CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

ralpharch · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 211 Location: Derwood

An admin Q. Is there a setting to adjust to avoid having to scroll to view posts in this and similar tbreads?

mikeb23ft · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 16

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:09 am Post subject:

D50's ok but they really like to toast their blue tubes. Also check and make sure the contrast and/or brightness controlls work. If not Curt has a replacement board for you.

That being said the one I gave my G/F has 6500 hours on it, a toasty blue and still throws a decent picture. I'll agree with Elaine on this one. Even if a projector has heavy wear, some people just aren't sensitive to it.

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

jkruger · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2435 Location: Carlsbad, CA

I spent many dollars on crummy projectors before getting a sony 1272. That was a very good set to get started with. I'm no expert by any means but don't toss good money after something that you will not be happy with.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject:

ronholm · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 12111

As a Novice to this I would also suggest staying away from machines with knobs you have to twiddle with... It just isn't worth it... I started with a Sony VPH 1000... Brand new in the box...

I paid 200 bucks for a Barco 800... and The difference in the Machines was noticeable to say the least...

Then when the focus block went south I picked up a 808 from Curt... I am definitely happy with that purchase... If I was in your shoes I and couldn't come up with at the least a 12XX or barco 800 or better I would sit on my money until a suitable machine came along..

hell... While the Sony was still up in the HT I had less than 1000 in the entire totally enjoyable HT (helps when you have friends in the Pawn biz) But if I were starting over... I sure spent a lot of time money and effort to bring it to where it is now.... With more to go.. Patience would have saved me a ton of time and a little money with resources around like these guys...

EDIt... Never mind.. disregard this post... I am in the wrong forum.... Wink

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

looks like a pretty minty and cheap BG808S in Midlothian, Virginia. Probably worth the 10 hour round trip unless your driving a pig like an SUV.

Mr. Green · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject:

Did you get that D50?

Elaine Benes · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1416

I've had a couple of D50's, they can look really good. I had one with chocolate brown colored squares in the middles of ALL THREE TUBES, and it STILL looked good on everything but bright sunny outside scenes(then it looked a bit dingy...).

mikeb23ft · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 16

So, some updates. First of all, the projector I found locally is actually a Barco <i>Graphics</i> 400. It will supposedly scan to 72Khz. I think I may go at least look at it and see what the deal is.

The people on eBay with the D50 haven't answered my questions yet. Hm. Also, I don't know if I can afford to spend 500 on the projector and still have enough left in my budget to make sure I can get an HDMI card WITH Gamma control. Gamma control is important to me because I want to make sure I can set the projector up as close to perfectly as possible with regards to greyscale, colour calibration, gamma levels, convergence, etc etc. I have an Eyeone LT and a ton of patience. Smile

Where's this minty and cheap Barco 808s in Midlothian, Virginia? I don't see it on eBay or the Richmond Craigslist, but it sounds interesting. I'll PM you!

Mr. Green · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject:

Be patient and don't just jump on the first projector you see. a BG 400 isn't even on the best/worst list. That speaks volumes to me. The Barco 500/600 are right at the bottom and based on the spec's aren't great. I'd hang on to that $100 for now. It would be a shame for you to get a lemon of a machine and decide CRT is a pain. Looks like the BG400 is pushing 20 years old. That's a bit excessive.

To quote Curts Barco older/analog page "keep in mind that these are OLDER projectors. Even if the projector has been sitting unused in storage for the last 10 years and was only used on Sundays to project words to hymns for little old ladies, the components are now over 15 years old, and like a car from 1985 that may only have 20K miles on it, it can have failures simply due to the age of the parts."

If you are remotely considering $500, talk to Curt. He may not be able to do a D50 shipped, but a sony 12XX maybe.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. We can only advise. I'd personally prefer you paid more for a better set versus wasting you time trying to get a cheap one running doing board level repairs, which will add up fast.

mikeb23ft · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 16

Found that Barco 808s on eBay. Emailing the guy now.

Mr. Green · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject:

That would be a great first projector. Good luck with it. Keep us informed!

mikeb23ft · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 16

I went ahead and placed a big on the Barco 808s so that the buy it now would go away and nobody would snag it out from under me. If I can get it for 500, that's great, if I have to bid more, so be it. Getting it for 500 would allow me to get the HD Fury II and Gamma X (or other options for achieving the same things? Anything else out there for less?) and put me exactly at 800 dollars. Adding a quality homemade 8 ft 16:9 screen should put me about where I want to be at 1080i and 720p, maybe even 1080p. Considering the mods and condition of the projector, that's a heck of a setup for 800 bucks and some change, I think.

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

mikeb23ft · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 16

dturco · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 1:17 am Post subject: