Does anyone still make CRT Projectors?

[Paul Reading]

Does anyone still make CRT projectors and if not are LCD projectors better now?

In a former life I had a home cinema with an 9' screen and a Barco Cine 7 projector,it was just like being at the movies. Sadly we had to move and now just have a plasma. I am looking forward to a new self build home and home cinema and would like to build it with the best quality I can afford.

[Roland @ B4]

Hi Paul
If you are looking for confession that Digital projectors are better in this part of the forum you will not get far. However even as a CRT die-hard, even I have to accept that the performance of the newer range of DLP (reflective mirror) and DILA (reflective LCD) have improved to very acceptable levels.
In an ultimate picture quality shoot out the big CRT will still win in most of the areas that are important for home cinema.

Your question of who still makes and more relevantly will continue to make CRT projectors in the furture is easy to answer. Barco and Sony have both ceased production. The Electrohome range was bought by VDC in the states and continue to make units but mostly for the simulation market. (which was always the biggest sector of the CRT market).

From the sound of your question your house is not built yet, If this is the case then I doubt very much by the time it is "finnished" (selfbuild) and you have time to sit down and watch a movie then I doubt very much that even VDC will be making CRT's.

[dkhudson]

Originally Posted by Roland @ B4

....even I have to accept that the performance of the newer range of DLP (reflective mirror) and DILA (reflective LCD) have improved to very acceptable levels.
In an ultimate picture quality shoot out the big CRT will still win in most of the areas that are important for home cinema....

I remember when FM radio was crystal clear, but now it hisses and crackles. Apparently we need a digital DAB radio?

Sony came out with a wide bandwidth video recorder (Betamax) and everyone plumped for VHS!

I remember getting glorious pictures on CRT televisions for under £300. Now we have LCD and plasma with granular pictures and awful skin tones...

We used to get perfect reception on analogue television, but now the digital picture pixelates, freezes drags and I have NEVER, NEVER watched a whole digital programme without some sort of freeze, splutter or signal breakdown...

We used to have the most beautiful aircraft in the world, that could cross the Atlantic in 3 hours...

And CRT projectors are giving way to DPL and LCD...


Are we actually going forwards?


But to be fair you have to bring cost and convenience into it...
A LCD/DPL projector costs a fraction of even the cheapest new CRT projector, it is the size of a box of Corn Flakes (other cereals are available) and it can be taken out of its case, set up, focussed and in use in under 5 minutes... Pound for Pound they are good.
The trade off is picture quality.


Sorry for the anti-modern rant, but I felt like some nostalgia. And I have to accept digital DVD has made home cinema realistic, VHS just isn't a good enough source for big screen!

David.

[Roland @ B4]

Not many CRT projectors are ever stolen off the ceiling.

I had an interesting conversation with an insurance specialist.
In wall speakers counted and fixtures and fittings
Free standing speakers did not these were contents.
Speakers on brackets probably fixture

CRT projector definitly fixture and fitting
LCD / Digital projector on single pole held with nut and bolt = Fixture
Same projectpr single pole held with wing nut or thumb wheel = Contents

He seemed to come down to special tools required to remove the item, One occasion where the shear bulk pays off.

[Paul Reading]

Thanks for the replies. Well I wasn't sure I "Googled" CRT projectors and it took me to a page on the Barco web site, but it had all the original models. I then went to the home page but could not navigate back to the projectors so I was not sure if they had gone or were just being hidden.

I am sad that they have gone, but I was concerned because today we have hi-def sources such as SKy and Blue-Ray and as I understand it you have to connect using an HDCP cable and I didn't think that Barco I had took that.

It's kind of sad that hey are gone, they were ugly there is no doubt and they did need to warm up, but the picture was so film like.

Maybe I am stuck in the past I know my wife cannot wait till I ebay my Contax and get a digital camera.

[Barcoing Mad]

Paul - the bottom line is that if you want to go the CRT route, it has to be the nth hand/hobbyist market. There are several reputable guys who can fix you up with an excellent CRT PJ.

David's opinions are interesting. Surely the availability of quality of HD video (and audio) in the form of Blu-Ray and Sky-HD is an advance? Otherwise, why have CRT enthusists put so much effort into acquiring and tweaking 9" machines in order to display it?

[Roland @ B4]

Originally Posted by Barcoing Mad

why have CRT enthusists put so much effort into acquiring and tweaking 9" machines in order to display it?

HD is the source that CRT owners have been holding out for. As soon as it arrives and we have the software to truly get the best out of our projectors........The manufactures pull the plug.

[draganm]

Originally Posted by Paul Reading

I am sad that they have gone, but I was concerned because today we have hi-def sources such as SKy and Blue-Ray and as I understand it you have to connect using an HDCP cable and I didn't think that Barco I had took that.

I connect HDMI directly to my Marquee CRT, and it's certainly not "gone". Someone just called VDC and talked to the manager at their tube plant, they have 6000 replacement tubes in stock of all types.
Paul your old Cine 7 was really an entry elvel PJ, if you could see what an 8 or 9 inch machine can do with Blue Ray you would be amazed.