[SillyEskimo]

In this thread we discuss 3D at home. We should talk about TV's and other home theater equipment, 3D glasses, and 3D movies and television. As a first time poster in the thread, please start out with your TV set/projector and go from there.

I'm making this thread because I just bought a new TV and I noticed that there is no really good place to find a jumping off point for discussion. I have a lot of questions about what the best glasses are for cost/quality ratio, and what movies or games I should try out first on the set. I imagine lots of people started here or will end up with similar questions when they purchase a 3D set themselves.

**Please no "3D sucks, ect." comments. There are plenty of places to voice that opinion. I would like for this to be a resource for people who own or are curious about this tech can discuss such things without all the trash talking.**

[SMT]

I have the Sony Playstation 3D Display bundle (24 inches) 1200p, 240hz refresh, I am very much so enjoying it, for $443.
I can now watch everything in 3D, and if I want to watch anime, the 2D image is also amazing, I hooked it up to my Universal Sherwood Blu-ray player, and the picture is God-like.
You put on the glasses and at any angle it's 3D, but this is basically all I can afford, combined with some inherited speakers and 5.1 amp.

I think the technology will get better and the prices will further decrease in the future. Then, one day when we can afford a larger display, I will invest more in 3D.

WOW: World of Wonder, I will try this Blu-ray to optimize my tele, thanks Gameboy415!

[oatmeal]

I recently (well, 4 months ago) got the Epson 8350 projector and it's a slight bummer that it's 2D. While I'm not a big fan of 3D, it would have been fun to have in the house. Especially since the awesome Harry Potter 3D deal at Best Buy not too long ago!

[TheWiicast]

Loving my 3d setup. I have a 3d samsung. Tin-Tin, Immortals and Coraline are some notable pics. Also as far as games go: Silent Hill: Downpour has some great 3d moments and depth.

[Gameboy415]

I have a Sony 55" HX820 and use matching Sony active-3D glasses to play 3D games/movies via PS3.

I've been thoroughly impressed with the TV since I got it this past January, but I recently picked up the "WOW: World of Wonder" calibration Blu-Ray from Disney and my picture looks even better now that everything is properly calibrated.

I really need to invest in a sound system sometime this year though.
I've just been using the TV's built-in speakers which are surprisingly decent, but I feel like I'm missing out on big part of the experience with certain games and movies.
I probably won't be able to afford one til Fall, but does anyone have any recommendations/advice on buying a 3D-capable surround sound system?

[zychi]

I bought a Panasonic 3d plasma over a year ago. Really enjoy having the 3d, I bought the tv for the superb plasma screen for 2d, and the added 3d has been a bonus.Comcast offers ESPN3d for free with my cable, and it has been great for things like NCAA football and college basketball. It's also been cool to rent movies in 3d.

I also owned(recently YLOD) a ps3 that was capable of playing my 3d blu rays. Which was cool to watch things like Tangled and Toy Story 3 in 3d.

[BocoDragon]

I just got Avatar blu-ray in 3D due to buying a Panasonic 3D plasma. I was surprised that it's still an exclusive Panasonic disc, not for sale separately. Fetches a high resell value. Out of curiosity, how long is that supposed to last?

[Wingfan19]

I need to get a new receiver capable of handling a 3D signal, my Denon is just a year too old for it. Yet, I can play 3D games via my PS3 and 360 through it, no problems. I'm guessing it's because the games aren't using a full double 1080p signal, where as the Blu-Rays are.

I could by pass it if I just hooked my PS3 directly up to my TV for the picture, then ran an optical cable to my current receiver for the audio, but I'm lazy and don't feel like having to switch multiple inputs on the TV and receiver any time I want to use my PS3 (firstworldproblems).

BTW, I have a 58" Samsung 3D plasma from 2010, best TV I've ever owned. I've tried out the ESPN3D channel from Comcast and watched some of the other nature/extreme sports stuff on the other 3D channel, but mostly I've used it to just demo it to other people.

[shira]

Got the hmzt1. By far the best 3D out there.

[SillyEskimo]

I just bought a Sharp AQUOS - 70" 1080p LED 240Hz Smart 3D and a partridge in a pear tree HDTV. (Model: LC-70LE845U)

I did not go out of my way for 3D at all. I wanted the 240Hz refresh rate and once you hit a certain price point, 3D is kind of a given. It's like trying to buy a microwave without a clock. It just comes with it. The TV will arrive on Friday, but I'm prepping the area and double checking to make sure I have everything I need. It occurred to me that "Oh yeah, this thing has 3D." "Maybe I should get some 3D stuff for it." I started looking into things and the signal to noise ration on information is completely out of sorts.

I think I'm going to get 4 sets of glasses, 2 kid movies, a couple of documentaries, 1 movie for the wife and I, and see where it goes from there. All of my future purchases will be 3D from now on.

After consulting a couple of lists, it seems like I already own a surprising amount of 3D games (14!?!). Now that the tech will be in my hands soon I really look forward to gaming in 3D. Assassins Creed: Revelations in 3D? Arkham City too?!? Yes please! Oddly enough, the downloadable PSMove game Tumble seems like it could be the most immersive experience out of everything I own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...tation_3_games

http://www.3dtested.com/3d-xbox-360-games-list/

[Wingfan19]

I just bought a Sharp AQUOS - 70" 1080p LED 240Hz Smart 3D and a partridge in a pear tree HDTV. (Model: LC-70LE845U) I did not go out of my way for 3D at all. I wanted the 240Hz refresh rate and once you hit a certain price point, 3D is kind of a given. It's like trying to buy a microwave without a clock. It just comes with it. The TV will arrive on Friday, but I'm prepping the area and double checking to make sure I have everything I need. It occurred to me that "Oh yeah, this thing has 3D." "Maybe I should get some 3D stuff for it." I started looking into things and the signal to noise ration on information is completely out of sorts. I think I'm going to get 4 sets of glasses, 2 kid movies, a couple of documentaries, 1 movie for the wife and I, and see where it goes from there. All of my future purchases will be 3D from now on. After consulting a couple of lists, it seems like I already own a surprising amount of 3D games (14!?!). Now that the tech will be in my hands soon I really look forward to gaming in 3D. Assassins Creed: Revelations in 3D? Arkham City too?!? Yes please! Oddly enough, the downloadable PSMove game Tumble seems like it could be the most immersive experience out of everything I own. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...tation_3_games http://www.3dtested.com/3d-xbox-360-games-list/

My only caution with playing those games in 3D is that the framerates and graphic quality do take a hit. I tried out some Black Ops in 3D on my 360 and it was too hard to play MP mode. The resolution goes down and the frame rate is about half. Slower games are probably best suited for 3D as of now until the next gen systems come out with 3D in mind and the graphics power to properly handle a dual 1080p or 720p image without having to cut corners somewhere.

[StudioTan]

I have an Acer HD5360 720p projector with a 106" screen. I have an HTPC that I use for a player. All my Blu-rays are ripped and stored on my storage array and I play them with PowerDVD. Since I'm using a computer I don't have to worry about converting anything. I have an Nvidia card on the machine so I use 4 sets of 3D vision active glasses. It also means I can play PC games in 3D with it although that machine isn't all that powerful so it depends on the game.

Overall it's a fantastic setup and the picture quality from the $500 Acer is excellent for 3D. The one problem is my girlfriend is very sensitive to seeing rainbows on DLP projectors so when I can afford it I'm going to swap it for the Epson 3010.

I just got Avatar blu-ray in 3D due to buying a Panasonic 3D plasma. I was surprised that it's still an exclusive Panasonic disc, not for sale separately. Fetches a high resell value. Out of curiosity, how long is that supposed to last?

It's supposedly already over. I would expect a full release this holiday.

[Shawsie64]

I have my 50" Panasonic plasma hooked up to my gaming PC in the lounge, playing PES 2012 when I have friends over in 3D is really great! 2 360 controllers plugged into the front two USB slots of the PC and it puts consoles to shame

[THE NO LIFE KING]

I have an Acer HD5360 720p projector with a 106" screen. I have an HTPC that I use for a player. All my Blu-rays are ripped and stored on my storage array and I play them with PowerDVD. Since I'm using a computer I don't have to worry about converting anything. I have an Nvidia card on the machine so I use 4 sets of 3D vision active glasses. It also means I can play PC games in 3D with it although that machine isn't all that powerful so it depends on the game. Overall it's a fantastic setup and the picture quality from the $500 Acer is excellent for 3D. The one problem is my girlfriend is very sensitive to seeing rainbows on DLP projectors so when I can afford it I'm going to swap it for the Epson 3010. It's supposedly already over. I would expect a full release this holiday.

Mind if I ask what software you used to rip your Blu-rays? Will it work on DVDs as well?

[Gameboy415]

After consulting a couple of lists, it seems like I already own a surprising amount of 3D games (14!?!). Now that the tech will be in my hands soon I really look forward to gaming in 3D. Assassins Creed: Revelations in 3D? Arkham City too?!? Yes please! Oddly enough, the downloadable PSMove game Tumble seems like it could be the most immersive experience out of everything I own. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...tation_3_games http://www.3dtested.com/3d-xbox-360-games-list/

It sounds like you have a PS3 so I definitely recommend checking out Super Stardust HD if you don't already have it.
The 3D is amazing!

[rhfb]

It's supposedly already over. I would expect a full release this holiday.

Ah, so that is why my copy hasn't sold :( Shouldn't have waited so long to get it from Panasonic.

[SUPREME1]

**Please no "3D sucks, ect." comments. There are plenty of places to voice that opinion. I would like for this to be a resource for people who own or are curious about this tech can discuss such things without all the trash talking.**

I will honor your request.

[Gouty]

3D for me has been a pain in the ass so I rarely use it.

I've got a 63 inch Samsung plasma from 2010, a Denon 3808 receiver and a launch PS3. My issues are as follows.

1. The Denon has HDMI inputs, but can't pass a 3D signal. That means using a separate input on the tv for HDMI and running optical to the receiver. With everything else running through the receiver and having one lone device that requires a special work around is annoying.

2. The glasses my TV came with constantly get out of sync. Every 15 minutes or so I have to shut them off and power them back on.

3. For some reason when my TV detects a 3D signal the colors get really washed out, the black levels start to look like an old, shitty LCD. What's also weird is they stay that way after the 3D content is over, until I switch viewing modes such as movie or standard etc.

4. My bluray player can't read 3D discs so I have to use the PS3 which is incredibly loud.

[JoshuaJSlone]

I just got my new 3D TV on Thursday. Well, new refurbished TV. Got the Vizio E3D420VX for $500--though I did pay extra for the year-long warranty just in case. 42", passive 3D, so far so good.

A little trick for anyone else with a passive setup. I've used iZ3D drivers for a long time since I had an iZ3D monitor, but I wanted to try NVIDIA 3D Vision since many big games would work better for it. However, the options didn't look good--they offer high frame rates at high resolutions if you get their 3D Vision kit for an active 3D monitor, or they offer 3DTV Play which sends a standard 3D HDMI signal but either limits things to 1080p24 or 720p60. However, apparently NVIDIA allowed 3D Vision to run on some passive 3D Zalman monitors, and it's possible to trick your system into thinking that's what you've got plugged in. Now I can play 3D Just Cause 2 without artificial limits--though the natural limits of GPU capability still keep me pretty far from 60 fps at 1080.

[Mattlikewhoa]

I've got two 3D sets in my house and I'm planning to be purchase a 3D front projector once my basement project is up an running.

I've got a 50" Panasonic ST30 plasma in the bedroom, and a 64" Samsung D8000 plasma in the family room.

I was on the fence until I had a proper 3D demo and I fell in love. I've been scooping up titles since.

I'll be following this thread for sure...

[pauljeremiah]

I have a Sony Bravia KDL-40HX805 for about a month now, I use my PS3 at the moment to play 3D movies.

I have ordered a Multiregion Sony BDV-E780W for €799 and should have it in a week or two.

I'm also planning to pick up a 65" Sony Bravia when I finish the extension to my house later this year, I'm pretty much building a home cinema. Though I have thought about getting the Philips 21:9 HDTV, but if I did, I would get the 58" version instead of the 50"

Here's how many 3D films I have so far:



So far I have:

• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• Tintin & The Secret of the Unicorn
• Hugo
• TT3D: Closer To The Edge
• Immortals
• Cave of Forgotten Dreams
• Tron: Legacy
• The Lion King
• Captain America: The First Avenger

And in regards to 3D gaming.

Super Star Dust:
The best PS3 game to show off 3D gaming.

Ridge Racer 7:
Works best when viewing the car in a third person perspective.

Uncharted 3:
The 3D works fine, I recommend turning the 3D strength down to about 50%.

Ico & Shadow of the Colossus:
As the PS3 only does 3D at 720p, this game actually looks and runs better then at 1080p. Native 720p proves to be a phenomenal improvement over the original and frame-rate is very, very solid. While the resolution boost isn't quite as revelatory as it is in Ico (like for like, PS2 Colossus is pumping out twice as many pixels as PS2 Ico), it's remarkable just how much detail is resolved from the shift to high-definition.

Crysis & Crysis 2:
Both games look and play great in 3D. The best 3D FPS's out there.

Resistance 3:
Extremely well done 3D, but not as outstanding as Crysis 1&2.

Gran Turismo 5:
Works fine, but doesn't add much to the whole experience.

Killzone 3:
Same as Resistance 3, but the jet pack level (which is also the 3D demo bundled with Resistance 3) is far more exciting in 3D, also I find the jumping/jet packing to be far more accurate in 3D.

[StudioTan]

Mind if I ask what software you used to rip your Blu-rays? Will it work on DVDs as well?

I use AnyDVD-HD and yes it will work with DVD as well :)

[SillyEskimo]

Trying to find glasses for a 3D TV is a fucking nightmare. I had no idea there was no standard and most glasses only work with particular manufacturers, model numbers, or model years. What a mess.

Great post pauljeremiah! I appreciate the suggestions.


My first 2 3D movie purchases will probably be The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. My kids love those movies and I feel they have a timeless quality to them. I have every past released 3D movie I am interested in already on normal Blu Ray and I really do not feel like double dipping. Honestly, I was really disappointed in the 3D movie selection when I looked. Obviously, more will come out in the future so this trend should turn around fast enough. I think a documentary of some sort will be my "show off" disc to give friends and family an idea of what 3D can do at home. I'm open to suggestions on any movie/cartoon/documentary that would really show off the tech.

[StudioTan]

Trying to find glasses for a 3D TV is a fucking nightmare. I had no idea there was no standard and most glasses only work with particular manufacturers, model numbers, or model years. What a mess. Great post pauljeremiah! I appreciate the suggestions. My first 2 3D movie purchases will probably be The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. My kids love those movies and I feel they have a timeless quality to them. I have every past released 3D movie I am interested in already on normal Blu Ray and I really do not feel like double dipping. Honestly, I was really disappointed in the 3D movie selection when I looked. Obviously, more will come out in the future so this trend should turn around fast enough. I think a documentary of some sort will be my "show off" disc to give friends and family an idea of what 3D can do at home. I'm open to suggestions on any movie/cartoon/documentary that would really show off the tech.

Coraline looks good but TNBC is a conversion. I would highly recommend picking up Hugo both for the movie itself and as demo material. Also, if you want something for the kids and also demo material then your best options are Tangled and How To Train Your Dragon. Tangled is a great movie and looks awesome in 3D.

[pauljeremiah]

Trying to find glasses for a 3D TV is a fucking nightmare. I had no idea there was no standard and most glasses only work with particular manufacturers, model numbers, or model years. What a mess. Great post pauljeremiah! I appreciate the suggestions. My first 2 3D movie purchases will probably be The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline. My kids love those movies and I feel they have a timeless quality to them. I have every past released 3D movie I am interested in already on normal Blu Ray and I really do not feel like double dipping. Honestly, I was really disappointed in the 3D movie selection when I looked. Obviously, more will come out in the future so this trend should turn around fast enough. I think a documentary of some sort will be my "show off" disc to give friends and family an idea of what 3D can do at home. I'm open to suggestions on any movie/cartoon/documentary that would really show off the tech.

No probs, if you are looking for a good documentary, check out TT3D or Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

[MJLord]

I'm upgrading my computer in the summer to be powerful enough to run 3D and putting a nice shiny Blu ray DD in it :D

Can anyone recommend a good 3D monitor around 21" ?

many thanks !

[pauljeremiah]

I'm upgrading my computer in the summer to be powerful enough to run 3D and putting a nice shiny Blu ray DD in it :D Can anyone recommend a good 3D monitor around 21" ? many thanks !

this one, 23" and sub $500

[Raistlin]

It'll be a while, but long-term I'm looking into the feasibility of a passive 3D front projection setup.

[Cold-Steel]

I've got a Panasonic 50" GT30 which is hooked up to a Denon AVR-891 and I just picked up a pair of the PlayStation 3D glasses.

Thought I'd chip in on my 3D gaming experiences...first thing I did was pop in Uncharted 3 and I was definitely loving it. The game makes good use of subtle 3D effects that don't really pop out too much like cheap 3D. There are some sequences (even at the beginning of the game) which are big "wow" moments in 3D.

After that I tried Killzone 3. Talk about a total let down. The game just looked 'meh' in 3D. Some cool effects but it seemed like the resolution of the game took a dive.

Swords & Soldiers is pretty sweet in 3D - would definitely recommend it! The 2D/3D look of the game suits 3D really well.

Then I tried Wipeout HD / Fury in 3D and that was amazing. Definitely loving futuristic racing in 3D. My only complaint is that it is *really* intense 3D (in a good way but holy shit).

By far though, the best 3D game period is Super Stardust HD. I had no idea what I was getting into but holy shit - this game looks fucking BALLS OUT CRAZY in 3D. 10/10 and would totally recommend it for anyone who wants to be won over in 3D. Has the best implementation of 3D yet in a game and runs silky smooth.

Games I have yet to try out yet in 3D:

-Batman: Arkham City
-Mortal Kombat
-Crysis 2
-Gran Turismo 5
-Gears of War 3
-Call of Duty: Black Ops
-Assassins Creed: Revelations
-Resistance 3
-SOCOM 4: US Navy Seals
-The Fight: Lights Out
-Batman: Arkham Asylum

So many games to try now!

[crazygambit]

I have 55" LG LW5700 that uses passive 3D glasses. The bundled ones are total crap, but I bought a couple of premium ones that are much, much better. I made a thread about it a while back.

I don't really like active glasses to be honest. The flickering is a little annoying to my eyes, plus they can't be curved as far as I know. So light gets in from behind or they have to be too big to compensate. It's all very awkward IMO. The set of Polaroid passive glasses I ended up buying are great, curved so they fit your face and are very comfortable. Some people seemed to be overwhelmingly against spending money on passive glasses in the thread I mentioned early, but if you're already spending thousands on a 3D TV saving a few bucks on the glasses (which is a huge part of the experience and I think crappy glasses is a major contributor to 3D hate in general) is frankly ridiculous IMO.

I hear a lot about how 3D is a no go until they can get rid of the glasses, but if they're just as comfortable as the sun glasses you wear while driving, I really don't see the issue. I don't even notice I have them on. Plus it's nice that you can look at stuff other than the TV without having to take them off. Unfortunately phone screens look a little weird with the glasses on, so it limits your multitasking a little.

I have a Denon AVX 1912 receiver after my Onkyo 606 bit the dust. Terrible build quality, won't be going with Onkyo ever again. I have Pure Acoustics speakers that are pretty decent for the price.

[THE NO LIFE KING]

I use AnyDVD-HD and yes it will work with DVD as well :)

Ah, thank dude! Just reading the descriptions of AnyDVD-HD and just want to know, do I need the CloneDVD as well is that rolled in the AnyDVD-HD software? If I'm reading it right, AnyDVD will remove Regions/restrictions while CloneDVD will actually backup the DVD???

:/

[ReBurn]

My 3D gear is:

Samsung UND55D8000 55" LED SMART TV with active 3D
Samsung BD-D5500 3D Blu-ray player

I have 9 pair of Samsung active shutter glasses. 2 are rechargeable that came with the TV and 7 were freebies that HH Gregg threw in to seal the deal.

To cut down on speaker clutter I have a Samsung HW-E450 sound bar with wireless subwoofer.

I only have a few 3D movies:
Captain America
Tron Legacy
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

I'm looking forward to fall when this summer's crop of movies releases to Blu-ray 3D. I'm also looking forward to a mass market release of Avatar 3D. I borrowed a friend's copy and it was awesome to watch.

[Raistlin]

Ah, thank dude! Just reading the descriptions of AnyDVD-HD and just want to know, do I need the CloneDVD as well is that rolled in the AnyDVD-HD software? If I'm reading it right, AnyDVD will remove Regions/restrictions while CloneDVD will actually backup the DVD??? :/

Clone DVD is mostly if you want to create an iso, remove stuff, compress, etc. If you want to simply copy the file structure to a drive, you can do that without. Really matters how you want to set up your library and what sort of playback HW/SW you are using.

For me personally though, I use IMGburn for creating iso's ... and I do 1:1.

[THE NO LIFE KING]

Clone DVD is mostly if you want to create an iso, remove stuff, compress, etc. If you want to simply copy the file structure to a drive, you can do that without. Really matters how you want to set up your library and what sort of playback HW/SW you are using. For me personally though, I use IMGburn for creating iso's ... and I do 1:1.

Ahh, I'm just interested in a program that'll let me copy any Region Blu-Ray/DVD and let me copy the feature/subs of the disc while removing the advertisements/warnings that you can't skip out of. Also to attain the highest quality video/audio which I guess you would say, 1:1. I'm a noob as you can see but I have over 400 Blu-Rays and equal amount of DVDs as well. So looking into ripping my collection, into a Digital Format, is something I've always wanted to do for a while now. I'm also looking to getting a Drobo to store all my media as well.

[StudioTan]

Ah, thank dude! Just reading the descriptions of AnyDVD-HD and just want to know, do I need the CloneDVD as well is that rolled in the AnyDVD-HD software? If I'm reading it right, AnyDVD will remove Regions/restrictions while CloneDVD will actually backup the DVD??? :/

AnyDVD will rip to an image file directly. For regular Blu-rays I remux the movie and remove extras and other languages to reduce the size without affecting the audio or video quality. Here is a guide for that. Doing that means I can fit about 70 movies on a 2tb drive. At current prices that means I'm adding about $1.50 to the cost of the movie (it was $1 before the price of HDs skyrocketed). The convenience of having all my movies available with a click of a button makes it worth it for me.

Unfortunately I found 3D movies somehow lost most of their depth when I tried to remux them, likely something to do with how these are encoded, so I just rip the image for those. I can only fit about 40-45 movies on a drive that way but it's still worth it for me.

For viewing I use Mediabrower which is a plug-in for Windows Media Center.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQzo...eature=related

I don't like the theme he's using in that video but you get the idea. Mediabrowser downloads all the meta data for the movies as well as covers for you. It couldn't be easier.

[THE NO LIFE KING]

AnyDVD will rip to an image file directly. For regular Blu-rays I remux the movie and remove extras and other languages to reduce the size without affecting the audio or video quality. Here is a guide for that. Doing that means I can fit about 70 movies on a 2tb drive. At current prices that means I'm adding about $1.50 to the cost of the movie (it was $1 before the price of HDs skyrocketed). The convenience of having all my movies available with a click of a button makes it worth it for me. Unfortunately I found 3D movies somehow lost most of their depth when I tried to remux them, likely something to do with how these are encoded, so I just rip the image for those. I can only fit about 40-45 movies on a drive that way but it's still worth it for me. For viewing I use Mediabrower which is a plug-in for Windows Media Center. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQzo...eature=related I don't like the theme he's using in that video but you get the idea. Mediabrowser downloads all the meta data for the movies as well as covers for you. It couldn't be easier.

Thanks for the clarification!

[gatisimo]

AnyDVD will rip to an image file directly. For regular Blu-rays I remux the movie and remove extras and other languages to reduce the size without affecting the audio or video quality. Here is a guide for that. Doing that means I can fit about 70 movies on a 2tb drive. At current prices that means I'm adding about $1.50 to the cost of the movie (it was $1 before the price of HDs skyrocketed). The convenience of having all my movies available with a click of a button makes it worth it for me. Unfortunately I found 3D movies somehow lost most of their depth when I tried to remux them, likely something to do with how these are encoded, so I just rip the image for those. I can only fit about 40-45 movies on a drive that way but it's still worth it for me. For viewing I use Mediabrower which is a plug-in for Windows Media Center. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQzo...eature=related I don't like the theme he's using in that video but you get the idea. Mediabrowser downloads all the meta data for the movies as well as covers for you. It couldn't be easier.

Just as an alternative, I use XBMC. I rip the BDs just like the poster above, but watch and navigate with XBMC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMPBdgBd6Sc

[The Lamp]

I was reading about a new LG 3D TV from CES 2012 that uses active 3D but is compatible with passive tech, so you still have full HD res? How does that work?

[StudioTan]

Just as an alternative, I use XBMC. I rip the BDs just like the poster above, but watch and navigate with XBMC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMPBdgBd6Sc

Yeah, I was going to suggest XBMC although I've never used it. From what I've read it's a bit more complicated than setting up Mediabrowser.

[JoshuaJSlone]

I was reading about a new LG 3D TV from CES 2012 that uses active 3D but is compatible with passive tech, so you still have full HD res? How does that work?

I don't know specifically about the LG set you're talking about, but I have heard a bit about the possibility of combining active/passive techniques--though from what I remember it should still have the half-resolution issue. The idea was that as in active, only one view would be displayed at a time at a very fast rate. However, rather than having active glasses that would block one eye's view, it would just use the polarization to achieve the same effect of getting an image to the correct eye.

Perhaps they have a full-screen polarization filter they can turn off and on, which would then allow each eye to get the full resolution? Just guessing here.

[Mattlikewhoa]

It'll be a while, but long-term I'm looking into the feasibility of a passive 3D front projection setup.

Ugh I wish...I plan to buy 4-6 glasses for the setup I'm planning in the basement. Even at deal cost (thank god for hookups) I'm looking at $350 for glasses. And if I jump in with a certain brand, I guess I'm committed for my next upgrade as well.

I guess you have to pay to play.

[SillyEskimo]

I grabbed 4 pair of 3D glasses, bought 10 Blu Rays, and 3 video games. I did not buy any 3D movies this time. I'm going to wait for input from the wife.

I switched our old 58" set to the bedroom and moved the 44" bedroom set downstairs for now. That is a big ass TV for our bedroom. It feels like an IMAX in there!

[Raistlin]

Ugh I wish...I plan to buy 4-6 glasses for the setup I'm planning in the basement. Even at deal cost (thank god for hookups) I'm looking at $350 for glasses. And if I jump in with a certain brand, I guess I'm committed for my next upgrade as well. I guess you have to pay to play.

Yeah for front projection you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. If anything, passive costs (much) more than active :\

[worldrevolution]

So I don't know if there's a general thread about this stuff but I figured I'd ask here since it's a recent thread.

I've been out of the US for a very, very long time now and just got back and am looking to set up a home entertainment system. Problem is I have zero idea what's going on now. There's 3d, there's smart tvs, there's something called Roku which I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT DOES. Seriously..I'm fairly tech savvy but feel a bit lost. So I figured I'd throw out a few questions..

1) Any general recommendations for a new tv in the 32-42 inch range? I had a 32 inch Toshiba Regza for the last few years which I enjoyed but that was a simple hdtv. I suppose a smart tv is the best choice nowadays? Smart means it comes loaded with streaming applications, right? 3d included is fine but not necessary..which leads me to my next question..

2) What is active and passive 3d? I have no idea, literally, about anything regarding 3d.

3) What the hell is Roku and Apple tv and all that? They're just boxes that put streaming apps on your tv? Does a smart tv make a streaming box pointless? I've used my tv as my main pc monitor for more than 5 years now so if that's all they do I feel like they're pointless for me. Is a cable tv subscription required to use them or can they be used independent of any cable tv provider?

Any help with any of these questions is MUCH appreciated.

[SillyEskimo]

So I don't know if there's a general thread about this stuff but I figured I'd ask here since it's a recent thread. I've been out of the US for a very, very long time now and just got back and am looking to set up a home entertainment system. Problem is I have zero idea what's going on now. There's 3d, there's smart tvs, there's something called Roku which I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT DOES. Seriously..I'm fairly tech savvy but feel a bit lost. So I figured I'd throw out a few questions.. 1) Any general recommendations for a new tv in the 32-42 inch range? I had a 32 inch Toshiba Regza for the last few years which I enjoyed but that was a simple hdtv. I suppose a smart tv is the best choice nowadays? Smart means it comes loaded with streaming applications, right? 3d included is fine but not necessary..which leads me to my next question.. 2) What is active and passive 3d? I have no idea, literally, about anything regarding 3d. 3) What the hell is Roku and Apple tv and all that? They're just boxes that put streaming apps on your tv? Does a smart tv make a streaming box pointless? I've used my tv as my main pc monitor for more than 5 years now so if that's all they do I feel like they're pointless for me. Is a cable tv subscription required to use them or can they be used independent of any cable tv provider? Any help with any of these questions is MUCH appreciated.

This sounds a lot like me when I was buying my first HD television. I used to be so on top of the tech but after 6ish years and all the innovations I was at square 1 all over again.

1) Need a price more than your size requirements.

2) http://reviews.cnet.com/2735-7608_7-1278-3.html (too much to explain, so here is a link)

3) Yes, you are on the right track. These devices stream content to your TV. I have AppleTVs hooked up to all my sets so that I can stream my movies from my PC downstairs. I ripped all of my DVD collection last year (1,500 movies!) and keep them on removable HDs downstairs. Apple lets me stream that content (as well as music and photos) to every TV in the house. Roku is cheaper and does pretty much of the same thing. It's main advantage is the ability to play all sorts of codecs and video formats. All of my media is ripped to a standard, so I went for AppleTV because I really like the presentation and I especially like how my iPads and iPhones interact with it. For instance, placing my iPad screen on my TV. I also use it as my standard for Netflix viewing.

[JoshuaJSlone]

2) What is active and passive 3d? I have no idea, literally, about anything regarding 3d.

Active 3D has the monitor displaying a frame for one eye followed by a frame for the other eye, back and forth at a very fast rate. The glasses then also have to flicker very quickly, preventing each eye from seeing the wrong image. Pro of this method: full resolution, easier for TVs to support since it basically just needs a high refresh rate. Negative of this method: Glasses more expensive, some people can notice the flicker and really hate it.

Passive 3D is more like what is used in theaters. The image for each eye is polarized differently, so the left and right lens of the glasses only let the appropriate image through. Pro: Cheaper, lighter glasses, no excessive flickering. Con: As long as we're not talking about a 3D projector shooting images for each eye, on an LCD this means each eye will only see half the screen's resolution.

[SillyEskimo]

I found out that Comcast has a 3D channel, on demand 3D movies, and ESPN 3D already included in my package. This was a very nice thing to discover.

I have the glasses, more Blu Rays, and a coupe more games for PS3 and 360 arriving in the mail today and the set will be here tomorrow. I'm pretty excited!

[Krakatoa]

I picked up a cheap LW5700 LG tv from Costco, and So far I am loving the TV. It's a passive TV that uses FPR to display a full res 1080P in 3d. Also it has a built 2d /3d converter that works well.

I recommend Passive any day. Cheap glasses (any real 3d one's will work) No batteries to charge, and now the same resolution active.

Edit. Anyone have 3d and Fios? If so do they have any 3d channels?

[MWS Natural]

Can anyone recommend some good 3D glasses for a 50" Panasonic Plasma?

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

I picked up a cheap LW5700 LG tv from Costco, and So far I am loving the TV. It's a passive TV that uses FPR to display a full res 1080P in 3d. Also it has a built 2d /3d converter that works well. I recommend Passive any day. Cheap glasses (any real 3d one's will work) No batteries to charge, and now the same resolution active. Edit. Anyone have 3d and Fios? If so do they have any 3d channels?

I have Fios but no 3D TV. But they have ESPN 3D. That's all I know of.