CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

n737nc · Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Dallas, Tx

New guy here, and need some guidance.

I've always been a plasma/LCD flat panel owner, and recently purchased a used Panasonic AE900U. I absolutely love the image size, and want to move up to the next level in image quality.

My choices are buying a used CRT, or a newer digital 1080p projector. I understand that the CRT's will require more tweaking to get it right. But is it worth it?

2 projectors that I'm looking at are:
Marquee 8110 with 1400 original hours on chassis/tubes
Marquee 8500 with 400 hours on tubes, unknown amount of hours on the chassis.

Both are priced about the same.

I know both of these CRT's are capable of 1080p images. But, how will they compare to the digital 1080p image?

Room will be totally light controlled. Dedicated room. Dimensions are 18x14x8. Not sure about ceiling mounting it. So on the floor may be the best solution for me. I do not mind learning and taking the time to do the tweaking if it will give me an outstanding image.

So which would be better? Digital or CRT? If CRT, which one of these Marquee's should I go for? Also, is 106" screen too much to ask for from either of these projectors?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get some education under my belt before I make a impulse buy.

Thanks,
Nick

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

What's so great about CRT???

Nothing, go away, mind your Business.

n737nc · Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Dallas, Tx

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

He should also get a sense when someone is being SARCASTIC.

Cool

n737nc · Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Dallas, Tx

Screen would be 106" diagonal

Is that too large? How about using it on the floor?

n737nc · Joined: 19 Sep 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Dallas, Tx

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject:

Good screen size. nothing wrong with running it on the floor. I would put up another post to see if someone in Dallas will let you see a projector. I'd prefer the 8500 set, but keep in mind that both sets will need modifications such as the power supply and the V board to make sure you can run it in widescreen mode, and so the power supply doesn't nuke the tubes.

Brooklyn · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 494 Location: Morgan Hill, CA

106" diagonal would be fine. Yes you can sit the projector on the floor if you like, but you lose floor space for your theatre. How much you want to spend somewhat dictates what you can get out of a CRT.

dropzone7 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1069 Location: Charlotte, NC

Ceiling mount if at all possible. Personally, having a projector on the floor kind of takes away from the "theater" experience. I would just assume have a nice RPTV than to floor mount a CRT. It is a good bit of work but well worth it in the end.

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

Whats so Great???

Scroll thru this thread You Suck!

And see what you think.

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject:

Your post did look a little trollish in nature... Wink

There are about a thousand posts in numerous threads on the CRT vs. digital subject - both here and at AVS. There's plenty of info to find if you're really interested.

- The CRT is not going to be as sharp as the digital. Period. But, most of us here prefer the softer, more film-like image a CRT produces as opposed the hard-edged over-sharp image you get from most digitals. Pixels, bad! Smooth film-like image, good!

- ANSI (in-scene) contrast will be better on the digital, while absolute black and on/off contrast will be superior on the CRT. Most digitals are "fade to grey" devices. A CRT can truly fade to black.

- My opinion differs a little from DraganM. I think 106" diag is perfect for an 8" CRT. My machine looks awesome on that screen size. So, while either are fine for a 106 diag screen, the digital will be brighter than the CRT, and will probably have slightly better uniformity than CRT. Now, the digital is bright but will lose nearly half its brightness the first 500-1000 hours on the bulb. CRT is much more consistent in that regard.

- The digital projector is disposable. When or if it breaks, if it's out of warrant, it will likely be worth nothing or next to nothing. The CRT is repairable, upgradeable, tweak-able.

- The digital is small and relatively quiet, while the CRT is large and not so quiet.

- You can do CIH easily with a digital. Not so much with a CRT.

Also, you will need an HDMI device, but you certainly don't need a $400 card. You can use a <$200 HD Fury and get comparable results, then upgrade to the card later.

You can floor mount, but it just happens to be about the best seat in the house that the projector takes up.

As has been mentioned, you'll just have to see if you can find somebody with a good CRT and go see for yourself what we like so much about them. I can tell you I wouldn't trade my CRT for a 720p, no matter the price.

SC

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

Brian Hampton · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 1173

Hello,

I first saw a CRT Front Projector in the early 90's and fell in love with the image quality.

CRT FP's are the most difficult and time consuming projectors to set up (maybe apart from some commercial/industrial projectors that I know nothing about that is.)

So,... If you don't already love CRT image quality... You may save yourself an adventure and pick up a 1080p digital projector and live happily ever after.

But,... If you go see CRT FP and see that a projected image can look more natural and alive then any other type of display device, you may consider the adventure worth while.

CRT FP also has another advantage in that the projectors themselves have build quality you won't find in other display devices and have tube life of 10,000 hours unlike the 2000 bulbs in digital pj's.

-Brian