NEC

The first version of NEC CRT projector that I am familiar with is the 1988-1990 DP-1200. This is a video projector with EM focus 7” tubes, and puts out 475 lumens. A fairly compact and reliable projector, this one is a challenge to set up and converge, but if you follow the instructions, you will get the hang of it. It uses digital convergence in conjunction with a wired or wireless remote control, and these remotes have been discontinued and are hard to find, whereas the projectors are relatively common. The tube life is exceptionally long in this projector model to the fact that they were not being driven very hard. At this point however (2005), the sets are starting to fail simply due to the age of the components, and I have stopped selling them.

The GP-3000 and GP-5000 came out in 1990 to about 1992. The GP-300 was a 7” EM focus and the GP-5000 was a 9” projector. Both had digital convergence similar to the DP-1200, and they were rated at 600 and 650 lumens respectively. Again, a little hard to converge and set up, but they were a stable projector once they were set up. the wired or wireless remotes are mandatory for the set up of this projector. Currently NEC does not support the above projectors, and all parts must be obtained on the surplus market.

NEC 9PG Xtra

In 1993, the PG series of projectors came out, this included the 6 PG, the 6 PG Plus, the 6 PG Xtra and the 9 PG, 9 PG Plus, PG Xtra, and the 10 PG.

The base model 6 and 9 PG were 7” EM focus with 800 lumens, and digital convergence, The basic 6 PG only had RGB inputs; the video and S-video inputs required an optional video card. the 6 PG scans to 60 Khz, the 9 PG to 90 Khz. The 9 PG came with a point convergence card that allowed fine tuning of the convergence parameters. The 9 PG also came with the optional video and S-video card.

The 6 and 9 PG Plus had slightly higher scanning rates of 64 and 94 Khz, and had a higher video bandwidth for a slightly improved picture. Additional electronic astigmatism circuits were added for better control of focusing over the plain PG model.

The 6 and 9 PG Xtra used different picture tubes that offered 1000 lumens instead of the 800 lumens of the basic models. Short of going to a true 8” projector (read… more expensive), the NEC PG Xtra is the highest performing and most compact set that comes about 85% of an 8” projector.

NEC also released the 9" EM focusing 10 PG.  They are considerably larger and rarer than the other PG units.

Again, the NEC’s needed the wireless remote to set the projector up. These are currently still available from NEC.

NEC XG-135LC

In late 1996 the XG series of projectors replaced the PG line. The XG models came out as the XG 75, 85, 110 and 135. The number within the model number indicated the max scan rate of the projector, so the XG-75 was 75 Khz, etc. True 8” EM focus tubes, video, S-video and RGB inputs, digital convergence, and 1200 lumens. One of my favourite projector series of all time due to their great fleshtones. 

Lots of convergence parameters to set up, which result in an excellent picture.

The XG-110 and XG-135 also came in a liquid coupled version, which is harder to find than the non LC version. The LC adds a layer of fluid between the tube surface and the lens, giving more contrast to the picture, but reducing the brightness slightly.  These LC tubes are also more expensive than the non LC versions.

NEC strengths and weaknesses

All NEC projectors in general are very reliable, with the exception of the GP-3000 which are now known for sudden power supply failures. There is a custom chip in the GP-3000 power supplies that has long been discontinued, and when that chip blows, the power supply is a write off. Working supplies are hard to come by on the surplus market.

NEC in general used an outside vendor for all of their power supplies, and are therefore sold as a whole assembly from NEC. Fortunately, failures of other than the GP-3000 power supply appear to be rare.

The NEC PG and XG series occasionally has failures of the convergence and focus output board as well as the deflection board, but these boards are easily and cheaply repaired.

The NEC XG model’s weak spot is the HV power supply. While failures themselves are rare, you simply cannot swap out the failed XG board with another unit, as the HV settings are determined not only by the HV board, but by the HV quadrupler and splitter and internal settings of the set. Fortunately, the failures of the HV board are usually simple for a tech to find. The swapping of the HV board in a XG projector requires a recalibration of the HV section, and needs a HV probe, something that the average CRT owner does not have access to.

The factory setting of the throw distance between the projector and screen is set slightly higher than with other projector models. This results in somewhat faster tube wear than normal, as a lower area of phosphor is used than with other models. I generally recommend that NEC projectors are installed 7% closer to the screen than the factory manual tells you, and that prevents premature tube wear.

In general however, NEC’s are an excellent bet as a used projector.

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