Yeah the almighty FW900, i have two of this, the silvery sony fw900 and rebranded goldy sun fw9010. if u have desk space nothing should go wrong with it.
I bought a used Mitsubishi 2060u several years ago. Still pleased with it. I would rather have the 2070 NEC but I'm still happy with what I got.
The two AG lines were noticable at first but after a week or so my eyes don't pick them up. I really have to stare to find them. Both the 2060 & 2070
command top doller used. If you do go Mit or NEC CRT, be sure to go to NEC's site and download the Navaset software. It makes the process of calibration
much less of a hassel. I was looking for a 2070 used but they are hard to find. Ppl are hanging onto them for a reason.
If you do a search in the video forum much info will come-up on LCD vs CRT, thet both have strong and weak points.
The two AG lines were noticable at first but after a week or so my eyes don't pick them up. I really have to stare to find them. Both the 2060 & 2070
command top doller used. If you do go Mit or NEC CRT, be sure to go to NEC's site and download the Navaset software. It makes the process of calibration
much less of a hassel. I was looking for a 2070 used but they are hard to find. Ppl are hanging onto them for a reason.
If you do a search in the video forum much info will come-up on LCD vs CRT, thet both have strong and weak points.
i have a 19" ibm p96 (trinitron) that was given to me, and it has the AG lines on it... which at first i was pretty much befuddled with... but after using it now for a year, its a non-issue cause the clarity & brightness (& response) is much better than my NEC 19" Accusync LCD i use at work...
Except a good Diamondtron which chews it up and spits it out in every objective and subjective measure. I went shopping with cost no object in mind for the best possible display I could buy regardless of price. It didn't take long to rule out everything but NEC/Mitsubishi SB Diamondtron CRT tubes(can Sony make a tube with decent convergance?). Ended up with a 2141 SB/BK(2070) and have yet to have a Trinitron(or any LCD) user fail to realize my display was considerably better then what they were running.
blckgrffn
Diamond Member
I have to admit the diamondtron is good stuff, but I hit the Trinitron when they were evidently discontinuing them and got my G520P for $550 shipped (new) from NewEgg. Just couldn't be the size/features/price. Hard to believe that was two years ago now... warranty is almost up! That is pretty sad...
Anyway, I moved from a Samsung 955DF (pretty much a cheap junky 19" wannabe flat CRT monitor IMHO, try AG CRT's before comparing them to LCD's) and I just was able to say wow when I hooked it up.... it has minor text "crawl" if I park my nose about 3 inches from the monitor and stare in certain sections of the monitor. A guy down the hall had a mitsu 21" diamondtron and it was damn gorgeous, but if I remember correctly he paid about $850 and that monitor was already hard to find when I started shopping. That, and it was beige and I loved the Sony two-tone
That said, I haven't spent much time trying to calibrate my monitor to correct that issue, but I know from my research that other people sent several monitors back to to Sony before truly clearing up that issue. It's just a shame that the 20+ inch CRT's didn't come down in price AND continue to be made & improved instead of simply stagnating and disappearing. No LCD beats a CRT for image quality yet, and if you want a big size that is the only way to go. Too bad we didn't get some thinner high quality CRT's, that would have made a big difference.
Anyway, I moved from a Samsung 955DF (pretty much a cheap junky 19" wannabe flat CRT monitor IMHO, try AG CRT's before comparing them to LCD's) and I just was able to say wow when I hooked it up.... it has minor text "crawl" if I park my nose about 3 inches from the monitor and stare in certain sections of the monitor. A guy down the hall had a mitsu 21" diamondtron and it was damn gorgeous, but if I remember correctly he paid about $850 and that monitor was already hard to find when I started shopping. That, and it was beige and I loved the Sony two-tone
That said, I haven't spent much time trying to calibrate my monitor to correct that issue, but I know from my research that other people sent several monitors back to to Sony before truly clearing up that issue. It's just a shame that the 20+ inch CRT's didn't come down in price AND continue to be made & improved instead of simply stagnating and disappearing. No LCD beats a CRT for image quality yet, and if you want a big size that is the only way to go. Too bad we didn't get some thinner high quality CRT's, that would have made a big difference.
ponyo
Lifer
- Feb 14, 2002
- 19,688
- 2,811
- 126
Not really. You know monitors are very subjective and top models are similar in features and specs.
I also took cost no object when shopping for my monitor also. I considered the NEC 2141. My friend has the NEC 930SB which is basically the 19" version of that monitor. It's nice monitor but Diamondtron has its own share of geometry and convergence problems. I guess you missed that big thread in this video forum about 2 years ago about the geometry and the convergence problems with NEC 2141/Mitsu 2070. Huge thread with multiple people getting and returning 2141 due to flaws. Tourguide and others finally gave up on 2141 and 2070 and ordered Sony G520p and received good monitors. I read that thread before getting my Sony G520P. I could have gotten the NEC 2141 for about $100 cheaper but decided to pay the premium for the Trinitron because of the problems others experienced with the 2141 and 2070. FYI, my Sony G520P has pretty near perfect convergence. One of the best I've seen actually.
Considering we picked up our monitors near the end of its production, I think it's really luck of the draw and how well we calibrate our CRTs. I'm just thankful that I was able to buy it before it went out of production.
JRW
Senior member
- Jun 29, 2005
- 569
- 0
- 76
Currently using a Sony G520P (Not G520) ,The P model uses the same case as the F520 and apparently uses updated parts vs. the G520, anyhow it has the best picture ive seen on a PC CRT, It's currently 2 years old(Paid $600 on newegg.com) and still looks like new with near perfect geometry & convergence, Its got the 3 brightness mode toggle button on the front (Pro / Standard / Dynamic) wich is a great feature to have , I recently had a 2001FP LCD sitting next to it for 3 weeks (dual monitor) but ended up sending it back ,LCD is no match for a properly calibrated high end CRT when it comes to Gaming & Movies.
So....what do you guys think is the best Aperture Grille CRT out there that's still being manufactured? I'm still trying to decide whether to continue using my LCD for gaming AND coding, or just for coding, as it is definitely more comfortable text-wise for me. As for the size, probably a 19" as I couldn't fit anything more on my desk (well I could protrude it from the wall). I can't say price isn't a concern, I'd like it to be under $200... Most likely my dad will be ordering it and he doesn't want to fuss with the refurbished stuff. If I want a CRT, I'll want it now before they all get discontinued. I was confident they'd wait until there was a superior display technology, but I guess I was wrong. I definitely see some hope in the new SEDs.
Edit: Wow, so all *trons (AG) have been discontinued? Is there any other name the AG CRTs hide under? Samsung CRTs any good?
Edit: Wow, so all *trons (AG) have been discontinued? Is there any other name the AG CRTs hide under? Samsung CRTs any good?
JRW
Senior member
- Jun 29, 2005
- 569
- 0
- 76
Yes unfortunately everyone has stopped making new *trons, Sony still makes 27" through 36" HDTV CRT's but went with LCD only for PC, wich is a shame, Sony was the best at PC CRT's yet there current LCD's arent very good compared to the rest.
The only company I know of still selling new AG / Trinitron CRT's is Lacie , they sell a 22" Model online for $799 , I havent seen one in person but from what i've read in other forums they seem to be very good monitors, the specifications on it definately look great.
OK, what about shadow mask? The main reason I want to keep a CRT for my gaming is the response time and resolution, and it's a given the colors will still be better even if it's not a superbright AG.
JRW
Senior member
- Jun 29, 2005
- 569
- 0
- 76
Personaly I could never go back to shadow mask after using AG ,I remember any Shadow mask CRT ive owned or used I always had the Contrast practicly maxed out just to get a decent picture, On my current monitor I have the contrast set on 67 and Brightness on 48 yet its still brighter than any shadow mask CRT could ever get, speaking of wich ..as CRT's age they lose brightness over time, its nice to know I have the ability to adjust the brightness higher as it ages.
BFG10K
Lifer
- Aug 14, 2000
- 22,709
- 3,003
- 126
I never notice the AG lines until somebody mentions them in a thread like this and I have to specifically hunt for them.
There...I found the first one and I had to look for a few seconds to find the second one. In five minutes I'll have forgotten about them.
There...I found the first one and I had to look for a few seconds to find the second one. In five minutes I'll have forgotten about them.
lol
It's about the only part of my computer that I can still say is top of the line or close to it. yeah, that utility is very convenient, much better than using the buttons on the front. The only thing that's a little annoying is that I have to reinstall it every time I change the video card drivers.
I think what happened was that all these great CRTs had absolutely horrendous quality control during their last few months of production. I got my 2070 last May, about $650 shipped for a new one, and actually went through three defective ones, all manufactured in January 2005 and each one having a different set of problems, before I thankfully got a still new June 2004 one that worked perfectly. I've heard similar experiences from several other people with different companies and both Trinitron and Diamondtron tubes. I see some of the same issues with the few CRTs that are still on display at retail stores. It would have been better if the manufacturers just discontinued their CRTs right away instead of dumping these duds into the market for a while and then stopping production. I'm hesitant to recommend CRTs nowadays to others because of this. Although after using the fourth 2070 for a few months, I think that all that earlier crap was almost worth it.
I didn't have any geometry problems with the bad ones though (well, they had poor geometry out of the box, but that could be easily fixed by playing with the settings a bit). The issues were mostly with poor focus near the edges, convergence, color purity, vertical lines and a random thing where the monitor would suddenly go completely out of focus a few times a day and had to be restarted to look right again.
There is probably not a big difference between similarly priced Diamondtrons and Trinitrons if you are looking at good samples, although the 2070/2141 has a somewhat better refresh rate than the G520P at 2048x1536.
Yeah, that was one of the 2070 clones I was referring to. From the specs I think it's exactly the same monitor on the inside, but has that nice light shield on it. I would be careful with getting it at this point though; it seems that brand new ones are unfortunately likely to be bad, so you have to be ready to order replacements a few times. It's pathetic, but the used ones going on ebay are likely to be older and actually in much better shape than the trash that these manufacturers released just before they stopped making CRTs.
I have the contrast on mine cranked up all the way, but the brightness is only at 10 for a comfortable level right now, so I guess I have some headroom for the future too.
I have no idea where the OP lives.
There is a Mitsubishi 2070SB on eBay right now for $275.00. He says it has 50hours on it and really wants a local pick-up.
The seller is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. If I was on the right coast the temptation would be great.
But alas, I'm on the left coast . If I could see it hooked-up that would make it a comfortable purchase.
Just a thought, no attemp to hi-jack..
There is a Mitsubishi 2070SB on eBay right now for $275.00. He says it has 50hours on it and really wants a local pick-up.
The seller is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. If I was on the right coast the temptation would be great.
But alas, I'm on the left coast
. If I could see it hooked-up that would make it a comfortable purchase.Just a thought, no attemp to hi-jack..
reallyscrued
Platinum Member
- Jul 28, 2004
- 2,618
- 5
- 81
The thread should have stopped there. I own one and the AP lines don't really make a diff unless you focus on them in a completely white background. (Seriously, the few seconds for your search on google doesn't affect your experience.) My only gripe is that it has been under 3 years and I'm noticing the brightness and sharpness decline. I've been messing with stuff in the nVidia control panel, but that can only go so far.
Go buy two monitors, 19 inch + if you can afford the money/desktop space and use them in a dual monitor set up. Don't have two RAMDACs? Screw it, save one for storage, they are that good.
EDIT: One last thing, just because it doesn't say sony on the outside doesn't mean it's not on the inside. Look for any monitor with the trinitron tubing or aperature grill. That's the technology/technique they use to make CRTs look so incredible. (Better than a shadow mask anyway) Many NEC monitors use the AP and the model name usually ends in "tron" for most companies that use it. For example, I'm using an avitron monitor made by KDS. I got it for 100 dollars off the sony version for the same size. Not sure if its a real trinitron? Just look for those thin black lines. Don't worry, the lines are something to be proud of.
The NEC aperture grill monitors all use the Diamondtron tubes I think. It seems that NEC and Mitsubishi ran their monitor divisions jointly for several years. But yeah, I have seen quite a few rebadged Sun and SGI CRTs where I used to work that are really just Sony Trinitrons, right down to the product codes on the back, and can be identified easily by the lines.
That's actually pretty close to where I live. If you look at the questions at the bottom though it looks like he might be willing to consider shipping it, although it would add quite a bit to the price.
That's actually pretty close to where I live. If you look at the questions at the bottom though it looks like he might be willing to consider shipping it, although it would add quite a bit to the price.
I'm still using a 6+ yr old 17" Optiquest, which is a AG viewsonic with a great picture but less bells & whistles. It's been a great moniter. I'll probably have to upgrade to a newer model for games, as the refreash rates are pretty much what you would expect from a 6+ yr old monitor.
I've been looking at viewsonics site & they still make a few AG monitors. I just don't know if they are still as good as they were. Depending on the price when I do have a little extra $ to get a monitor, AG ones are the only ones I'll be looking at.
I've been looking at viewsonics site & they still make a few AG monitors. I just don't know if they are still as good as they were. Depending on the price when I do have a little extra $ to get a monitor, AG ones are the only ones I'll be looking at.
A co-worker of mine just bought one of these:
http://www.azatek.com/details.asp?iid=607
He is pretty happy with it - a 22" Mitsubishi monitor for $199 shipped.
I personally have thought for a while that LCD > dog poop > CRT, but I have to admit that $199 for a 22" monitor is a pretty good deal.
http://www.azatek.com/details.asp?iid=607
He is pretty happy with it - a 22" Mitsubishi monitor for $199 shipped.
I personally have thought for a while that LCD > dog poop > CRT, but I have to admit that $199 for a 22" monitor is a pretty good deal.
I owned an LG Flatron 17" about 3 years back, it burnt out somehow, but the IQ was amazing in that one...
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter