Is 3D TV right for you? Are you considering it? Shopping around? Waiting for the right deal or the right movies? A couple exceptions notwithstanding, 3D TV is brand new to the home theater world, and understandably, a lot of people are confused over the whole category. To help you in your search for the perfect 3DTV solution, we sought out a couple video experts willing to share their insights regarding the latest development in home entertainment.

Meet the Experts:
Bob Cole, owner and founder of World Wide Stereo. Cole has been a leader in home theater, high-end audio and automation installation and service since the company started in 1979. He’s been the president of the Home Entertainment Source, an influential group of consumer electronics (CE) professionals. He’s also the weekly gadget guy for Philadelphia’s Fox News.

Joel Silver, founder of the Imaging Science Foundation. Silver teaches the world about high-end video and video calibration. In addition to training thousands of people to be video experts, Silver serves as a consultant to consumer electronics manufactures and video broadcasters. He also serves on several committees for the Consumer Electronics Association.

Glasses Half Full
Yes, we’re stuck with wearing glasses for TVs for at least the next five years, probably longer. But it’s important to understand that not all 3D TV glasses are alike. Some displays use passive, polarized glasses, while others, most in fact, use battery-powered glasses with active LCD shutters. Even more, the glasses for one brand of TV may not be compatible with another brand, and this year’s glasses for brand X may not be compatible with next year’s TV for band X. What does that mean to you?

“People need to understand that they’re buying into a whole system,” says Cole. If you purchase a Panasonic TV, you probably need to purchase Panasonic glasses. “If you’ve got four or five people in your family, you’re going to need four or five pairs of glasses unless you want to have a fight.”

The glasses also make a difference if you decide to upgrade to a larger screen or get a second 3D TV for another room. Make sure all your glasses are compatible. Luckily a couple of manufacturers, namely Monster and Xpand are now offering universal glasses that work with most formats and are firmware upgradeable.

Tip: If you plan on eventually buying more than one 3D TV, stick with one brand or buy universal glasses.

If Bigger is Better, in 3D Bigger is a Lot Better
“Whatever TV size you’re thinking of, go up two sizes,” says Silver. 3D opens up a whole new level of involvement in the video, explains Silver, and that requires a big picture. He suggests that a 50-inch screen is about the minimum size someone should consider. This is an area where DLP systems and front projection have an advantage, because they can make a much bigger picture—front projection in particular. He also describes Panasonic’s 85-inch 3D plasma as “awesome.”

Tip: This one’s easy—get the biggest TV your space can accommodate, or get a bigger space.

What’s Your Angle?
Off angle viewing has always been an issue with some home theater gear. In 3D, it’s even more important. “In some products, if you go too far off axis [from the center of the screen], the picture pretty much disappears. Active shutter glasses make it even more difficult,” says Cole.

Silver concurs. “You don’t want to be too far off axis, and that’s more important with LCDs. It’s not only important what position you’re in, but also what angle your head is tilted at—tilted too far and the image will collapse.” Horizontal reclining on a sofa is probably out.

Tip: Look for a TV with the widest viewing angle possible, and demo it in the store at the same distance and angle you’ll experience in your home.

Speed Kills, but Not in 3D
Some TVs are faster than others, or at least some technology can react faster than others. If you heard that 120Hz refresh rates are important for LCD—it’s even more important for 3D. With 3D, you’re getting that 120Hz image spit in two—60Hz per eye, which can make artifacts much more apparent. “I wouldn’t get an LED LCD unless it’s 240Hz,” says Cole. This is not a problem for plasma and DLP, which are inherently faster technologies. Newer LED-based LCD TVs feature 480Hz and even 600Hz refresh rates, which goes a long way in correcting artifacts and crosstalk errors.

Tip: Either buy a faster technology such as plasma or look for the fastest refresh rates on LCDs.

Two HDMIs Are Better Than One
How much does the 3D Blu-ray player matter in picture quality? Not as much as you’d think, says Cole. “I have yet to see any significant difference from one Blu-ray player to the next. They all seem to handle 3D as well as it can be handled,” he says. However, audio is another story. When 3D hit the ground in 2010, it reveiled an issue that many people hadn’t anticipated—audio problems. The problem was that most surround sound processors couldn’t handle both the 3D video signal and the high resolution surround sound signal though the HDMI inputs. Many users ended up plugging their Blu-ray players into their TVs via HDMI and connected the player to the receiver with optical or coax cables—but that’s hardly ideal. Now more players are including two HDMI outputs—one for video and one for audio. As more receivers become available with HDMI 1.4a compatibility, this will be less of an issue. Sure, this isn’t the one-cable world we envisioned when HDMI first came on the scene, but this is still a transition period. Have patience kids.

Tip: If you don’t already have a 3D-capable A/V receiver and don’t plan on buying one, make sure your 3D Blu-ray player has two HDMI outputs.

Bright Lights, Big Picture
We all love bright images, sometimes we love them too bright (and end up ruining the picture in the process—see calibration). But with 3D, some of the light (up to half) may be lost by the 3D glasses. On top of that, most glasses add a slight tint to the picture which needs to be compensated for in the picture settings—most TVs will do this automatically when in 3D mode. “Having a brighter picture has never been more important because the glasses are going to cost you light,” emphasizes Silver. He also notes that in addition to cranking up the brightness, 3D TVs need to be calibrated through the glasses in order to properly compensate for the lens color shift, so make sure your TV allows for an additional memory setting for 3D mode.

LCD TVs can be brighter than plasma and DLP so they’re not as dependent on room lighting conditions.

Tip: Go bright. Lower-end TVs may not have the light output you need to fully experience 3D in your room.

3D is a Feature, Not a TV
The most important thing to remember is that you’re not buying a 3D TV. You’re buying a very good HDTV with 3D as one of its features. Most current model 3DTVs are also top-of-the-line 2D TVs that include the best features of any 2D televisions. If you’re in the market for a premium-performance television, 3D is one of the features you’ll want on your must-have list.

Tip: Don’t panic. It’s just television after all. Buy something you like, then find something you like to watch, and enjoy it.

Grant Clauser - Technology and Web Editor, Electronic House

Grant Clauser has been covering home electronics for more than 10 years with editorial roles in several consumer and trade magazines. He's done ISF-level damage to hundreds of reviewed products and has had audio training from Home Acoustics Alliance and Sencore. He's also the author of the book The Trouble with Rivers. Follow him on Twitter @geclauser.