CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Jim Shonk · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 149 Location: Zanesville Ohio

While we all tinker and tweak and criticize our own set up’s constantly comparing them to systems 40 times our possible price range, I think we ( well me at least) forget how really awesome a decent crt setup can be,

I live in the boonies and rarely have company. Work horrible hours and most family and friends live over an hour away. Over the last year I have upgraded my setup and now have a wonderful extremely low hour G70 fed by a HD Leeza @ 1080p, to a DYI Wilson art screen, and the sound system I consider a budget system, Polk RTI 150 front, Polk LSiFX Bipolar Dipolar, rear and Polk LSIc center, with Acoustic Research powered sub. Sunfire theater grand pre pro and some adcom amps. All bought used and cheap.

Like most I under rate it and wish I had better,

Anyway to get back to the point, We had some guests over the last couple days and showed the system off finally. People were blown away to say the least, Several commenting on the sound, But all were just aw struck at the picture, a few felt motion sickness which is always a good measure for dept and clarity. And every single person seemed to make the same comment, it was the best picture they had ever seen,

After everyone left I sat down with the wife and watched 10,000 bc and finally felt comfortable with my gear.

So the next time your setting there playing with your set up, picking apart any imperfection you can find wishing you had bigger better best, stop just a sec and realize that, to the average consumer, us CRT heads have the MOJO sh*t.

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

I've had similar experiences, not that family is necessarily a good gauge of a good setup though. Smile

Although I agree with you. I feel really spoiled after hundreds of hours watching movies and playing games. I forget how great it really does look in the end. no how many things I THINK I can improve yet. Smile

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

Hell just go to Best Buy and see the crap they are peddling for thousands of dollars if you want to feel better. You can even go to a local AV shop and see their $20K system and still be grateful because your $5K still looks better.
I have spent very little money on the HT last couple of years after a big upgrade in 08. It's a good place to be when your simply satisfied with your current level of AV quality.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

scir16v · Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 113 Location: St. Louis

I went to see avatar in the theater for the 3d. The picture looked good, but I'm still happier with my misadjusted xg.

Matrix · Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 123 Location: Indianapolis, IN

Jim, I always felt the same about my G70. People seem to be blown away when they see it but some ask if I am running 1080P. I am not, I am set up for 1080I. My question to you is how do you think the 1080P compares to the 1080I resolution on your G70? For comparisons sake I am projecting onto a 72"x96" Daylite Damat tension frame mount screen with motorized masking for different aspect ratios.

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Its easy to forget how wonderful cathode ray tubes can reproduce black, contrast, and not remind you of the limitations of digital when watching your favorite dark scenes. I miss CRT during this period of not having one setup. Hopefully that will be corrected soon.

Jim Shonk · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 149 Location: Zanesville Ohio

Matrix · Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 123 Location: Indianapolis, IN

With your low hour machine, 1080P is justified. I have 602 hours on 3 VDC tubes and 3000 hours on the chassis. 1080P on mine would be too soft and way too taxing on the electronics. Better stick with 1080I for me until a G90 happens my way.

WTS · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1276 Location: Calgary

I got talked into to going to the movies the other night to see the new Sherlock movie. We sat dead center and all I can say is what a waste of time, it had to be the worst picture quality I've seen in many many years. I'm not sure what they use for a projector, but it was out of focus, the blacks sucked, the detail was horrid. It was a cineplex theatre. Never again, I'll wait for the BR release like I normally do.

ecrabb · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

JustGreg · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3098 Location: Kenosha, WI

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

benareeno · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 1614 Location: ottawa, canada

if 1080i has scan lines, and 1080p is too soft...what about 720p? Seems brilliant to me...

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject:

I don't like 720p at all on my setup. I can see scan lines AND the spatial resolution is too low. Think about it... 720p only has 50% more vertical resolution than 480p. 1080p smokes 720p on my setup.

At some point, I'd really like to try a scaler at 1920x800@48 or 72... But I don't really want to mess with it right now.

SC

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

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject:

WTS · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1276 Location: Calgary

Hi Zap,

My mistake it was Empire not Cineplex, sorry.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635