PS3 3D Display

If you’re anything like I am, you prefer to have your console connected to your desk for maximum efficiency. I personally keep my PS3 on my desk for immediate gaming, while my Xbox 360 and Wii are connected to my TV. I choose this set up because I’m often playing games that aren’t so family friendly on my PS3, and because my step kids love playing Xbox. For about 4 years now I’ve used a Samsung 22″ monitor, and while it’s been okay, I’ve had a lot of problems keeping my PS3 connected to it, so when Sony announced this PlayStation branded 3D display, I was super excited about it.

From the moment I saw it, I knew that I wanted this to replace my PC monitor, as well as become my go-to screen for my PS3 gaming. There was just one downside: The monitor was $499, and I knew I could get a replacement 22″ monitor for less than $200 that came equipped with HDMI ports. Would Sony’s seemingly expensive 3D unit be a good replacement for my failing monitor?

In short, kind of. I’m just going to start off by saying the Sony PS3 3D Display isn’t the world’s best computer monitor. It looks terrific, don’t get me wrong, but in my experience the colors often wash out if you’re not looking at it from just the right angle (ie: directly in front of it) similar to the way the glasses-less 3D acts on the Nintendo 3DS or even my Evo 3D cell phone. I also get a blank screen for a few seconds from time to time, but I’m not sure that’s a problem with this display versus my old PC video card having problems pushing things over from HDMI.

I play a lot of League of Legends, so the extra room this 24″ monitor grants me is a welcome addition to eye candy space, but again if you’re solely replacing this as a monitor – I’m not so sure $499 is a great price for a monitor, even though it does 3D.

Speaking of 3D, the 3D is really good via the bundled PS3 Simulview glasses. However, the also bundled Motorstorm: Apocalypse is probably the absolute best example of 3D I’ve witnessed on this display thus far, and that’s after play testing with Motorstorm: Apocalypse, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Resistance 3, and Uncharted 3. Also of note, the Simulview technology is a killer idea, but it’s only available on a select few Sony first party titles. Motorstorm, for sure, but other games not so much. The glasses also come with a carrying bag and a micro USB cable, and feature an onboard battery much like the other PlayStation first party peripherals – which is a huge bonus. The charge lasts for quite some time on the glasses, and I’ve only charged them once despite owning this display since launch day.

The display itself is extremely thin, with the base of the unit being the largest part of the display. I wish I could mount it, but as you’ll see in the video below my desk just won’t allow it. The biggest problem I have with the display was the imperfections in the build quality. The display is put together very well, but QA testing must have been non-existent as I had to return mine because it was cosmetically damaged, just to get a replacement that was also cosmetically damaged. I guess I’d prefer cosmetic damage to burnt out pixels, a la the PSP launch.

Let me get down to business here – this thing is NOT a TV, it’s a “display”. What that means, is that it’s basically optimal for gaming/viewing. You could hook a cable box up to it via HDMI, but it doesn’t have coaxial inputs, and obviously that means it doesn’t have a TV Tuner. It also features all of the buttons along the back side of the left front (right if you’re looking at it) under the two HDMI inputs, component inputs, and headphone jack. These buttons aren’t always so easy to press, and the unit doesn’t come with a remote control – a feature I really started to miss the more I used it.

All of that said, if you want more thoughts please watch the video review above. You’re more interested in the final score, yeah? Well, I’ll tell you that I think it’s a really good monitor for gaming. The 240 hz refresh is insanely good, and the 1080p is nice and prettyful. However, colors can sometimes wash out a little bit – a minor gripe but most of you won’t really notice enough to care. I am really enjoying mine, but I think it’s a bit steep for the price. It’s currently on sale at Best Buy for $299, and that’s an absolute steal for this display. For full price, unless you just need a 24″ 3D monitor with some decent built-in speakers, you’re probably better off buying a computer monitor that does 3D and has DVI/VGA inputs as well as HDMI.