All You Need to Know to Prepare yourself for 3D at Home

3D seems to be very complicated especially when you just start to understand it.

It took me weeks to get things clear out.

Note: My summary below are my learning from:

• Xiaomi TV2 - Passive 3D via LG LED Panel
• Mac Mini 2012
• Plex Software
• Redmi 1S

Let's discuss this by topics:

3D TV Technology
Generally speaking, 3D consists of:

1. Active 3D - using heavier 3D glasses that need to use battery (potential to cause crosstalk image)

2. Passive 3D - lighter glasses with no battery required (half HD resolution on HD tv; full HD resolution on 4k tv)

Whether it's is active or passive, it's all rely on your TV.  Glasses form is the quick indication of your TV 3D technology.

Samsung LED panel is Active 3D while LG LED panel is Passive 3D.

Personally, I prefer Passive over Active due to maintenance free.

Also, with 4K TV, Passive 3D will provide equal Full HD experience as Active.

3D Media File Format
1. 3D TV channels - TV will auto-detect 3D format (inclusive 3D video inside Smart TV App)

2. 3D Blu-ray disc (note: you can only play 3D using 3D Blu-ray; not feasible to play 2D)

• You can play directly, your 3D TV will auto process for you to watch e.g. via Blu-ray player or PS4

3. Video file - side by side (SBS) & over and under (OAU) [also call Top & Bottom]

• Disregards which format you have, both are playable on all 3D TV
• If you played from a computer (Mac Mini) connected to TV via HDMI, you may need to manually switch to SBS or OAU format respectively

4. Airplay/ Miracast 3D content to 3D TV - Not Feasible.

• When Airplay/ Miracast, the TV:
• Does not auto-detect 3D format 
• Cannot access the option to change TV to 3D format

Playing 3D Video File using Plex via Computer

• The 3D video file should expect to be around 10GB file size & ensure it is 1080p
• Lower resolution than 1080p will greatly impact 3D viewing experience
• While streaming via Plex to TV, you may find the quality is very bad at times.  This is mainly due to the streaming video resolution setting
• General steps:
1. On Plex, choose the 3D video you wish to play. Click Play.
2. On top right corner of the video, click the setting (next to the "X" for closing video) and change it to 1080p.
3. Enlarge video to full screen by clicking expand on bottom right.
4. On TV, change the setting to 3D SBS or OAU based on the file you downloaded
5. Wear your 3D glasses and enjoy!
• If video quality still bad, check if you have HDMI version 1.4a.