When searching for the ultimate 3D Glasses package there are several factors to consider, compatibility, comfort, features, and price. Finding the package that meets all your need without sacrificing is often a hard task.  The Eye3D claims to be the ultimate bundle compatible with more chipsets, more drivers, and supporting all 4 3D modes commonly used for Stereovision. The Premium also comes bundled with both wired and wireless glasses and the biggest software bundle of all the 3d packages I tested as well.  If you curious what the $200 King of the Hill of 3D Glasses has then read on.

This review will cover only information specific to this particular glasses package. Putting the same information in each 3d glasses review would be redundant so for your convenience I have also posted several articles to help you learn more about 3D glasses and how to use them.  If you are new to 3D Glasses I recommend you read our article "3D Glasses How they Work"  so you have a better understanding of the technology behind 3D shutter glasses.  There is also a list of articles at the end of the review that will help you get the most out of your 3D Glasses.

In the Box
The Eye3D Premium comes neatly packed with two pairs of glasses which are the same glasses that ship with the Eye3D PCI. One of the pair is the wired identical to the Eye3D PCI with a 6'4" cord which is of more than ample length with the premium controller being on top of your monitor. The Other pair of glasses has a 3' cord that goes to a small receiver the size of a beeper which you can clip to your belt. The receiver houses the two batteries and has a button that turns the receiver on and also reverses the stereo field as well. To conserve on battery life the receiver turns itself off after 30 seconds of inactivity.

 The dongle is a VGA mail to female adapter that plugs between your video out and monitor and has two cables coming out of it, a 6'4" cable that runs to the controller which sits on top of your monitor and a shorter 20" cable that goes to your USB port to power the unit. The transmitter sits a top your monitor and features two buttons on top, one for mode and the other for stereo reverse, as well as a handy LED that lets you know by color what 3d mode is active. The transmitter also has two jacks which will allow you to plug in two pairs of wired glasses simultaneously which when combined with the wireless glasses means the controller can support 3 pair right out of the box.  The software bundle consists of the eyeSCREAM 2000 driver CD,  Eye3D Activator CD, Stereo3D PowerDVD CD, and VR Show which allows you to convert and make your own 3d pictures, movies, and slide shows.

Installation
Installation is as simple as ever.  Install the VGA pass-through between your video card and monitor, plug the power cable into a free USB port, and plug the controller/transmitter into the other end.  The glasses also need to be assembled which is simply a matter of plugging the receiver into the glasses and putting in the batteries. The last step is to boot up your PC and install the drivers and calibrate your package with the eyeSCREAM calibration and you are all set to start enjoying.

Drivers
I found the Eye3D Premium package compatible with all of the possible drivers that were available to me including the eyeSCREAM 2000, ELSA REVELATOR, VRCaddyME, and a beta of the full resolution VRCaddyME as well. As with every package I tested I downloaded the latest eyeSCREAM drivers from Metabyte as they are more recent than the ones on the included CD.

One annoying problem with the Premium controller was that it doesn't respond to the activate control code in the REVELATOR driver however it does respond to the de-activate code. With the Eye3D PCI I had to manually activate the controller for a game such as thief and then it would simply stay activated until I exited the game and turned it off.  However with Thief as an example every time you go to a cut scene or menu screen the REVELATOR driver will de-activate the Premium controller and then when you go back to game play such as when loading the next driver you have to manually activate the controller and usually on level changes you also have to turn the wireless transmitter back on as the 30 seconds have expired with no signal.  Though this isn't the end of the world it can be annoying in a few titles so beware.

Usage
As I found with the Eye3D PCI before, the glasses are the most comfortable of the bunch and the head strap makes them stay in place for long gaming sessions.  The wireless feature made me free again at last after all the time I spent testing other wired packages I always felt chained to my desk. The receiver wired to the glasses wasn't as bad as I had first imagined and clipped nicely on my belt.  A problem I often run into while using my 3d glasses is that my PC Is located in the same room with the family and TV and occasionally something will draw my attention to the TV.  With wired glasses the flicker while looking away from the PC can be quite overwhelming where as with the wireless glasses because I am looking away from the screen the glasses can't pick up the signal from the transmitter and stop flickering which is quite handy.

The transmitter sits nicely on top of your monitor for best performance which means the only thing that will clutter your desk is the glasses when not in use. The back of your computer remains virtually uncluttered as well due to the nice layout of the VGA pass-through all you have is the one cable coming up from the back of your desk.  If you have a USB hub like myself however you will be force to plug the Premiums power cable into one of the ports on the back of your PC as it will only reach about two feed from your VGA port.

The bundled VR Show is valued at around $100 and is part of the reason the price is so high compared to some of the other glasses packages. VR Show gives you the opportunity to create your own Stereoscopic picture, slideshows, and movies out of existing pictures or movies.  Though this is a great bundle for most gamers it's not going to be that much of a selling point.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Wireless
• Comfortable glasses
• Supports all 3D modes
• 2 Wired glasses connections
• 2 Pair of Glasses
• unlimited wireless glasses
• Free Ground Shipping

Cons

• Thin cable
• only one glasses connection
• No alternative to USB power
• Steep Price

Conclusion
The Eye3D Premium is one serious stereo package with a lot of great features. Maximum compatibility is the key to the Eye3D Premium and makes it a top contender in the 3D Glasses market.  Because the Premium meets and exceeds all my testing requirements and is a rock solid package I give it a 9 out of 10 only taking off a point for the price. Had the unit shipped $50 cheaper without the VR Show It would have been hands down my number 1 recommendation for all users.

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Index:

• 3D Glasses How they Work
• Stereo Drivers
• Eye3D PCI 3in1 Wired Glasses
• E-D Wired Glasses Review
• VRJoy 2000 Review
• Eye3D Premium Review
• Roundup Conclusion
• Installing and using the Generic ELSA REVELATOR
• Setting Maximum Refresh Rates
• 3D Glasses Forum

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