What Do I Need To Start Watching 3D Content On My Mitsubishi or Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTV?

If you have a Mitsubishi or Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTV and want know what you need to start watching 3D Content you need to:

1. Convert 3D Content into the required "Checkerboard" format and
2. Obtain 3D Glasses that will work with your DLP 3D Ready HDTV

Part 1. Converting Your 3D Content Into The Required "Checkerboard" Format:

Mitsubishi and Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTV's use what's called "Checkerboard" format to handle the 3D content. The problem is most 3D sources (i.e. virtually all 3D Blu-ray players, Satellite & Cable Companies, the PS3 Game Console, etc.) don't use this "Checkerboard" format.

In fact, we have only been able to find a few Panasonic 3D Blu-ray Players that will let you send the content to your Mitsubishi and Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTV in checkerboard format. So if:

1. You don't plan on using any other content source than a 3D Blu-ray Player and
   
2. You don't have a Blu-ray player right now or are willing to buy another 3D Blu-ray player...

Then we would recommend you go this route instead of buying an adapter. Those Panasonic models are the: DMP-BDT100, DMP-BDT110, DMP-BDT210, DMP-BDT300, DMP-BDT310, and the DMP-BDT350 (discontinued).

However, if you plan on watching 3D content from any other type of 3D Blu-ray player, a game console like the PS3, Satellite & Cable TV, etc. then you will need to have:

• For Mitsubishi DLP 3D Ready HDTVs a Mitsubishi 3D Adapter or
• For Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTVs a computer with special hardware and software (unfortunately we can't support it)

Part 2. Obtaining The Right 3D Glasses:

Once you have 3D content coming into your DLP 3D Ready HDTV in the necessary "Checkerboard" format with either an adapter listed here or using one of the Panasonic 3D Blu-ray players mentioned above, you will then need to purchase 3D Glasses. You currently have 2 options:

1. DLP 3D Glasses or
   
2. IR 3D Glasses

2 of the biggest problems people report with using DLP glasses are:

1. You can lose sync very easily with DLP for various reasons
   
2. DLP can produce rainbow effects on the screen while you are watching 3D content

Look at it this way, if you walk into any electronics store and go see the 3D displays they will never show you the 3D effect using DLP... there is a reason for that.

Below Are Your 2 Choices For 3D Glasses:

OR

Have Questions or Need Some Help?
Call Us at (800) 918-5390 (M-F, 8-5pm ET)

The Adapter Is NOT The Same As The IR Emitter:

The emitter is different than the adapter. The adapter is what will take your content source (i.e. 3D Blu-ray Player, Cable Box, Satellite TV, game console, etc.) and convert it into the necessary "Checkerboard" format so your Mitsubishi or Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTV can play it.

On the other hand, the IR Emitter is the device that will override the DLP Link and begin broadcasting an IR signal for IR glasses to view the 3D image.

To better explain how the emitter and adapter work together, below are 2 images we pulled from the Mitsubishi TV site.

Figure 1 shows you plugging the emitter directly into the back of your HDTV. For Mitsubishi TV's the port is called the "3D Sync Out" (it's a DIN-3 connection which is a 3 prong connection, see photo above).

This setup would be used if you have one of the 3 Panasonic 3D Players previously mentioned that allow for "Checkerboard" format. There are also some Mitsubishi DLP 3D Ready HDTVs that allow for a firmware upgrade to be able to handle other content formats than just "Checkerboard".

Those Mitsubishi models are the: WD-60738, WD-65738, WD-65838, WD-73738, WD-73838, WD-82738, and WD-82838. There are currently no plans to offer firmware upgrades for any Samsung models at this time.

Common Formats for 3D Content Sources (i.e. 3D Blu-ray Players, Game Consoles, Satellite TV, Cable TV, etc.)

As we mentioned earlier, Mitsubishi and Samsung DLP 3D Ready HDTV's use the "Checkerboard" format to process 3D images. There are actually 4 major types, they are:

1.) Frame Packing - (aka Full HD 3D) This is mostly used by Blu-Ray Players and game consoles for maximum quality. Because of its quality a larger bandwidth for the transfer of the data is required which requires you to use HDMI 1.4a to support it. Also, because of the high bandwidth usage this is why broadcast stations like cable and satellite don't use it. For inside the United States, there is 1080p at 24 fps, which is sent by Blu-Ray players and 720p with 60 fps is expected to be used by future gaming consoles.

2.) Side-By-Side - Suitable for broadcasting applications for cable and satellite TV, this is where a normal video frame acutally contains two frames (one for each eye) and if not processed as a 3D signal would look like two pictures side-by-side on the TV Screen. Inside the United States most of the signals will be 1080p at 24 fps or 30 fps, 1080i at 60 fps, or 720p at 60 fps.

3.) Top & Bottom (aka Over-Under) - This is simlar to Side-By-Side where the normal video frame actually contains 2 frames except the normal frame is divided in half top and bottom. For inside the United States most will be 1080p at 24 fps or 30 fps, 1080i at 80 fps, or 720p at 60 fps. These are also suitable for cable and satellite tv broadcasting applications.

4.) Checkerboard - This format is really designed as a method of displaying 3D on a TV and is not expected to be used to send 3D signals to your home. It is not a common format from most content sources. This is what the Mitsubishi and Samsung 3D Ready DLP HDTVs are using and would require an adapter to convert the other content formats into this format.

Note, some Mitsubishi TV models will also allow you to use other content formats with a firmware upgrade. Those specific model's are: WD-60738, WD-65738, WD-65838, WD-73738, WD-73838, WD-82738, and WD-82838.

Again, If you have any questions or any of this doesn't seem clear please feel free to give us a call and we can help you, just call us at (800) 918-5390 (M-F 8am to 5pm ET).