CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[GTR-33]

Hi, I've been looking into getting a CRT projector to prehaps replace my LCD unit and want something cheap decent (1080i or 720p) to play with. Well there is a guy local to me selling this projector and I can't find much information on it other than it's similar to a Sony 1031? According to a user manual I found it will scan 37kHz so that means it's capable of 1080i correct?

Will I see a huge loss in overall quality from my LCD? (Sony VPL-AW10) I would think that the quality would be better. I don't mind that it will be probably 10x bigger and weigh 10x more. I don't like purchasing bulbs for it because three bulbs equals what I paid for the projector.

[ecrabb]

Yes, 37khz should cover 1080i in theory, but the PT-105 is a really old machine with an all-analog chassis. That means all the geometry controls are adjusted with plastic tweakers on potentiometers. Even if it would display 1080i, it's not going to do a good job of it. 480p from DVD is probably a more realistic expectation of something of the vintage of the PT-105. I probably wouldn't recommend you mess with a PT-105 unless it were free and/or you had nothing else. If you're going from a VPL-AW10, the PT-105 will literally be inferior in every single way, save for absolute black level. Not at all worth the trouble in my opinion.

You don't list your location, but if you're in or near a decent-sized metro area, and you want to play with 1080i, I'd watch for a Sony 1252, 1271 or 1272. Those machines would be FAR superior to the Panasonic, but could still possibly be had a couple of hundred bucks or even much less. There are several other even better machines that you could also find around if you were patient, kept your eyes peeled, and got lucky.

How long have you had your AW10? Unless you use it for hours and hours every day or turn it on and off a lot, the bulb should last at least a couple of years.

I'm a borderline CRT zealot, but the AW10 is a nice little entry-level projector. You're going to have to score a deal or spend some money to get a good enough picture with a CRT to make it worth all the effort... IMHO. Opinions will vary, of course.

SC

[GTR-33]

Thanks for the info. I don't mind waiting around as I'm in no rush and in I live in Milwaukee and frequently visit the Chicago area there is always one for sale. The Panasonic is practically free but I'd rather not waste my time lugging around a 140lb machine that isn't as good as the 10lb machine I have.

I wanted to buy one from Curt, but I can't justify the $200 shipping unless the projector is over $1000 or so. I don't want to drop that much without some inkling of knowing what I'm getting my self into.

As for the bulb life on the AW10... I've had it for about two years and have replaced the bulb three times. I must admit though that for a while it was my only Display. I don't watch a lot of TV or anything but the hours racked up pretty fast. I watch probably 4 movies a week on average. My girlfiend likes leaving Planet Earth on for hours too. Sony suggested that I move it somewhere cooler as excess heat causes excess wear on the bulbs? At 250 a pop though the bulbs get pretty expensive IMO. Also I've been reading about as these things become discontinued so do the bulbs?

[HD-DAVE]

HI, I happen to own a pair of PT-105's. They are good for line-doubled DVD only (IE 480p) - the horizontal timings aren't good enough for either 720p or 1080i, according to Greg Rogers. I never tried mine with an actual HD input. BTW if anyone on the forum wants one of these ( locally in the Vancouver area), they can come pick them up for free...one works pretty well and has maybe 3000 hrs the other is a parts machine.

[ecrabb]

[GTR-33]