When I reviewed the first version of Sony’s
Personal 3D Viewer almost a year ago, I had a few issues with it. The headset
is designed so that one person can have an immersive 3D experience, with the
help of a Blu-ray player or PlayStation 3, and on that front, the HMZ-T1
delivered. However, it was only immersive for very short periods of time before
the weight of the unit become too much.
Enjoy
a 3D experience for once
Not surprisingly, Sony sought to remedy
that with the second version of the viewer, the HMZ-T2. This version of the
device works pretty much exactly the same way as the first, but it’s
significantly lighter. As such, it’s a lot easier to wear for longer periods.
You’re still probably not going to watch long 3D movies using only the headset,
but it could be ideal for playing a game or two of Wipeout, or watching
a TV show.
The HMZ-T1 had in-built headphones that you
could pull down over your ears. The T2, instead, has a 3.5mm audio jack and comes
with a set of ear-buds. If you’re already got a better set of headphones, this
is going to be ideal as you can toss away the included ear-buds and plug in
your Sennheisers instead for a much more awesome experience.
The T2 is easy to set up. Once you plug
everything in, turn the device on, and strap it to your head, you’ll see a
series of instructions. You won’t be able to see the buttons on the headset
that you have to use during setup, but they are easy to locate by touch.
The
T2 is easy to set up. Once you plug everything in, turn the device on, and
strap it to your head, you’ll see a series of instructions.
The 3D experience is impressive. When
you’re all plugged in and you’re got a nice set of headphones, you’ll be more
immersed in your game’s universe than ever even if you’re just viewing in 2D.
The same is true for a film, although I only watched about half an hour of The
Amazing Spider-Man before I got too distracted by the headset to continue.
However, the weight does take much longer before you are taken out of the
experience, compared to the previous model.
When
you’re all plugged in and you’re got a nice set of headphones
What will take you out of the experience is
the pair of rubber shaders that are supposed to block out light, so you don’t
get glare. When they’re on and fastened, they work very well and help you
pretend the world outside your bubble never existed. However, I’ve tested the
shaders with two review units now, and they just won’t stay attached to the
headset. In the end, I pulled the shaders off entirely because the little bit
of glare you get in their absence bothered me less than having to readjust
every minute or so.
If you’re already got every other toy in
the world and you’re willing to throw down serious cash on this kind of tech,
then go for it. The T2 is much improved on the T1, and there’s nothing that
will get you into your game like this headset.
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Specifications
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Price: $920
§
Display resolution: 1280 x 720
§
Aspect ratio: 16:09
§
AC power voltage: 220V – 240V AC, 50/60 Hz
§ Weights:
600g
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