Samsung's offer: Buy a 3D TV, get a Blu-ray player, glasses and "Monsters vs. Aliens 3D" free

Mar 9, 2010 5:32 PM

If you’re willing to leap head-first into 3D rather than gingerly testing the waters with your toes, Samsung has an offer for you: Buy both a 3D TV and a 3D Blu-ray player or 3D HTIB, and you’ll get a free 3D Starter Kit that bundles two pairs of battery-powered 3D glasses with DreamWorks’ Monsters vs. Aliens 3D title.

At a press event this morning in New York City, Samsung unveiled its entire lineup of 3D LCD and plasma TVs, which range in price from $1,700 for a 46-inch LCD with a conventional CCFL backlight to almost $7,000 for a 55-inch LCD model with 240Hz technology and an edge LED backlight. All 240Hz LCDs in Samsung’s lineup are 3D models, and all except one series (the C750 set mentioned above) have LED backlights. 3D TVs immediately for sale are 46-inch (UN46C7000) and 55-inch (UN55C7000) 7000-series models, priced at $2,600 and $3,300, respectively. New 7000 and 8000 ultra-thin plasma 3D sets, which start at $1,800, won’t be available until May.

All of Samsung’s 3D TVs have built-in processors that can render standard 2D content into 3D on the fly. The new C8000-series LCD sets have edge LED backlights that can be locally dimmed, a feature normally reserved for full-array LED models. All 3D models have Internet connectivity, plus Samsung Apps, which provide access to online content, including Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, USA Today, and Vudu, among other.

Samsung BD-C6900, a 3D Blu-ray player
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s 3D-enabled Blu-ray player, the BD-C6900, is priced at $400. It’s a slim-line player with built-in Wi-Fi and a transparent cover so you can see the disc spinning. The 7.1-channel 3D-enabled Blu-ray HTIB system, model HT-C6930W, is $900, and it includes wireless rear satellite speakers.

For a limited time, you’ll get a free 3D Starter Kit, which includes two pairs of basic active LCD shutter glasses and the Monsters vs. Aliens 3D disc, with the purchase of a Samsung 3D HDTV and either the Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray Player or the HT-C6930W 3D Home Theater System.

Samsung will also offer two other 3D glasses—a model with Touch of Color accents and a rechargeable battery, and a model designed especially for kids. If purchased separately, the glasses are $149.

Here’s a breakdown of Samsung’s 3D TV lineup, with pricing:

LCD with LED backlights