Why You Need a 3D TV
- To build and strengthen stereopsis (both eyes working together).
- To maintain progress and keep both eyes working together.
- To mimic some of the best in-office eye exercises.
- To be amazed at the beauty of 3D!
Supplies for Set Up
- 3D projector or 3D TV
- 3D capable blue-ray player
- Active shutter Glasses
- 3D Movies
- Popcorn
3D TVs and Projectors
To get a 3D TV, you’ll need to get creative and look for used options because they no longer make them. I was able to find a great deal on Facebook marketplace. Check local classifieds and expect to pay between $400 and $700.
For projectors there is a huge range. You can pay anywhere from $299 to $5000 for a home system. The lower end models usually don’t offer 3D, so be careful.
There are two types of projectors that are compatible with 3D, 3LCD and DLP.
They work differently, but are both great for 3D viewing. Just know that each requires a different type of glasses.
When wearing 3D glasses, there is a darker tint so having the brighter screen is helpful to maintain the picture, looking for projectors with more than 3000 lumens is recommended for 3D movie viewing.
Either way you’ll be set! I’m sharing the best from each category for the price, and have researched for specific projectors that work well for 3D movie viewing.
3LCD Epson Home Cinema 3200 4K- $1699
This is a midrange projector but it has every bell and whistle you could hope for.
4K, 3000 lumens, and a huge contrast ratio (40,000:1) make this a great projector for 3D movies.
For 3LCD options, this is the one to get.
DLP Optima HD28HDR 1080p- $699
This is a DLP projector and has amazing specs.
3600 lumens, a staggering 50,000:1 contrast ratio, and great reviews
If you are wanting to go the DLP route, this is a great one to get! If you want to spring for a 4K, expect to pay double or triple.
3D Capable Blue-Ray Player
There are 3 options for getting a 3D movie to your screen.
1. Buy a 3D capable blu-ray player like the one below.
2. Use an Xbox or Playstation that has 3D capabilities
3. Use VUDU to stream content directly to your screen (less variety)
LG 3D Blue-Ray Player $149
You can easily spend $500 on a blu-ray player, but that isn’t necessary for our purposes. This player will connect via HDMI to your TV or projector and play 3D movies beautifully.
It is 1080p so if you decide to go with a 4K projector you should invest in a fancier 4K player like this Sony for $256.
Active Shutter 3D Glasses
In order to enjoy a 3D TV or projector, you need active shutter 3D glasses. For most TVs you’ll need bluetooth LCD glasses, for most projectors you’ll need DLP glasses. Make sure to check your TV or projector for compatibility.
Bluetooth LCD Glasses- $109 Compatible with most 3D TVs and 3LCD Projectors
After researching, I bought these because they claimed to be effective, comfortable and are compatible with just about every 3D TV out there.
We have three types of glasses with our system and these are by far the best. They give a crystal clear 3D image, the battery lasts for months and they are very comfortable and work well with glasses.
Kids DLP Glasses- $39.95 Compatible with Most DLP Projectors
These are the only kids DLP glasses for projectors that I have found that don’t look sketchy.
My children ages 13, 9 and 7 all use the normal glasses without issue, but my 4 year old struggles with them constantly falling off. These are a great option for a younger child in vision therapy!
3D Movies
Blue Ray DVDs
There are countless movies claiming to be 3D, but they are not all equal, especially for those of us with limited depth perception and stereopsis. (See full reviews)
In general, look for slow moving movies designed for 3D. For example, IMAX movies are much better than action movies that throw in one or two “pop out” scenes in a 2 hour movie.
“Under the Sea in 3D” is my current favorite, but I also love “Hugo,” “Gravity” and “Avatar. Check out eBay for discounts on collections.
VUDU Rent $5.99 Own $19.99
You can avoid purchasing a blu-ray player by simply streaming and purchasing digital 3D films from VUDU. Other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime don’t offer streaming for 3D yet.
They have about 75 options, but none of the amazing IMAX ones that I love. I use it from time to time to try out a new movie, but keep the blu-ray player for my favorites.