CRT Rear Projection and Direct View Service and Repair

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:32 pm

The infamous CRT rear projector, whether NTSC or HDTV, remains one of the greatest display products to have hit the consumer market. They lasted over two decades until the flat panel display phenomenon wiped them out. The same can be said of CRT direct view, the TVs we all grew up on. While big, bulky and heavy, these displays could deliver some great imaging, producing bright dynamic pictures and inky blacks in medium to dark ambient light environments. For rear projection, smaller sizes (below 50") could even perform well in brighter environments. CRT rear projection and direct view technology was used to drive the HDTV revolution out of the gate and along the way there were some really stellar videophile performers meeting most of the imaging science aspects of video standards. These products have a typical 10-15 year life span based on normal usage and CRT wear and tear. Before deciding to throw out this technology, you should reflect on the imaging performance you will be losing, the less expensive service costs and how you use a display in your application.

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2008/06/crt_rear_projection_and_direct_view_service_and_repair.php]Read Article[/url]

free2speak · Post by **free2speak** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:20 pm

This is great info. I have pondered this very question for a long time now. How do I keep using my Mitsubishi 48" widescreen HDTV with HDMI? My HD DVD player was the first warning when I got the dreaded "High Resolution Output Disabled" message when playing DVD's over component. My HDTV is still working great so getting rid of it because of a limited number of HD inputs and no HDMI was not a good option. I was very glad to see your article on the HDFury and Box 1020. It is still an expensive option, but it is less expensive than a new HDTV. Thanks for the tip.

akirby · Post by **akirby** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:52 am

My PS3 outputs 1080i over component video for games and BD discs. However it won't upconvert standard DVDs. But since you have a native 480p display just like mine (55" Mits) it doesn't matter that much - 480p looks fantastic.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:24 am

Akirby answered the DVD side... The main advantage of the HDfury is completing the HDMI loop for HD audio and/or convenience issues related to individual operational quirks of a specific product. This is covered in the audio section of my Blu-ray and HD DVD player reviews for legacy HDTVs such as yours.

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/author.php? ... sher&id=20

free2speak · Post by **free2speak** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:28 pm

I understand. The biggest reason for doing this for me is upscaling DVD. I was aware of this limitation for a long time. As more media becomes HD it is less of an issue. Frankly, $300 to make my current DVD's look better is not a great deal, and it will not measure up to HD DVD and Blu-Ray.

akirby · Post by **akirby** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:23 pm

Is your MITS a CRT? If so then you're watching native 480p on a native 480p CRT. It doesn't get a LOT better than that.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:26 pm

Frankly, $300 to make my current DVD's look better is not a great deal

You missed the point, it won't make it better... Your TV provides native 480p so all you need is a good 480p player.

Scaling remains a very misunderstood aspect of performance and disregard all the hype from manufacturers that would make you think that just by using their scaler everything will have the same properties of HD - isn't so. On top of that your display is limited in resolving power anyway along with the fact any improvement would require a 3-4 screen height viewing distance.

As noted at the end of the article, you would gain far more in performance keeping the display maintained. I'll also add getting ISF calibrated. Either would be a far better performance investment than throwing money and technology at it.

The ONLY concern with legacy displays besides HD audio sources are video sources that may force digital video, down converting HD content with analog video, but we are not there quite yet and HDfury has you covered.

free2speak · Post by **free2speak** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:32 pm

My Mits is a rear projection widescreen. I already have a 480p DVD player, in fact I have 3.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:33 pm

Get Digital Video Essentials, run the test patterns and find out which one is better!

free2speak · Post by **free2speak** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:35 pm

I have a background in computer graphics so I know all about the downside of upscaling. It isn't the manuafacturers that are hyping upscaling. I see in one forum after another owners proclaiming how superior their upscaling player is to the current 480p DVD players. I have seen it over and over again on this site and many others.