CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

mtmelvin · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 153 Location: Bay Area, CA

I've got a line on a Barco Reality 909 which I'm hopefully going to look at very soon. For me this would potentially replace my G90.

At this point I'm very happy with my G90 and would only consider replacing it to escape the limited parts/service market for the G90. So my question is what's the situation with the 900 as far as parts and service? How available are the parts? Are many parts interchangeable with the 1209?

If I've got nothing to gain in peace of mind with this thing then I might just skip it.

Thanks in advance!

-Mark

oliverg · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

Whilst the Reality 909 is a good machine, the difference with a G90 isn't that profound that going through the pain of pulling down the G90 and replacing it would be worth it.

I've noticed that the top 9" projectors on Curt's list are all very similar in performance. I just sold my BG1209 but I have a Vision 1 and two G90s here. I've only been able to set them up fairly roughly but even then, not much difference.. Spotmatic might totally disagree with me but he's Dutch and biased towards the products of European neighbouring countries Wink

Were talking 2-3% improvement, if that.

With any luck Mike Parker (you reading this Mike??) or the designer of the HDFury (John) is going to tackle a bandwidth mod for the G90. That would really throw the cat amongst the projectors!

So in short - keep your G90.

Kind regards

PS As for the "limited parts" for the G90, there are more and more sets dying and being parted out. I know of at least 3 in the last few months - the one that Curt has coming with has been forklifted to death, the one with the boiling water and another that sold on eBay with 3 spot burned tubes. I don't doubt though that 909 parts (whilst probably expensive) are mroe abundant.

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

BUT, isn't the 909-Cine9 suposed to have the best/most stable convergence of all PJ's?

oliverg · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject:

Do you mean the ability to hold convergence?

G90s are reknowned for being rock solid.

I'm not saying the 909 isn't the very best PJ ever made, but the G90 isn't far off it.

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

I thought that the 909 and Cine9 are the ONLY PJ's with totally DIGITAL covergence? That with the way they do it it drifts almost none. The G90 is one of the best but I thought that the 909 and Cine9 are better(even if it is just barely) or was I mis-informed?

Zebu Fellenz · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 2567

I've heard that the 909 has totally digital convergance along with some projector that mitsubishi sold. Yes it should drift less due to this, however I feel that most drift comes from the projector warming up and things expanding and contracting

**kal** · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:54 am Post subject:

The Cine9/909 convergence control systems are 100% digital, but in the end it's just pushing/pulling the electron beam with a bunch of coils just like every other CRT projector. So while that may add some stability, it's not like a new G90 or even a Cine8 is not stable to begin with.

Hell, my circa 2000/2001 Cine8 clone is rock solid from startup to shutdown.

I'd say that parts for a Cine9/909 (the ones that aren't shared by other Barcos - most aren't) are even more rare than G90 parts.

Kal

jask · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 10187 Location: kamloops BC

they may be rare but they are still a current product line item with Barco.

Spotmatic · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

oliverg · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:01 am Post subject:

I couldn't have said it better!

I must admit, next to a (totally hotrodded) 9500LC Ultra (with LUGs) I wouldn't choose any other PJ over my G90s other than a 909.

If I ever get a chance to find a cheap one, I'll be jumping on it just to try it out.

SisterOfMercy · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

WTS · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1276 Location: Calgary

Modifying a G90 is easier said than done I'm afraid. Modding a 909/Cine series or a Marquee is walk in the park compared to messing with a G90.

Spotmatic · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject:

kschmit2 · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject:

oliverg, how many hours on the tubes of the 909 that you base you opinion on?
What was the video chain, what size screen, was the PJ properly set up and calibrated, what was the room like?

WTS · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1276 Location: Calgary

Well I've studied the schematics for the G90 and I'm surprised it looks as good as people say it does really. Because the components, well lets just say they don't scream performance in the data sheets or on the test bench, as we've tested a couple of the IC's they use(in inline video amps) and they looked terrible compared to newer better spec'd ICs.
The 2 main video boards in the Barco's are not exempt either, all the Barco S series and the Cine series each use the same video components, so even the Cine9/909 are in need of reworking to bring it's performance up even higher. I've reworked my boards in my Zenith unit(Cine8 Onyx) and I can tell you it's preformance level has increased subtanually(no percentage valves here).

**kal** · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject:

Spotmatic · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

**kal** · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

oliverg · Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:59 pm Post subject:

I haven't seen a 909 Kscmit2 (or claimed to have) my opinion is based on my experience with a 1209S with PT22s, a 1209, a Vision 1 and 2 G90s. I haven't seen that much difference between what's considered to be the "bottom" end 1209 and a G90. I honestly wonder why (for example) one gentleman recently "upgraded" from a Vision 1 to a G90.

I wouldn't be suprised if a double blind A-B test between the 1209S I had and a 909 resulted in uncertain results as to which was which. Despite being a theory, I'd put money on it. Spotmatic or MadMrH would know better than I but from my understanding of how Barcos are built, they aren't that much different.

G90s have 140Mhz RGB amps (LM1283s). I've read a few theories on why Sony went this way but the bottom line is that (unless the data sheets are wrong) that they have room for improvement. How much room does the 909 have? If we took the top five 9" stock projectors and locked Mike Parker (or pick your talented engineer) in a room with them for a year, wouldn't you think that all 5 would have more in common than less? Especially in regard to PQ.

Let's face it, they would all be fitted with P19LUGs, they would have improved neckboards, shorter upgraded video chains (interfaces to HDMI/DVI) and HFQs or 10Fs for lenses. They would have more in common than differences Smile

Cheers

mtmelvin · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 153 Location: Bay Area, CA

Thanks to everybody for the responses.

As I stated originally my main interest in this projector would be if it were easier to service and/or obtain parts for (vs. the G90). But based on the discussion here it seems that the 909 is in the same boat as the G90 for both parts and service. So that's a shame.

As far as which one is better for use in your home theater I'm sure it comes down to personal preference. I'm extremely happy with my G90 and I find it easy to set up and operate. I like the interface better than some other machines I've used. I'm not really looking for an "upgrade" from the G90, but I just may end up grabbing this thing out of curiosity. We'll see Smile

-Mark