blu-ray 3d

World's best-sounding 3D Blu-ray

I've referred to the AIX Records "Audio Calibration Disc & HD Music Sampler" Blu-ray in a bunch of my CNET equipment reviews, because it's loaded with terrific-sounding Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio music tracks. AIX refrains from using dynamic range compression, equalization, or signal processing, so the sound is as close to the original session as can be.

Now, with the release of "Goldberg Variations Acoustica" AIX has ventured into producing original 3D video programming. The new Blu-ray was shot with four prototype Panasonic 3D A1 cameras, and the sound was recorded in 96 kHz/24-bit high-resolution audio.

"Goldberg" maintains AIX's high standards for sound quality, but I'm an audio guy, so I called upon two of my video-reviewing CNET colleagues, David Katzmaier and Matthew Moskovciak, to comment on the disc's 3D picture quality. They watched the Blu-ray on a Panasonic TC-P65VT25 display and were generally impressed. They liked the picture's depth, but expressed concerns about visible crosstalk, which can appear as doubled outlines around onscreen objects, such as on the stand-up bass' strings. Katzmaier and Moskovciak also thought the image wasn't as sharp as it could have been. The crosstalk artifacts varied from shot to shot, but Moskovciak still thought the "Goldberg" Blu-ray might be the best live-action 3D picture he's seen "in a home theater setting" (the 3D image quality of "Avatar" in a movie theater was better).

Regarding the crosstalk, Katzmaier said it wasn't the disc's fault, and the crosstalk might not show up on future generations of 3D TVs. "Goldberg" is fully compatible with standard 2D Blu-ray players and displays, so you can enjoy the disc even if you don't own a 3D set. … Read more

Samsung expands lineup of 3D TV, home theater models

Samsung reaffirmed its commitment to 3D video today, highlighting a range of new 3D-compatible home theater, TV, and Blu-ray products at a press event in Manhattan. The company also demonstrated the growing array of interactive onscreen apps available on many of its current and newly announced Internet-connected products.

The minor mid-year refresh to Samsung's mammoth home theater lineup includes many products that had already leaked on retail sites such as Amazon in the days and weeks leading up to the announcement. The full recap is as follows:

HDTVs: Two new series of 3D plasmas join Samsung's lineup. The 50-inch PN50C490 (which was widely leaked yesterday) is notable for being the first 3D plasma TV to break the $1,000 price point. It's joined by the PNC680 series (the $1,600 50-inch PN50C680 and the $2,300 58-inch PN58C680). Samsung also highlighted the availability of the $6,000 UN65C8000, a massive 65-inch LED edge-lit 3D LCD TV. (CNET has already reviewed the 55-inch version.) … Read more

Blu-ray 3D films coming with Panasonic 3D TVs

Panasonic has entered a deal with 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios to offer two Blu-ray 3D films with Viera 3D HDTVs.

The company will offer Blu-ray 3D versions of "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Coraline" with its Viera VT25 3D HDTV series, Panasonic said this week. To get the films, consumers must buy one of the sets by July 10. They will receive the films after returning a mail-in coupon.

A Panasonic representative said that Blu-ray 3D versions of both "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Coraline" will … Read more

Avatar to DVD, Blu-ray on Earth Day, but no 3D version this year

If industry scuttlebutt surrounding the home video release schedule of "Avatar" pans out, "3D" may as well stand for "third dip." The probable bestselling Blu-ray of all time will see at least three versions, and neither of the two coming this year will be in 3D.

Officially, Fox Home Video announced the initial, "bare-bones" release of the film on Blu-ray and DVD for April 22, 2010, which finally gives Earth Day the commercial sheen it has so sorely missed. Massive mounds of marketing will begin March 23, culminating in an anticlimactic "shelf price" of $19.99 for the DVD and $29.99 for the Blu-ray.

Unofficially, according to the Los Angeles Times, November will see a multidisc "ultimate version." We're sure it will include all of the commentaries, documentaries, deleted scenes, animation schematics, blue body paint, and alternate versions of the film fans could ever want--except a 3D version, says Fox.… Read more

Summer 2010: When the PS3 goes 3D

Over the course of several CES shows and major press announcements, we have been eagerly following the PlayStation 3's future evolution into a console capable not only of 3D games, but 3D Blu-ray content. We know that the PS3 is in the official 3D Blu-ray spec, but what has been unclear to this point is when, and how, we'll get that 3D content at home.

In a recent interview, SCEA's Director of Hardware Marketing John Koller gave a few more concrete details. To nobody's surprise, 3D capability is being timed to the release of new 3D … Read more

CES 2010 wrap-up: home theater

LAS VEGAS--For the past few years, Blu-ray has been at the center of CES home theater news and 2010 was no different. Whether its 3D, portable players, streaming media, HTIBs or even AV receiver/Blu-ray combos, Blu-ray seemed to play a part in nearly every aspect of the home theater gadgets announced at the show this year. Here's a quick summary of the major trends we saw.

3D is coming, like it or not 3D was the biggest story at CES 2010, and four manufacturers announced 3D Blu-ray players: Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba. We liked the Panasonic DMP-BD350T … Read more

3D Blu-ray player roundup--what you need to know

CES 2010 isn't over for a few more days, but the big news regarding 3D Blu-ray players is out. There hasn't been many specifics announced, but we've broken down the most important details below.

Four standalone 3D Blu-ray players were announced

The four 3D Blu-ray players announced are the Panasonic DMP-BDT350, Samsung BD-C3900, Sony BDP-S770 and Toshiba BDX3000. Sony also announced the BDV-HZ970W home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system with a built-in 3D Blu-ray player. Samsung announced a 3D Blu-ray HTIB but didn't have a specific model name.

The Panasonic DMP-BDT350 is the only player with dual HDMI outputs… Read more

Sony's 3D Blu-ray player coming this summer

LAS VEGAS--3D Blu-ray is one of the big stories at CES 2010, and it's no surprise that Sony is a major player in Blu-ray's next incarnation. Sony announced its first standalone 3D Blu-ray player, the BDP-S770, which also manages to integrate the best features of its current Blu-ray players.

Key features of the Sony BDP-S770:

3D Blu-ray player HDMI 1.4 output Access to the Bravia Internet Video platform, which includes Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, Pandora, Slacker, and NPR streaming capability Built-in Wi-Fi; Ethernet also available DLNA compliant; capable of sharing photos, music, and videos from … Read more

Samsung intros 3D Blu-ray player with Wi-Fi, apps

LAS VEGAS--As we predicted, 3D is coming to Blu-ray and Samsung has announced its first 3D Blu-ray player, the BD-C6900. Details on the player are scarce, but here's what Samsung has announced so far:

Key features of the Samsung BD-C6900:

3D Blu-ray player Slim design with a transparent cover Supports Internet@TV/Samsung Apps, which will provide content from Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, Blockbuster, Picasa, and Twitter 15 second disc load; 15 second boot up Built-in Wi-Fi No release date or pricing announced

3D is obviously a big story at CES 2010 and the BD-C6900 will be part of … Read more

3D Blu-ray standard outlined, includes PS3

The Blu-ray Disc Association released its finalized 3D specifications this morning, outlining what to expect out of 3D Blu-ray in 2010. The specification includes full 1080p resolution, backward compatibility for both 3D Blu-ray players and the 3D Blu-ray Discs (meaning that both will play or be able to be played in 2D), and the use of a new MVC codec, an extension of the existing AVC. 3D playback will be "display agnostic," meaning that, according to the Blu-ray Disc Association, the format will be compatible across "any compatible 3D display." What exactly a "compatible 3D … Read more