Sony’s persistent mission to capture a larger 3D audience continues
with the recent release of the Playstation 3D Display, but don’t let the
name mislead you. Sony’s new 24” display is compatible with your Xbox
360 or PC, and serves up a few unique features worthy of your attention.
Inputs are limited to 1 Component and 2 HDMI ports
In fact, “display” is an important word to consider before
purchasing. Sony is marketing the hardware as more of a secondary TV
than a desktop monitor, and indeed it treads the line between both. It
offers a barebones array of inputs by modern standards, outfitted with
one component input, two HDMI ports, and a headphone jack. In our office
environment it’s a perfect fit, with PC and PS3 connected via HDMI and
Xbox 360 connected through component cables – though it warrants mention
that there are no VGA or DVI options. It may present restrictions in a
living room setup, however, as it lacks a digital tuner and a
traditional cable input.
The designers at Sony are known for producing sleek, sexy hardware,
and the Playstation 3D Display is no exception. It’s probably no
accident that its rounded edges and general form factor will immediately
remind you of a PSP, and the build quality is fantastic; its first
impression on you will produce a wide smile.
Setup is a breeze, with a wide, sturdy stand that locks into place
and provides 10 degrees of rotation for finding that sweet 3D spot.
Speaking of 3D, the only barriers to diving in are a 30 minute wait for
the included 3D glasses to fully charge, and a quick tweak to your XMB
display settings. Sony has
included an HDMI cable (something a default PS3 doesn’t even ship with) and a copy of the thrilling
Motorstorm Apocalypse, so it’s a complete 3D-ready package out of the box.
The 24” 240 Hz LCD display itself is stunning at 1920×1080, with true
1080p output. The color balance is exceptional, and the picture is so
crisp and lifelike that all of our current flatscreen and laptop
monitors look dully and dingy by comparison. Viewing is less ideal near
sunlight or in brightly list rooms due to the glossy screen, but it has
officially become our main viewing preference for both work and play.
Of course, a large percentage of what you’re paying for is the 3D
experience, and we tested Sony’s display with a variety of products,
including the
Motorstorm Apocalypse pack-in,
Uncharted 3, Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3, and
Tekken Hybrid,
as well as various 3D films. As a product designed to further
evangelize 3D, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the results were
mostly excellent; subpar experiences should be chalked up to the
software programmers and not to this display. We were least underwhelmed
with
Gran Turismo 5, as it exhibited a bit of ghosting and the 3D effect seemed artificial. The included
Motorstorm Apocalypse
is plenty entertaining, especially with the destruction spitting out of
the screen. But if Sony wants to preach the gospel of 3D, they should
have included
Uncharted 3 in the box; it is a stunner in the 3D
realm and a showcase for how to properly experience a 3D game – the
effect is non-intrusive, and done in such a way that the technology
takes a back seat to immersion.
A visual representation of how SimulView works
Sadly,
Uncharted 3 lacks support for SimulView, one of the
display’s distinguishing features. In a nutshell, SimulView allows 2
players who are wearing 3D glasses to enjoy a full-screen experience
while playing in split-screen mode, but only a handful of PS3 titles
utilize it (
GT5, Killzone 3, Motorstorm). This wouldn’t be so disappointing if SimulView didn’t work like magic. Certainly no one
wants
to share half of a 24” screen, but it’s a killer feature for students
in college dorms, or people using this in their primary play space.
Here’s to hoping Sony continues to support this option in their
first-party games.
The included 3D glasses are universal, and should work with most other 3D televisions
When 3D works best, it’s unobtrusive and augments your viewing
experience. In that best-case scenario, the only thing serving as a
reminder is Sony’s included 3D glasses (MSRP $69.99). On the plus side,
they’re mostly universal and work with a slew of other 3D-compatible
televisions. On the negative side, they aren’t adjustable and folks with
larger heads may feel some discomfort. Their sturdiness also means that
earbuds are preferable to full-sized headphones.
Speaking of sound, Sony boasts the inclusion of a subwoofer, but its
impact is negligible and doesn’t add a significant amount of bass. At
lower levels the volume is crisp and sounds are crystal clear, but it
distorts quickly at higher volumes. The overall audio quality is
certainly acceptable and better than most monitors, but when consumers
hear “subwoofer” they’re probably inclined to think of the exceptional
Bravia subwoofer, not the underwhelming one present here.
The following may seem nitpicky, but this unit should ship with a
discrete remote control. The menu buttons are on the back right side of
the display, and while we appreciate that they’re not visible, it’s also
difficult to manage switching inputs and various settings without
memorizing where the buttons are. Onscreen cues are visible when they’re
activated, but at a $499 price-point, we expect convenience and ease of
use.
All told, Sony’s Playstation 3D Display is an outstanding piece of
tech, versatile enough for a variety of uses and certainly dazzling
enough to make a positive impression. Its price point, however,
(currently $499) demands adoption only by a niche audience – 3D
enthusiasts – but that audience shouldn’t hesitate to pick it up if they
want a small form-factor 3D solution, and a stunning monitor.
*Review statement: A review unit was provided to VGW by Sony
