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FlyingCheese
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Springfield, IL
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:59 am Post subject: Ampro Stack - Anyone? |
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Anyone out there stack Ampros? Specifically, 3600's? Good/bad/easy/hard/dumb/stupid/etc?
I found myself picking up 2 3600's, 1 XG135 and an older Ampro 2000(?) for $300 over the weekend. One of the Ampros has tubes with little to no wear showing, the other well, a bit more. Same with the XG. Can tubes for the Ampro be had more easily/cheaper than the NEC tubes?
Built a house over the summer and have a dedicated area for a theater build, but not sure when I'll get to it. Gotta keep myself occupied in the mean time.
Any input? Ditch the Ampros and buy a real machine? Go digital? Sell both 3600's and the XG and use the Ampro 2000? Just kidding...
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Curt Palme
CRT Tech
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 24396
Location: Langley, BC
TV/Projector: All of them!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:01 am Post subject: |
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You'd need the convergence on greenoption on both Ampros in order to stack. Those are hard to find, I don't think I have any spares here.
Try stacking the XG with massive geometry control with the Ampro. That should work. Align the XG to the Ampro.
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macgyver655
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 8508
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:10 am Post subject: |
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You can ditch those 3600's this way if you like............. 
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FlyingCheese
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Springfield, IL
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:23 am Post subject: |
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I suppose the chance both machines have the option (COG) are slim to none - but how would one know?
I gathered from my previous readings that Ampro's aren't exactly the favorite around here...All I can say at this point is that they sure are big sons of bitches....those lenses are huge. Compared to the Barco 701 I have now anyway.
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secstate
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 720
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:24 am Post subject: Re: Ampro Stack - Anyone? |
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| FlyingCheese wrote: | Anyone out there stack Ampros? Specifically, 3600's? Good/bad/easy/hard/dumb/stupid/etc?
I found myself picking up 2 3600's, 1 XG135 and an older Ampro 2000(?) for $300 over the weekend. One of the Ampros has tubes with little to no wear showing, the other well, a bit more. Same with the XG. Can tubes for the Ampro be had more easily/cheaper than the NEC tubes?
Built a house over the summer and have a dedicated area for a theater build, but not sure when I'll get to it. Gotta keep myself occupied in the mean time.
Any input? Ditch the Ampros and buy a real machine? Go digital? Sell both 3600's and the XG and use the Ampro 2000? Just kidding... |
If you are lucky those Ampro 3600s might come with the higher resolution P16 or PT22 8" CRTs. Those are much sharper than the standard 180DVB/DMBs found on most Ampro/Barco/Marquees. The P16s in my Barco were intended for a Ampro 3600 Retro (rear projection unit). You can tell the high resolution tubes by the white/white ceramic insulators (found at the end of the neck of the tube on either side of the "gun". If memory serves the lower resolution are yellow/white. Personally I would use the one with good tubes as your primary projector and keep the other for a spare (always handy with an Amrpo  ) and sell the others for what you can probably as parts or donate them to need neighbors.
Last edited by secstate on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:27 am; edited 1 time in total
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secstate
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 720
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:26 am Post subject: |
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| FlyingCheese wrote: |
I gathered from my previous readings that Ampro's aren't exactly the favorite around here...All I can say at this point is that they sure are big sons of bitches....those lenses are huge. Compared to the Barco 701 I have now anyway. |
My understanding is the later models like the 3600 are much more reliable but I have no experience as I am a Barco guy. Hence my (not so) subtle jab above about keeping a spare projector (there is tension around here between the Ampro and Barco guys ). 
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Curt Palme
CRT Tech
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 24396
Location: Langley, BC
TV/Projector: All of them!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:32 am Post subject: |
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An Ampro 3600 is slightly smaller and lighter than most 8" set, consider yourself lucky. 
I have no issues with the 3600, save for the HV power supply which is made by Spellman, who IMHO are a bunch of idiots.
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:34 am Post subject: |
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_________________
Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
Card carrying member of the AVS chain gang.
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FlyingCheese
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Springfield, IL
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:21 am Post subject: |
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I'd planned to use the better of the 3600's for the time being - the old Barco 701 can't do 1080i for crap. Per the seller, the sets all worked. Haven't been able to fire up the Ampro's yet though without the remotes. Both appear to be spotless internally, so that's a good sign...
For what it's worth, I've attached a couple pics of the tube/neck board - maybe someone with a little more knowledge than I can tell me what's in it.
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Curt Palme
CRT Tech
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 24396
Location: Langley, BC
TV/Projector: All of them!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:28 am Post subject: |
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You need the tube number off the bell of the tube, on a sticker. on the Ampros, you'd need to pull the tube to get to it under the metal shield around the front of the tube. Don't worry about it, fire it up and tweak.
I have an old software program that can work in place of the wired remote. Email me at curtpalme@shaw.ca, I should ahve it here somewhere.
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jkruger
Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Posts: 2435
Location: Carlsbad, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: Ampro Stack - Anyone? |
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| FlyingCheese wrote: | Anyone out there stack Ampros? Specifically, 3600's? Good/bad/easy/hard/dumb/stupid/etc?
Any input? Ditch the Ampros and buy a real machine? Go digital? Sell both 3600's and the XG and use the Ampro 2000? Just kidding... |
They stack very well in a dumpster!
Just Kidding... never seen one personally, just fueling the flames. 
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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"They stack very well in a dumpster! "
If there's any room left after all those rendered useless G-90's are delt with accordingly.
_________________
Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
Card carrying member of the AVS chain gang.
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Brooklyn
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 494
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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I think you got a pretty good deal anyway. However if you are planning in building a theater in your house, maybe you should consider saving a little and getting a nice 9" machine or something with LC, especially if you are going CRT. I suppose you could stack a couple of those projectors...but I'd just do it for kicks now but when you do really build your theater I'd get something nicer.
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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There's something nicer than an Ampro? 
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CRT.
HD done right!
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bbfarmht
Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1273
Location: Where the Mississippi runs east to west!!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| AnalogRocks wrote: | | There's something nicer than an Ampro? |
Yeah, A Barco!!! 
Did I just say that(yep I did)
_________________
Adam
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both"
Benjamin Franklin
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stefuel
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 3353
Location: Green Harbor MA USA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:01 am Post subject: |
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If you are experianced at setting up CRT's those 3600's will do 1080P 60 with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio but no more then that. That is the point at which the scan lines began to touch.
_________________
Chip
A Barco is only a AmPro with training wheels
Card carrying member of the AVS chain gang.
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FlyingCheese
Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Springfield, IL
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:48 am Post subject: |
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I'm still debating between shelling out some more dough for a 9" LC machine or perhaps going digital. Until I get my theater plans sorted, I'm not going to worry about it - but I will check Craigslist, Ebay and Videogon every day just in case..... But for a total outlay of $450 over 2 years, I've got 5 CRT's to play with - so I'm pretty happy with that.
I'm planning to go 2.35 somewhere between 10-12 foot wide, so digital is probably better suited towards that And there's definitely the plug and play factor of digital that appeals to the wife...she doesn't appreciate the effort that goes into a good convergence!
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