LG 50PZ950: On LG's TV this scene seemed pretty flat, though a few elements made this set stand out--namely, a few shots brought the helicopter cockpit into the foreground to make the image look deeper. It looked okay, not great.

Sony 46HX820: The jury was split on this one. One judge thought this scene on the 46HX820 was just as flat as on the PN43D490, while another thought it looked the best out of the three (although still very subtle in comparison with the other two scenes). While the 46HX820 was the best at bringing out details like the smudges on the helicopter's cockpit glass, such details don't always contribute to the "3D-ness" of the image.

Even though you can buy a for cheap, our testing makes it pretty clear that you get what you pay for. Image-quality factors such as refresh rate, image detail, color accuracy, and contrast level still matter once you put the 3D glasses on, and even if your cheaper TV supports 3D, that doesn't mean it'll make the effect look good. Samsung's PN43D490 managed a respectable showing against TVs that are three to four times as expensive, but it doesn't take a hard-core home theater enthusiast to appreciate the difference between the PN43D490 and the two pricier sets.

The overall 3D performance results of the LG 50PZ950 and the Sony KDL-46HX820 were fairly close, with the LG model generally producing a better 3D effect and the Sony set edging it out in overall image quality. Considering that the LG is a bigger set priced $500 less than the Sony model, value-minded 3D fans would do well to consider it. Even if you're not sold on either set, however, the LG shows that when it comes to 3D effects, a big high-end plasma is your best bet for the money.