What is the difference between a 3D-ready and a built-in 3D TV or Blu-ray player - with respect to performance?

CE Pro Senior Editor Bob Archer and a couple CE pros weighed in:.

Archer: TVs labeled as “3D ready” don’t have built-in 3D processing. They will work with an external box - sold separately - that will decode the 3D content. The big caveat with these decoding boxes is they tend to be proprietary, meaning Mitsubishi’s decoding box won’t work with a Samsung TV.

A TV labeled as a 3D TV has the processing already built in.

Mark Coxon: It was my understanding that, at least in Sony‘s case, “3D-ready” means the IR emitter for the 3D glasses was not built into the set, nor were the glasses included. You would have to buy an external emitter and glasses to use the 3D capability, and could update firmware via the web if need be.

Is there an actual 3D converter box as well, like the old HD cable receivers?

Archer: You are correct, Mark. You need the firmware download for the existing 3D products, and the IR transmitter and active shutter glasses for the latest TVs. Sony’s 3D products are only now starting to hit the market.

Dave Stevens: Bob and Mark are absolutely correct. I just purchased a Mitsu 73WD737 TV that is “3D ready” because I refused to spend an extra $350 for the 738 model, which is exactly the same set with 3D built in, because the current 3D format is nothing more than a gimmick and not ready for prime time.

Agreed - however this will be different I feel with 3D Computers - if the computer has all it requires as far as systems and capacity then the addition of a 3D LCD/LED Monitor and a 3D Graphics card will do the trick - oh maybe a blu-ray optical device also. At least the whole computer won’t have to be tossed out.

cheers,

I think that I am not alone in saying that I am going to wait a bit until I get my next TV. Maybe it will even feature built-in 3D. I feel that many consumers recently upgraded their TV hardware partly due to the digital-transition, partly to take advantage of HD. I just don’t see the real benefit of 3D. There is simply not enough 3D programming out there.

It’s like the early days of HD all over again—a few specialty channels and the occasional special feature.

Thanks for your insight, shags38! I would like to not have to replace the hardware, but I think it may be necessary when it comes to TV. I may just update my computer with 3D-capabilities first!