All I Want for Christmas is a 3-D TV

If you're a fan of 3-D movies in the theater and want a gift that will bring an undeniable wow factor, a 3-D HDTV will deliver. You'll pay a premium of at least $300 over a non-3-D capable, you will wear dark glasses indoors and you'll be limited in entertainment, but 3-D is the ultimate new TV feature.

If the TV has 3-D capability, it will also have the full complement of TV extras, including Internet connectivity, HDMI ports, full HD and a super-fast 240Hz refresh rate. A 3-D TV may also offer 2-D to 3-D conversion, so an ordinary program gets the 3-D treatment. Don't expect the bounce-in-your-face effects as made-for-3-D content for converted content, but it will be noticeable.

Size matters

3-D TVs are available from Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, LG, Toshiba and as of this week, Vizio. Sizes begin at 40 inches. Smaller 32-inch and 37-inch sets will be available from Samsung next year, despite the company's statements that when it comes to 3-D, bigger is better.

On the other end of the size spectrum, Panasonic this week announced a 103-inch 3-D TV priced at around $112,000, but a 55-inch model is the size most audiovisual enthusiasts recommend for 3-D home theater. Expect to pay around $2,000 for a Vizio at Sam's Club and up to around $2,600 for a Sony Bravia at Best Buy.

Plasma's edge over LCD

Plasma technology has never suffered from the lags and judder associated with LCD TVs, which makes it better suited to 3-D imaging."Plasma TVs are better at displaying 3-D images than LCD sets, primarily because they exhibit less ghosting, or double images that appear even when wearing 3-D glasses," according to tests conducted by Consumer Reports.

And, like their 2-D counterparts, plasmas are simply less expensive. What you might sacrifice in weight and a super-slim profile can be made up with better performance and lower price.

For instance, a 50-inch 3-D plasma from Samsung is priced at $1,439 compared to a 46-inch 3-D LED LCD from Samsung at $2,000. Both are available at Best Buy.

The 3-D chain

Just like HDTV, every component in the 3-D chain must be 3-D compatible. Along with a 3-D capable TV and compatible glasses, you'll need a 3-D Blu-ray player to watch movies in 3-D and you'll need 3-D content from your cable or satellite provider. Each component must be connected with the newer 1.4a HDMI cables.

If you own one of the 39 million Sony PS3 gaming consoles sold to date, you've got a 3-D compatible Blu-ray player. Sony's October firmware upgrade included compatibility with new 3-D standards, making it the only Blu-ray manufacturer to update its equipment.

Holiday sales

Don't expect big discounts on 3-D TVs over the holidays, though. Retailers will take a loss on older products to make room for 2011 inventory, but they can pass through 3-D goodies from manufacturers to their customers and still retain their margins. Look for free add-ons with the purchase of a 3-D TV, which can add up to $400 or more in savings.

Panasonic's "Avatar" 3-D promotion launches Dec. 1. Buy any size Panasonic (plasma) Viera 3-D TV and receive "Avatar" in 3-D and two pairs of 3-D glasses.

Now through Dec. 4 at Amazon.com, buy a qualifying Samsung 3-D HDTV and Amazon will throw in a free Blu-ray 3-D player plus Samsung's 3-D Starter Kit, complete with two pairs of glasses and "How to Train Your Dragon" on Blu-ray 3D Disc.

Also from Amazon, buy a 46-inch or 55-inch Sony Bravia 3-D TV and receive a 160 GB Sony PS3 gaming system/3-D Blu-ray player and Sony's starter kit with two pairs of active glasses, a 3-D transmitter and a copy of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" in 3-D. Ends on Nov. 20.

Leslie Meredith is a contributor to Live Science. She has a bachelor's degree from UCLA in psychology and has directed tourism and ski publications for the Salt Lake Visitor & Convention Bureau and managed promotions and events for Sunset Magazine.