CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Slackusr · Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 1

Hi all,

First time here as I just discovered these forums, very nice btw. I have a modest home theater in my basement currently comprised of an Optoma HD70 720p DLP pj fed via HDMI by a Dish Network HD DVR, Toshiba HD-DVD player, and a HTPC(LG HD-DVD/BD drive and nVidia 8800GT vid card). My screen is currently a 67x37 Dalite Model B( I can go to about 80"ish wide max on my wall) with about an 11' viewing distance. Being in the basement, I can completely darken the room. As of now I am very satisfied with the picture I am getting from my Optoma.

That said I have been wanting to dabble in the CRT arena. I have the king of CRT computer monitors, the Sony GDM-FW900, (two actually, one is on the shelf for when the first one dies) and I absolutely love it. I have the opportunity to get a Sony G70 locally that has less than 1000 hours on it along with a ceiling mount kit for a decent price. I would like to stick with HDMI as I just ran new cable, so I assume I am going to need something to do the conversion. What other costs might be involved in going the CRT route and is it possible to quantify the increase in image quality going from an HD70 to a G70? Also how loud is the G70 and will I be able to make it fit within my current setup (I have a low ceiling - about 7ft and floor mounting is really not an option)? Sorry for the barrage of questions but I want to make sure I know what I am getting into before I make the leap. Thanks.

Matt

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

THe G70 is a really high end intermediate set, but check the tube condition before you jump. Even at 1000 hours, the tubes could have wear, although hopefully slight.

No offense to the below seller, but what you don't want is THIS:

http://cgi.videogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?projcrta&1236754955&class&3&4&

Those tubes are shot, and you're looking at $1500+ to get that set to usable condition for new G and B tubes.

You probably already know that CRTs are not plug and play, but guaranteed that you'll see an improvement over the Optoma in several areas no matter how low an hour count the Optoma has.

Read this as well if you haven't already:

http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTPrimer.shtm

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

What he did to the G70 is a crime! Man what a waste!

dochlywd · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject:

That is Clarence's machine and I can guarantee you that he purchased it that way. Clarence would NEVER treat a CRT that way!

Doc

drice1234 · Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1309 Location: Allen, Texas

How could you put that much wear on the tubes in 341 hours?

Clarence · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

Clarence · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

Yeah, and the asking price isn't really bad. Even as a purely parts machine, it's worth about that... which is, of course why the seller picked that price. I couldn't ever tolerate watching it that way, but you could pick the machine up, and play with it, and possibly watch for a busted machine with good tubes and end up with a good G70, plus some spare parts for well under a grand... And that would be before you sold off a few spare parts like lenses, good boards, etc...

Curt's point is valid, though... Almost regardless of price, it's all about the tube condition. If the tubes are fried, it won't be a usable machine until you can find tubes... which will either be expensive or a waiting game.

SC

Z-Photo · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject:

Looks pretty usable to be

It will not be able to be setup near its potential - but the screenshots refect what you will be able to do.

Curt - I would change to:

If you want a turn-key machine this would not be the best option cause you need to replace the G/B tubes before you can get 100% capability out of it.

Smile

$470 for a working machine - Id call it a deal...... Plus if you call his wife I'd bet you could get a better price Smile

and if you want to spend $750 more for

http://cgi.videogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?projcrta&1236738769&class&3&4&

then you would have a mint G70 with near mint tubes.....

Z-Photo · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Clarence · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Ampro's are best treated as jumbo cases for Marquee tubes Wink

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

Gary M. · Guest

that is a excellent deal on that G70, with what new P16 tubes are going for it boggles the mind what this set could be put together for

2.5 years ago it was a 2500$ machine Sad

-Gary

Z-Photo · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject:

Ampros use the barco pin outs -

but they are nice storage boxes for mint tubes - on that I have to agree.

Lets see - usable = working.

I would use it for PS3/Wii in a heartbeat - for inviting the videophile friends over to show off - nope.

Z-Photo · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject:

Is Curt still trying to get his foot (or typing fingers) out of his mouth?????

Smile

- other peoples embarrasment is the best entertainment Smile

Clarence · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject:

CRT_Ben · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1684 Location: Northern Virginia

I think from past history we can all agree that Clarence sells his stuff at extremely fair (even downright cheap) prices. It's just a matter of whether a given projector is right for the OP, and that's up to him.

ecrabb · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject:

I don't think anybody has questioned whether the price is fair or whether Clarence's prices are fair (tee hee)...

Clarence, I'm not arguing with you. Looking back a few posts before the one you quoted, I said the price wasn't bad, that it was worth nearly that just in parts, and that if you found some tubes to put in it, you'd probably end up with a G70 for around a grand... which is clearly a great machine for a great price. And yes, local means all the difference, since shipping it intact would kill the deal.

However... To use your example... If I had a 1271 for instance, and wanted to upgrade to an EM/LC machine... Even if I bought the G70, I'd keep the 1271 to watch movies and not use the G70 until I found better tubes. I simply couldn't watch movies on it that way - it would drive me nuts. I had a 1272 at one point with worn/burnt tubes (not worn very badly), and the bright blue sides drove me insane. It might not bother some people, though.... Which is why I amended my earlier blanket position and said it wouldn't be usable to *ME*, clearly acknowledging that some might not mind using it that way.

As a working chassis to put better tubes in, it's great - and the price is perfectly fair.

SC

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

IMHO, the Sony G70 has considerable reliability issues, very much unlike other CRT's. Something to consider.