CRT Fetish Thread

team_andromeda said:

And the high pitched whine isn't the barely audible type I've always been familiar with, it's pretty pronounced. Oh well, it just comes with the territory I guess!

Click to expand...

Those 8" BVMs I just picked up whine like stuck pigs. It's really loud and more pronounced than any crt I've ever seen.

I've been gaming on my PVM 14L5 and although its a great monitor with many options the 14 inch screen is a bit small. I'm considering buying a Sony PVM 1954Q locally but I'm a bit unsure. I think a 19 inch screen would be a nice upgrade but this is an older monitor then my current one. does anyone know if the Sony PVM 1954Q is capable of 480P or if it uses the same sync method as my PVM 14L5 so I can use the same cables.

soviet conscript said:

I've been gaming on my PVM 14L5 and although its a great monitor with many options the 14 inch screen is a bit small. I'm considering buying a Sony PVM 1954Q locally but I'm a bit unsure. I think a 19 inch screen would be a nice upgrade but this is an older monitor then my current one. does anyone know if the Sony PVM 1954Q is capable of 480P or if it uses the same sync method as my PVM 14L5 so I can use the same cables.

Click to expand...

The 14L5 and 20L5 are pretty much the only ones that support 480p and up. The older ones are all 240p/480i only (not counting PAL formats)

soviet conscript said:

I've been gaming on my PVM 14L5 and although its a great monitor with many options the 14 inch screen is a bit small. I'm considering buying a Sony PVM 1954Q locally but I'm a bit unsure. I think a 19 inch screen would be a nice upgrade but this is an older monitor then my current one. does anyone know if the Sony PVM 1954Q is capable of 480P or if it uses the same sync method as my PVM 14L5 so I can use the same cables.

Click to expand...

I did a mini video review of the 1954Q, I don't recall offhand if it does 480P over component though.

1954Q does not support 480p, just 240p/480i. Outside of Multiformat BVMs, the only sets you're going to get 480p+ out of are the 14L5, 20L5, and 20M7 which seems to be a bit of a unicorn in that regard. At least with Sony's Professional stuff, that is.

It should, however, be fine with the same type of sync as the 14L5: Composite Video, Composite Sync, or Luma Sync should all work fine, as should RGsB and it supports Component too.

that sucks, I was really looking for 480P for the gamecube/wii/ps2 since those systems look not so great on my flat screen HDTV. not sure I want to drop $100 just for a 5 inch screen upgrade for games in RGB.

I know the feeling; I currently have a HD Trinitron for 480p Gamecube stuff which looks decent, but having a 20L5 or similar monitor that would display everything correctly would be wonderful.

KyaDash said:

I know the feeling; I currently have a HD Trinitron for 480p Gamecube stuff which looks decent, but having a 20L5 or similar monitor that would display everything correctly would be wonderful.

Click to expand...

yhea, CRT EDTV's seem to be an elusive breed.

soviet conscript said:

I've been gaming on my PVM 14L5 and although its a great monitor with many options the 14 inch screen is a bit small.

Click to expand...

I've noticed that the 14" Sony PVMs are really more like 13". My JVC monitor is actually 14" and the extra 1" really makes a difference (although it unfortunately does not do 480p).

I think it's all a matter of where they're measuring from. Like, a lot of the older models seem to be numbered differently depending on region of release: What's the 1954 in one country might be 2054 elsewhere.
This doesn't seem to be a Sony exclusive thing either; My Mitsubishi Megaview claims to have a 37 inch tube (even in the name) but is only 35'' viewable/usable.

CRT's were always like that. Often if you look at a spec sheet for a CRT it will have a "viewable area" measurement that will be closer to the truth. Like a 27" TV might have a 25.7" viewable area, and that's the size you'd get if you pulled out the measuring tape.

I couldn't help myself. Here are the newest additions to the family. I'm super excited about the PVM-20M2MDU.

soviet conscript said:

that sucks, I was really looking for 480P for the gamecube/wii/ps2 since those systems look not so great on my flat screen HDTV. not sure I want to drop $100 just for a 5 inch screen upgrade for games in RGB.

Click to expand...

Honestly the PS2 and Gamecube look great even on a normal PVM in 240p/480i. Very few PS2 games support progressive scan (480p) anyway.

skate323k137 said:

Honestly the PS2 and Gamecube look great even on a normal PVM in 240p/480i. Very few PS2 games support progressive scan (480p) anyway.

Click to expand...

oh I know. I never said it was unplayable but you still get this nagging feeling in the back of your head that its still not really at its best.

I recently picked up a Kramer FC-14 and a Sony 14L5. My new setup looks like this:

Kramer FC-14 -> Sony KD-27FS170 Trinitron - Main setup anytime I have guests over. The Kramer FC-14 is a nice upgrade over the CSY 2100 clone I've been rocking. A side benefit is that the connectors are rock solid whereas I had trouble keeping the component cables in the back of the CSY 2100 clone. I'm probably going to add a component video switch to make it easier to hook up things like the GameCube without unplugging the Kramer.

The Kramer works well with all my systems except the Saturn for some reason, with or without a sync stripper. Sync is all kinds of fucked up. Probably going to try ordering a new SCART cable. The Genesis 2 is the same way, but I don't care since the Genesis 1 works just fine. I'm not particular worried or anything, but if anyone has any insight on this, I'd appreciate it.

Sony 14L5 - Honestly I was really surprised at how much a difference 480p makes on a CRT. Some games weren't a huge difference (e.g. Wave Race: Blue Storm), but others were night and day (e.g. Super Monkey Ball 2). 13" viewing size bothers me though so I'll probably exclusively use this for 4:3 480p solo gaming.

JVC BM-H1310SU - Ironically 1" larger viewing area than the 14L5. I think I prefer the colors on this one too (although I haven't really tried much calibration on the 14L5 yet). Will probably remain my main solo 480p gaming station.

Sony 1351Q - Retired, I guess? I don't really need 4 TVs hooked up in the same room (not that I need 3 either, but we're in the CRT fetish thread). Might put in storage as backup. Would be hard to give up my 1st PVM...

On a somewhat related note, I also got a Dreamcast Toro VGA box. You can do 240p, 480i, and 480p over SCART (where supported by the games). That's pretty convenient on the 14L5 as I can use the same SCART-to-BNC cable that everything else uses and I don't have to get something specifically to hook up VGA.

FLTCHRR said:

I couldn't help myself. Here are the newest additions to the family. I'm super excited about the PVM-20M2MDU.

View attachment 28848

Click to expand...

Local pickups?

DragonmasterDan said:

Local pickups?

Click to expand...

Yes - for whatever reason Utah is overflowing with dirt cheap monitors. I keep telling myself I won't pick up anymore...

Well, it happened. I have one after all this time. Straight trade for it, didn't shell out any money. I'm very excited. Anyone who has an XM29 care to share your dip switch settings on the back? I think the PO turned them all to the down/off position and I don't think they're supposed to be.

Gorgeous.

aaronmjr said:

Well, it happened. I have one after all this time. Straight trade for it, didn't shell out any money. I'm very excited. Anyone who has an XM29 care to share your dip switch settings on the back? I think the PO turned them all to the down/off position and I don't think they're supposed to be.

View attachment 28896
View attachment 28897
View attachment 28898

Click to expand...

Completely jealous.

congratulations are in order.

aaronmjr said:

Anyone who has an XM29 care to share your dip switch settings on the back? I think the PO turned them all to the down/off position and I don't think they're supposed to be.

Click to expand...

Will do when I get home.

Added in edit: Oh and the internal speakers on the XM suck. There's a nice amp on it. I put on some inexpensive used Bose speakers and the sounds coming out of it are much much better. Pick up some external speakers and upgrade that audio to improve your overall experience.

Thanks guys! I'm extremely excited! I want to put it through its paces and see what it is all about. I've wanted to experience the whole gamut of different RGB CRT's out there and what they are like and that journey has almost come to an end. I need to see a 1000 line BVM in person and I'll be satisfied. Not sure how long I'll hold onto the XM29, 5 weeks, or 5 years! I have to downsize somewhere, and here's what I have at the moment:

Samsung GXTV (13")
Samsung Late Model SD CRT (27")
Sony PVM-20M4U (19")
NEC XM29 (27")

I've recently sold 2 Sony PVM-2530's to thin the herd.

aaronmjr said:

Thanks guys! I'm extremely excited! I want to put it through its paces and see what it is all about. I've wanted to experience the whole gamut of different RGB CRT's out there and what they are like and that journey has almost come to an end. I need to see a 1000 line BVM in person and I'll be satisfied. Not sure how long I'll hold onto the XM29, 5 weeks, or 5 years! I have to downsize somewhere, and here's what I have at the moment:

Click to expand...

I saw your post on Facebook too, thank you Dan!