What Is It?
An expensive 24-inch 3D HDTV that lets two people see two different images on the same TV. Whoa!
Who’s it For?
Anyone with a) a love for same-room multiplayer; b) deep-ish pockets in need for a stellar TV for a small space.
Design
It’s a Sony television — it looks beautiful. It’s black, shiny (though not distractingly so), and will look handsome wherever you stick it. But why the hell are all of the control buttons unlabelled and crammed in the back?
Using It
It’s a TV — a TV with a gorgeous, bright, 1080p picture. Turn it on, watch shows, movies or, ideally, play PS3 games in 3D. The lightweight active shutter glasses sync quickly and easily, and are both comfortable and expectedly dorky looking.
The Best Part
SimulView is the reason to buy this set — you and a friend will be looking at the same TV and be seeing two different images. No screenlooking, no cheating, no cramped splitscreens — just a nice picture and 1v1 grappling.
Tragic Flaw
Only a small handful of PS3 titles support SimulView, the chief quality of a 24-inch TV that costs $700 in Australia.
This Is Weird…
Though rare, I was occasionally able to see traces of my frenemy’s screen during SimulView mode. An annoying distraction.
Test Notes
• That glossy screen is sure shiny. Nearby lights could be a problem — position accordingly.
• Extended SimulView sessions caused some eye stream for me and my gaming partner — sensitive sockets, beware.
• Non-SimulView 3D viewing was great — no ghosting detected.
Should You Buy It?
If you’re a gamer who can afford it, the 3D display makes for an absolutely fantastic secondary or small room TV. In that case, yes. If you don’t own a PS3, don’t bother.
Sony PlayStation 3D Display
• Resolution: 1080p
• Glasses: Active Shutter, two included
• Size: 24 inches
• Input: 2x HDMI, Component
• Price: $700
Salmonpie
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 11:35 AMI wonder if they can firmware upgrade the current line of Sony 3D tv’s to do this?
Nicholas
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 12:34 PMI’m thinking the TV could be upgraded, but I’m not sure about the glasses. It would depend on how the TV communicates with them.
More importantly, it depends on whether or not Sony can be stuffed doing it, and sadly I’m guessing that’s a no.
Bob
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 5:02 PMNo. They can’t. Plus this would really only work properly on smaller screens, the bigger the screen size gets, the more likely you are to see your opponents vision at the same time as yours.
geek
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 12:09 PMIf it was 27 inch i would buy it.
MDolley
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 12:31 PMOr you could buy a second PS3 and two non-3D Full HD 24″ TV’s for around the same price.
Simon Reidy
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 2:10 PMExactly.
Boon
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 12:55 PMGet a samsung 50 inch plasma 3D tv for this price.
Recka
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 12:36 PMYeah but Plasma, eww
light487
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 1:01 PM“That glossy screen is sure shiny”
You’re not kidding… that is almost mirror-like. That alone turned me off the product before I even got to reading the article.
Evolution
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 7:33 PMsorry but for that money it’d need to have a ps3 built into it for me to even consider it
BP
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:41 PMhas this been released yet? i heard Sony only selling thru Harvey Norman, but when I called up a few stores, they knew nothing about it…