Buyers Need-to-know Guide On 3d Tv's - Part 1

By Author: Barry Knightly
Total Articles: 57
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My previous article titled 'Easy Guide Explaining How 3D TV's Work' gives those who are new to the concept of 3D TV an outline of exactly what this technology involves and how it works.



The following guide will explore the key factors to keep in mind when hunting about for your first 3D TV set.



Plasma or LCD 3D TVs?


The fact is that both Plasma and LCD TVs have their pros and cons. It must be said however that currently, Plasma TVs generally end up on top when it comes to 3D because of their superior refresh rates and ability to display full 1080p 3D content without sacrificing onscreen resolution. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a fairly small sized TV, you will need to go for a 3D LCD because Plasma TVs are typically only made at 42 inches or larger.



Budget and Screen Size


It's best to set your budget to the maximum you want to spend on a 3D TV so that you don’t get tempted to put your bank balance in dire straits when you go shopping. Size is the most important factor in determining cost, ...
... so you will also need to research the size range that fits your budget.



3D Display Technology


Without a doubt, unless you’re planning on getting the rather expensive, top of the range Polarised 3D Projector for your home entertainment system, your best bet is currently Active Shutter Display 3D technology.



Screen Resolution and Viewing Distance


Both screen resolution and viewing distance are crucial when it comes to 3D viewing, and your optimal choice will depend on the floor plan of the room you install your TV in. The first thing to keep in mind is that if you're sitting too far away from the TV display, you won’t be able to tell the difference between a 1080 pixel or 720 pixel resolution on images. This is because even with 20/20 vision, there is a limit to what the human eye perceives when it comes to seeing tiny details. Thus, there's no point in paying the extra cash for a 1080p display if you’re sitting too far away to appreciate it – in this case the lesser and cheaper resolution will do.



That being said, if you sit too close to a 720p display, you will be able to see the pixellation because of the lower screen resolution, which would destroy the sense of realistic imaging. The higher resolution of a 1080p display will allow you to sit closer to the TV without seeing this pixellation.



Thus, if your home's floor plan necessitates you sitting further from the TV screen, you might as well go for the 720p display – you can always use the extra money you would have spent of a higher resolution to get extra features on your 3D TV.



Refresh Rate


If you're going to opt for a Plasma 3D TV, the refresh rate won't be a major consideration as the nature of this technology means they all feature a refresh rate that is high enough to effectively render 3D material. When it comes to 3D LCD TVs however, you need to be careful that the screen has a sufficient refresh rate or it will suffer from annoying flickering when displaying 3D.



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, this might not be enough and you should go for a 240 Hz LCD display. It's a good idea to try out both types of models at a local retail outlet – if 120 Hz is fine to your eyes, no need to pay more.



A final tip on the subject – don’t be drawn into offers of models that are marked as having a 480 Hz refresh rate. This is actually a miss-sell on the part of manufacturers because the TV will not actually deliver a true 480 Hz refresh rate. The fact is that the benefits of any refresh rate over 240 Hz are minimal at best to the human eye, so it's really not worth the extra cost.



Conclusion



The above guide gives you some of the top tips to bear in mind when shopping for a 3D TV. Read the forthcoming Part 2 to discover further important facts that will help you make the best choice for both your needs and your budget.



About the Author: Barry Knightly owns a 3D TV and electronics repair business.