Review of Sony HMZ-T3
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So I just brought the Sony HMZ-T3. This is the Japanese version and was on sale on Amazon for $700 or so. Here's a quick rundown for those who are interested. Pros + 3D works with all devices without drivers/workarounds/etc... The HMD detects 3D automatically. Works with browser content too. Perfect for all consoles with HDMI output. Red Dead/Zelda/Mario never looked better. + Works with anything that is 720P on PC. It doesn't have to be 720P, but that's the screen size of the unit for best viewing. So old 3D games opengl/directx7 work too! + Audio is good + Color and brightness match a CRT thanks to the OLED displays. + Works with 3DTV Play, although I haven't tested this as my ASUS 3D Vision monitor has the emitter built-in. + No eye-strain as the 3D "feels" passive. Sony doesn't say, but compared to 3D Vision shutter glasses, it feels passive. Cons - 720P only. Not that big of a deal since it works with consoles, but is below 3D Vision 1080P. - Ridiculous amount of weight on the nose. Sony should have used straps and I will have to mod mine to play extended period. - 3D feels exactly like you're at a movie (small one). You can even see the surrounding screen area. Can be annoying, but you get use to it. - Depth only (no popout) for most 3D content unless it has 3D built into it. Nothing "hits" your face like it does with 3D Vision. - Wireless version is $1000! Final Thoughts. If you own a huge library of console games and want a simple solution, this is a good choice. I thought about 3D Projectors, but you don't have to worry about buying new bulbs. This unit basically matches a 3D projector. I have enough console exclusives that it makes this unit worth keeping. If you've been spoiled by 3D Vision, you can still use 3DTV Play. But the 3D without 3DTV Play is depth only. Also note that you will need a component to HDMI converter to connect older consoles like PS2/Xbox original. 3D still works for those consoles too!
So I just brought the Sony HMZ-T3. This is the Japanese version and was on sale on Amazon for $700 or so. Here's a quick rundown for those who are interested.

Pros
+ 3D works with all devices without drivers/workarounds/etc... The HMD detects 3D automatically. Works with browser content too. Perfect for all consoles with HDMI output. Red Dead/Zelda/Mario never looked better.
+ Works with anything that is 720P on PC. It doesn't have to be 720P, but that's the screen size of the unit for best viewing. So old 3D games opengl/directx7 work too!
+ Audio is good
+ Color and brightness match a CRT thanks to the OLED displays.
+ Works with 3DTV Play, although I haven't tested this as my ASUS 3D Vision monitor has the emitter built-in.
+ No eye-strain as the 3D "feels" passive. Sony doesn't say, but compared to 3D Vision shutter glasses, it feels passive.


Cons
- 720P only. Not that big of a deal since it works with consoles, but is below 3D Vision 1080P.
- Ridiculous amount of weight on the nose. Sony should have used straps and I will have to mod mine to play extended period.
- 3D feels exactly like you're at a movie (small one). You can even see the surrounding screen area. Can be annoying, but you get use to it.
- Depth only (no popout) for most 3D content unless it has 3D built into it. Nothing "hits" your face like it does with 3D Vision.
- Wireless version is $1000!

Final Thoughts.
If you own a huge library of console games and want a simple solution, this is a good choice. I thought about 3D Projectors, but you don't have to worry about buying new bulbs. This unit basically matches a 3D projector. I have enough console exclusives that it makes this unit worth keeping. If you've been spoiled by 3D Vision, you can still use 3DTV Play. But the 3D without 3DTV Play is depth only.

Also note that you will need a component to HDMI converter to connect older consoles like PS2/Xbox original. 3D still works for those consoles too!

#1
Posted 02/03/2015 03:59 PM   
Oh yeah. One caveat. The 720P is projector 720P, not monitor 720P. If you don't know the difference, 720P on a projector has no jaggies or pixels. Image is clear and bright.
Oh yeah. One caveat. The 720P is projector 720P, not monitor 720P. If you don't know the difference, 720P on a projector has no jaggies or pixels. Image is clear and bright.

#2
Posted 02/03/2015 04:17 PM   
Thanks for sharing. So basically it converts any 2d content to 3d at the touch of a button? How does the 3d effect compare to say the fake 3d? Have you tried the Nvidia DSR feature to increase the image quality?
Thanks for sharing.

So basically it converts any 2d content to 3d at the touch of a button? How does the 3d effect compare to say the fake 3d?

Have you tried the Nvidia DSR feature to increase the image quality?

#3
Posted 02/03/2015 04:51 PM   
I only tried the fake3D once in the image viewer as I have a 690GTX and switched to the old drivers that came prior to fake3D. The fake3D seemed to have depth, but not made the objects in the scene look "squeezed". I don't know how that's going now as I have the old 3D Vision effect running. Obviously, there's no DSR with the old drivers or my old card. But AA and filtering work fine to make a great looking image for PC games. The device seems to know when an image has depth as all 3D games have depth. The 720P depth of the device doesn't match the 1080P depth of my ASUS monitor since there are less pixels. However, I have not found a 3D game that has not worked with the device. As long as the game has depth, you will see it without any deformities.
I only tried the fake3D once in the image viewer as I have a 690GTX and switched to the old drivers that came prior to fake3D. The fake3D seemed to have depth, but not made the objects in the scene look "squeezed". I don't know how that's going now as I have the old 3D Vision effect running. Obviously, there's no DSR with the old drivers or my old card. But AA and filtering work fine to make a great looking image for PC games.

The device seems to know when an image has depth as all 3D games have depth. The 720P depth of the device doesn't match the 1080P depth of my ASUS monitor since there are less pixels. However, I have not found a 3D game that has not worked with the device. As long as the game has depth, you will see it without any deformities.

#4
Posted 02/03/2015 06:31 PM   
I'm pretty sure that 3DTV Play will enable with your internal emitter, PM Pirateguybrush he'd know. It also may be necessary to have Nvidia add the EDID from the HMZ-T3 to their drivers because 3DTV Play might still have a screen size limit that disables it. http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2774
I'm pretty sure that 3DTV Play will enable with your internal emitter, PM Pirateguybrush he'd know.

It also may be necessary to have Nvidia add the EDID from the HMZ-T3 to their drivers because 3DTV Play might still have a screen size limit that disables it.


http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2774

#5
Posted 02/03/2015 10:03 PM   
Not really wanting to be that guy but [most of the] the Pros you've mentioned about 3D are technically fake 3D. The games that were mentioned, when played on consoles, aren't stereoscopic 3D, so what ever it's doing ... it's faking it, it's not 3D.
Not really wanting to be that guy but [most of the] the Pros you've mentioned about 3D are technically fake 3D. The games that were mentioned, when played on consoles, aren't stereoscopic 3D, so what ever it's doing ... it's faking it, it's not 3D.
#6
Posted 02/03/2015 11:34 PM   
I am also pretty sure it's fake too as the device only receives a signal from the consoles with no spatial information. But I'm guessing the device is able to separate one image into two, then warp them along the center of the device to produce the spatial distance either with image processing or the lens, and then overlay them. This is why it's slightly blurry on the edges I think. Still looks good though. I don't see any shuttering looking into the device so I'm guessing it's passive.
I am also pretty sure it's fake too as the device only receives a signal from the consoles with no spatial information. But I'm guessing the device is able to separate one image into two, then warp them along the center of the device to produce the spatial distance either with image processing or the lens, and then overlay them. This is why it's slightly blurry on the edges I think. Still looks good though. I don't see any shuttering looking into the device so I'm guessing it's passive.

#7
Posted 02/04/2015 12:33 AM   
No, that's not what we'd call a passive display for 3D. Those are two screens, one for each eye. That's also why it's pricey, but it also means that you will get absolutely zero ghosting. I think that you should be able to run with 3D TV Play and get true-3D with it, and the results should be really great. Something like Batman Arkham City would be a good one to get working first.
No, that's not what we'd call a passive display for 3D. Those are two screens, one for each eye. That's also why it's pricey, but it also means that you will get absolutely zero ghosting.

I think that you should be able to run with 3D TV Play and get true-3D with it, and the results should be really great. Something like Batman Arkham City would be a good one to get working first.

Acer H5360 (1280x720@120Hz) - ASUS VG248QE with GSync mod - 3D Vision 1&2 - Driver 372.54
GTX 970 - i5-4670K@4.2GHz - 12GB RAM - Win7x64+evilKB2670838 - 4 Disk X25 RAID
SAGER NP9870-S - GTX 980 - i7-6700K - Win10 Pro 1607
Latest 3Dmigoto Release
Bo3b's School for ShaderHackers

#8
Posted 02/04/2015 12:49 AM   
The HMZ-T3 is fully compatible with 3DTV Play. Installation is just as easy as for every 3D TV. As Bob said you get ZERO GHOSTING (because of two displays, one for each eye) and this is pretty much the best and most natural way to watch 3D as there is absolutely no shutter (active) or filtering (passive) involved. 3D Vision games look absolutely gorgeous on the HMZ but you should heavily make use of convergence tweaking! You don't get the same sense of pop-out with the HMZ but that's due to the fact that you don't have a frame like the bezels on a monitor to refer to. So you can't really identify when something "breaks through the screen". But that's not necessarily a bad thing since 3D with the HMZ always pretty much feels like being in the given virtual world which means that you are not seeing pop-out because it feels like you are not really separated from the virtual world (again, use convergence). Here are some recommendations to make the HMZ-3D experience truly spectacular: - use a depth-hack so you can go beyond 100% depth. This is a known issue with 3D projectors which seem to have less depth even when on 100% compared to 3D monitors/TV. With a depth-hack you can go as high with depth as you want pretending that your screen is smaller than it actually is. - use convergence tweaking. First time I tried the HMZ with 3D Vision I was like "uhm, ok, that looks nice but not spectacular. After I used convergence tweaking I was like "Oh my, I have been transformed to the virtual world"! - Rip off the forehead pad of the HMZ (easily done. You can just detach it using "mild force". It will still be usable after detaching) and replace it with a much thinner foam material so your eyes get even closer to the screens which solves the problem with the blurry edges. - while applying of an additional head band was inevitable for HMZ-T1/T2 it is not really necessary for the HMZ-T3. The HMZ-T3 already comes with a fully adjustable head-band and it definitely can be adjusted the way that it neutralizes the weight on your nose.
The HMZ-T3 is fully compatible with 3DTV Play. Installation is just as easy as for every 3D TV.
As Bob said you get ZERO GHOSTING (because of two displays, one for each eye) and this is pretty much the best and most natural way to watch 3D as there is absolutely no shutter (active) or filtering (passive) involved.

3D Vision games look absolutely gorgeous on the HMZ but you should heavily make use of convergence tweaking!
You don't get the same sense of pop-out with the HMZ but that's due to the fact that you don't have a frame like the bezels on a monitor to refer to. So you can't really identify when something "breaks through the screen". But that's not necessarily a bad thing since 3D with the HMZ always pretty much feels like being in the given virtual world which means that you are not seeing pop-out because it feels like you are not really separated from the virtual world (again, use convergence).

Here are some recommendations to make the HMZ-3D experience truly spectacular:

- use a depth-hack so you can go beyond 100% depth. This is a known issue with 3D projectors which seem to have less depth even when on 100% compared to 3D monitors/TV. With a depth-hack you can go as high with depth as you want pretending that your screen is smaller than it actually is.

- use convergence tweaking. First time I tried the HMZ with 3D Vision I was like "uhm, ok, that looks nice but not spectacular. After I used convergence tweaking I was like "Oh my, I have been transformed to the virtual world"!

- Rip off the forehead pad of the HMZ (easily done. You can just detach it using "mild force". It will still be usable after detaching) and replace it with a much thinner foam material so your eyes get even closer to the screens which solves the problem with the blurry edges.

- while applying of an additional head band was inevitable for HMZ-T1/T2 it is not really necessary for the HMZ-T3. The HMZ-T3 already comes with a fully adjustable head-band and it definitely can be adjusted the way that it neutralizes the weight on your nose.

#9
Posted 02/04/2015 09:37 AM   
one more thing: As I already said. 3D Vision with the HMZ is as good as true stereoscopic 3D can be and has absolutely nothing to do with fake 3D! OF course when using fake 3D (CM Mode,etc.....) the HMZ won't transform it into real 3D.
one more thing:

As I already said. 3D Vision with the HMZ is as good as true stereoscopic 3D can be and has absolutely nothing to do with fake 3D! OF course when using fake 3D (CM Mode,etc.....) the HMZ won't transform it into real 3D.

#10
Posted 02/04/2015 09:41 AM   
But lets say I want to watch any movie on Netflix in 3d or any game that doesn't have a 3d fix like say Dead Island 1 and 2. Is there a button that converts any 2d image into 3d? This is a feauture on most Samsung 3d TVs and I am curious if that is also possible. I just love the idea of being able to use 3d with everything. Thanks again. I am highly considering a purchase.
But lets say I want to watch any movie on Netflix in 3d or any game that doesn't have a 3d fix like say Dead Island 1 and 2. Is there a button that converts any 2d image into 3d? This is a feauture on most Samsung 3d TVs and I am curious if that is also possible. I just love the idea of being able to use 3d with everything.

Thanks again. I am highly considering a purchase.

#11
Posted 02/04/2015 02:24 PM   
Sorry, I should have said 'most' and not 'all' of the '3D' Pros ... I knew it was a true S3D device but statements like "3D works with all devices without drivers/workarounds/etc..." make it sound like a real 3D godsend when it should read "fake 3D" or "3D conversion". I'm not saying it sucks, or I wouldn't even want the feature myself ... I'm just saying a statement like that is a tad misleading and could cause confusion as to what really good 3D actually is. ;)
Sorry, I should have said 'most' and not 'all' of the '3D' Pros ... I knew it was a true S3D device but statements like "3D works with all devices without drivers/workarounds/etc..." make it sound like a real 3D godsend when it should read "fake 3D" or "3D conversion".

I'm not saying it sucks, or I wouldn't even want the feature myself ... I'm just saying a statement like that is a tad misleading and could cause confusion as to what really good 3D actually is. ;)
#12
Posted 02/04/2015 03:56 PM   
Thanks all for the help with 3DTV Play. I will have to try and figure how to get it to work in the ASUS monitor, otherwise I'd have to buy the separate emitter. I'll let you guys know as it may take time to buy a emitter otherwise. To Nate, the 3D works based on the video signal, but it is not as good as 3D Vision on my ASUS. However, the screen is as large as your local movie theater when wearing the device. You sit about the middle of the theater in comparison. There is depth and a physical presence to objects/characters. Looking at Project Gotham 4 in the device vs. Burnout on my PC, they both have depth when driving. But nothing pops out on the device compared to the PC. The manual states it recognizes a 3D signal if there is one. But I'm guessing that, since this is Sony electronics we're talking about, the device can distinguish between a DVD/Blu-ray movie and a console/PC game as Sony is a major player in this area. That is why it works with all devices and even has an MHL connector for mobile devices. I have wiped the lenses, and they are outwardly curved so there is at least that to help create the illusion of 3D. I'll try to do some more comparisons using Final Fantasy XIII as I have it for both the console and PC and 3D Vision supposedly works on the PC version.
Thanks all for the help with 3DTV Play. I will have to try and figure how to get it to work in the ASUS monitor, otherwise I'd have to buy the separate emitter. I'll let you guys know as it may take time to buy a emitter otherwise.

To Nate, the 3D works based on the video signal, but it is not as good as 3D Vision on my ASUS. However, the screen is as large as your local movie theater when wearing the device. You sit about the middle of the theater in comparison. There is depth and a physical presence to objects/characters. Looking at Project Gotham 4 in the device vs. Burnout on my PC, they both have depth when driving. But nothing pops out on the device compared to the PC.

The manual states it recognizes a 3D signal if there is one. But I'm guessing that, since this is Sony electronics we're talking about, the device can distinguish between a DVD/Blu-ray movie and a console/PC game as Sony is a major player in this area. That is why it works with all devices and even has an MHL connector for mobile devices. I have wiped the lenses, and they are outwardly curved so there is at least that to help create the illusion of 3D.

I'll try to do some more comparisons using Final Fantasy XIII as I have it for both the console and PC and 3D Vision supposedly works on the PC version.

#13
Posted 02/04/2015 06:55 PM   
Here's an update on the device if anybody is considering it. To use it properly, the device is suppose to rest on your temple. There's a nose guard, but the device should never touch the nose. This distributes the weight on the temple and back of the neck. Still too heavy, but there's a Youtube video on how to use a bicycle helmet to house the device. The device has fake 3D that works for almost all 3D games at 800x600 or higher. This is the default for consoles. 720P 3D "real 3D" can be activated using the PC which gives 3D depth at the same setting as 3D Vision at 50% (no popout). To use it, 1) Enable 3D Vision, but the device does not use 3D Vision. It only needs the 3D Vision signal to enable 720P 3D mode. Tested without my ASUS monitor with built-in emitter. This means you may only need a 3D Vision capable card and driver. 2) Set the game at the required 720P 60Hz. Tested in the following games in 3D that do not work with 3D Vision for me using 337.50 drivers, but is 720P 3D with no issues using the device. TrackMania Stadium Tank Universal Still Life SOL: Exodus Silent Hunter III Secret Fils: Sam Peters Saints Row The Third The Polynomial Max Payne 2 GTA San Andreas (not V) Dyad Morrowind with graphics enhancer Far Cry The Bard's Tale Anna Extended Edition GTA IV Crysis is in 3D, but has some issue where the image breaks in 3D. Probably involving Post processing as Intro does not have any issues.
Here's an update on the device if anybody is considering it. To use it properly, the device is suppose to rest on your temple. There's a nose guard, but the device should never touch the nose. This distributes the weight on the temple and back of the neck. Still too heavy, but there's a Youtube video on how to use a bicycle helmet to house the device.

The device has fake 3D that works for almost all 3D games at 800x600 or higher. This is the default for consoles.

720P 3D "real 3D" can be activated using the PC which gives 3D depth at the same setting as 3D Vision at 50% (no popout). To use it,

1) Enable 3D Vision, but the device does not use 3D Vision. It only needs the 3D Vision signal to enable 720P 3D mode. Tested without my ASUS monitor with built-in emitter. This means you may only need a 3D Vision capable card and driver.
2) Set the game at the required 720P 60Hz.

Tested in the following games in 3D that do not work with 3D Vision for me using 337.50 drivers, but is 720P 3D with no issues using the device.

TrackMania Stadium
Tank Universal
Still Life
SOL: Exodus
Silent Hunter III
Secret Fils: Sam Peters
Saints Row The Third
The Polynomial
Max Payne 2
GTA San Andreas (not V)
Dyad
Morrowind with graphics enhancer
Far Cry
The Bard's Tale
Anna Extended Edition
GTA IV

Crysis is in 3D, but has some issue where the image breaks in 3D. Probably involving Post processing as Intro does not have any issues.

#14
Posted 02/11/2015 10:35 PM   
Here's my analysis of FF13 on PC and 360 with the device. HMZ-T3 with 360 uses fake 3D and has depth. Characters feel solid and look like they should at 2D. Movies in 3D. All cutscenes in 3D. ASUS 3D Vision with 70% convergence and no patches. Characters look like action figures with popout. Movies 2D. Some cutscenes have issues in 3D. HMZ-T3 720P 3D. Characters look like dolls with no popout. Looks like 3D Vision at 50%. Movies in 3D. All cutscenes in 3D. HMZ-T3 at 720P with fake 3D has depth. Same results as 360.
Here's my analysis of FF13 on PC and 360 with the device.

HMZ-T3 with 360 uses fake 3D and has depth. Characters feel solid and look like they should at 2D. Movies in 3D. All cutscenes in 3D.

ASUS 3D Vision with 70% convergence and no patches. Characters look like action figures with popout. Movies 2D. Some cutscenes have issues in 3D.

HMZ-T3 720P 3D. Characters look like dolls with no popout. Looks like 3D Vision at 50%. Movies in 3D. All cutscenes in 3D.

HMZ-T3 at 720P with fake 3D has depth. Same results as 360.

#15
Posted 02/11/2015 10:42 PM   
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