I'm just getting back into buying PJs again, but things seemed to have changed so much since 5 years ago when I was last shopping. Back then, CRT was the gold standard. It was almost like vinyl and tube amps where the new "digital" technologies just weren't good enough.

Back then, it was all about the crazy CRT black levels and resolution, but also about stacking projectors and pain-in-the-butt calibrations. But I haven't seen anything about CRTs anymore in this forum.

So just wondering, do people still care about CRT PJs, and if not, when did "digital" finally catch up?

I'm just getting back into buying PJs again, but things seemed to have changed so much since 5 years ago when I was last shopping. Back then, CRT was the gold standard. It was almost like vinyl and tube amps where the new "digital" technologies just weren't good enough.

Back then, it was all about the crazy CRT black levels and resolution, but also about stacking projectors and pain-in-the-butt calibrations. But I haven't seen anything about CRTs anymore in this forum.

So just wondering, do people still care about CRT PJs, and if not, when did "digital" finally catch up?

Both technologies obviously offer advantages over each other.
I recently picked up a 9" Marquee Ultra. CRT still has advantages ( on the right size screen ) and serves as a reminder digital is still in need of progress beyond black level. CRT to my eye looks film. Some see that as good and some bad. Ether way we are clearly living in a digital world.

I bought a CRT 9" Marquee 2 days ago and will get a C3X1080 for everyday use. I bought it after owning one of best single chip DLPs, the 11s2 and one of the best lycos (RS2). As Alan said, both have there advantages and disadvantages. It really depends on your priorities and what your eyes prefers. With CRT, you gain much more then resolution and black(Tonality, motion resolution, consistent colors fidelity across greyscale, artifact free pic....). Digital have there advantages as well. Let your eyes be the final judge.

Maybe we could all get together, bring some Irish whiskey and hold a CRT wake, just in case ;)

You just missed the last opportunity to order a new Barco CRT, Barco is just closing production on these. At least according to an announcement by SEOS, the last production run would be this month. However, Barco still offers them on its website... http://www.barco.com/simulation/en/products/category.asp?catid=16 Otherwise you need to get out of this 20K+ forum, and score an used one, or get a VDC.

or get a VDC.

What is VDC price for an ultra? I have no clue but I am guessing it is up there.

No idea, probably a bit less than a BR 909, especially for you folks in the US. But definitly a large part of f=16 discussion belongs here in f=86, based on the new/list price criterium. A nice used BR 909 can be had for 5K Euro these days.

Maybe we could all get together, bring some Irish whiskey and hold a CRT wake, just in case ;)

Being somewhat Irish myself, I can tell you that this old custom is no longer relevant at all.

You can now drink whatever you like.

;)

Sean

There is a whole sub-forum dedicated to those crazy CRT FP guys. As for stacking, one insane guy is doing a g90 tripple stack! CRTs are still all about their black levels and overall film like pictures. Of course the same draw backs are still here, setup and size.

There is a whole sub-forum dedicated to those crazy CRT FP guys. As for stacking, one insane guy is doing a g90 tripple stack! CRTs are still all about their black levels and overall film like pictures. Of course the same draw backs are still here, setup and size.

Yeah, I didn't see that forum before. Good to see people still going that extra distance...haha.

You just missed the last opportunity to order a new Barco CRT, Barco is just closing production on these. At least according to an announcement by SEOS, the last production run would be this month. However, Barco still offers them on its website... http://www.barco.com/simulation/en/products/category.asp?catid=16 Otherwise you need to get out of this 20K+ forum, and score an used one, or get a VDC.

Barco is discontinuing their CRTs?! :eek: Man, I guess that basically answers my original question. :D

I just bought 6000 lbs of CRTs. ;) Most are still in customs, waiting for me to go pick them up. I can only fit 8 or so in my van at a time.

Frankly, manufacturers getting out of CRTs always gives me an increase of business. I am getting a lot of emails from both HT and commercial/military end users that are looking for someone to keep their Barco sets going. I'm that guy. :)

I can't see VDC selling any new CRTs to HT owners at this point. Used however, they are all over the place, and give a great value for $$ spent.

What is VDC price for an ultra? I have no clue but I am guessing it is up there.

Hello

About $38,000 for a 9500 Ultra on the most recent price sheet.

.

My Seleco CRT is still on the there but I don't use it for a long time,may be 3 years.Nowaday since I've bought 3 years ago for JVC D-ILA IOk;I think it's the best PJ. and the picture look liked a real film(not too digital,but analog way).Recently I add the mortorised Schneider's anamorphic lens also curve cinemascope 96",I think it is the heaven for me now,Thanks for reading.

THat's like comparing a 10 speed to a Porsche. Not a fair comparison.

Put a Sony G90 or a MArquee 9500 Ultra beside the JVC, and you're getting closer..;) A CRT doesn't need no stinkin' motor for the lens either..;)

Hi

Honestly asking the question.. CRT still does a few things well but haven't they been surpassesd in almost all areas by the new Digital PJs? I can understand someone like Curt still buying CRT but for almost everyone else including hard core film lovers, doesn't Digital provide most of the goods and none of the bad of CRT?

Hi

Honestly asking the question.. CRT still does a few things well but haven't they been surpassesd in almost all areas by the new Digital PJs? I can understand someone like Curt still buying CRT but for almost everyone else including hard core film lovers, doesn't Digital provide most of the goods and none of the bad of CRT?This one has an open mind and it is the good thing in you.:)

THat's like comparing a 10 speed to a Porsche. Not a fair comparison.

Put a Sony G90 or a MArquee 9500 Ultra beside the JVC, and you're getting closer..;) A CRT doesn't need no stinkin' motor for the lens either..;)
I use EPIC Supernva curve cinemascope,Can I use CRT with stikin' motor to watch movie in cinemascope screen or you can?: :confused:

I use EPIC Supernva curve cinemascope,Can I use CRT with stikin' motor to watch movie in cinemascope screen or you can?: :confused:

As a CRT owner that switched to digital, can you elaborate why you made the switch and how you see the differences between your current digital projector and your old CRT?

Some things I'm curious about are the differences in black level as well as the "film-like quality" of each projector. Also, what were your experiences in calibrating your CRT?

Hi

Honestly asking the question.. CRT still does a few things well but haven't they been surpassesd in almost all areas by the new Digital PJs? I can understand someone like Curt still buying CRT but for almost everyone else including hard core film lovers, doesn't Digital provide most of the goods and none of the bad of CRT?


Yes.. price per hour of performance.

While a used CRT doesn't fit into the >$20K category any more, a 9" CRT now can literally be had for as low as $2K in working shape. For the DIYer (and I would say a lot of people here are DIYers, even if not at a board level.

I have a good example from Tuesday. I had a defective G90 in Whistler, BC, about a 2 1/2 hour drive from me. Projector powered up, but no image and no menus. I took a complete G90 with me, and swapped boards. The third board, the power supply cured the set. Total bill: $1500.00.

Now, even if the customer wasn't local to me, I could have repaired the board and done service troubleshooting via email, and had the customer get back up and running for about $500.

Not too long ago here, there was a Runco DLP owner that spent upwards of $7000-8000 to get his Runco projector repaired and his scaler upgraded. That was a 720p machine, and a few of us tried to get him to upgrade to a 1080p machine, but instead he spent the money on his 720p unit.

Bottom line is, while I'd assume most people here can afford to throw $10K+ at a new projector every few years, those of us lesser peons that can't appreciate the fact that we can tweak and repair and upgrade our sets for peanuts, get a really good image, tweak the heck out of it (which in itself brings a certain amount of pride and self worth ;)) for a fraction of what others spend.

Funny enough, low end digitals looked like crap for years and years, and I've had many a phone call from customers looking for CRT that still won't buy digital because of the image quality.

So yes, someone that isn't a DIYer will buy a digital, but there's enough DIYers on a budget that will keep me in business for years to come.

Yes.. price per hour of performance.

While a used CRT doesn't fit into the >$20K category any more, a 9" CRT now can literally be had for as low as $2K in working shape. For the DIYer (and I would say a lot of people here are DIYers, even if not at a board level.

I have a good example from Tuesday. I had a defective G90 in Whistler, BC, about a 2 1/2 hour drive from me. Projector powered up, but no image and no menus. I took a complete G90 with me, and swapped boards. The third board, the power supply cured the set. Total bill: $1500.00.

Now, even if the customer wasn't local to me, I could have repaired the board and done service troubleshooting via email, and had the customer get back up and running for about $500.

Not too long ago here, there was a Runco DLP owner that spent upwards of $7000-8000 to get his Runco projector repaired and his scaler upgraded. That was a 720p machine, and a few of us tried to get him to upgrade to a 1080p machine, but instead he spent the money on his 720p unit.

Bottom line is, while I'd assume most people here can afford to throw $10K+ at a new projector every few years, those of us lesser peons that can't appreciate the fact that we can tweak and repair and upgrade our sets for peanuts, get a really good image, tweak the heck out of it (which in itself brings a certain amount of pride and self worth ;)) for a fraction of what others spend.

Funny enough, low end digitals looked like crap for years and years, and I've had many a phone call from customers looking for CRT that still won't buy digital because of the image quality.

So yes, someone that isn't a DIYer will buy a digital, but there's enough DIYers on a budget that will keep me in business for years to come.

I never thought I'd see the day where CRTs are the "cheaper" solution! :D