Days after most Australians have been hit by increased power bills and several new 3DTVs appearing in retail stores, researchers have revealed that 3D TVs use more power than conventional 2D TVs.
According to the US CNet website, tests of four models, including both plasma and LED-backlit LCD TVs, found between 62 per cent and 101 per cent greater power draw in plasma sets and 29 per cent more in one of the LED 3D TV sets.
Ironically the Sony TV tested used more power in 2D mode than 3D mode.
The most power hungry 3D TVs were two models from Panasonic. According to TV experts, 3D requires a brighter image because each side of the active shutter glasses is blocked part of the time. In addition, the tint of the glasses causes further light loss, for which the set must compensate with higher brightness.
Initial testing of several 3D-compatible HDTVs revealed that when settings were set to default, 3D images drew more power than in standard 2D mode, especially on plasma models.
CNet tested four models including Panasonic’s 50 and 65-inch plasmas, as well as two Samsung LED-based models and a Sony LED TV.
The results show that the plasmas use between 62 and 101 per cent more power, the Samsung model used 29 per cent more power.
In a reversal the Sony TV used more power in 2D than in 3D mode.
CNet said: “The main reason for the extra power draw in 3D, as far as we can tell, is that 3D needs a brighter image. The active LC shutter glasses required to view 3D on these TVs alternately block off each eye very quickly, so it stands to reason that the 3D image needs to be brighter than the 2D version to have similar impact. A quick eyeball observation sans glasses confirms that the 2D image is dimmer than 3D on the Panasonic plasmas. On the other hand, we couldn’t see an obvious brightness difference on the LED models”.
CNet said that in lieu of a test that controls for light output, they elected to compare the power consumption in each TV’s default standard picture mode (with ambient light sensors disabled).
The movie used to test the screens was “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” because that Blu-ray allows an in-menu choice of 2D or 3D presentation (in 3D mode they skipped past the 3D Blu-ray and Sony promos, which don’t appear in 2D mode, before they began the 10-minute period).
They said that the test procedure included hour-long warm-up times, for each measurement.
