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First, some background. When two devices do their HDMI handshake, the source is supposed to learn what the TV can handle, and could then decide what to send down the pipe. For example, if a TV accepts only PCM 2.0 audio, a Dolby-5.1-capable source can decide to send something more compatible. And yet, my Blu-ray player gives me a menu to select among PCM 2.0, multi-channel PCM, DTS-5.1-reconvert, and native bitstream. Some sources have similar selectors to allow 1080p24 or not, even allowing it to be pushed to TVs that don't advertise support for it.
Here's what I'm curious about. New 3D TVs will support several 3D-video formats (e.g., frame compatible, page-flip, etc.). Blu-ray players and STB sources may also support several formats. HDMI (theoretically) will help them agree on a compatible one. But will the sources offer user control menus to let me select between the default format and another supported one? Aside from speculation, I haven't found any user manuals, yet, that describe how new 3D sources will actually work.
This could be important for compatibility with older AVRs that only support frame-compatible 3D video, but which don't even acknowledge any support. If I can select side-by-side video on the source, then it will fit through such an older AVR. But, since that older AVR won't necessarily pass along the metadata to tell the TV the incoming video is side-by-side 3D instead of another 3D flavor or 2D, then I'd need some kind of knob on the TV, too. Will any new 3D TVs have controls like these?
I suspect we might only need controls like these for a couple of years while equipment is in transition, but I'm wondering if any of the new products will have those controls at all.
Here's what I'm curious about. New 3D TVs will support several 3D-video formats (e.g., frame compatible, page-flip, etc.). Blu-ray players and STB sources may also support several formats. HDMI (theoretically) will help them agree on a compatible one. But will the sources offer user control menus to let me select between the default format and another supported one? Aside from speculation, I haven't found any user manuals, yet, that describe how new 3D sources will actually work.
This could be important for compatibility with older AVRs that only support frame-compatible 3D video, but which don't even acknowledge any support. If I can select side-by-side video on the source, then it will fit through such an older AVR. But, since that older AVR won't necessarily pass along the metadata to tell the TV the incoming video is side-by-side 3D instead of another 3D flavor or 2D, then I'd need some kind of knob on the TV, too. Will any new 3D TVs have controls like these?
I suspect we might only need controls like these for a couple of years while equipment is in transition, but I'm wondering if any of the new products will have those controls at all.