Technology seems to be constantly evolving and TV sets are no exception. It was only a year or so ago that plasma and LCD TV’s were the must have accessory at home … not it’s the 3D TV.

Thankfully help is at hand as the Totally3D gang have come up with a guide to buying a 3D TV. We cover off the differences between LCD and plasma 3D TV’s, viewing distance, screen size and picture quality.

3D LCD Vs 3D plasma

This can be quite a controversial factor when choosing a 3D TV? Most people tend to prefer one camp to the other. The following factors should all be looked at when making your decision:

Refresh rates – It’s worth noting that when a LCD 3D TV manufacturer says they can deliver refresh rates of up to 480Hz this generally tends to be a fabrication (relying on the manipulation in the settings). Plasma 3D TVs do not suffer from motion blur/ghosting as you achieve almost instantaneous pixel refresh rates. See graph below for a comparison on picture resolution. Winner = Plasma

3d comparison

Brightness – In general LCD have always trumped plasmas when it comes to image brightness. This is important when watching 3D movies as both active and passive 3D glasses cause a loss in light transmission which results in a darker picture – Winner = LCD

Viewing Angles – On this point there is a clear advantage that plasmas have over LCD largely due to the manner in which the light is created in each type of screen. This is important when there is a group of you watching say a 3D movie at the same time – surely the experience should be good for all – Winner = Plasma

Overall if you want a 3D TV that offers top color fidelity and faster refresh rates then the plasma should be your choice however if you want a TV that’s better for gaming and will show true brightness in any environment then the LCD is for you.

3D TV size

You know the saying ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall’ well that rings true when talking about 3D screens and you’ll definetly feel the pinch on your wallet when you move to anything over 42″. Currently manufacturers are offering 3D ready screens from 30 to 50 inches however make sure that there is sufficient room around the screen for people to enjoy the exprience from all angles.

samsung 3d tv

Screen distance and resolution

On this point you could get very scientific however if you need to take any piece of advice with you then remember that for the optimal 3D experience you should aim to get as close as 1.56 times the screen diagonal size of a 1080p 3D TV. Ensure you maximise your field of view for your budget and make sure you don’t waste money on a 1080p display if the seating distance does not allow for it.

3d distance

Passive or active 3D

When looking for a 3D TV you’ll notice there are manufacturers who sell TVs that have either active or passive 3D technology but what’s the difference.

Active shutter 3D is when the 3D glasses do all the hard work. Light is alternated in each eye piece and synced with the 3D TV giving you a 3D effect. This does have the advantage of meaning a some what cheaper screen and also many current screen technologies can adopt it including plasma and LCD. However it has been noted that viewers sensitive to refresh rates see some ‘flickering’ with the images and the glasses themselves can be expensive (up to £100 a pair) so if you’ve got a big family you will have to fork out a fair fortune for everyone to enjoy 3D.

Passive 3D TVs work by displaying two images on the screen simultaneously (although they can also be displayed in a sequential manner), but with each image having a different polarization. The 3D glasses required are simple glasses containing a polarized filter for each eyepiece. As advantages go passive does result in vivid colours and there are no ghosting issues. You can also get away with wearing much cheaper glasses leaving you more cash for 3D films. However this technology is really only restricted to 3D projectors and high end TV’s. Some 3D critics also mention that for home use passive technology can give you an inferior picture.

3d glasses

The Totally3D team have also put together a guide on buying a 3D projector

Thanks to 3DTV buying guide for their expertise in this area.