Contrast set too high on vintage sets.

[lnx64]

I still tend to drive the contrast too high, but lately I'm starting to back them off..

On both the Hitachi or the Samsungs, in my sig, if the contrast is set to the same level of my Samsung LCD from a couple years ago, I get effects like this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...lorblowout.jpg

On the Samsung, if I increase the G2 on the flyback, I can get very good contrast without ANY of that blowing out of the color, but then I get this nasty effect on black screens: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/IMG_0510.jpg

So yea, tired CRT.. But the contrast I have right now is pretty decent enough anyway, it's still as bright as my Apple 27" LED Cinema display, which is pretty bright as it is, so I'm ok with it.

It just takes some getting used to, when I grew up with these TV's that had all these contrast settings cranked.. Now I know why my grandfather hated it when I cranked the contrast on his TV's.

[marty59]

Always my rule of thumb..."the less you drive the CRT the longer you will prolong its life".

We've talked abouit optimizing the controls for the best picture, gray scale etc. but from a black and white perspective I will turn both brightness and contrast down to minimum and bring up the brightness enough to show a uniform, low light raster and then bring in the contrast without overdriving while providing detail. A little touching up at this point is okay after observing. If this can't be achieved then verify AGC adjustments and repeat, providing we're working on a normally functioning set.

On some sets, the AGC may be more sensitive than on others and affecting both brightness and contrast.