Project CRT (aka The CRT Project)

[captainsolo]

I swear if you guys ever get the chance to work with or buy one of these last model Sonys...and can live with the size, weight, smaller screen size, geometry, overscan, phosphor trailing, 1080i....it’s an astonishing picture that with some calibration is remarkably film like. With the super fine pitch tube, insanely awesome comb filter and color monitor mode it’s still a reference display. I have yet to see anything top its black levels. There is no comparison for video in consumer CRTs period.

I just don’t want to have to move it again!!!

[SilverWook]

I saw a Sony HD CRT left out by the dumpster about a week before I moved out of my house earlier this year. No idea of the model #, but it was silver. Looked like it was in great shape. It's mind boggling how many people would chuck a working CRT seemingly oblivious to the value retro videogamers put on them now. Wish I could have figured out a way to grab it and take it with me.

[BusterD]

The HD CRTs aren't really great for retro gaming since I believe they internally upscale everything (introducing lag) to 1080i and treat 240p as 480i, but they're great for PS3/360 games and Blu-rays. LDs probably look nice on them as well.

A Japanese friend said he has a 29" Hitachi from the late 90's that he can give me, which will make a nice addition to my PVM if I can make some room (gonna need to move some shelves, whee). The PVM is nice, but the scanlines are honestly a bit too thick and 20" isn't really all that big unless you sit pretty close, which can lead to some eyestrain. Looking forward to having something more authentic for the time period for retro gaming and Laserdisc.

[PDB]

Thanks for posting captain. She is a pretty nice looking machine. And thanks for the examples. Are feeding it directly 1080i sources or downscaling through a box firstt?

In keeping with what BusterD is talking about with BVMs in general, I'm really enjoying watching movies again on a CRT. I really enjoy the picture. Its only a 14 inch screen but being 2 feet away its not bad. The dream for me would be to get a D24. Or maybe the super rare F24, the only non-monitor or projector capable of 1080p/24fps. Sadly, the D24s are ungodly expensive and never seen a F for sale in the US.

[captainsolo]

Yep straight 1080i via ps3 and receiver. No downscaling or processing of any kind.
DVD and LD are stunning and BDs look remarkable despite the res.

[zoidberg]

Does this principle apply to CRT projectors as well, or only to direct view tubes?

I always wanted a CRT projector, can't really justify it now plus they're dying off quickly WRT spare parts, repairs etc.

[BusterD]

I think they're mostly the same principles, you can even use light guns with them. Would like to have one myself if I had the space, but I think they require a lot of maintenance even when they're functional.

[PDB]

It should be the same but it really comes down to calibration. Most consumer direct view CRTs are way off any sort of standard, hence me using a PVM/BVM.

But a CRT projector is a not in the same class as it was always meant to be calibrated. Not bought, thrown on a stand and turned on like a direct view. A different beast altogether.

I actually have a DWIN/Transcanner2 that I bought on craiglist 3 years ago for $50 US



I figure it was worth a chance for 50 but man is it a PITA to get work. You need a nice dark space and a lot of time to calibrate, neither of which I have. I'll have to fire it up and get some test pics for the forum.

[zoidberg]

Yeah the kicker is the fixed installation, once you move them you have to do the convergence all over again. So definitely not portable, especially given their size/weight. On the plus side you have that contrast ratio and they're super quiet. I do occasionally browse to see if any CRT projectors are for sale cheap nearby, watching LDs on a CRT projector is the dream, but I think that ship has probably sailed.

[captainsolo]

I was messing around with my old rotted copy of BR to see how it was these days. Took a few phone shots. Keep in mind this is handholding my phone in the dark and trying to get clean still frames on a CLV side so the noise is from the player trick play function.
With the monitor color mode engaged and the pitch black levels on this set the LD actually comes relatively close to the release prints. I do have a non rotted copy which is very hard to find. The rotted copy is speckly in places not not terrible-does have some audio crinkling at points though. As a transfer it's pretty darn awesome if a bit softer and not 100% as impressive as 89 is on LD.

Hey look NO TEAL!