The 12 best 3D LCD and plasma TVs on the planet

The 12 best 3D LCD and plasma TVs on the planet

Best 3D TV: Overview
If you're looking for the best 3D TV, you've come to the right place. We've got the ten best 3D TVs on the planet - both LCDs and plasma - and put them all in once place for your decision-making pleasure. The jury's out on which TV tech is best for 3D, but we can already summarise the differences.
There's a feeling that for sheer 3D effects – especially in terms of depth and leap effects – the bright-and-breezy LCD sets from Samsung are the most effective. The downside is that LCD TVs do seem to be affected by 'crosstalk' – when each eye sees part of the image intended only for the other eye.




1. LG 42LW550T - £749
1. LG 42LW550T - £749 Seven pairs of 3D glasses star on this affordable slice of alternative 3D tech The 42-inch LG 42LW550T arrives with mixed expectations. It's the latest combatant in the increasingly rancorous scuffle between active shutter and FPR (Film Patterned Retarder) 3D technology, but – gaming aside (the screen does tend to lag) – fixes its reputation as one of the best examples of the latter. The LG 42LW550T's picture quality with 3D is comfortable and engaging to watch. The fact that you get seven pairs of glasses bundled for free is brilliant, too, as is the fact that replacements cost barely a fiver. While FPR TVs might not cut it with the picture-obsessed enthusiast market, they're a seriously persuasive proposition for the average family living room – and this one more than most.


2. Panasonic TX-P42GT30B - £855
Clean 3D and Viera Connect chum-up on this 42-inch plasma TV The GT30 range is Panasonic's secret weapon in its continuing war with 3D LED TV vendors, although – strictly speaking – this is merely a 3D-ready set.
We say that because no active shutter 3D glasses are bundled with this plasma, which is a strange decision since is handles the third dimension with aplomb. Showing next to no double imaging, even on 3D Blu-rays
with known problem sequences, the 3D crosstalk that was evident on last year's models has all but vanished from this season's screens. Even on 2D it excels; black levels are profound and colour reproduction is bold yet believable.
Add some multimedia skills and the superb BBC iPlayer- endowed Viera Connect online hub and this is one plasma that edges perfection.

3. Panasonic TX-P42VT30B - £1,309
An imperious example of why plasma is a hugely potent
TV tech for the 3D age The TX-P42VT30B is a TV made for AV enthusiasts. Its uncompromising spec leaves no stone unturned in its bid for 2D and 3D excellence, it has professional-grade calibration aids and it's beautifully built. This 42-inch plasma TV also has all the connections you could possibly need, and ships with 3D glasses and a Wi-Fi dongle.
Its online features are useful and it covers most multimedia bases – including AVC HD and DivX HD support – but it's the set's stunning picture quality that really makes it special. 3D TV is faultless – and that's a rare thing indeed. 




4. Samsung UE46D7000 - £1,395
Iconic design is joined by 3D downloads and an all-round versatility that's hard to beat Future-proof, second generation 3D – call it what you will; Samsung's D700 Series star is virtually an advert for the latest in flatscreen TV tech.
There's little about this 46-inch set that isn't cutting edge, and it sets the bar dizzyingly high for others to follow. Design is central to the UE46D7000's success, but there is
plenty to gawp at behind the skinny bezel – most notably an all-new system of apps that access online content in new ways. It even boasts a 3D app for watching film trailers and other 3D action. 3D does involve a modicum of crosstalk, so the Samsung UE46D7000 shouldn't be considered perfect, but in all other areas it's as close as you'll get.


5. Philips 46PFL9705H - £1,959
Probably the best 3D LCD TV in the world today Perhaps the only 3DTV that makes a play for the top five that isn't a plasma, Philips' latest is refinement indeed. The 3D capabilities represent only a small fraction of the 46PFL9705H's features: it's stuffed to bursting point with multimedia tools, including open internet browsing. It's equipped with a version of Philips' all-conquering processing engine, Perfect Pixel HD that has been optimised for use with the set's locally dimmed direct LED backlight. Complicated to use and expensive, this is nevertheless a great investment; peerless audio quality, sumptuous design and 3D pictures that are spectacularly vivid, bright and startlingly clean when compared to the competition.

6. Samsung UE55D8000 - £2,299
Samsung's flagship LCD TV introduces Samsung Smart Hub A 5mm-thick bezel, perhaps, but this D8000 model isn't just about design. Powered by the super-thin – and not always effective – edge LED backlighting, this 55-incher nevertheless manages some science-defying contrast performance. Still in innovation overdrive, Samsung's engineers have once again created a TV that changes perceptions, with a
touch of crosstalk and some subtle colour inconsistencies the only criticisms amid an otherwise stellar performance that pits Smart Hub – the finest web TV platform yet alongside Freeview HD and a 3D performance that enjoys an unprecedented brightness and colour performance.Samsung UN46D8000 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV (Silver)

7. Panasonic TX-P55VT30B - £2,483
Not only the finest plasma 3D TV, but the best plasma TV for the home – period The sole 55-incher in Panasonic's collection is best described as "uncompromising".
It ships with two pairs of active shutter 3D glasses alongside many other extras (Wi-Fi, BBC iPlayer, THX and the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) certification), but 3D is where it really excels. Delivering 3D movies while suffering practically no crosstalk noise at all, this 55-inch screen shows off the full
HD splendour of the active 3D format to a degree you don't see with smaller models – and proves that size does matter for 3D viewing. HD images look outstandingly crisp and detailed too, reminding us strongly of how the HD advantage is directly proportionate to the size of screen you're watching. An absolute belter.


8. Samsung PS64D8000 - £2,549
Excellent, great value 3D plasma with smart TV This immense 64-inch screen fits nicely into the generally accepted 'bigger is better' mantra, while plasma technology has consistently proved superior to LCD or LED
at suppressing the dreaded crosstalk noise. Its performance is mostly impressive, too, although crosstalk does appear when images contain bright elements against dark backgrounds. Otherwise, it's spot-
on. And with 2D in particular it delivers a superbly natural, contrast-rich, punchy and sharp picture.
The Samsung PS64D8000's smart TV services are a high point, and the set looks gorgeous. This is also a unique size – you can't get any other similarly-sized screen right now for the same sort of money. A great value bigscreen.

9. Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum - £3,650
Super-wide 3D for the super-rich The Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series is Philips' first 3D TV, and it uses the same active-shutter 3D tech as the others tested here. During our short preview, the 3D performance of this 58- inch Full LED-backlight set was excellent. Watching in the 21:9 aspect ratio is a lot more comfortable on the eyes than traditional 16:9 sets – the added screen space really did add to the sense of depth. However, while Philips says it has gone to great length to eliminate 3D's biggest weakness – crosstalk (where the two images bleed into each other) – we found this to be a significant issue. Crosstalk is more pronounced than on Panasonic VT20 plasmas, though this is a breath-taking 2D and 3D TV.



10. Panasonic TX-P65VT20B - £3,899
The bigger the better? You betcha!
It follows that if a 3D screen is big enough to fill your field of vision, it's more likely to deliver an immersive stereoscopic experience. And that's true of the biggest – and best – 3DTV so far, though the 65-inch TX-65VT20 (and its little sister, the 50-inch TX-P50VT20) isn't as glamorous as we'd like in spite of its bronze finish. The inclusion of two pairs of glasses is generous, though they're uncomfortable and let an annoying amount of light in. So it's lights-off time for 3D, not least because the only plasma 3D Series of TVs so far lose considerable brightness in 3D mode when compared to its LCD rivals. Just as well, then, that the TX-P65VT20 has as immense black level response and far less obvious crosstalk issues than you'll find on any active LCD 3D TV. It's not immune to the tell-tale double ghosting of objects in the mid-to-far distance, but the overall image is crisp and convincing. There may be no 2D-to-3D conversion circuitry and there is room for improvement, but this enormous Panasonic plasma arguably serves up the best 3D TV pictures currently available.


11. Panasonic TH-85VX200 - £42,000
The ultimate 3D display is as expensive as it is vast At around £42,000 this is a screen for super-wealthy only, though in this 'best 3DTV' contest it would be churlish to
deny this 85-inch its moment of glory. It also offers a tempting glance of the direction in which we expect all
3DTVs to be heading thanks to the trickle-down technology trend. Arguably you could get a cheaper projector to deliver even bugger sized pictures, but then you'd need a blackout; no need here as this plasma – complete with custom-built hydraulic floor mounts and cooling fans – produces pin-sharp 2D and 3D pictures thanks to tech like Motion Vector Prediction circuitry, 30-bit colour processing and an ultra- high speed drive system. If you need a monster for your mansion, there's nothing finer in the 3D world.

12. Philips 46PFL9706H - £2,300
Is this the greatest LCD TV ever built? This moth eye filter says it is The 46PFL9706 carries Philips' latest Full HD 3D engine too (AKA 3D Max), which is reckoned to have reduced crosstalk noise compared to the brand's 2010 3D TVs. You currently get a couple of pairs of 3D glasses included (as a promotion) with the TV, and unlike Philips' 2010 TVs, the 3D transmitter is built into the TV rather than being an add-on extra.
A fun extra feature of the new 3D system enables two video gamers to enjoy full screen playback simultaneously, rather than having to stick with the usual split-screen approach. This works by pushing two separate 2D streams through the same 'alternate frame' delivery system usually used by each 'eye' of a 3D signal, with each player then setting their glasses to only show one half of the twin-feed stream. Impressively, the glasses that Philips includes with the TV are able to accommodate such use via a simple built-in
switch - you don't have to buy special, separate glasses. The TV is the first to include a moth eye filter which reduces the amount of light reflected off the screen to almost zero, which dramatically increases the contrast. It looks absolutely stunning.
Source : techradar.com