CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Tim in Phoenix · Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4379 Location: Phoenix

Guys

"There will always be some that wont have the means to follow the development, and capabilities to get the most of it, MP and Tim seems good examples of some that have lost track of time."

CRTs as a business are not something I can spend a lot of time on. I went from selling four projectors a month (2006) to two projectors all of last year. MP said he was all done with mods but it sounds like he still has a slight interest; I doubt it will lead to anything.

mp20748 · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 12:12 pm Post subject:

**kal** · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 1:49 pm Post subject:

gjaky · Joined: 05 Jun 2010 Posts: 2790 Location: Budapest, Hungary

I think some people gets overly serious about these sometimes. Kal's car analogy is good. Think CRT projectors as a Mazda MX-5, while not the fastest roadster out there it is still fun to ride, also some people even spend money on hot rodding an MX-5 even though they are well aware it won't beat an SL Mercedes.
CRT may be surpassed in some/most aspects, but that does not make it worse by any means. IMHO If it was good for movie watching 10 years ago it still is today.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 6:36 am Post subject:

14 years ago I watched allot of test patterns. Then I discovered movies and found CRT's true calling. Smile

**kal** · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 2:15 pm Post subject:

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12026 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Yeah, that's not me. I prefer to keep using and enjoying something, often until I wear it out. I'm still driving my 2002 Saab, and still enjoying it. I'd like to put at least 20 years and 200k miles on it (currently at 185k) before I think of replacing it. Same with my HT gear. I swapped out several CRTs, but that was mostly because it was fun to learn and use the different models. (Plus they all had "issues" I was trying to avoid.) I've had my RS45 for 3 years and I'm still perfectly happy with it. I just noticed a nearby seller offering an RS46 for only $400 (!!!!!) and it was tempting, but I don't need it. My RS45 is fine for my needs.

**kal** · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2020 3:28 pm Post subject:

Yep. Same here. Been using my RS56 since 2013. Very happy. Is there better? Of course. Does it make my RS56 worse? Of course not.

$400 for an RS46 may be a good price but if you don't need it, you're actually out $400 (at least that's the way I look at it).

Kal

HaydnG90 · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 1335

**kal** · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2020 2:55 am Post subject:

Agreed! We have 3 flat panel TVs around the house, purchased over the last 15 years or so. The best looking one is the oldest, which is plasma. The other two are LED (but not OLED). Partially my fault I suppose as I didn't want to spring for better image quality OLED on the last two since I never watch them and those that do tell me they don't notice any difference. Wink

Kal

HaydnG90 · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 1335

I had hoped Canon's SED technology would have come to something. That seemed to be the natural tech innovation to replace plasma. Most consumers don't really care about image quality. So long as its big, bright and colorful.

banzairun · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 129 Location: NJ

mp20748 · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2020 11:49 am Post subject:

jbltecnicspro · Joined: 23 Apr 2016 Posts: 512

**kal** · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 2:25 am Post subject:

As someone who's led development teams for the last 15-20 years, I get that!

Kal

Zebra · Joined: 02 Jul 2020 Posts: 91 Location: NJ USA

Comparing CRT VS digital is too complicated for generalizations and somewhat pointless.

If you were to compare a $30,000 -$50,000 CRT like a G90 or a 909 to a current digital of similar value (after an adjustment for inflation) with a UHD Blu Ray, there is no question. The latest high end 3-chip devices will deliver a better experience. I saw a Barco Thor recently - a 15,000 lumen rgb laser 3-dlp with ansi contrast of 1000:1. It was head and shoulders above any other projector I have ever seen for watching a UHD Blu Ray.

However, most people could only dream of owning a projector in that class. A large percentage of people are buying devices in the $2,000-$5,000 range. I have yet to see an entry level digital that can match the top 9" CRT projectors. That includes any of the entry level lcos devices (including JVC).

At lot of the regurgitated mythology you see on forums about how much projection tech has advanced in recent years is based on manufacturers spec sheets. It's true that their stated full on / full off CR numbers have grown arms and legs in recent years but most of these gains have not shown up on screen.

I was talking to someone recently who "upgraded" from a Runco Q750i (1080p DLP with a 20,000:1 CR) to a 4k LG HU80KA. On paper, the LG offers significantly better specs for a fraction of the price. The stated CR is 150,000:1. It has HDR and 4x the brightness etc. It even won awards. In reality though, the LG HU80kA is nowhere near a 10 year old entry level 1080p runco like the Q750i (or a G90 CRT). It looks horrible by comparison. It's not even close. The LG went back on ebay Immediately.

If you only have $2,000 to spend, you're almost certainly going to be better off with an older higher end used device than the latest $2k box. It's not worth trading down for features like HDR or a UHD or 4k native res. And depending on the content and room lighting, CRT can still be a good fit for some people.

I like to own more than one because no projector is optimal for all my content. Don't choose, get both!

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 5:10 am Post subject:

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 5:41 pm Post subject:

Zebra · Joined: 02 Jul 2020 Posts: 91 Location: NJ USA

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 8:48 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the printers I use to service. I would do 3 or 4 upgrades primarily the print head, paper handling rollers and internal wiring shielding. Does that mean it's the same printer? Only difference is I didn't put my name on it.

It's like customizing a car or truck.