CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Jeremy112]

Wanting to get into 9" CRT Projection badly, and sadly there are no known G90s that I can find anywhere for a good price. I wont pay $3500 for one from someone I dont know, if it was curt, that would be different, but its not curt

So the 1292, what is the bad, the good, the ugly? would it be a step up from my NEC XG as far as brightness, and would it at least be as sharp as an XG?

Obviously if the difference is barely noticable as far as PQ goes between the XG and 1292 I wouldnt buy one, but if the 1292 is anything close to a G90.... well I may just be interested.

I've read the specs of both PJs but I want to know how its real world performance is capable of.

Edit: I should note that I am running the XG at 1080p (dont ask the timings )being projected on an 82" screen. The screen can be replaced with a bigger one if necessary.

[Nashou66]

!292 is louder and it has a worse treaking issue than the G90, but there is a chip to fix that sold online that a forum member engineered.
Also the G90 has better HD 10f's than the 1292's even though the lens names are still the same.

Athanasios

[ecrabb]

I think the 1292 would probably be half-way between your XG and a G90. If your XG isn't an LC, then that tips the scales to the 1292 being much closer to the G90 than your XG. LC is huge, IMHO.

The 1292's definitely have a rep for being horribly loud, which is the reason it was knocked out of the "best" category in the best/worst list.

SC

[Jeremy112]

[Curt Palme]

No question that that 1292 is loud, and not as good as a G90, but I think it's a step up from an XG AC version.

Have you seen that 1292 I've listed ad nauseum on eBay? No takers, so at this point I'll sell it at a song. If you can find someone semi local to you with HD10 or better lenses, then I can leave the lenses off, which should save $75 in shipping I'd think.

This 1292 came with HD10 lenses. I might have a set of GT17s I an put on it, which are a step up.

Teh 1292 is a bit dimmer as well. What I used to do is put a video booster amp on the RGB input signal, which would brighten the image up a bit. It wears the tubes a bit faster of course, but unless you're running 6 hours a day or more, I don't think that's an issue.

[Curt Palme]

No question that that 1292 is loud, and not as good as a G90, but I think it's a step up from an XG AC version.

Have you seen that 1292 I've listed ad nauseum on eBay? No takers, so at this point I'll sell it at a song. If you can find someone semi local to you with HD10 or better lenses, then I can leave the lenses off, which should save $75 in shipping I'd think.

This 1292 came with HD10 lenses. I might have a set of GT17s I an put on it, which are a step up.

Teh 1292 is a bit dimmer as well. What I used to do is put a video booster amp on the RGB input signal, which would brighten the image up a bit. It wears the tubes a bit faster of course, but unless you're running 6 hours a day or more, I don't think that's an issue.

[HaydnG90]

1292....
The Good: doesn't have IC421, and maybe no Dallas chip either (at least never seen a discussion on these chips in the 1292); parts readily available

The Bad: Noisier than the G90, streaking, inferior HD-10F's, early generation of electronic components. And probably the worse mark against it... no MP neckboard/BA mods.

Cheap G90's do appear. The last one with the problem that sold on Ebay recently for $660 was a steal. They also appear on CL and I've seen them as low as $200. Buy 2 units even if non working for peanuts and so long as one has decent tubes, and an operational YA you can mix and match components to get a fully operational unit. Sell the lenses to recoup some of the upfront purchase costs. This is the route I would take if I were looking for a G90 today.

[digitalayon]

Does it have to be a 9 set? Why not find a XG LC model or a G70? Also...see if you can get some color filter lenses like HD-145's if they will mount. Did that the other night with a AC Barco and it looks better than many LC units out there. Also don't forget the baggage of LC. I have to buy bellows in a few years and really dont look forward to installing them.

[Jeremy112]

[Jeremy112]

As for a G90... Id be more than happy to take anyones parts machines so I can piece one together I will pay shipping or come and haul if within distance

Those of course are always on the list of "Things to buy"

Edit: I would even be willing to take a G90 with a bad YA board, or even without a YA board. I have found that with CRT you need patience, and I've been on here for almost 6 years now and still only at an XG so patience is something I have learned to love

[ecrabb]

Digitalayon makes a good point.

Personally, I'd rather have an XG LC or G70 than a 1292. A G70 or XG LC offers a lot of the benefit of a G90, only without the sharper lenses and tubes.

The benefits of LC can't be overstated, though. I think going from AC to LC is a bigger upgrade than anything else. Contrast is way more important than resolving power. While my G70 doesn't have the resolving power of a G90 or even a 1292, the electronics are more modern (stable), the machine is smaller and lighter, it's a little less complex and failure-prone, and parts are plentiful and inexpensive - not so for a G90.

To me, G70, XG LC, and Barco Cine 8 Onyx/Zenith Pro 1200x is the real sweet-spot for CRT. The prices are just stupid-cheap now, performance is really excellent, so bang-for-buck is awesome. Unless you find a steal, IMHO the bang-for-buck on machines like G90's and 9500's is actually lower than the aforementioned 8" machines, and they're expensive enough that there are some really good digital alternatives.

SC

[kabuby77]

[Curt Palme]

Plain HD10 lenses were the first generation of 9" LC lenses (not including the cheap plastic TAC lenses that Barco had on their 1985-1988 sets.

Then came the GT17/HD120, a step up.

Then the HD10F, on the later 1292 and then the G90s.

Then the HD10E/HFQ900s that came on the BArco 909/Cine 9 and very few MArquee 9500 Ultras.

I'm not including the HD10L or the GT26 that are only for small screens, up to 72" diagonal, 4:3 format.

Am I missing any?

Frankly, a good setup to me with very careful attention to astig and focusing is more important than the lenses on the set, but no question that with a careful setup, lenses do add that last extra bit of 'WOW' to the image.

Someone is going to argue with me about this, I know!

[Curt Palme]

Plain HD10 lenses were the first generation of 9" LC lenses (not including the cheap plastic TAC lenses that Barco had on their 1985-1988 sets.

Then came the GT17/HD120, a step up.

Then the HD10F, on the later 1292 and then the G90s.

Then the HD10E/HFQ900s that came on the BArco 909/Cine 9 and very few MArquee 9500 Ultras.

I'm not including the HD10L or the GT26 that are only for small screens, up to 72" diagonal, 4:3 format.

Am I missing any?

Frankly, a good setup to me with very careful attention to astig and focusing is more important than the lenses on the set, but no question that with a careful setup, lenses do add that last extra bit of 'WOW' to the image.

Someone is going to argue with me about this, I know!

[kabuby77]

I'm already to HD10F, probably the step to HD10E/HFQ900s is too expensive
can you explain how great the improvement?
Unfortunately there are no hardware mods for the 1292 like thats for Barco and Marquee.

[digitalayon]

[Someone is going to argue with me about this, I know! [/quote]

Greg Eisermann would!

[digitalayon]

[Spanky Ham]

[AnalogRocks]

[AnalogRocks]

[Spanky Ham]

I know you are joking but you have to buy or find a 1292 with good tubes in the first place.

[CasetheCorvetteman]

[Jeremy112]