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LG 3D TV Review

The latest craze in home entertainment systems is 3D televisions. This entertainment format requires not only a new compatible TV, but also 3D-ready hardware, of course, the expensive 3D glasses for each viewer and also real 3D content to watch. To promote this technology, TV manufacturers are offering consumers complete packages to jump right into the 3D explosion.

Manufacturers Samsung, Sony and Panasonic have already produced 3D TV models along with the necessary peripherals, and LG is now the latest to jump on the bandwagon. As part of its promotional package, LG is offering, according to its press release, two free pairs of “active shutter” 3D glasses to anyone who purchases the LG LX9500 or LX6500 LED HDTV bundled with the LG 3D Blu-ray Disc player. from participating retailers. There’s also instant cash back and a bonus certificate to receive a 3D Blue-ray video title. Clearly, LG is going the extra mile to encourage consumers to get hooked on 3D.

However, the bundles still cost quite a bit of money, and LG’s least expensive 3D TV promotion compares very similarly to the bundles offered by competitors Samsung, which also offer a nearly identical 3D “starter kit” bundle. In general, all the big players offer 3D glasses at comparable prices, but the downside is that they are not compatible between brands. So if his friend comes over with her Sony 3D glasses to watch a movie on her LG 3D TV, well, tough luck, but that’s not going to work.

The way the technology works is also different than in movie theaters, so you can’t just take home those red and blue cellophane tinted glasses and expect them to work the same way for your home 3D TV. It’s unfortunate that polarized light technology is not being readily adopted by first-generation 3D TV manufacturers, because it remains the best and most affordable way to get a rich 3D viewing experience with excellent color and superb detail.

However, LG says that it is in the process of developing 3D-ready TVs that are based on this polarized light technology, so the two formats may eventually converge in the future. For now, though, these first-generation 3D TVs still require separate, expensive viewing glasses, which are more cumbersome and electronically powered.

Fortunately, there is another technique that allows 3D viewing without the glasses. This technique is called autostereoscopy and although it has been around for a while it has some limitations, but you can get a decent 3D image on flat screens using lenticular lenses or parallax barriers. LG announced a 3D TV in the works, called the M4200D, that uses a lenticular lens system; however, there is a fairly limited viewing distance (about 13 feet) for the 3D effect to really work this way. Still, it’s early in the game, and as more development takes place, one hopes that the 3D TV experience will become more and more accessible.

conclusion

Innovation and development in the field of 3D television continues apace, with LG and other manufacturers pouring considerable R&D budgets into this technology. As choices increase and competition becomes fiercer, consumers’ choices for viewing 3D content at home are sure to increase, while prices are likely to become more affordable.