CTX Monitor any good?

[osage]

I was in Sam's Club today and they have CTX PL-9 19" for 249.00 after rebate. Anyone own one of these and are they any good.
Any input would be helpfull.
thank you.

 

[PAT31850]

Got the 17" from Sams in Feb. and have had no problems. Only wish I had gotten the 19" Not a gamer but this seems fine for what I use it for.

 

[Ulysses]

This 19" model with the Trinitron tube, the CTX PR1400F, got a good review at PC World.

Generally CTX is OK, but maybe not great. Let your eyes tell you and set up the monitor carefully with DisplayMate as your guide.

 

[osage]

Thank you gentelmen, it looked pretty good to me, I just kind of wanted to know if anyone had had problems with them. People here are generally quick to let you know if they think a piece of equipment is crap.
This is a new series of monitor according to CTX's web site don't think I'll find a review yet.
Again thanks for you input.

 

[LXi]

Only get the models that uses the Sony FD Trinitron tubes, you'll regret anything else from CTX.

 

[freeway]

I got a 17" VL700 a couple years ago at Office MAX and I still use it every day. My only complaint is that once and awhile it will have a high pitch wine, but it has a good picture and I am pleased overall. Now their computers are another matter...

 

[Doomguy]

Lxi: You have no basis for your statement. Please show me a review that shows any ctx monitor to be be crappy.

 

[LXi]

I dont need reviews, I have seen them myself, all non-Trinitron CTX sucks like sh*t, just like KDS VisualSensation line. Now just accept the fact and let me alone.

 

[osage]

Please gentelmen, lets try to get along. Just looking for feedback, good or bad on these units. No need for any harsh words.
Again thanks for all your comments.

 

[lumpyhed]

I have a CTX 1565, and after several years of use it has adapted the habit of "wiggling" unless i grab it by the sides and shake it sharply 🙁

 

[MWink]

I had a VL700 and I was not at all happy with it. It made a high pitched noise whenever at 85Hz. It also had a problem with vertical ghosting.

 

[Dibs]

I have a 19in. VL950 CTX monitor that has been on every day since I bought it 1 yr., 1 mo. and 10 days ago. Still as sharp today as the first day I plugged it in and NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. I'm planning on getting another CTX monitor from Sam's whenever my NEC monitor (secondary display on my G400) dies.

 

[Lokan]

LXi, KDS' VS-195 Monitor that I've had well over a year is a great monitor at a great price. Your personal experiences aren't mandates from god. I've used two CTX monitors, and one performed well (an old 15&quot😉 whereas a 17" I got from a friend died in 3 months. Neither had Sony tubes, and I don't know the history of the 17" one, but, like what others say in other monitor threads, it's like buying a car. You could get a bad car even if it was a good line or model. I suggest checking out the warrenty, visual quality to your eyes (after all, that's who it's important too), and then make the call. 🙂

 

[LXi]

For lower price 15" or 17", non-Sony tube monitors, I would much rather go to a Samsung which is superior to both KDS VS and CTX VL line. KDS and CTX are only acceptable when a Sony tube is present, other than that they just suck bad, low res with low refresh rates, no contest with Samsung.

 

[Lokan]

Must be different for 19" because 1600x1200 @ 85 for my KDS isn't what I call bad, specially considering what I paid. Granted, this is the only KDS monitor I've owned, but I'm more than happy with it. Perhaps their 15-17"'s are different? Eitherway, I do agree about Samsung making decent monitors, tho the 19" monitor I had before this one had a dead pixel on it and thus I got the KDS which hasn't let me down.

 

[Warrenton]

Do they actually SAY trinitron? if they just are aperature grille or flat AG, the tube may and most likely is NOT made by sony. Sony does allow other manufactures to use trinitron technology. Just not all of it. Thats why the Sony F500 is so friggin incredible (find me a single monitor that looks better - on a Matrox G400 Max so that the limiting factor is not the video card)

 

[LXi]

1600x1200 @ 85 huh? Thats not bad for a VisualSensation, but can you tell me what model it is? I dont know any KDS 19" VS monitor that goes ablove 1600x1200@75Hz. And it's scary to know that a comparably priced Samsung has a stunning 1920x1440@64Hz, while a slightly higher model will give you an even better 2028x1536@69Hz.

Same thing happen in the 15"/17" end of the spectrum, Samsung kicking sorried CTX and KDS butts.

 

[hans007]

my kds-v19sn is pretty good i'd say. $274 for a 19" short tube and it can run 1600x1200@75 pretty sharp. A friend of mine has the ctx 17" non trinitron and its not that bad either. Besides whats all this stuff about trinitrons anyways, shadow mask tubes are sharper on text .

 

[LXi]

Warrenton: Trinitron is a patent and I dont think Sony would be so stupid to let other companies produce them and compete against themselves. Check the 5th question on this KDS FAQ , and this alert clearly states that their Trinitron tubes are manufacturerd by Sony. Right now, there are only two companies with the technology and capacity to produce Aperture Grille tubes, and that would be Sony and Mitsubishi, producing Trinitron, FD Trinitron, DiamondTron, DiamondTron Natural Flat respectively. They make and sell tubes to other monitor makers as well as producing their own. The Sony F500's FD Trinitron is slightly different from the ones they use in the G and E series, because the F series has a grille pitch of 0.22, and G/E has a grille pitch of 0.24.

 

[LXi]

hans007: There really is no reason to settle for a rather inferior KDS/CTX shadow mask model when Samsung makes much better shadow mask monitors for around the same price. Let alone the aperture grille argument.

 

[Lokan]

LXi, sorry bout the typo, meant 75 and didn't proof read. And honestly, my eyes get horribly strained on anything under 75 anymore due to the fact that they're used to the higher refreshs now. 🙁

 

[LXi]

Most people's eyes do get strained for anything under 70-75, Im fine with 70(anything in the 60s are not good), but 75 is more prefferable and 85Hz is the most desired.

 

[Doomguy]

Samsung monitors are on the same level as ctx and kds pretty much. The kds trinitron and ctx trinitron beat the 900nf. In lower end models the samsung is better but more expensive. According to a guy that works at kds canada(he told me what monitor suck and which are good) said the vs-195e is very good for a non trinitron monitor. The quality and picture is good.

 

[OdiN]

Xi Li Thread!!!!!

 

[Remnant2]

I've had a CTX VL710 (17&quot😉 for the past few years, and I'm happy with it.

1024x768 @ 100hz, which is a nice res & refresh and about as high res as I go for general usage.
1280x1024 @ 85hz (I wouldn't go below 85hz.. just my eyes)
1600x1280 @ 75hz

Monitor is much sharper than a CTX 15" I had a few years ago. It's no trinitron, I have a Sony 15" in the other room that beast it hands down for color clarity and sharpness, but it also cost less than a quarter of what that 15" cost.

Downside is the annoying whine that some people have mentioned. At certain res and refresh combos, you get a high-pitched whine that gets really annoying. That's my only beef with this monitor.