Sony PLMA35 Plasma Glasses

PLMA35 Plasma Glasses

Manufacturer: Sony

Price: $299-599 (US)

Review Date: 5/5/01

Everyone wants to game big! I want big sound with images on a big screen. I could easily spend a few thousand dollars on a 52" TV which I can connect my Dreamcast and computer to. There are the small matters of just how am I going to pay for it, where will I put it and how can I convince my new wife its necessary.

Sony has an alternative. The PLMA35 Plasma glasses offer semi-affordable large screen viewing. The PLMA35 simulates a 52" screen viewed from approximately 6 feet away. The futuristic looking shield also offers built in stereo ear-buds that can either be left in the holders on the side of the screens or placed into your ears.

The PLMA35 view image comes from two small LCD screens that merge into one image in front of you. Usually the double LCD arrangement also allows stereo imaging (think of a ViewMaster) but the PLMA35 does not offer this feature. The provided image is strictly 2D.

Features:

• RCA or S-Video image input
• 2 RCA sound inputs
• 2 160 x 200 pixel LCD screens provide a simulated 52" image from 6 ft. away
• Controllable brightness
• Sound level control with protective leveling

Box Contents:

• Visor with 2 LCD screens and bud earphones
• Power supply and electrical plug (battery pack optional)
• RCA plug connector (video/sound)
• 3 RCA female/female adapters
• Earpiece covers
• Extra nosepiece
• Manual

Setup:

There is not too much required to setup the PLMA35 Glasses. The glasses plug into the power block's base. A standard 2 prong, polarized electrical connection connects between the wall outlet and the power block base. Using the included RCA connector and the included female/female adapters you can connect the entire setup directly to the source. The first thing I connected the PLMA to was my Dreamcast. The 3 RCA connections from the Dreamcast plugged directly into the adapter fitted ends of the PLMA RCA ends.

The power toggle stitch on the side of the power block brought a simple alignment image to the screens of the PLMA. The alignment image should appear straight and whole. If the image is skewed or broken you will need to adjust the fit of the goggles. There are few adjustments that can be made- the nose bridge can be adjusted as can the arms of the earpieces. I did not need to make any adjustments except for comfort.

Connecting other devices is similar. Connecting my DVD player or VCR was as simple as connecting to the video and sound out connections. My mono VCR required me to use a Y connector so I would still get sound from both earpieces. Although my DVD player has S-video out the PLMA35 does not come with a S-video cable. If you desire to use this connection you need to invest in the cable on your own.

The most difficult connection I made with the PLMA35 was to my computer system. My current video card has a video out function through an RCA cable. This connection was simple enough. To connect the sound would require a few 1/8" to RCA adapters that would have to purchased separately. I chose to just use my computer speakers for sound. My video card allows simultaneous output to both the monitor and the TV connection. If you are using an external TV adapter because you do not have a TV out video card you may not have this luxury.

I didn't find the setup as portable as I had hoped. Depending on what type of device you are connecting it to you could need a few adapters. I eventually acquired all of the adapters I needed for my VCR, DVD, computer and console system. Radio Shack made about $20 on the deal getting me connected. I could have easily spent another $20 on a decent S-video cable too.

Performance:

The PLMA35 Plasma Glasses were largely a disappointment. The screens are far too small and of too low of a resolution to provide a good combined image. The trick of making the image appear to be in the distance helps hide the fact that the screens cannot provide enough definition to allow for legible reading of anything onscreen. DVD menu systems, Dreamcast menus and the FBI Warnings screens of videos could not be read unless the text took up most of the screen.

Do not even consider operating your Windows OS environment using the PLMA35. You may be able to find the Start button but will never be able to tell what the selections on the menus are. Even PC gaming didn't provide a clear image. Quake III through the Plasma Glasses had the potential to make me quit my job, stop bathing and have the glasses riveted to my skull. In the end I didn't consider any of those options. It did give me new appreciation for my 19" monitor.

The best performance came from direct video sources such as DVD or VCR movies. As long as you were not trying to read anything from the screen (ala the opening scene of Star Wars) the glasses were OK. Everything seemed as it should- about 6 feet away. You never got sucked into the scenes the way you can in a theater or close to a home system.

Along the same line is the sound provided through the ear buds. For personal, contained viewing and listening the setup is pretty good. The ear buds are best placed in your ears rather than clipped to the holders to the sides of the lenses. If used in the clips the sound is too "small" and seems to be coming from the virtual screen 6 feet away. The problem is you can't crank it up to acceptable levels without receiving distortion. When placed in your ears the buds provide Sony quality sound we have grown to expect from them.

To protect the user from overuse (which could lead to seizures) the PLMA has built in circuitry that turns the unit off after a couple hours of use. There is a little bit of flawed logic in this "feature" since if you are prone to this effect it will most likely occur much sooner than the cut-off point.

Comfort wise the Plasma Glasses are poorly designed. In order for the 2 images to merge properly the glasses must be accurately placed in front of your eyes. This is accomplished with frames that are simply too tight. Even after the possible adjustments are made the side pieces of the glasses are way to tight on my average size head. To add to the discomfort they are designed to fit over prescription glasses so they bow outward beyond your ear before turning in to clamp onto the back of your head (ouch!).

Overall:

I really wanted to like the PLMA35 Plasma Glasses. After all, they look futuristic and have great potential. In the end they fall short, not excelling in any area. The image is just too low of resolution for crisp viewing.

The Control Center really cannot recommend the PLMA 35 Glasses for gaming- for private video viewing they are OK but for the price you could buy a decent 32" TV set.