Ask S&V

Q Are any of the new Ultra HDTVs coming out 3D-compatible? I don’t want my 3D Blu-ray disc collection to become an unusable relic. —Don Fowler  

A Sorry for the news, but no new UHDTVs coming out in 2017 are 3D-compatible. That doesn’t comes as a surprise, however, given the downward trend in 3D support among set manufacturers over the past few years. Vizio was the first TV maker to dump 3D display capability back in 2014. The next company to drop 3D was Samsung, which ended support for the format in 2015. Finally, the glaring absence of 3D on the specifications list for new LG and Sony sets shown at CES 2017 made it clear that both companies had also called it quits.

Another factor accelerating 3D’s demise: the lack of 3D support in the new Ultra HD Blu-ray format.

The good news for 3D Blu-ray enthusiasts is that select 2016 UHDTVs with 3D support are still available from Sony and LG. That list includes two Sound & Vision Top Picks: Sony’s Z9D Series and LG’s OLEDE6P Series. Both sets support the Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats and feature up-to-date HDMI 2.0a connectivity.

Considering an upgrade from a TV to a projector? Many new 1080p models support 3D, and some, like Optoma’s $579 HD142X DLP projector do an outstanding job displaying it. The format also gets love in high-end 4K-resolution models such as JVC’s top-of-the-line DLA-RS4500.

Will set manufacturers reinstate 3D support? The prospect isn’t likely—consumer reception of the feature has been tepid at best, and it’s now been eclipsed by high dynamic range. So, if you love 3D and are inclined to buy a new TV, now is the time to jump. Studios regularly release new movies on Blu-ray 3D, and there’s no indication that the flow is slowing.