Buying a 3D TV? Go for a passive 3D TV with lightweight 3D glasses

Today I’m going to write a little bit about my experience with 3D TV and a few tips for purchasing a 3D TV. I have three kids—a five year old, a ten year old and a twelve year old—and I was concerned about their eye health when I was looking for a 3D TV.

Choose a passive 3D

If you have children who are going watch 3D tv, passive 3D TVs are definitely better than active 3D TVs. Because active 3D TVs use shutter glasses technology, it has flickers and crosstalks. Flickers and crosstalks can be just annoying to adults but they can cause some serious eye strain for kids. I don’t know if all passive 3D tvs are completely flicker free and crosstalk free but LG Cinema 3D is certified flicker free and crosstalk free 3D tv so you don’t have to worry about the 3D tv causing eye strain or headache for kids.

3D glasses

Active 3D glasses are fairly heavy and expensive. Adults usually don’t notice the weight but it can be quite uncomfortable for kids. Also if you have many kids in the family, definitely go for passive 3D TV because active 3D glasses are highly expensive. They can cost you over $100 while Cinema 3D glasses are only $5-$10. You can also use those 3D glasses from the theater. I have three kids but I have many nieces and nephews. When the entire family gathers, I don’t even need to worry about kids having to share the 3D glasses and feeling left out. I was able to get enough cinema 3D glasses to let my son and his friends watch 3D movie at his birthday party. Another downside of the active 3D glasses is that you have to charge them after use because the flickers become even more noticeable if the glasses are running low on batteries. I think it’s just too much of a hassle to charge them every time children watch 3D movies.

Flexible viewing position

Because active 3D tvs work by sending signals from the TV to the glasses, the images become distorted or black out if you sit or lay down in positions that can’t receive the signals. This is especially uncomfortable for kids—we all know that kids move around and don’t sit up straight throughout the entire movie. LG Cinema 3D gives undistorted image even when the kids are lying down.

2D to 3D conversion

LG Cinema 3D has a 2D to 3D conversion feature (I don’t think other passive 3D TVs have this feature). Because 3D is fairly new, there are only a limited number of 3D contents available. With LG Cinema 3D, however, kids can convert their favorite cartoons into 3D contents.

The most important thing about kids’ use of 3D TV is that you supervise them and limit the number of the hours they use (this is true for all kinds of TVs). But it’s also important that while they’re viewing the 3D TV, they are comfortable and the 3D TV doesn’t hurt their eyes. I’m completely satisfied with my LG Cinema 3D. Of course different people have different criteria and expectations for their 3D TVs, but if you are a mother looking for kid-friendly and family-friendly 3D TV, LG Cinema 3D is probably the one to go for.