ABOUT DETAILS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF 3D TV

                                  

3D is everywhere at CES 2010, but before you get swept up in the hype, it's worth remembering a few issues. First, you'll need glasses. Second, content is scarce. And third, you'll need a new TV. So with those facts considered, we'll take a look at a few of the 3D-capable HDTVs announced at the show this year. For more info, check out our CES 2010 TVs wrap-up.
                                       
The company's least-expensive 3D-compatible TV announced at the show uses an LED backlight, like most 3D-compatible LCDs. Unlike those of most makers, Samsumg's models can convert 2D content to 3D (we can't wait to check that one out).

Samsung's flagship TV at CES 2009 is extremely thin in person, yet still provides that illusion of 3D depth within its picture frame.

Samsung endowed its 3D plasma with a thin depth as well, albeit not quite as thin as the LCD.

Along with Panasonic, Sony was the only maker to specify the inclusion of the requisite 3D glasses with its TV. This flagship model also gets a few nice extras, although it doesn't have local dimming.

Local dimming LED technology is reserved for Sony's step-down 3D-capable TV.

Vizio was the only maker to announce pricing on its 3D models, and at $2,500 for the 55-incher, the premium for 3D doesn't sound too high.

Speaking of pricing, though the damage on the U.S. version of the Cell TV wasn't announced, its Japanese brother costs $11 grand. 3D capability--complete with 2D to 3D conversion for existing content--is just the tip of the Toshiba's features iceberg, which was impressive enough to earn it one of our three Best of CES nominations.

The overall Best of CES winner, Panasonic's 3D plasma will likely deliver an impressive picture even in two dimensions.
                                           
For the last couple of years it seems that our job as TV reviewers comes down to determining which TV is better: the best Panasonic plasma or the best Samsung plasma. In 2011 the vessel bearing the Samsung flag is the PND8000, and while Panasonic's VT30 still deserves the overall picture quality nod in our book, the Samsung is good enough to match the Panasonic's numeric Performance score of 9. The PND8000's picture quality is superb, and we don't expect any other TV aside from the VT30 to surpass it this year--although the less-expensive PND7000 series, which we have yet to review, might equal it. The kicker, and it's a big one, is that the 59-inch Samsung we reviewed actually costs less than the 55-inch Panasonic, while delivering a better design and even more features. Unless you're the pickiest of videophiles with the most unlimited of budgets, it's tough to justify the cost of the VT30 over the PND8000.

Samsung differentiated the equal-size D8000 and D7000 plasmas by coloring their metallic frames "titanium" and "brushed black," respectively. While both look plenty slick--especially with the company's trademark transparent edging--we slightly prefer the darker D7000. We also like the latter's stand better, with its rectangular base and transparent stalk. The D8000's chrome-colored spider stand is a great reason to get this TV wall-mounted.

The 1.5-inch depth of this plasma makes it seem even more like an LED TV.

Samsung doesn't include the two pairs of 3D glasses mentioned above, model SSG-3100GB, in the TV's box, but buyers of the PND8000 (and other 2011 Samsung 3D TVs) who don't receive glasses at the time of purchase can use Samsung's dedicated Web site to claim them. Samsung is still the only company to offer such an inclusion; Panasonic, for example, only includes one pair of glasses, and that's only on its most-expensive model, the TC-PVT30 series. According to Samsung its promotion will continue through June 25, although we expect a similar one to continue after that date.

Samsung's PND8000 is the best Samsung plasma we've ever tested, and the third-best of all time after the Kuro and the Panasonic VT30. Its black level performance was very good, with the ability to produce extremely deep blacks, although it failed to resolve full shadow detail--and properly reproduce 1080p/24--when calibrated for those deep blacks. Color after calibration was, simply put, as close to perfect as we've seen on any TV, bright-room and 3D picture quality were excellent, and of course it trounced any LCD in terms of uniformity and off-angle viewing.

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