Chris,

Despite the disadvantages we've started to have a few clients start to ask for these. The best option to maintain B&O operability, especially in your case where the gear is in place and a full retrofit will be difficult, is to use a BeoSystem 3 as the AV processor. As you likely know it is the successor to the processor that lived inside the BeoVision 5 and can be used with 3rd party screens. 

The only issue I foresee is that the BeoSystem 3 is HDMI 1.3 compliant and 3D requires HDMI 1.4 to display 3D content in 1080p. In our testing in the shop, however, there is no noticeable difference between 720p & 1080p versions of the 3D material. That being said, if the client really wants 3D tv, and is willing to move from a B&O screen to a Samsung, they're probably not that concerned with the image quality. 

Thanks for this,

There are a lot of current AV products out there that don't like the 3D signal,

I have noticed the new Panasonic 3D Blu-ray players have adopted using twin HDMI outputs - one for the AV processor (audio) and one for the TV (3D Video) and therefore this may alleviate the problem as long as we run a second HDMI cable to the TV just for the Blu-ray.

I'm assuming the B&O remote will not control the Samsung TV to any degree? So I may look at programming a custom remote such as URC or Philips Pronto.

Once again thanks for your prompt reply,

Chris.

Using this kind of 2-HDMI blu ray player is a good solution, there will be no issue with the BS3, as I'm not sure that using the HDMI 1.3 of the BS3 will work with every 3D-BD, even in 720p. And there could be some issues with the synchronization of 3D-glasses.

Concerning remotes, if the client wants to keep B&O look & feel, you can choose a Beo5, but will have to spend big time programming it! Solution : ask Keith professional service.

Thanks,

I was also thinking of adding a Beolab 7-6 speaker to go under the television - I have already asked a bracket manufacturer (future automation) about a pull out bracket holding the Samsung television and B&O speaker beneath - would this work ok?

One more question - the customer currently has a sat box (sky) going into their existing Beovision 5 TV which is also controlled around the house using the B&O remotes - will I still retain this function when changing to the BS3?

Re: remote - for a retro B&O style I was thinking more along the lines of the new RTI T1-B universal controller

http://www.rticorp.com/products/t1b.html

we do a lot of RTI as they have some of the best programming software (the same software for all their remotes) and very high build quality and reliability on all their products.

The RTI looks great. I think that your biggest challenge in incorporating the 3D tv is not the tech that's specific to making this feature work, it's that the client has already had a BeoVision 5 which brings a level of integration that most 3rd party remote solutions can't adequately match. It will be up to you to offer as streamlined an experience as they're used to, but with the new tech features they'd like. That's why I suggest using a BeoSystem 3 platform if the budget allows as it will do a lot of this work for you and controlling the screen on/off will not be an issue for the BeoSystem 3 or the Beo5 whichever way you decide to go. 

Also, we have seen no issues in the active glasses giving trouble when watching 3D via BeoSystem 3, but we've had very limited real-world testing so far so I'd advise the testing of a specific player at your local shop. They should be happy to see the results for themselves. 

When did the BeoSystem 3 become HDMI 1.3 compliant? I had understood that the BeoSystem 3 was still only HDMI 1.1.

You are right. BS3 is only HDMI 1.1 compliant. Can someone really confirm that BS3 today has HDMI 1.3?

Regards
Martin