Of the half dozen or so 3D-capable monitors to pass through the labs in recent months, Acer's HR274H ($599 list) has the distinction of being the only model to use passive 3D technology as opposed to the more popular active shutter technology. In a nutshell, passive 3D uses polarized glasses that filter light to create depth, while active shutter 3D uses electronic glasses that behave like high-speed shutters, opening and closing in sync with a 120Hz panel to create depth.

The HR274H's 27-inch 60Hz TN+ panel delivers a very good 3D picture, and its lightweight glasses can be worn comfortably for extended periods of time. Color quality is also very good, but the panel has trouble displaying the lightest shades of gray. Additionally, the picture deteriorates when viewed from an angle.

Design and Features
If the HR274H looks familiar that's because it uses the same exact cabinet as its active shutter 3D sibling, the Acer HN274H bmiiid ($699 list, 4 stars). Both sport glossy black rounded bezels, and both are supported by an oval base that lets you tilt the panel forward and backward but has no provision for height, swivel, or pivot adjustments. At the rear of the cabinet are two HDMI ports, a VGA port, and an audio input, but no USB ports. I like that the monitor has dual HDMI ports, making it easy to connect to a gaming console and a 3D Blu-ray player without having to swap cables, but I much prefer the HN274H's  three HDMI port configuration, two of which are mounted on the side of the cabinet. The integrated two-watt speakers are typical desktop monitor fare; they lack bass and aren't very loud.

Pressing any of the five touch sensitive function buttons on the lower bezel opens the on-screen menu with descriptive icons showing what each button does. In addition to menu and volume controls there is an "e" button (empowering technology) that lets you choose one of five picture modes (User, Eco, Standard, Graphics, Movie), a 3D button that toggles between 2D and 3D modes, an input selection button, and an Auto Adjust button (for use with an analog signal). You don't nearly get as many picture settings as you do with the Eizo FS2332 but you can adjust the color temperature, brightness, and contrast. If you're using an analog signal you can also tweak the clock, phase, and position settings.

As with Samsung's T27A950, the HR274H can convert 2D images to 3D, but the HR274H uses built-in circuitry to handle the conversion on the fly, whereas the Samsung monitor uses software. While neither solution can match the quality of true 3D, the HR274H's converted picture had more depth and was considerably brighter than the Samsung's picture. That said, converted 3D lacks the clarity of true 3D and at times the wrong object is brought to the foreground. Text can be very difficult to read as well. Still, it is kind of neat to take your 2D photos and view them in 3D.

I was impressed with the included 3D glasses; they are very light and slightly curved to fit snugly against your face, which means no outside light can creep in. I wore them for 30-minutes without experiencing any discomfort. And unlike active shutter glasses such as those that come with Nvidia's 3D Vision kit, they do not require batteries and never have to be recharged.

Performance
When it comes to displaying real 3D content (as opposed to converted content), the HR274H rocks. Scenes from my test disc, Disney's Digital 3D Showcase on blu-ray, were bright and highly detailed, and the 3D effect was as good as I've seen. There was some crosstalk here and there but not enough to be distracting, that is, as long as you're positioned directly in front of the set. Side angle viewing produced more noticeable crosstalk as well as skewed colors. Far Cry 2 also looked great in 3D; explosions appeared to jump from the screen, putting you inside the action. Again, there were some crosstalk artifacts to contend with but they were certainly not overwhelming. The panel's 2-millisecond (g-g) pixel response provided smooth game play with no lag or motion blur.

Results from the DisplayMate LCD diagnostic tests were mixed. The HR274H aced the Color Scales test, delivering evenly saturated colors across the scale from dark to light, and there were no apparent color tracking errors or tinting issues. Dark grayscale performance was good also but the panel was unable to correctly display the two lightest shades of gray, both of which appeared white. For the best possible picture quality make sure you position yourself directly in front of the monitor at eye level as colors shift and the picture loses its luster when viewed from an angle.

The HR274H used 35-watts of power during my testing, which is less than the Asus VG278H (41-watts) but not nearly as efficient as the 24-watt HP 2711X ($399.99 direct, 3 Stars) and the 28-watt Viewsonic VX2753mh ($349.99 list, 4 Stars).

Conclusion
Acer covers the monitor with a three year warranty that includes parts, laborr, and backlighting. In addition to the glasses the monitor comes with HDMI, VGA, and audio cables as well as a CD containing a user manual and a quick start guide.

With its lightweight passive glasses, the Acer HR274H offers comfortable and realistic 3D movies and gaming, but you'll pay more than you would for a regular 2D-only 27-inch monitor. It doesn't offer as many HDMI ports as its twin, the Acer HN274H bmiiid, but it does offer better 2D-to-3D conversion technology, and you can do it with the touch of a button. A more powerful speaker system would be a welcome addition here, as would a more flexible stand and a few USB ports. That said, the HR274H is a good choice for 3D enthusiasts who prefer the comfort of passive technology over the more cumbersome active shutter technology.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Acer HR274H with several other monitors side by side.

More monitor reviews:
•   BenQ EL2870U
•   BenQ EW3270U
•   Dell P3418HW
•   BenQ EW277HDR
•   LG 34UC89G-B
•  more