Consumer Reports has tested nearly every 3-D television that's come out, including one of the newest from Vizio. It uses different glasses that could make it far more appealing to consumers.
The newest 3-D TVs use what's called "passive" technology, like this LCD set from Vizio.
The big advantage, the 3-D glasses are lighter, more comfortable, and much less expensive.
But Consumer Reports does find some drawbacks.
"In the 3-D mode, passive TVs can only show half the vertical resolution of a standard 1080p TV. Because there are fewer pixels creating the image, our testers saw jagged lines where there should be smooth ones," explains Jim Wilcox.
In contrast, on the 3-D set, looking through the glasses, the lines are smooth.
Another issue with the Vizio? Moiré interference creates a shimmery effect in certain scenes.
But overall, testers were fairly impressed with the Vizio's performance.
It's the brightest 3-D set they've ever seen and has minimal ghosting, so you won't see double images through the glasses.
But if you're considering a different 3-D set, there are big differences between plasmas and LCDs.
"In general, our testers have found that plasma 3D TVs provide the best overall 3D picture quality, primarily because they have less ghosting," said Wilcox.
Consumer Reports has top-rated the Panasonic Viera for $4,300. It delivers a crisp 3-D image. But you have to pay for extra glasses; $150 a pair.
The question is, will there ever be 3-D TVs that don't require glasses at all?
The short answer is yes, but Consumer Reports experts believe glasses-free 3-D is still a few years away.
