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Home Theater sales, calibration, & service!

We sell and service CRT projectors, carry a complete line of HDMI converters and other home theater products & accessories, offer hundreds of free home theater tips, as well as discussion forum! Why CRT? With true blacks and contrast ratios beyond 40,000:1, in 2010 people still choose CRT projectors for home theaters and movie mixing studios where HDTV and Blu-ray playback quality is paramount. Carefully refurbished and tested, our projectors will provide you with thousands of problem free hours of service. Since 1985 we have worked on over 4000 projectors and stock lots of spare parts. We offer trade-ins and can advise on what's best for you!

No HDMI? No Problem! Add HDfury3 to use Blu-ray and the latest digital devices on any TV!
Radiance Video Processor
HDMI 1.3 converter with Deep Colour support, Gamma Boost, and now with Mike Parker performance mods! Add an HDMI 1.3 input card to your CRT projector to watch Blu-Ray and HD at up to 1080p FULLHD!
CalMAN home theater calibration software and pro meters at CurtPalme.com exclusive pricing! Get the absolute best picture out of your TV/projector!

Latest News

Save $220 on new CalMAN Enthusiast + ColorMunki + Spyder3 kit
March 13, 2010

Now until end of March, you can get your hands on a CalMAN Enthusiast license, Enhanced ColorMunki spectroradiometer, and an Enhanced Spyder3 colorimeter, at a previously unavailable package price.

The ColorMunki offers the power of a spectroradiometer in a compact innovatively designed package. They are individually hand calibrated for improved performance and versatility when used with CalMAN. Each ColorMunki also contains a reference tile inside the meter for dark calibrations.

The Spyder3 is a brilliantly innovative design in colorimetry, using edge detection to provide more sensitive and accurate color response rather than most colorimeters, which make do with peak detection.

CalMAN Enthusiast allows full interactive support for the VideoEq, VideoEq Pro, and other Video Processors with the release of the highly anticipated CalMAN version 4. Anyone who purchases a CalMAN licence now automatically gets a free upgrade to CalMAN 4 once released!

Normal kit price: $1,195 USD
Sale price: $995 USD
Our price: $975 USD 
(SAVE $220!)

Confused about meters?  See our FAQ: Which meter is right for me?
Questions? Email us at SpectraCal@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


Radiance Video Processors on SALE!
March 10, 2010

We've worked out an exclusive deal for our members to bring you this product at price lower than what everyone else pays anywhere on the internet! Buy direct from SpectraCal at prices lower than buying off their own website! Same product, same support, just more money in your pocket at the end of the day!

We're having a massive Radiance Video processor sale until end of March! Save up to $1520 on the new Radiance XE and Radiance XS:

RadianceXS sale price at CurtPalme.com: $2475 ($1020 off)
RadianceXE sale price at CurtPalme.com: $3475 ($1520 off)

The Lumagen Radiance series is regarded by most as the absolute best video processor that money can buy today. It boasts industry leading scaling & processing, noise reduction, multi-point greyscale & gamma correction, and a complete colour management system.

For complete details see our Radiance order page. These units can be shipped to anywhere in the world and ship directly from the manufacturer to you.

Reviews/Testimonials

"I'm not a scaler/processor type of person, and really saw no real need for one since you can get HD directly from a Blu Ray player. Of the ones I've seen in action in the past, the only one I've been been impressed with was the VP-50, but never to the point of wanting one for myself. And based on the cost of these units, the reason for having one could never be justified enough for me to ever consider one.  However, today was a real eye opening when Craig connected his Lumagen Radiance up to my Electrohome Marquee 9500LC CRT projector. At first we had it hooked up at 1080p/60Hz. Then Craig noticed that it would be best at 24Hz into the Radiance. After switching my Sony BDP-360 Blu Ray to 1080p/24Hz and running the output of the Radiance at 1080p/72Hz everything I had ever thought about a video processor changed. My 9500LC interpolated the 1080p/72Hz and without any adjustments to the projector. The image I saw on the screen stunned me. It was tight, bright and very sharp. Even sharper than anything I've been able to get using 1080p/60Hz. I asked Craig to find out what one would cost... 1080p/72Hz is now a must have for me. Since the Radiance does it so well, owning one is now tops on my list. Finally - a video processor that does not muck up the signal!" - Mike Parker (Projector/Home Theater Guru)

"The Radiance XD is the Swiss Army Knife of video processors. ...In my experience, there is nothing out there that converts SD to HD as well as the Radiance XD. Lumagen's proprietary up-conversion is excellent. As good as the best Gennum VXP and Silicon Optix HQV processors are, the Radiance XD has a clear (pun intended) advantage in the quality of up-conversion. ...The Radiance XD is an amazing product. It will elevate the performance of any video display beyond what is possible with the display's internal controls. The results are amazing for video displays in any and every price range." - Doug Blackburn, Widescreen Review, Issue 139, March/April 2009

"The Lumagen RadianceXD is the single most useful piece of A/V equipment I work with. I use it for my own setup, and frequently recommend it to clients. It can correct for virtually all errors in both display and source, and make a inexpensive set behave like a professional display. Lumagen support is unsurpassed. Bugs are promptly addressed, and set-up questions quickly answered." - Carl, New York City, ISF Calibrator

"Anyone who owns the Radiance will tell you how amazing it is. It does everything you've heard it does, and then some. It is the most important and most powerful piece of equipment in my setup. But even more incredible is the way Lumagen stands behind its product by listening to us owners, with a constant influx of updates and bug fixes. No issue stays unresolved, and new features are added all the time, long into the lifecycle of the product." - Dave (Madison, WI)

Until the end of March, save up to $1520 on the Radiance series of video processors. Order now and save!

Questions? Email us at SpectraCal@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


(More) HDfury3 News!
March 3, 2010

As many of you have noticed, the HDfury3 February ship date has unfortunately come and gone. We were really hoping to be posting reviews at this time but alas, that is not the case.  We've been hammering the manufacturer over the last week to get more news for you. Here's the scoop (just the facts!):

  • Testing ended and was closed off about a month ago. Testers have given their thoughts and opinions and the design has been revamped a few times (mostly subtle tweaks and improvements). Many of these improvements unfortunately required not only software changes (as was originally expected/anticipated) but also circuit board changes. This is one of the reasons for the delays over the last couple of months as hardware design changes and small scale production runs take a lot longer to plan and implement than software changes.
     
  • The manufacturer was sent the final software last week and the SMT (surface mount technology) printed circuit boards are being run off as we speak.
     
  • The manufacturer is unfortunately having some difficulties with the custom white case painting (similar to the glossy finish that Apple uses with their products) resulting in far too many rejects. A new custom tool has been designed and is currently being machined to allow for flawless painting with acceptable production yields. I'm told this will take 2 weeks and should be done mid-March. This extra delay was obviously not in the original plans.
     
  • Some HDfury3 units are however ready to ship and should be shipping within a few days. They will ship in the order that pre-orders were placed. I'm told that this is not a large number of units however: Unless you pre-ordered near the start (mid to late November 2009), do not expect yours to be on the list of units that ships first. Shipping will ramp up in the next couple of weeks as the new tooling is put in place. I'm told that by end of March it should be ramped up to full capacity such that orders will ship within 24 hours (similar to what happens today with the HDfury1 and HDfury2).

These extra delays are most certainly unfortunate as we were looking forward to using the HDfury3 in our Home Theaters too! Some people have asked about cancelling their pre-order. No problems at all: Anyone that wishes to cancel and wait (or order an HDfury2 instead) should forward their original email receipt to hometheaterexperts@curtpalme.com and we'll make sure the manufacturer refunds you 100% ASAP.

On a slightly separate note: It's been decided that anyone who orders the HDfury3 Advanced Kit that includes the GammaX gamma boost device will be getting six RGB cables instead of three: Three with female VGA connectors and other three with male VGA connectors. This ensures that you can use the HDfury3/GammaX combination in any way imaginable without requiring any extra cables of your own. The HDfury3 Advanced Kit price will remain the same.

The HDfury3 manual is also now available for download from the order page for anyone who wants to take a peek!

Last but not least, here are some photos of the final HDfury3 product (more photos available on the order page):

The happy family (from left to right) - HDfury2, HDfury3, HDfury1:



RGB image shift & input selection buttons, HDMI inputs, and digital 5.1/2-channel analog audio output:
 


DIP switch settings printed on the back for customizing:
 


When powered up the HDfury3 logo glows blue:


For complete details on what's new and how the new HDfury3 compares to previous models, see the comparison table on our HDfury3 order page.

Interested in trading in your HDfury1 or HDfury2? Check out our HDfury3 trade-in program, available for a limited time. Anyone with a working earlier version HDfury can trade up and save!

Beware of scams! Until July/August 2010 the HDfury3 will only be available for order online at CurtPalme.com. It will not be available anywhere else.

Questions? Email us at HomeTheaterExperts@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


HDfury3 News
January 25, 2010

Some of you may have noticed that the HDfury3 ship date has been pushed back a bit until some time in February (hopefully early February!).  Here's the scoop:

Beta testing is close to wrapping up after more than 3 months of exhaustive testing. The manufacturer has been taking the comments and suggestions put forward by the testing team to make some last minute changes to make this HDfury the best HDfury yet. This required some board redesign which of course requires time and even more testing. That is now coming to an end! Look for the HDfury3  to ship in the next few weeks!

What new in HDfury3?

The HDFury3 includes new features such as:

  • 2 HDMI inputs (100% HDMI 1.3 compliant with support for Deep ColorTM)
  • Automatic/manual input switching
  • 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS sound
  • 1080p/72 support
  • Positive/Negative adjustable RGB sync for fussy displays
  • Image centering in RGB mode
  • Selectable EDID banks
  • User selectable output resolution limit settings
  • Customisation settings available through DIP switches
  • and more!

For complete details on what's new and how the new HDfury3 compares to previous versions, visit our HDfury3 order page or our HDfury3 FAQ.

Interested in trading in your HDfury1 or HDfury2? Check out our HDfury3 trade-in FAQ, available for a limited time.
Anyone with a working earlier version HDfury can trade up to the HDfury3 and save!

Until mid-2010 the HDfury3 will only be available online at CurtPalme.com. Order yours today!

Need more information? See our HDFury3 FAQ!
Questions? Email us at HomeTheaterExperts@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


NEW! VideoEq Advanced Colour Processor (SAVE $200 UNTIL FEB 1st)
January 12, 2010

We've been waiting for a long time to be able to tell our readers about this new groundbreaking product and it's finally now available for order! Introducing the VideoEq Advanced Colour Processor! Brought to you at an exclusive CurtPalme.com discounted price! Same product, same support, just more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

ON SALE: Until the end of January save an additional $200!

What is the VideoEq?

The VideoEq is an advanced colour processor designed to accurately calibrate and match colours on all display types. It is the first 100% digital HDMI solution that allows greyscale, gamma, and color adjustments to be performed either manually using simple PC based software, or automatically with CalMAN.

Why VideoEq?

Before the VideoEq, the only way to obtain colour processing this accurate was through a standalone video processor such as the Radiance. These advanced processors also provide a slew of other features that many users do not require such as scaling, noise reduction, and so on. The VideoEq provides the colour processing you're looking for without all the extra ($$) items.

Features

  • Multi-point (parametric) greyscale adjustment
  • Gamma adjustment
  • A Colour Management System (CMS) for adjusting primaries and secondaries (VideoEq Pro only)
  • Obtain optimal colour correction on up to four sources or viewing conditions
  • Video Processor colour accuracy, without the un-necessary features
  • Extremely simple setup
  • 100% digital HDMI solution

Until the end of January, our CurtPalme.com discounted price for the VideoEq is reduced by an additional $200! Order now and save!

Questions? Email us at SpectraCal@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


NEW! CalMAN Enhanced ColorMunki Spectroradiometer (SAVE $200 UNTIL FEB 1st)
January 4, 2010

CurtPalme.com has worked out an exclusive deal for our readers to bring you this new meter at a package price lower than what everyone else pays anywhere on the internet. Same product, same support, just more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

ON SALE: Until the end of January save an additional $200 on the ColorMunki/CalMAN bundle!

Introducing the low cost, highly capable, highly accurate, spectroradiometer from the same company that brought you the professional EyeOne Pro meter.

The ColorMunki offers home theater enthusiasts access to spectroradiometric technology at a price previously unavailable. The units are further improved for use with CalMAN with individual profiling against a representative backlight LED LCD panel, making the ColorMunki/CalMAN package the first low cost spectroradiometer solution with correction for backlight LED displays.

Our CurtPalme.com discounted price for the ColorMunki/CalMAN package is $779, but until the end of January we're further reducing that price by $200 down to only $579! That's nearly 35% cheaper than the least expensive EyeOne Pro/CalMAN package!

If you're looking for a spectroradiometer and software to calibrate any display or projector you come across (including LED backlit displays), this is the package to beat!

Confused about meters?  See our FAQ: Which meter is right for me?
Questions? Email us at SpectraCal@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


EyeOne Pro meters are now LED enhanced!
January 4, 2010

Our EyeOne Pro's now include CalMAN calibration tables for LED based displays at no extra cost, and like always, our CurtPalme.com discounted price still applies!

More and more new displays are arriving based on backlight LED technology. One industry analyst estimates that by next year 40% of flat-panel displays will use backlight LEDs. Existing meters give erroneous results when calculating these displays. The errors aren't huge, but they're there, and most people don't go to the trouble of calibrating their displays for the purpose of making them "not too wrong."

Accurate results from backlight LED devices can be achieved if the meter has an additional calibration table to account for this discrepancy. Included now are backlight LED tables for the professional EyeOne Pro spectroradiometer. It does not matter if the display is edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB - they all work with the backlight LED calibrated EyeOne Pro.

All calibration is performed in SpectraCal's NIST-traceable calibration lab using a Konica Minolta CS-2000 reference meter. This is the only source for backlight LED calibrated EyeOne Pro's. They aren’t available anywhere else.

Bought your EyeOne Pro somewhere else? No problem. You can add calibration tables to CalMAN for accurate support of LED based displays for $175. See the EyeOne Pro order page. Did you buy your EyeOne Pro from us in the last two months? Email us for a $100 discount for adding LED tables to CalMAN for your EyeOne Pro.

Confused about meters?  See our FAQ: Which meter is right for me?
Questions? Email us at SpectraCal@CurtPalme.com.

More Information »   


 See Old/Archived News »   

Get every last ounce of performance out of your Home Theater and CRT projector with these advanced procedures!

Use our Troubleshooting Tips to get your CRT projector up and running again!

A discussion group with a sense of fun and community. Let Curt and other enthusiasts help you choose what's best for you. Now with real-time chat!

If you're confused about CRT projectors and Home Theater, this primer is a must-read!

Hooking it all up! (How to add Blu-ray players and other new HDMI devices)

Stay informed on site updates, specials, and new projectors for sale! Sign up now or view previous newsletters.

SPECIAL REPORTS: Read about Curt's visits to shows and home theaters around the world!

 
Blu-ray disc release list and must-have titles. Buy the latest and best Blu-ray titles to show off in your home theater!
COMPLETE LIST »      
2012 
Revanche 
Hunger 
Atonement 
Pride & Prejudice 
Smokin' Aces 
Che 
District 9 
The Hurt Locker 
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 
Gamer 
Lost: Season 5 
Boogie Nights 
9 
Gone with the Wind 
Public Enemies 
Terminator Salvation 
The Taking of
Pelham 1 2 3
 
Inglourious Basterds 
Fight Club 
Forrest Gump 
Monsters, Inc. 
The Negotiator 
North by Northwest 
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure 
Up (Pixar) 
Monsters vs. Aliens 
Drag me to Hell 
The Wizard of Oz 
Dexter: The Complete Third Season 
X-Men Origins: Wolverine 
Braveheart 
Crank 2: High Voltage 
Let the Right One In 
Lost Season 1 
Coraline 
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 
Fast & Furious 
Glory
Watchmen
Knowing
Generation Kill (HBO)
Miracle
The Greatest Game Ever Played
Air Force One 
A Bug's Life
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Seabiscuit
Dexter: Season 2
The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)
Sin City
X-men: The Last Stand
X2: X-Men United
Slumdog Millionaire
Quantum of Solace
COMPLETE LIST »      




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