.

It is hard to see the wear in those pictures, but you likely have 6000 hours if you run the projector conservatively. Then again, if you over drive them, you can have considerably less. If it has 4000 hours on those CRTs, then it was run conservatively it's whole life.I think you mixed up the blue and green labels. Also, what kind of projector is this? The make and model is very important.

That looks like a good price for what look to be clean tubes, if you get the chance to see it in person would be best, have a quick demo for a while to make sure it runs well too.

You should be able to get one of the HDMI input cards for it too, which simplifies setup too. (no lumagen needed for the most part.)

If you can make it work, go for it! :-)

Brian

Definately go for the Sony 1292 vs. a Dwin 700. The picture quality will be much better on the 1292. It has EM focus and 9" CRT's while the Dwin has ES focus and 7" CRTs.

If the 1292 is going to be too loud, I would hold out for a quiter EM focus projector if you want to setup a good home theater. If this is just for casual use, you can get an ES set cheap. However once I got an EM projector, I don't think I would want an ES projector anymore.

See these threads about quieting a 1292:

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5380&highlight=1292
http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3408&highlight=

With a correctly built hushbox, even on the floor, you'll be able to quiet it. You can use a baffle type system on the hushbox air inlet and outlet to curb any escaping noise. Even better, use port glass on the front of it :). Big, yes, but from what I see in this thread, you are ok with a big hushbox:). The 1292 at that price will be definitely worth the effort :D

Be aware it WILL take some serious hushbox construction to quiet a 1292 to your wife's satisfaction. E.g. well lined with sound-deadening material, fully enclosed with port glass over the lenses, which means two vent lines (one pushing cool air in, one pulling hot air out), two fans somewhere pushing & pulling, etc. It will look a lot better than the Dwin but it will be a lot bigger (esp with hushbox) and a lot more work.

BTW notice those tube pix are over a year old. Might want to ask the seller for more recent pictures.

You *could* make the front of the hushbox so that it fits right around the lens rims, sealing air and noise in, as I will be making my hushbox for my stack :). A little fancy work with a saw and some soft foam rubber should do the trick nicely.;)

You can run the air lines along the floor. JohnHWman did something like that for his G70. See John's site (http://72.14.203.104/translate_c?&u=http://johnhwman.chez-alice.fr/SONY%2520VPH-G70/La%2520VMC%2520du%2520projecteur/La%2520VMC%2520du%2520projecteur.html) for pictures.

Port glass is designed to minimize reflections. As Sonynut says, you could try to fit the box tightly around the lenses. That would probably work almost as well as a fully-enclosed box. But you WILL still need cool-in and hot-out air lines for a fully-enclosed hushbox.

If noise and space is an issue you may want to look into a Sony D50. They will do 1080i and are reasonably quiet compared to other PJ's. It will not have the punch of the 1292 but everyone who has seen my setup has been impressed. There was one listed in the classified section (of this forum) in the San Diego area for $300.00 with around 2600 hours. For this price it would be a great PJ to get your feet wet.