Apparently, it's not too late to find some goodies at Atlanta's CEDIA Expo. Today, Optoma unveiled a converter box that will bring 3D into additional homes -- ones with Optoma's existing 720p DLP projectors.
The new 3D-XL 3D Box Engine will allow legacy Optoma 720p DLP projectors to support the latest 3D source components, acting as a middleman between the projector and any of these devices including Blu-ray 3D players, Sony's PS3, and DIRECTV satellite set-top boxes. That means you can enjoy 3D TV content from your cable/satellite provider, play 3D movies through a Blu-ray 3D player or enjoy PS3 3D gaming, all without having to buy a new 3D TV or projector. It does, however, require that you own (or purchase) one of Optoma's existing 3D-capable front projectors such as the HD66.
The 3D-XL takes that HDMI 1.4a signal found in 720p, 1080i and 1080p 3D sources, including frame-packed content from Blu-ray 3D players, side by side and top/bottom formats from 3D set-top boxes, scales the signal to the projector's native resolution and converts it to a format that is compatible with Optoma's 120 Hz 3D-capable DLP projectors. Also, don't forget: You will still need active "DLP Link" 3D glasses to view the content in 3D.
"The 3D-XL is an important product for the market right now," said Jon Grodem, Optoma's senior director of product and marketing. "And it's far more than a bridge product, as it gives a large installed base a new lease on 3D life without having to make a new, expensive investment." When asked at CEDIA Expo about compatibility with other (non-Optoma) 3D-ready DLP projectors, Grodem said that hadn't been determined yet.
Whether it works with other projectors or not, one thing is certain: the 3D-XL lowers the price of entry for big screen 3D home theater projection significantly. You can put together a 3D home theater projection system for under $1100 if you pair Optoma's HD-66 projector ($699) with the 3D-XL ($399). We'd imagine that the street price may be even lower once these boxes are generally available. Add on a PS3 with its new Blu-ray 3D update or a standalone Blu-ray 3D player, some glasses and a few Blu-ray 3D movies and you're good to go.
The 3D-XL features two HDMI 1.4a inputs, 1 USB port and 1 RS-232 port, and can accept common global video inputs and video formats up to 1080p resolution (HDTV, EDTV, SDTV, NTSC, PAL, SECAM).
Weighing in at 2.4 pounds, the 3D-XL comes with one-year parts and labor warranty. It will retail for $399. It is expected to be available later this fall.
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