A Study by AVtop Warns Consumers of “Shocking” Resolution Losses in So-Called Full HD 3D Systems

Unterschleissheim, Germany — Oct. 7, 2011 — An in-depth laboratory study of resolution differences in 3D systems has demonstrated that, in practice, the resulting 3D pictures can appear with less than 25% of Full HD resolution. The results of the study by the AVtop test laboratory stand contrary to many manufacturers’ claims to deliver high-resolution 3D and casts doubt on the validity of certificates such as “Full HD in 3D Mode”.

AVtop examines a range of factors that can limit the effective resolution of 3D systems. These factors include technical aspects such as the encoding format and the recording and display technologies, as well as physical considerations such as viewing distance and differences between the viewer’s eyes. AVtop goes on to establish a qualitative ranking of 3D sources in terms of their resulting picture quality.

AVtop’s study pits two commercially available 3D TVs — the Samsung UE46D7090 and LG 47LW570S-ZD — against one another. This comparative case study highlights the important differences between “passive” and “active” 3D systems. In the results published by AVtop, the active Samsung UE46D7090 delivers higher vertical resolution than the passive LG 47LW570S-ZD.

Worryingly, if the vertical resolution losses in passive 3D systems were compounded by reduced horizontal broadcast resolutions, the resulting resolution of each 3D picture would be less than 25% of Full HD. The LG 47LW570S-ZD can, however, offer more than 25% when displaying a so-called “Side-by-Side” 3D source.

The firm’s CEO, Florian Friedrich, said: “Customers should be made aware of the resolution losses in current 3D systems. If we compare the resolution for each eye to current Full HD in 2D, I find it shocking that some TVs reduce the resolution to 25% or less and still claim to deliver Full HD in 3D.

“Our extensive tests show the truth, proving the lack of resolution on some of the latest 3D televisions, and I look forward to helping customers identify TVs offering genuine Full 3D resolution with our certification program.

“Every manufacturer is invited to send samples to us for approval of full resolution in 3D — if their TVs do, in fact, deliver it.” The study can be downloaded at www.avtop.com.

About AVtop

Founded in 1999, AV T.O.P. Messtechnik GmbH is an independent ISO 9001:2008-certified test laboratory for consumer electronics. The laboratory’s services portfolio ranges from quality certifications to editorial contributions for magazines, technical evaluations to usability tests, on-site guidance during development to remission analyses, and from testing of manufacturing variance to carrying out studies in the consumer-electronics sector. Furthermore, AVtop offers innovative products for measurements and optimization in the audio and video sector.

Contact:

Florian Friedrich
AV T.O.P. Messtechnik GmbH
Max-Planck-Str. 7
85716 Unterschleissheim
Tel.: +49-(0)-89-3706441-0
email: press@avtop.com