs.html
and "3D ready" projectors here:
http://www.3dmovielist.com/projectors.html
Most of these displays will offer a high-quality 3D image. It just depends how much you're willing to spend. The best bang for your buck, in terms of 3D image quality and image size, is probably the Mitsubishi 3D DLP HDTVs.
Unfortunately 3D movie content is limited at the moment (listed here: http://www.3dmovielist.com/3ddvds.html )
But there are over 300 PC games that can be played in stereoscopic 3D right now with solutions from NVIDIA, DDD and iZ3D.
Please note that the new Coraline 3D Blu-ray will be in anaglyph 3D format (colored glasses). The Anaglyph 3D method will work with any full-color display but the 3D image quality is fairly low compared to other 3D methods. An anaglyph 3D Blu-ray will not offer any advantage when viewed on a true "3D-Ready" display.
Billy @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:50PM
HHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!
AVATAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cheddies @ Jul 3rd 2009 7:23AM
I am of the opinion that it will be a while before home 3d becomes mainstream simply because its one of the best selling points of cinemas at the moment. With projectors/massive tv's and surround sound becoming more and more common and cost effective 3d and IMAX are the only 2 things that cinema have (other than "we get the movies before you can") to keep the revenue coming in - hence all the hype about 3d at the min.
Chris @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:02AM
Red/blue anaglyph is no where near as high quality as the polarized glassed or even shutter glasses.
But to use polarized glasses you need a very specialized monitor/tv that's easily $1000+ for a 19inch monitor and shutter glasses method requires minimum 120hz monitor/tv and ideally 240hz which tends to cost a lot more right now than a basic monitor.
But the truth is that if you have such a distaste for anaglyph then you have not seen any decent images. I personally think that 99% of red/blue anaglyph images are not properly optimized and look terrible. Also as a side note, with anaglyph you need to keep the closest part of the depth of field no closer than the monitor itself. Anaglyph does not work well with images "popping" out of the screen.
Another solution which is more modern and not bad is ColorCode 3D, which is anaglyph as well but instead uses blue/yellow filters. But I must say that there are some very well done red/blue anaglyph that look great. Here's one example:
http://www.equalizergraphics.com/images/anaglyph.png
So until auto-stereoscopic or 240hz displays become mainstream or at least affordable anaglyph can be a decent solution. Right now I can play 3D games quite enjoyably using this:
http://www.iz3d.com/t-dcdriver.aspx
Works with any Direct 3D game and you can make it red/blue, blue/yellow or even a few other solutions I've never even tried before. Just remember to adjust the settings so that nothing "comes out" of the screen (too much strain on eyes, not to easy to focus which makes it seem unnatural). Only distance depth and you'll be happy.
ex-hulu @ Jul 4th 2009 9:20AM
Hey, I forgot to mention, is that not a picture of mikey before he turned in to a real freak?
ED @ Jul 5th 2009 1:27AM
looking fro a 3D BLUERAY player...... samsung has already said that they are going to be putting them out,,,,but no time line.Samsun,philips and lg are all coming out with 3Dtv no goofy glasses needed.
Erik @ Jul 5th 2009 3:45AM
Hey what about the ps3! couldnt the add 3d through a firmware upgrade!
Harry @ Jul 6th 2009 9:57AM
I have a Samsung PN 42 a450 (Series 4 42" Plasma) that is 3D ready and according to Samsung's website for around $150 you can buy the kit (wich comes with 2 pairs of glasses-not red and blue the other kind) and hook it up to your tv and I think use you computer to playback the movie. It will make any movie or tv show 3D but how good will it look I don't know. It seems failrly easy to hook up but a little expensive. Check out Samsungs web site for details. My tv is a 2008 model wich I got for around $800 CDN, if you can found one or something similair it's a great tv you will never find a 40-42" lcd perform as well at that price!