3DTV: Ready or not, here it comes

2012 marks a year where the entertainment industry is committed to the 3D TV technology, bringing the smallest details to life.


Shortly, you can guarantee every flat screen in a house will be 3D capable, even if you opt out not to display 3D content on it. Should you buy a 3D TV now? Absolutely, many of the major TV manufacturers already have 3D capable sets, including LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba and Visio. With a 3D TV you will be able to enjoy a high quality HD experience and not have to reinvest in a 3D TV when you want to watch 3D. The best 3D HDTVs will display lifelike, vibrant images that seem to come out of the screen and into your living room.

The 42” sized plasma TV is where the flat screen dream started in the late 1990’s. Today, LCD TVs and their makeover counterpart LED TVs are still a sweet spot for TVs sized at 40” to 46”. Yet, three-dimensional (3D) high-definition (HD) TVs are the fastest growing sector of the TV market. 3D HDTVs are leaving some of the most innovative LCD/LED TVs in a category of slashed prices.

There are some things to think about before going out shopping and purchasing your 3D Television. First off, 3D TVs are really just top-of-the-line HDTVs with the ability to display three dimensional images. The 3D capability or feature can be turned on or off. Secondly, you still need to purchase 3D glasses to get the 3D effect. There are two types of glasses, passive or active shutter and this will depend on the type of 3D your new TV uses. The passive glasses are cheaper and are those you would normally find in the movie theaters. You will need the 3D glasses that are compatible with your television and they won’t necessarily be compatible with another manufactures’ 3D TV. Active shutter 3D glasses are not cheap; most running in the $75 to $80 range each.

Another important consideration before buying your new 3D HDTV is what size to get. With 3D it is easy to just say that bigger is better and that is usually the case. But things like your home viewing environment and your buying budget are important factors. Room size is a very important factor and you are unlikely to get some great benefits of a huge screen in a small room, or a small screen in a large room. Ideal seating distance is usually a few times the height of the screen. There is a wide range of prices when it comes to shopping for 3D HDTVs, all dependent on their capabilities and specifications. The best advice here is to do your own studying, research and comparison shopping before making your purchase.

The following reviews are of the best 3D HDTVs in the 55 inch and above on the market delivering optimal three-dimensional, high definition images that are a very real option for your home theater. The best 3D HDTVs listed are the most recent offerings from the major manufacturers with the most advanced technology in 3D as well as 2D high-definition viewing.

1. Panasonic TC-P58VT25 - Review and specs on the TC-P58VT25

2. Panasonic TC-P54VT25 - Review and specs on the TC-P54VT25

3. Samsung UN55C8000 - Review and specs on the UN55C8000

4. Samsung UN60C8000 - Review and specs on the UN60C8000

5. Samsung UN55C7000 - Review and specs on the Samsung UN55C7000

6. LG Infinia 55LE9500 - Review and specs on the LG Infinia 55LE9500