Mitsubishi's projection HDTVs get an adapter to deal with Blu-ray 3D
By Richard Lawler 
posted January 5th 2010 11:24PM
posted January 5th 2010 11:24PM
As frustrated as many haters are at the flood of 3D displays announced in the run up to CES, imagine how Mitsubishi must feel since it's been shipping compatible projection TVs for quite some time. The price of being ahead of the curve? Plugging upcoming 3D Blu-ray discs into your 82-inch projection display will require the new 3DC-1000 3D adapter to switch those right/left images to the checkerboard format Mitsubishi uses. Despite reversed polarized lenses in the demo RealD shutter glasses, flipping them upside down for a quick impression revealed 3D with as much smoothness and pop as we've experienced from competing technologies -- when flashing bulbs and jostling crowds weren't throwing off the IR synchronization. With the "easy and affordable" (but no specific price given) adapter due in the spring it should be just in time for that Avatar 3D viewing party, or maybe a bit of footy if that's more your style.
is it the laser TV (as in the picture and tags) or the rear projection models (as in the text)?
@Solipsism If I'm not mistaken, the laser tv's are rear projection.
Checkerboard pattern 3D is what is used by TI's 3D capable DLP systems, so since this is most certainly just an HDMI in, HDMI out, magic box in the middle system, I can hopefully use this on my Samsung which does checkerboard 3D too.
Glad I haven't bought a BD player yet, I'll just wait a bit longer :D
@BioSehnsucht
My year and half old Samsung HL50A650 (DLP) has a 3D Sync jack on it and was touted 3D ready when I purchased it. Just need the 3D unit. Same set up as the Mitsubishi LaserVue DLPs. I wanted the LaserVue, but they are only available in huge sizes. At the time I only had room for a 50"er. I'm preping a space for the 82"er now.
@BioSehnsucht Seems to me that a BD player could do the left/right to checkerboard conversion internally. Sure, having a little box that sticks on the back of the TV is universal, but the logic is so simple you could do it in software on the player.
Question is, what will Mitsubishi do for existing owners who plunked down $3000 - $7000 on a TV that was "3D compatible"? Will they be getting this for free?
We have a LaserVue at work, and the 3D is drop dead gorgeous.
@ChadC You bought a tv that was 3D ready, which means it's capable of doing 3D if you attach the correct hardware. Why would this be free? They gave you exactly what they advertised, and are now proving it by releasing the hardware to do 3D. I do hate when they say "ready" though, as I got screwed when I bought a new stereo for my car the was bluetooth ready, but then found out I had to buy a $40 adapter.
BioSehnsucht, you could just buy a PS3 which is upgradeable by firmware, and be able to enjoy Blu-ray in the meantime.
@axendo79
haven't got around to a PS3 yet, and while I intend to eventually get one I would still want a standalone player. If I get a PS3 before a BD player certainly I'll use it as one, I won't refuse to use it simply because it's console.
I've also read elsewhere now that some BD players may do checkerboard natively, so maybe won't even need to get this adapter.
@BioSehnsucht
I gotcha, I love my PS3, I listen to Pandora, watch Netflix and Blu-ray, keep music and movies stored, but still want a stand alone player anyways. Mainly just so the PS3 can be used for games, music and 3D content.
They should be applauded for this. Well done Mitsubishi. They had a 60" DLP 1080p at hhgregg last week. I got a front projector instead, but that would have been cool
never heard of mitsubishi in this biz..
@madmax123 Mitsu has been in the TV business for a couple decades, but they've been a bit of a niche player, I don't think any big box store ever stocked their products. I only saw them in a hi fi / home theater specialty store. I even had a Mitsubishi VCR back in the day, but returned it because it had an inferior user interface, the worst I remember seeing in consumer electronics.
@JDM
Plenty of "big box" retailers have sold or do sell Mitsubishi AV products - Best Buy, Costco, Frys Electronics, Good Guys to name a few.
@madmax123
We had a Mitsubishi TV since the 80's that still works today, with really good picture clarity/sharpness and such (hasn't faded over time). Of course, it's only got analog OTA/CATV input and composite audio/video input, but it does stereo audio and has external speaker output option. I guess it's maybe around 19-24" or so 4:3 size?
Mitsubishi's been in the TV business for decades :)
Really madmax123? They actually make some good TVs, there laser based were comparable to the Pioneer Kuros, still considered the best TVs ever sold.
I have the 82" and in the back there is a plug that is for a 3d adapter. Can someone help to explain how it enables 3d?
That's for the IR emitter. Syncs the shutter to the rotation of the DLP mirrors.
Sorry but "compatible" is not good enough. Anyone remember all the "HD ready" video cards that it turned our were not HDCP enabled. And all the GPU makers were like "too bad".
"Compatible" and "ready" are only worth something when they actually change status to 100% working in the released spec.
http://www.3dflightsim.com/articles/HDTVisHERE.htm
That site will tell you how to use your 3D Ready feature on your Mitsubishi (or select Samsung model) DLP HDTVs. Everything in the article is available now and has been available for years.
However, I for one will wait until Bit Cauldron comes out with their new 3D Shutter Glasses with the RF transmitter instead of the old style with the infrared transmitter. They are an OEM so we'll have to wait until companies start branding and bringing to market their technology... hopefully it won't be more than a month or so. http://www.bitcauldron.com/products.html
I think this is awesome, nice work Mitsubishi. I bought a Mitsu DLP about a year ago, and I've been upset thinking I'd have to drop a ton more dough to be able to view 3D content, but the 3DC-1000 kit has my tv covered!
http://www.onetrendblog.com/948/mitsubishi-3dc-1000-3d-hdtv-starter-pack/