Post by feilong80 on Aug 19, 2011 13:29:02 GMT -5
So today I setup one of these guys:
www.amazon.com/Vizio-E3D470VX-47-Inch-1080p-LCD/dp/B004YAVDSA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1313777925&sr=8-7
I hadn't planned on jumping on the 3D bandwagon. We were really just after a nice TV for the den after a few power surges fried the HDMI ports on my 37 inch LG*, which relagated this TV to the basement for the wife's Zumba (and for me to use as a massive second monitor on my computer, natch).
But the above Vizio was only about 40-50 bucks above what the non-3D models cost at 47 inches, so I thought, what the heck.
The first thing you all should know is that this is a passive 3D television, not active; meaning that the glasses are simply the cheap polarized specs you get at the theater. Active sets offer better detail but cost ~$50 or more and have to be charged up.
So here are my thoughts on the 3D experience so far:
Wipeout HD (PS3) - Despite the fact that passive 3D is supposed to cut the detail of a 1080p image in half (to create the 3D image), I couldn't tell. The 3D depth makes up for the loss of detail. What was really nice, being used to the glasses free 3DS style 3D, is the much more comfortable "sweet spot," which seemed much larger and more forgiving. The tracks had great depth and the HUD elements look nice projected on the foreground.
Drive Angry 2 minute Preview (vudu) - This TV is also internet enabled, and provides built in access to the vudu service. They are the only streaming service that does 3D, and despite vudu 3D support being apparently absent on some Vizio TVs I'm happy to say my model has it.
So yeah, wow, the effects of the 3D were quite impressive. You'd have to have a stupid large screen to get the full "there are things floating above your head!" type illusion but even in a typical living room television there were still some bits in the 2 minutes that made me feel like some stuff was coming at me (one bit I remember was a car kicking up a bunch of dead leaves in the air).
It looked very sharp, and the vistas looked like they stretched for miles into the TV, like a giant window.
One weakness to note is that the sound on this TV is definitely thin, which I understand is true of many flat screens but our older LG definitely kicks this TVs ass in the sound department. I tend to use headphones when I really want to get immersed anyway, but if you are really into home audio a sound bar is probably a good solution.
While I was initially skeptical of home 3D (and it probably won't take off full scale until glasses free tech is developed), I will say that these Vizio sets (they have a cheaper 42 inch model) is a great entry level into it. They don't really cost more than non-3D TVs anyway, and Vizio is a solid mid-level brand.
*First world problems to be sure.
www.amazon.com/Vizio-E3D470VX-47-Inch-1080p-LCD/dp/B004YAVDSA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1313777925&sr=8-7
I hadn't planned on jumping on the 3D bandwagon. We were really just after a nice TV for the den after a few power surges fried the HDMI ports on my 37 inch LG*, which relagated this TV to the basement for the wife's Zumba (and for me to use as a massive second monitor on my computer, natch).
But the above Vizio was only about 40-50 bucks above what the non-3D models cost at 47 inches, so I thought, what the heck.
The first thing you all should know is that this is a passive 3D television, not active; meaning that the glasses are simply the cheap polarized specs you get at the theater. Active sets offer better detail but cost ~$50 or more and have to be charged up.
So here are my thoughts on the 3D experience so far:
Wipeout HD (PS3) - Despite the fact that passive 3D is supposed to cut the detail of a 1080p image in half (to create the 3D image), I couldn't tell. The 3D depth makes up for the loss of detail. What was really nice, being used to the glasses free 3DS style 3D, is the much more comfortable "sweet spot," which seemed much larger and more forgiving. The tracks had great depth and the HUD elements look nice projected on the foreground.
Drive Angry 2 minute Preview (vudu) - This TV is also internet enabled, and provides built in access to the vudu service. They are the only streaming service that does 3D, and despite vudu 3D support being apparently absent on some Vizio TVs I'm happy to say my model has it.
So yeah, wow, the effects of the 3D were quite impressive. You'd have to have a stupid large screen to get the full "there are things floating above your head!" type illusion but even in a typical living room television there were still some bits in the 2 minutes that made me feel like some stuff was coming at me (one bit I remember was a car kicking up a bunch of dead leaves in the air).
It looked very sharp, and the vistas looked like they stretched for miles into the TV, like a giant window.
One weakness to note is that the sound on this TV is definitely thin, which I understand is true of many flat screens but our older LG definitely kicks this TVs ass in the sound department. I tend to use headphones when I really want to get immersed anyway, but if you are really into home audio a sound bar is probably a good solution.
While I was initially skeptical of home 3D (and it probably won't take off full scale until glasses free tech is developed), I will say that these Vizio sets (they have a cheaper 42 inch model) is a great entry level into it. They don't really cost more than non-3D TVs anyway, and Vizio is a solid mid-level brand.
*First world problems to be sure.
