CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

donr · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Montreal

I was just wondering if this would be an upgrade from my ecp to an Ampro since both machines are electrostatic focus?

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject:

Thinking of buying the one in Ottawa are you?

The Ampro 4000 is a brighter machine with 9" tubes and it's liquid coupled. Make sure you see the tube condition before buying. Ask the seller to remove the lenses while you're there (you'll need a 5/16th allen key wrench IIRC).

The Ampro 4000 produces a great picture but the chasis are getting older now and I would be sure everything worked before considering the purchase. Ask if the CPU battery has been changed too. I've had little luck with mine, however a forum member in NJ had his running fine for about a year before he downgraded to a d!gital.

Be aware these are HEAVY beasts, and there are no handles in the cases. Take at least two other guys with you. You can lighten it a bit if you remove the lenses before transport.

Good luck.

donr · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Montreal

Thank's.
Just the kind of help I was looking for.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:53 pm Post subject:

You're welcome.

If it is the Ottawa one you're looking at, I just had a look at the web site, looks like he moded the LV power supply with a larger fan and added some bigger holes in the back of the case for ventilation. I can attest the power supply's run hot. I also took the fuse cover off mine to allow more heat out. If you do that it's at your own risk. Make sure not to drop anything metallic ( or your fingers ) in there.

The biggest thing I noticed going from my Sony 1252, 7" tubes, non liquid coupled. Was the amazingly dark blacks you get with the LC projectors. We fired up the Car's DVD (running 1440x960P off the HTPC )at the scene with the hot rods pushing the sleeping truck around and were amazed how dark and detailed it looked.

Plus the 9" tubes just plain have more resolution. I run a line doubler into my Sony at 480P and it looks good, on the 4000G I can see the scan lines, clearly.

Looks like this one includes a quadupler (960P) that's a nice resolution to run into this projector.

donr · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Montreal

Yes, it is the one from Ottawa. Drove down to Andrew's place sunday and made the return trip home with it. Very nice person. He played with this projector for a few years and tweaked it pretty good. On his 80" wide screen, the picture was jaw dropping compared to my ecp. When the room lights were off and the film was changing scene, the room was pitch black. You could not even see your hand in front of you. It is a big sumbitch of a pj.
I don't plan on installing it right away. I want to get familiar with it first. Reading the manual, I see that there is static and dynamic procedures. What is the difference?
As for taking off the lenses, Andrew never took them off. We did not have the right tools and I was not sure if the 3 bolts holding the plate behind the lenses were the right ones.Are they? I guess I will have to do a full reset and start from scratch since I will be table mounting it (low ceiling). Kind of a bummer sice it throws such a nice picture. I want to take the lenses off first and see what the tubes loo like. As for the battery, it is my understanding that this unit was purchased from Curt about 4 years ago. I think he changes the battery on the pj's he sells.
Don

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:16 am Post subject:

He does change the batteries. You may however want to change it again. Be advised thoguht it can scramble the hours counter so I'd say test the battery voltage and let us know what it is and we'll let you know. I don't remember what it's suposed to be off hand.

Now for the static vs dynamic setup try the online help system. I have trouble putting into words the menu system that is Ampro. Maybe Papalek will pipe in.

Edit: speling

donr · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Montreal

Thank's AR

I removed the lenses. The tubes all look snowy white; snowy being the bad word here. I am not sure but it looks like all 3 tubes might be contaminated with fungus. I see minuscule white blotches that seem to be on the tube faces, here and there. I also see white stuff accumulated at the bottom of the C element, I believe that is what it is called. I did not try to clean the curved lens on the tube face because I seem to have read somewhere not to clean or touch it. I doubt that it would be the shadow of the dust on these lenses. My camera batteries are dead so will try to take some pics later.
Don

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:27 am Post subject:

Could the blotches be on the C-elements? If the sun shines into a liquid coupled projector it concetrates on the plastic c-element and melts blotches into it. So keep it out of the sun and watch for the suns reflections off of mirrors.

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

Dynamic-static. One is for the overall shape of the image and the other is the fine tuning. The white stuff sounds like crud (fungus) in the tubes.

donr · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Montreal

Thanks guys
I have a few (many) questions regarding this pj about lenses etc. I took some pics. I will start a new topic dedicated to this.
Don

Andrew Low · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 28

Just wanted to chime in that yes - that was my Ampro that Don has now.

I never did remove the lenses, neat to see them off (that other thread). I've no idea what the white flecks are, I never saw any evidence of them on screen. In my care - that projector never saw sunlight - however it was a used unit from Curt.

In terms of the battery - I never did check the voltage on it - but I know that the hours counter is already unbelievable on that machine (Ampros report DAYS of usage.. and the day count was very high).

Static vs. Dynamic - if you follow the 'full setup' guided help, it will walk you through CRT toe-in along with setting the static registration (convergence). I believe static is for all memories, not just the 1 you're working in. I tend to think of the static as "getting things in the right ballpark" and the dynamic for minor tweaks due to slight variations in the input sync signal.

That said, there are not enough static controls to get your convergence 'perfect' - so it might be more accurate to call the static adjustments "coarse grained" convergence.

Roo

donr · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Montreal

Thanks Roo
Glad you chimed in. I am not sure the flecks will really bother but, while the lenses are off, I thought I might as well clean them. I know I did not see anything but a nice picture when I was at your house. As for the fingerprint, I am thinking of doing my CSI and put it in my files. It might be Curt's!!! Very Happy

I did not have time to play with it yet but will do so in the weekend. I will measure battery voltage at that time. Still reading through the procedures.
Don

Andrew Low · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 28

If I had taken off the lenses - I would have probably tried to clean the flecks off. From the other thread with the pictures in it, they don't look so bad, but its hard to tell.

I know I wouldn't be brave enough to try to clean the glycol - but I've read plenty of postings from folks who have.

There was a list of things that I had on my 'Ampro todo' list - I'll try to post it up here for reference. This is primarily why I decided it was time to move on to a non-CRT - I just don't have time to tinker with them like I used to.

Roo