CRT guy wonders Prices dropping and quality rising, why not get a RP or LCD over a CRT? TVs, not PC monitors

MichaelD · Jul 8, 2003

I almost put "Tube Guy" in the title...but knew astute ATers would see "Tub Guy." :Q Ahh, no. "CRT guy", yeah, that's it.

Anyway, I've been checking out some RP and LCD TVs. Particularly the 16.9 ones, and have been pretty impressed not only with image quality, but with brightness, color etc.

Prices seem to be dropping as well. So I got to thinking; with the price of a really good 36" CRT at about $2,500 or so, would one be better served getting say a 50"+ RP...or even a smaller LCD?

I've always been a die-hard CRT-TV guy, b/c "crispness-wise" RPs just couldn't compare...now it seems that the playing field is leveling.

Comments?

*edit*

While any "CRT vs. LCD" discussion is welcome, I'm mainly talking about televisions, not PC monitors.

aircooled · Jul 8, 2003

I think this year is the "turning point" LCD's/Flat panels out-sold CRT's this year for the first time. Now the manufactures will work on the quality and the prices will continue to drop.l

TJN23 · Jul 8, 2003

EDIT: my bad

i've been watching deals come and go, esp. the Dell 1800FP that the hot deals guys have gotten down to $384....

think i'll wait more though, my 17in CRT serves me just fine

Amused · Jul 8, 2003

I was the same way until a couple years ago. Now most of the TVs in my house are RP HDTVs. They look great.

BTW, folks, this thread is about TVs, not PC monitors. Sheesh, I've never seen the Skoorb effect happen in a single post before.

MichaelD · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: Amused
I was the same way until a couple years ago. Now most of the TVs in my house are RP HDTVs. They look great.

BTW, folks, this thread is about TVs, not PC monitors.

Heh, I edited my original thread almost simultaneously as you posted.

I can't WAIT to watch my DVDs in Progressive Scan. I 've owned a PS DVD player for almost a year now.

FeathersMcGraw · Jul 8, 2003

CRT still has the best available black level.

However, the salesman at the A/V store where I got my HDTV assures me that most manufacturers will be moving away from CRT and traditional RP technology within the next few years (although I can't recall if he was specifically speaking about HD-capable sets).

conjur · Jul 8, 2003

I want a front CRT projection unit but that's some time down the road.

I'd settle for that new Toshiba LCoS set that supports 1080p but it's about $8k! :Q

Rogue · Jul 8, 2003

Until I can get an two LCDs that both display 1600x1200 with the same display area as my twin 19" CRTs for the same less than $500.00 I paid for my two monitors combined, I will not be considering LCD displays for my desktop PC. I still don't understand why I can get a 15" display on a Dell laptop that does 1600x1200, but you cannot find a 15" desktop LCD that does any more than 1280x1024.

MichaelD · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
CRT still has the best available black level.

However, the salesman at the A/V store where I got my HDTV assures me that most manufacturers will be moving away from CRT and traditional RP technology within the next few years (although I can't recall if he was specifically speaking about HD-capable sets).

Yep, setting black level correctly is critical to a quality picture. I have the Avia HT setup/test DVD that I use to calibrate my TV to NTSC standards, so we're speaking on the same level.

I read somewhere that Texas Instruments has a newer version of the DLP technology that's supposed to be going into newer LCDs. Is that going to make a diff?

conjur · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: Rogue
Until I can get an two LCDs that both display 1600x1200 with the same display area as my twin 19" CRTs for the same less than $500.00 I paid for my two monitors combined, I will not be considering LCD displays for my desktop PC. I still don't understand why I can get a 15" display on a Dell laptop that does 1600x1200, but you cannot find a 15" desktop LCD that does any more than 1280x1024.

This thread is not about PC monitors...it's about Home Theater sets.

Amused · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Amused
I was the same way until a couple years ago. Now most of the TVs in my house are RP HDTVs. They look great.

BTW, folks, this thread is about TVs, not PC monitors.

Click to expand...

Heh, I edited my original thread almost simultaneously as you posted.

I can't WAIT to watch my DVDs in Progressive Scan. I 've owned a PS DVD player for almost a year now.

Yeah, the experience is amazing. You'll actually find yourself waiting for DVDs to come out, rather than going to the theater.

BTW, if you buy a big screen, get it ISF calibrated. Once you've seen a big TV with the focus, color and gray scale perfectly dialed in, you'll never go back. It will look just like a movie screen.

Amused · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
CRT still has the best available black level.

However, the salesman at the A/V store where I got my HDTV assures me that most manufacturers will be moving away from CRT and traditional RP technology within the next few years (although I can't recall if he was specifically speaking about HD-capable sets).

RP CRT TVs can have black levels amazingly close to direct view CRTs if adjusted correctly. Mine have inky black blacks

A good thing to remember: With a CRT RP TV, you'll want the contrast well below 50% and usually right around 30% in a darkened room. The correct brightness (black level) level is usually found using the Avia disk. Using the correct low contrast (white level) setting helps insure better blacks because it reduces glare.

But contrast is most important to the health of your set. Manufacterers and retailers set their contrast at super high levels to make sets stand out on a brightly lit showroom floor. In reality it should never be over 40-50%. On my sets, it stays around 25-30% in the dark, and 35-40% during the day.

XZeroII · Jul 8, 2003

$2500 for a 36" CRT???? Where are you shopping? You can get one around here for around $1000 if you shop around.

conjur · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: XZeroII
$2500 for a 36" CRT???? Where are you shopping? You can get one around here for around $1000 if you shop around.

16:9??

DuBobD · Jul 8, 2003

I picked up a 51" Hitachi HDTV for $1600 shipped a few months ago......I would get a RP over an LCD or Plasma anyday. The Latter cannot reproduce blacks very well, and the cool factor isn't worth the huge price.

UNCjigga · Jul 8, 2003

Its all bout dem new DLP and LCOS TVs these days...just need the price to drop a little further and then BAM!!! I'm on it like an ex-con at the Nevada bunny ranch!

Koing · Jul 8, 2003

Plasma produce good blacks.

Read here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=40

great site lots of info with real expereience.

JoLLyRoGer · Jul 8, 2003

Me's got a HD projector (one gun). PS DVD's are kickin ares over 180" large on my wall!

MichaelD · Jul 8, 2003

Great responses!

AMUSED: I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

What's "ISF calibrated?" Obviously a standard, but I thought that NTSC was "the standard to go by?"

BillyGoat · Jul 8, 2003

ISF is a standard of calibration you can have done by a professional.. My 64 inch is calibrated and looks sweet. forget the movie theaters, my pic at hom looks better, sounds better, and i dont have the ac on all year round

As amused said contrast levels are inportant- they come from the factory set to "torch" and it kills thephosperous quicker- setting it to 25-40% will double, if not triple the lifespan of your tv

thraxes · Jul 8, 2003

If it has to be big and flat then I would certainly take Plasma over TFT-LCD. Contrast is much better with plasma, downside is the heat they produce and the fans most manuf. pack into them.

rubix · Jul 8, 2003

if you really know about home theater stuff read these forums:
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/index.php

amnesiac · Jul 8, 2003

Hey MichaelD,

You might want to check out some of the new LCoS sets coming out. They're supposed to be a lot better than LCD RPTVs and not have the fatigue present in DLP TVs.

Pioneer already has a set or two with this technology, and IIRC, Sony is coming out with a new version of it within the next quarter and it's supposed to be amazing.

I highly suggest you pick up this month's "The Perfect Vision" magazine. It has TONS of info on the major technologies plus it has the "Best of 2003" awards which was REALLY informative.

MichaelD · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: amnesiac
Hey MichaelD,

You might want to check out some of the new LCoS sets coming out. They're supposed to be a lot better than LCD RPTVs and not have the fatigue present in DLP TVs.

Pioneer already has a set or two with this technology, and IIRC, Sony is coming out with a new version of it within the next quarter and it's supposed to be amazing.

I highly suggest you pick up this month's "The Perfect Vision" magazine. It has TONS of info on the major technologies plus it has the "Best of 2003" awards which was REALLY informative.

Thanks for the tip. LCoS, huh? New technology?

FeathersMcGraw · Jul 8, 2003

Originally posted by: amnesiac

You might want to check out some of the new LCoS sets coming out. They're supposed to be a lot better than LCD RPTVs and not have the fatigue present in DLP TVs.

What's the DLP fatigue problem? I hadn't heard of this before.

*CRT guy wonders* Prices dropping and quality rising, why not get a RP or LCD over a CRT? *TVs, not PC monitors*

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CRT guy wonders Prices dropping and quality rising, why not get a RP or LCD over a CRT? TVs, not PC monitors