A thread to talk anything about the Sony WEGA FD Sony WEGA FD Trinitron crt tvs.

A few questions I can think of for now.

*What makes Sony WEGA FD Sony WEGA FD Trinitron models better then others?

*Why would these Sony WEGA FD Sony WEGA FD Trinitron tvs be recommended over others?

*(Super Fine Pitch CRT provides better image detail with high definition sources, improved picture quality, and better edge detail for both moving and still images. No visible vertical lines.) But does it make it a must buy over the other ones that don't have some problems that these tvs have?

*Best model out of these and why. KV-34XBR910, KD-34XS955, KD-34XBR960, KV-34XBR800, or KD-34XBR970?

This thread will fail. No offense but there are separate threads for this and it works.

This thread will fail. No offense but there are separate threads for this and it works.

If it does oh well. But it would of been nice to know more about why these tvs were liked by so many over other tvs. You can find a whole lot of these scattered all over the internet easily but alot are old and it would be nice to have most or near in one thread. Which sounds impossible but worth a try lol and why only a few got the SFP for before they where no longer made. Since they nearly doubled the hd quality on screen, ext. The list goes on and on. But you do got a point, which I hate always usually happens. But it is dumb having everything scattered out of place instead of organized better. But if it were to get to messy it would make sense to make a new thread for that certain reason.

XBR960 is the best. 1440x1080 resolution, XBR light and imaging engine, and it's the newest of the bunch aside from the lower resolution 970.

But ive read the 960 usually has more problems then the 970. Or are they just over exaggerating?

The 970 is lacking a SFP tube and doesn't have a subwoofer for audio, I forget what else is missing... but the 960 was Sony's best overall CRT. The XS955 series also used SFP tubes but had less features from what I understand.

My first 960 came with a couple defects (bad flickering in 1080i and excessive contrast bloom even at lower settings) ,but Ive had the replacement 960 for over a year and its been great.

The 960 was like a luxury car: more fancy options, so more opportunities for stuff to break.

I have two of those TVs the OP listed, the KV-34XBR800 and the KV-34XBR910.

I picked them both off craigslist the 800 was $450 and the 910 was $300. Both came with the custom stands and the remote.

I started out about 2 months ago looking for a TV to replace this old sony 27 inch Triniton SDTV I was using to game on. I kept watching my local craigslist for something and finally I saw the 800 and snagged it right away.

It is a great set for the consoles. I like the BIG 4:3 screen because if you are still playing last gen games most of them are in 4:3 and those games display beautifully on the 800. Then for the new consoles and HD games the set will go into 16:9 mode and it displays those games nicely as well by using only part of the 4:3 screen to display in 16:9. So with the 800 you get the best of both worlds. The only draw back for the 800 is the fact it does not have that fabulous Super Fine Pitch tube. Also it does not support 720p which may or may not be an issue, I dunno.

Then last weekend I saw this 910 for sale for $300 and I thought, that is too sweet a deal to pass up. So now I have both these TVs! The best thing about the 910 is the Super Fine Pitch tube, it really does make for a visibly sharper picture. For example I have been playing Ninja Gaiden, which is not even an HD game but looks fantastic, on the 910 and you can see the individual fingers of the flames on things like torches. While the PS3 version of this game, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, which is an HD game shows those same flames as more like a fuzzy flickering ball of fire when they are displayed on the 800.

It is just a small detail and over all Sigma looks great on the 800 but it is an example of what the 910 and the Super Fine Pitch tube can do.

As far as hooking up these sets to cable or satellite I haven't done it nor have I played any DvDs and watched movies so I can't report on those aspects of these TVs.

There selling a Sony 955 or maybe its a 960 at Frys electronics open box (probably was used for display) for $550 before warranty which I think is more expensive there. But its more banged up then this Sony 970 I saw next door for $400 with a 4 year warranty. I know Sony has a 2 year warranty but just in case for an extra $50 not bad. It may be worth buying the 955 but they have it running threw a shity cable line it seems thats supposed to show how good it looks on showing certain things. It makes everything look like its on a channel no one is using and makes it a lot harder to tell why its so great over the 970 since I really don't need all those other bells and whistles. Unless I have them fix the problem so it looks like it should?

Should I try bagarning with the salesperson or the manager? Because when I bagained to get a tv cheaper mentioning the reasons to the salesperson he went and asked the manager and I got it cheaper. But I think he only told the manager the prices I asked for it and nothing else I mentioned for the reason. Since he came back pretty quick.

I would rate these Sony in following order.

1. xbr 960 - some reliability issues aside, this is the best tube hdtv ever produced IMO. It has more features than any other tube HDTV that I am aware of and SFP tube which gives it the highest resolution ever archived on tube tvs.

2. xs 955 - this is the second best, identical PQ to xbr 960 for HD sources. It is missing some features that xbr 960 has such as 3 i.link ports, dual picture modes(freeze, scrolling index, favorite channel preview, twin view), and more advanced DRC (allows for greater control over DRC for potentially better picture in SD on xbr 960)

3. xbr 910 - this is the first SFP tube that was sold in America. Unlike xs 955 and xbr 960 , it has DVI instead of HDMI. In comparison to xbr 960, it also lacks 3 i.link ports and optical audio out . Additionally, it does not have independent memory per input and disable red push features that xbr 960/970 and I belive, xs 955 also have. Finally, it lacks ATSC and QAM tuners. It adds one extra coax input over xbr 960 and xs 955 models for the total of 3 though.

4. xbr 970 - the best non SFP tube that Sony produced in 16:9 aspect ratio IMO(for 3:4 aspect ration xbr40 is the best) I does lack quite a bit in feature department. In comparison to its predecessor xbr 960, xbr 970 lacks following features: 3 i.link ports, dual picture modes(freeze, scrolling index, favorite channel preview, twin view), more advanced DRC (allows for greater control over DRC for potentially better picture in SD on xbr 960), sub woofer, extra composite input, extra audio input, extra RF input (xbr 960 has two one for cable and one for antenna), memory card slot, cable card slot, optical digital audio out(xbr 970 has coaxial digital audio out instead), monitor out jacks, and last but not least SFP tube. Xbr 970 still has ATSC and QAM tuners, independent memory per input, and disable red push option, which will probably put it ahead of xbr 910 for some people.

SPF vs non SFP
From my personal experience, to take full advantage of SFP tube you will need to sit in 4-6 feet range. Beyond, 6 feet the difference is still there but not as profound. SFP tube will give you clearer picture, and will allow you sit closer to the tv without noticing vertical aperture grill lines. I start to notice vertical aperture grill lines on my xbr 970 at 6 feet, which can distract for experience. On the over hand, I need to get as close as 2 feet to start notice vertical aperture grill lines on my xbr 960, which allows me to watch it at around 4 feet making for much more cinematic experience. The xbr960 picture is also clearer with more depth to it. I also notice some loss in detail on xbr 970 in comparison to xbr 960, but to be honest, the difference is quite small between the two (It took me several tries of going back and forward between between the two sets to notice any difference). Xbr 970 is a fine HDTV. If you sit farther back and do not have xbr 960 close to compare, you will probably be very happy with xbr 970.

I can not comment on 34 xbr 800. I assume, it is the same feature wise as xbr 910 minus SFP tube, so I would put it after xbr 970 on my list.

That's a great rundown, Swift, thanks for putting that up. I'm sure some used XBR shoopers will find that very helpful.

Above discussion, and the OP, omit the KD-36XS955. Overall its similar to the KD-34XS955 but with a 4:3 tube.

Does make take the viewing of the SFP tube a little further out for SD fare; but not for HD material (33 inch letterbox). It is also significant for watching Digital video in from a camcorder or pictures off the memory stick, which are generally 4:3

Thx for all the info. But today when I saw a Sony 955 at a store it was an open box for $560 before warranty but in great condition cept for one thing. The PQ looks very blurry and not very clear at all for some reason. I messed with the settings and I put it on Pro and lowered everything to mid range but still very horrible. Also in full screen also meaning widescreen it won't show everything as big as the screen goes its like 2 3 inches of pure black screen all around. It can't be anything to do with the antenna that is connected to the rest of the other crt tvs on clearence because the others show the picture as it should look.

I saw a Sony 970 next door at another store for $400 with a 4 year warranty open box but sorta more beat up around but the PQ was beautiful compare to the 955 I saw.

Heres a few pics of the 955 and 970 side by side pics. Only diffrence youll see with my cell cam is that the 970 screen is using all of the screen and the 955 isn't and also the prices.

@WJonathan Glad to help out:)

@GhaSper I am not an expert on SM, but this issue with xs 955 might be fixable though SM.
SFP sets are generally darker than regular Trinitron tubes, so in the bright lit rooms, they could look pale in comparison. In addition, SFP tubes will accent problems with the bad signal more because of their increased resolution.

The xbr 960 that I bought did not look that great in the store either due to bad feed and store lighting conditions. However, once I brought it home, adjusted, and feed it proper signal, it was a different story.

Of course, there is a definite possibility that the 955 is just defective or has been in torch mode too long. Xbr 970 will also give you longer warranty(2 years).

It all seems to make sense cept what is SM lol. When I went to fix the color and stuff the contrast was on full and probably on that for a while.

But im probably gonna get a Sony 970 for $400 $350 dollars anyways with an extra 2 years from BB today.

It all seems to make sense cept what is SM lol. When I went to fix the color and stuff the contrast was on full and probably on that for a while.

But im probably gonna get a Sony 970 for $400 $350 dollars anyways with an extra 2 years from BB today.

SM - Service Menu(you can go there to fix various display problems on Sony tvs such as geometry, over scan, convergence etc. caution advised) There is a thread on this forum about various Service Menu adjustments.

Xbr 970 already has 2 years of manufacturer warranty. It is valid even for open box items. For open box items, it does not cover defects that were already there when you bought the tv though.

Ya I know thats why I mentioned an extra 2 years. Since im getting there 4 year warranty for $50, Is it hard to do the SM yourself even with all the help on here? Never tried to mess with that before.

Ya I know thats why I mentioned an extra 2 years. Since im getting there 4 year warranty for $50, Is it hard to do the SM yourself even with all the help on here? Never tried to mess with that before.

I never messed with SM either. I do not want to get even more obssesed about picture quality on my Sony's lol. I know that you can seriously mess up your tv if you are not careful though.

Ya ill probably get into doing that crap someday when I ain't as busy. The 970 at BB has very slight geometry problem in 1 or a few more places but its very livable. Thx for info!

NP I hope that everything works out for you :)

Hope so too. LCDs are starting to get to me but this crt has some advantages LCDs can't do as I like still.

Got the Sony 970 tv for $375 with a 4 year warranty! Just have to wait for my cousin or brother to help me move it either today or tomorrow. I messed around with it since they put it back on display a few weeks ago and the PQ looks amazing. Not as good as a SFP i heard but oh well. Rather have it over all lcd tvs without the 120 ghz. !-_-!

Not as good as a SFP i heard but oh well. Rather have it over all lcd tvs without the 120 ghz. !-_-!

I think you mean 120Hz.

120 billion frames per second would be nice, though!

Got the Sony 970 tv for $375 with a 4 year warranty! Just have to wait for my cousin or brother to help me move it either today or tomorrow. I messed around with it since they put it back on display a few weeks ago and the PQ looks amazing. Not as good as a SFP i heard but oh well. Rather have it over all lcd tvs without the 120 hz. !-_-!

You have one heck of a TV:cool:. Which is one of the last great HD CRT TV's built:mad:. I luv mine more every day, have had it since Feb. 2007. I watch mostly OTA broadcast and must say the HD pictures look awesome, even the SD stuff looks great compaired to analog pictures. If you have a good antenna try it out. I made my own:D after tring several store bought antennas that never seemed to be able to hold a signal.

hyghwayman

P.S. You might want to get both your cousin and brother to help you with moving that Beast of a HDTV (194lbs. :eek:)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=94016&d=1194494588
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=94017&d=1194494588

Thats some antenna lol. Him, me, and his friend will be moving it.;)

What did you use to take the pictures? I know how with a real camera but just wondering anyways.

p.s. Did u get the Elite with the 65nm in it?

Okay I have question. Are the tubes in the xbr 910, xbr 955 and xbr 960 all idenical Super Fine Pitch tubes?

Type in (FD Trinitron/WEGA wikipedia) in google. Has all the info you need.

I too have one of these sets. I'm feeding it with a Sony HDD 250 HD DVR, and using component input, set to 480i, of course, it looks spectacular-even a notch better than DVD. While it won't beat the plasma 1080 downstairs, for most programming, J6P would think it's High Def.

The blacks of the CRT still set the standard.

"Type in (FD Trinitron/WEGA wikipedia) in google. Has all the info you need."

Oh yea that is a great chart! That puts it all in a nut shell. So there was only one SFP tube. I was wondering if there were some that were finer than others, but Sony only made one for the XBR TVs. I am glad we got them before they quit making the CRTs.

I believe, that xbr910/960, and xs955(34 inch) have the same tube. There were some people claiming that xbrk960 has second generation SFP tube because Sony mentioned something along these lines in their marketing materials for xbr 960. However, I remember reading that the part reference number for the tube is same for all three sets.

Hmm thats the first time ive heard someone say the 960 has a second generation SFP tube. I would of saw or read about it all over the place if it did. But you got to remember Sony said that the Sony 970 was a SFP tv lol so its probably not true. But you never know if they improved the SFP tube slightly but wouldn't be notable for a while.

Not to sure about the 910 tho.

Yeah, I believe that it was just a marketing talk. By second generation, Sony might also meant that SFP tube is a second generation of Sony's Trinitron HD tube.(Hi scan Trinitron such as the one used in xbr 970 being the first)

I would rate these Sony in following order.

1. xbr 960 - some reliability issues aside, this is the best tube hdtv ever produced IMO. It has more features than any other tube HDTV that I am aware of and SFP tube which gives it the highest resolution ever archived on tube tvs.

2. xs 955 - this is the second best, identical PQ to xbr 960 for HD sources. It is missing some features that xbr 960 has such as 3 i.link ports, dual picture modes(freeze, scrolling index, favorite channel preview, twin view), and more advanced DRC (allows for greater control over DRC for potentially better picture in SD on xbr 960)

3. xbr 910 - this is the first SFP tube that was sold in America. Unlike xs 955 and xbr 960 , it has DVI instead of HDMI. In comparison to xbr 960, it also lacks 3 i.link ports and optical audio out . Additionally, it does not have independent memory per input and disable red push features that xbr 960/970 and I belive, xs 955 also have. Finally, it lacks ATSC and QAM tuners. It adds one extra coax input over xbr 960 and xs 955 models for the total of 3 though.

4. xbr 970 - the best non SFP tube that Sony produced in 16:9 aspect ratio IMO(for 3:4 aspect ration xbr40 is the best) I does lack quite a bit in feature department. In comparison to its predecessor xbr 960, xbr 970 lacks following features: 3 i.link ports, dual picture modes(freeze, scrolling index, favorite channel preview, twin view), more advanced DRC (allows for greater control over DRC for potentially better picture in SD on xbr 960), sub woofer, extra composite input, extra audio input, extra RF input (xbr 960 has two one for cable and one for antenna), memory card slot, cable card slot, optical digital audio out(xbr 970 has coaxial digital audio out instead), monitor out jacks, and last but not least SFP tube. Xbr 970 still has ATSC and QAM tuners, independent memory per input, and disable red push option, which will probably put it ahead of xbr 910 for some people.

SPF vs non SFP
From my personal experience, to take full advantage of SFP tube you will need to sit in 4-6 feet range. Beyond, 6 feet the difference is still there but not as profound. SFP tube will give you clearer picture, and will allow you sit closer to the tv without noticing vertical aperture grill lines. I start to notice vertical aperture grill lines on my xbr 970 at 6 feet, which can distract for experience. On the over hand, I need to get as close as 2 feet to start notice vertical aperture grill lines on my xbr 960, which allows me to watch it at around 4 feet making for much more cinematic experience. The xbr960 picture is also clearer with more depth to it. I also notice some loss in detail on xbr 970 in comparison to xbr 960, but to be honest, the difference is quite small between the two (It took me several tries of going back and forward between between the two sets to notice any difference). Xbr 970 is a fine HDTV. If you sit farther back and do not have xbr 960 close to compare, you will probably be very happy with xbr 970.

I can not comment on 34 xbr 800. I assume, it is the same feature wise as xbr 910 minus SFP tube, so I would put it after xbr 970 on my list.


Man reading that makes me want to wait and find a 960 instead of buying the 970 I just bought yesterday lol. But ive searched pretty good around here and only found one person was selling the 960 mint condition. But it costs $950 with matching stand, he explained it was in good condition and had some pics of it but its quite a bit now for a tv like that and I don't have the money. Also since I ain't buying it from a store it wouldn't come with a 2 year warranty just in case.

But I saw the 955 as I posted a few days ago at Fry's Electronics and its still over $550. Not bad but 2 3 inches of the left and right sides are showing only black on the screen and not whats showing on the tv and I really don't want to try and mess with the SM at the store.
Ill probably mess it up or maybe not since I got this Campaq monitor and it was really off and decided to give it a try and fix it the best I could. Well the sides are still screwed since I got it at a second hand store I guess why. But its more livable now.

Any help on what to do lol?

Any help on what to do lol?


Any help on what?

From above it looks like you bought a 970 yesterday so just be happy.

Or are you looking for feedback on how to approach fixing a 955 at Fry's that had black space on the side?

Or whether to buy a private party's 960 w/o warrentee?

Or how to fix a COMPAQ monitor that you went into the service menu to correct and its still not perfect but livable?

Look at the "FD Trinitron" page on wikipedia.

Originally Posted by GhaSper_-
Thats some antenna lol. Him, me, and his friend will be moving it.
Yes, it's not that good looking but like I said it works a lot better than any store bought antenna I've ever used:cool:. Good to hear you will have a few helping hands, I almost broke my back/hip trying to more mine:eek:.


What did you use to take the pictures? I know how with a real camera but just wondering anyways.
The camera used was a Polaroid PDC5070 5.1mp, not the best of cameras but it was free:).

p.s. Did u get the Elite with the 65nm in it?
Nope:(, I picked this one up on Aug. 3rd, it does have the added heatsink though:D.

Nvm about those questions. I finally got the tv! Its humongous compare to what im used to. Gonna miss now old RCA 27 in tv.

Few questions.

Questions 1. What are recommended settings for this tv. I got it pretty close to where I want it only in the picture and sound options tho. Don't want to try messing with the others. Need to know.

Question 2. When watching cable tv everything looks crappy sorta fuzzy compare to my RCA. But when playing my xbox its a lot clearer not perfect but clearer. Probably showing the lines from the scan? Any ideas?

Question 3. The screen looks pretty dark unless I put some setting or settings near 100. Any ideas?

Question 4. Anything else I need to know?

A few pics of my old and new tv.

Nvm about those questions. I finally got the tv! Its humongous compare to what im used to. Gonna miss now old RCA 27 in tv.

Few questions.

Questions 1. What are recommended settings for this tv. I got it pretty close to where I want it only in the picture and sound options tho. Don't want to try messing with the others. Need to know.

Question 2. When watching cable tv everything looks crappy sorta fuzzy compare to my RCA. But when playing my xbox its a lot clearer not perfect but clearer. Probably showing the lines from the scan? Any ideas?

Question 3. The screen looks pretty dark unless I put some setting or settings near 100. Any ideas?

Question 4. Anything else I need to know?

A few pics of my old and new tv.

From what I have read Picture = Contrast. "High contrast can obscure details and distort lines in the image, cause eyestrain in dim rooms, and shorten the lifespan of tubes"1. Read more about this and the other settings over at CNET.com's Picture perfect: HDTV tune-up tips (http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108543-1.html?tag=main.optimize)

(for TV and DVD)
Picture Mode: Pro
Picture : 35
Brightness : 65
Color : 50
Hue : 0
Color Temp. : Cool
Sharpness : 30
ClearEdge VM : off
Color Axis : Monitor
6,500 degrees K Back Light

( 360 Gaming)
Picture Mode : Vivid
Picture : 50
Brightness : 84
Color : 55
Hue : 0
Color Temp. : Cool
Sharpness : 40
ClearEdge VM : off
Color Axis : Monitor
6,500 degrees K Back Light

You will want to use the best connections you can for Gaming, DVD, VCR and so on (http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108580-5.html?tag=lnav);
Best to worst as followed;
HDMI
Component
S-Video
Composite
RF or better know as antenna/cable


Hope this helps, I too thought the picture was dark at 1st but after a lot of calibrating, reading and more calibrating I am now happy.
hyghwayman
1. quote from CNET.com

From what I have read Picture = Contrast. "High contrast can obscure details and distort lines in the image, cause eyestrain in dim rooms, and shorten the lifespan of tubes"1. Read more about this and the other settings over at CNET.com's Picture perfect: HDTV tune-up tips (http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108543-1.html?tag=main.optimize)

(for TV and DVD)
Picture Mode: Pro
Picture : 35
Brightness : 65
Color : 50
Hue : 0
Color Temp. : Cool
Sharpness : 30
ClearEdge VM : off
Color Axis : Monitor
6,500 degrees K Back Light

( 360 Gaming)
Picture Mode : Vivid
Picture : 50
Brightness : 84
Color : 55
Hue : 0
Color Temp. : Cool
Sharpness : 40
ClearEdge VM : off
Color Axis : Monitor
6,500 degrees K Back Light


Hope this helps, I too thought the picture was dark at 1st but after a lot of calibrating, reading and more calibrating I am now happy.
hyghwayman
1. quote from CNET.com

Thx for the info.

The cable still looks like crap even on hd channles lol. Maybe I need to connect it to a box instead threw the wall?

You mean calibrating as in messing with the setting on the tv already or getting the cd to really mess with it?

Wow vivid shows the screen alot brighter and less concentrating on trying to see whats happening on the tv. Ill probably keep it on that for both tv and gaming.

What should I have my DRC on? I got it on Interlaced right now.

Heres a pic of whats making everything look like pure crap, little circle things that take over the whole picture. Looks worse in person. Ignore the lines my cell phone did that for some unknown reason.

DRC is for annalog viewing and that should be fine where you have it.

I used a simple calibration disc that came w/ my Halo3 game to check my setting and I found I was spot on. This TV is Awesome.

Have you tried OTA broadcast TV yet, if not just hook up a pair of rabbit ears to the RF connector and do a digital scan - it may take 10 min or so to do the scan. I'm getting around 35 digital channels from over the air w/ 6 of those true HD signals.

hyghwayman

Heres a pic of whats making everything look like pure crap, little circle things that take over the whole picture. Looks worse in person. Ignore the lines my cell phone did that for some unknown reason.

Not sure what I'm seeing in that picture, looks sorta like a close-up of the screen????

Here is a picture of a OTA analog signal. The 1st is after fixing a geomitry problem the 2nd and 3rd where taken before the fix was made.

Yours looks a lot better then mine. Is it on an hd channel?

Im on a local news channel in hd and it looks beautiful until I change it off a hd channel. Do all Halo 3 games come with the calibration disk? Ill do the digital scan but I already have Cox cable. Ill probably stick with that.

What cd do you recommend I buy. Would like to get as many recommendations as I can for one.

Ill wait to use a digital camera or something my cell phone is horrible.

All 3 pictures where taken when watching a analog signal:), the HD channels look even better:D.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=94095&d=1194586049

Mine look pretty dam horrible compare to how they looked on my RCA tv. The hd channels go pretty blurry when they where showing different things on the news channel so random lol.

Did the digital scan. Just gave me alot more channels, a lot that I already had. I guess in digital instead or something.

These 960s seem to really shine with a good ISF calibration including geometry. Its amazing how walking through the electronic stores and not seeing a display that looks as good IMO. There's been talk lately about the new LED Samsungs. IMO, its a good picture, but all around I still didnt think it matched the 960.

My only complaint is the phosphor trail that seems prevalent on the later Sony CRTs. I picked up a brand new 24" KV-FS120 a few months ago and it has the same ghosting as my 960. While at the same time, the 12 year old 20" trinitron I just gave away never exhibited this, no matter what brightness setting I selected. Maybe I just got unlucky?

That CNET article is a good way to calibrate. You can also invest in a calibration DVD. Heck, I just used my dad's old DVE (Digital Video Essentials...well, actually it's from 1997 and it's only Video Essentials, so technically I should have called it "VE") and it's a revelation to me. I've already ordered the updated HD version of it.

That CNET article (http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108543-1.html?tag=main.optimize)is a good way to calibrate. You can also invest in a calibration DVD. Heck, I just used my dad's old DVE (Digital Video Essentials...well, actually it's from 1997 and it's only Video Essentials, so technically I should have called it "VE") and it's a revelation to me. I've already ordered the updated HD version of it.


Thanks,
It helped me, maybe it can/will help others:D!

hyghwayman

That CNET article is a good way to calibrate. You can also invest in a calibration DVD. Heck, I just used my dad's old DVE (Digital Video Essentials...well, actually it's from 1997 and it's only Video Essentials, so technically I should have called it "VE") and it's a revelation to me. I've already ordered the updated HD version of it.

They have not invented a dvd or hd-dvd that does a good job of calibrating the contrast on this tv. I have NEVER been able to properly calibrate my tv because of this. I could ramp up the contrast to the max and never get any "blooming."

They have not invented a dvd or hd-dvd that does a good job of calibrating the contrast on this tv. I have NEVER been able to properly calibrate my tv because of this. I could ramp up the contrast to the max and never get any "blooming."
I'm in the same boat there. My top box never blooms. Same goes for the THX Optimizer...I could max out my contrast and still see the difference in all the white boxes. So I just try to judge when the top white box reaches a point of pure white without a kind of subtle glow (a real judgement call). Everything else the DVE offers is valuable info.

what are the measurement for that antenna can you post and what kinda materials you used ? thanks.

You have one heck of a TV:cool:. Which is one of the last great HD CRT TV's built:mad:. I luv mine more every day, have had it since Feb. 2007. I watch mostly OTA broadcast and must say the HD pictures look awesome, even the SD stuff looks great compaired to analog pictures. If you have a good antenna try it out. I made my own:D after tring several store bought antennas that never seemed to be able to hold a signal.

hyghwayman

P.S. You might want to get both your cousin and brother to help you with moving that Beast of a HDTV (194lbs. :eek:)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=94016&d=1194494588
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=94017&d=1194494588

Hi Buddy. what are the measurements and materials you used on frabication of that cute anntena ?

Hi Buddy. what are the measurements and materials you used on frabication of that cute anntena ?


Sorry to take so long getting this info to ya, I kinda had a brain fart! But I have recovered.
So here is the info and link to the forum page on building your own homemade Antenna.
There are alot of pics. and info on this forum topic.

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613 (http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613)

Your total height then is 3+6+6+6+3=24.

____
| |
| > < |
| |
| |
| > < |
| |
| * * |
| > < |
| |
| |
| > < |
|____|

This is how I did mine w/ a 36" 1x4, 6 hangers and a UHF/VHF/FM transformer that is in the middle! I didn't cross the connecting wires at top and bottom nor did I use a reflector!

Hope this helps you, as it did me.

hyghwayman

Sorry to take so long getting this info to ya, I kinda had a brain fart! But I have recovered.
So here is the info and link to the forum page on building your own homemade Antenna.
There are alot of pics. and info on this forum topic.

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613 (http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613)

Your total height then is 3+6+6+6+3=24.

____
| |
| > < |
| |
| |
| > < |
| |
| * * |
| > < |
| |
| |
| > < |
|____|

This is how I did mine w/ a 36" 1x4, 6 hangers and a UHF/VHF/FM transformer that is in the middle! I didn't cross the connecting wires at top and bottom nor did I use a reflector!

Hope this helps you, as it did me.

hyghwayman

Thanks alot buddy.

Thanks alot buddy.


Welcome!

Welcome!


Check this one out.
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display_print.asp?PROD=HD-8800

Check this one out.
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display_print.asp?PROD=HD-8800

http://pimages.solidsignal.com/HD-8800_zoom.gif

Nice, although it has no built-in 300 ohm VHF coupling
which means no reception of channel 2 through 13:(.

hyghwayman

http://pimages.solidsignal.com/HD-8800_zoom.gif

Nice, although it has no built-in 300 ohm VHF coupling
which means no reception of channel 2 through 13:(.

hyghwayman

What does 300 ohm coupling have to do with it? Nobody runs the twin antenna leads anymore and in any event the 75 ohm coax is better regardless. So you don't need that 300 to 75 ohm coupler on the antenna. Its a feature not a lack of hardware.

(I have the predecessor to that antenna in my attic and can attest to lousy VHF performance - but I also have a UHF only preamp that could also exaberate the lack of VHF (I wasn't trying to get VHF)

The VHF problem is that the antenna itself is not designed for those frequencies so it will do a lousy job on them.