Proper handling of a 50" plasma TV

[MelodyMaster]

Originally Posted by Eric H

What he said.
Glad to have someone else defend HD and Flat Screens for a change.

Then of course there's the Mitsubishi LaserVue, which is I believe a DLP set using three Lasers for it's light source.

Reviews say it's stunning, so's the price though, also it's a not a true Flat Panel but rather a Projection set.

http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/product/L75A91

I've seen a laser set, it's stunning. But pricing will never allow it to compete against cheaper technologies for the home market.

[Eric H]

I suppose I should apologize to Charles for so thoroughly derailing his thread!

Charles, just to be clear, I have no problem with smashing a junk set, heck, I like smashing stuff as much as the next guy!

I was just concerned with the narrow attitude I often see here concerning new technology.

[MelodyMaster]

Originally Posted by Eric H

I suppose I should apologize to Charles for so thoroughly derailing his thread!

Charles, just to be clear, I have no problem with smashing a junk set, heck, I like smashing stuff as much as the next guy!

I was just concerned with the narrow attitude I often see here concerning new technology.

Yah, nothing wrong with smashing an unusable anything, as long as environmental concerns are addressed. And the cheap parts in a plasma set can't generally be used in any newer model. I myself appreciate and collect old televisoin sets (and radios); they are remarkable pieces of technology. - but I watch my Plasma for serious viewing. Nobody can claim a modern widescreen TV is a step backwards from vintage sets, but posters seem to be making that claim.

The glassmaking technology does not exist to make a 60" CRT set, at least not for less than tens of thousands of dollars and the requirement for industrial machinery to move the set around, yet large, high definition tv is now expected by television viewers and buyers. Meanwhile flat panels of 60" DON'T require reinforcing the floor, and can in fact be carried by one man.

[classictv80s]

I don't mean to get anyone here upset, but what I don't understand is why certain members of this forum, a forum dedicated to CRT enthusiasts, wish to use it to denigrate CRT technology, endlessly push for LCD and plasma, and purposely antagonize those who prefer CRTs and state why they dislike current TVs - especially when these same members also collect CRT TVs in large amounts?

Now I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but if you believe so strongly that your plasmas and LCDs are so much better, and picture tube TVs are so inferior, then why don't you all just sell or give away your CRT collections? Save the space, I'm sure your spouses and/or other household members will love you even more for doing so. You can then enjoy your new, big, supersize flatscreens in the comfort of a clutter-free home, with no more burdensome CRTs to encroach on you anymore. Then, afterwards, you can go and post on some other forum dedicated to flatscreens and the people who think they're the greatest invention since the cotton gin.

Perhaps your passionate defense of LCD and plasma technology is your inner conscience's way of telling you that it's time to part with your CRTs. There are many people throughout the United States who will be happy to acquire all of your older CRT TVs. There's eBay, Craigslist, this web site, and other venues to help all of you get rid of your bothersome older sets.

Meanwhile us bland, boring, backward, party-pooper non-conformists who live in the past and cling to our CRT televisions can go on posting here and having a good time.

End of rant.

[MelodyMaster]

Originally Posted by classictv80s

I don't mean to get anyone here upset, but what I don't understand is why certain members of this forum, a forum dedicated to CRT enthusiasts, wish to use it to denigrate CRT technology, endlessly push for LCD and plasma, and purposely antagonize those who prefer CRTs and state why they dislike current TVs - especially when these same members also collect CRT TVs in large amounts?

Now I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but if you believe so strongly that your plasmas and LCDs are so much better, and picture tube TVs are so inferior, then why don't you all just sell or give away your CRT collections? Save the space, I'm sure your spouses and/or other household members will love you even more for doing so. You can then enjoy your new, big, supersize flatscreens in the comfort of a clutter-free home, with no more burdensome CRTs to encroach on you anymore. Then, afterwards, you can go and post on some other forum dedicated to flatscreens and the people who think they're the greatest invention since the cotton gin.

Perhaps your passionate defense of LCD and plasma technology is your inner conscience's way of telling you that it's time to part with your CRTs. There are many people throughout the United States who will be happy to acquire all of your older CRT TVs. There's eBay, Craigslist, this web site, and other venues to help all of you get rid of your bothersome older sets.

Meanwhile us bland, boring, backward, party-pooper non-conformists who live in the past and cling to our CRT televisions can go on posting here and having a good time.

End of rant.

Why does it have to be either/or? Why can not a fellow like myself enjoy his early colour sets, his GE 802, his Marconi 10", his 1951 Admiral, and yes his Sony Trinitron and Ikegami, yet watch ones plasma when the big game is on, or when one wants to see a bluray? The narrow-minded people are those who can't appreciate what BOTH CRT sets and plasma/LCD sets have to offer...and enjoy each for their virtues...

[classictv80s]

Originally Posted by MelodyMaster

Why does it have to be either/or? Why can not a fellow like myself enjoy his early colour sets, his GE 802, his Marconi 10", his 1951 Admiral, and yes his Sony Trinitron and Ikegami, yet watch ones plasma when the big game is on, or when one wants to see a bluray? The narrow-minded people are those who can't appreciate what BOTH CRT sets and plasma/LCD sets have to offer...and enjoy each for their virtues...

Because in your mind plasmas and LCDs have better picture quality. If you want to have the best then get rid of all the rest. There's a lot of folks here and other places that would love to have your CRT stash.

[classictv80s]

Originally Posted by MelodyMaster

Colour is more accurate on plasma, and contrast will always "look" higher on a smaller screen.

Plasma is a photo, CRT has scannning lines, Plasma looks more natural.

First of all, not all photos look natural. For example, I have had some digital cameras, including a supposedly "top of the line" Sony Mavica that I had years ago, that put out pictures that look pretty damn awful. I have seen plasma displays, to me the picture and color just don't look right. But to each their own.

[MelodyMaster]

Originally Posted by classictv80s

Because in your mind plasmas and LCDs have better picture quality. If you want to have the best then get rid of all the rest. There's a lot of folks here and other places that would love to have your CRT stash.

No, LCDs don't have better picture quality than CRTs, far from it, but Plasmas, yes. No scan lines, accurate colour, and, most of all resolution and size not achievable with CRT except at enormous cost.

And you're telling me to get rid of my antique TVs because I watch the Plasma set?! An antique car collector gets rid of all of the classic cars because he drives a 2010 Hyundai to work..? One gets rid of all the family photos because one took a shot of Mama last week..? Me.. Throw out all my books because I bought a Charles Stross novel for my Kindle..? Get rid of my 78s because I listen to CDs..? Get rid of my CDs because I sometimes get a song from Itunes..? (sigh..)

And lets not get into digital photography versus film. All, ALL, (is this news?) video from the pickup chips, through processing, broadcast, and reception are now digital, get used to it.

Amd plasma sets straight from the factory look universally awful. Do you honestly think they'd be D65 out of the box? They MUST be calibrated once they're home. CRT sets were supposed to be calibrated for "pro" viewers. Remember?

[classictv80s]

I never suggested that people get rid of their family photos, that's crazy, they are a part of a family's history.

I'm not telling you to get rid of anything, but if you feel strongly that plasma is so much better than CRT then maybe your inner conscience is telling you it's time to find your old TVs a safe new home.

[Eric H]

I for one just got tired of some people insinuating that people who buy/watch/like
HD and Flat Screens do so because they are simple minded Sheep who can't think for themselves or that they are trying to impress the neighbors.

Hmm, let me think, when was the last time I watched TV with the curtains open so the neighbors could see my TV and be impressed? Oh yes, it was never, that's when.

They probably all have big flat screens themselves so they wouldn't be all that impressed anyway.

I do not make posts every few weeks saying that CRT sets are no good and everyone should buy a flat screen so why do folks seems to feel it necessary to make regular posts bashing new sets and the people who own them.

This particular forum is called "Rectangular Tube and Solid State, last time I checked LCD and Plasma's were Solid State.

I have seen CRT sets that the color and picture didn't look right either, they must have been junk, or maybe they just weren't adjusted right.

Bottom line is this, if you just want to watch TV and aren't bothered by scan lines or how large the screen is then a standard CRT set will do the job.

If you want to watch Movies at home with a picture that approaches the experience of watching Film in a large format and the correct aspect ratio then you need something else.

[andy]

...

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by Eric H

One other thought as to which sets are more environmentally friendly.



50" Plasma/LCD, 70-80 lbs, no Lead at all most likely, most of the rest of it is probably RoHS compliant (which probably reduces reliability somewhat).
100% recyclable.

I don't know... That Maxent set was Hella heavy for a flat screen. My Sony 55" plasma 2-piece set (for collectors item purposes only) is at least 150 lbs... Maybe 180; Not sure. If anyone hung it on a wall, it better be with 2/6 birch studs with 7/16 lag bolts!!!!

Originally Posted by Eric H

I for one just got tired of some people insinuating that people who buy/watch/like
HD and Flat Screens do so because they are simple minded Sheep who can't think for themselves or that they are trying to impress the neighbors.

I admit I've been guilty of accusing some members of the general public of that... But it's based on some truth. There are some people who buy stuff to be up with the Jones', and I do laugh at those people. But I also respect when someone makes a choice to buy something because they want it, and will enjoy it. I guess my having blasted the showoff plasma buyers is a response to those same people sneering at me for for driving a Toyota that's paid for, vs. a BMW on payments, etc. My wife's cousin is one of those people I'm referring to... He has a yuppie job at an investment firm, has about 5 cents in his own account, and has a $1Mil house mortgaged to about 140% value, and two brand-new BMWs every year, and of course......................... The biggest flat screen you can get hung on the wall in every room but the broom closet. And he doesn't even like them, he admitted in private! He likes his old Mitsubishi 31" tube set for regular watching.

Charles

[Adam]

I could care less whether they improve the picture quality on these new sets, I'm sticking with my 1974 25EC58 Zenith daily watcher. - The only set I could see replacing it with is a Zenith I saw once (I think a '73 model with the DC chassis) also in an Avanti cabinet with the white plastic base, but with doors that slid back into the cabinet, and it was all finished wood veneer instead of painted white on the sides.

I'm waiting for the comparison video, "Plasma vs. LCD: which gets flatter!"

[MelodyMaster]

Originally Posted by andy

I work with modern technology every day, and I enjoy collecting and restoring my classic TVs (and other vintage technology) for the challenge, and as a way to relax. I love seeing how things used to be, and I get great satisfaction out of experiencing and preserving old technology. It's about experiencing history. If I just wanted the best CRT picture possible, I wouldn't even bother with tube sets, B/W sets, or anything made before about 1985. I would probably have a house full of Sony HD CRTs and be done with it.

I don't see why it has to be an either/or thing. I can enjoy enjoy vintage TVs without hating modern technology. Most people with classic cars only drive them on weekends because they know it's more practical to drive a modern car every day.

I do like watching an occasional old TV show on a vintage TV, and I watch the evening news on a CTC38 almost every day, but I don't for a second thing they're "better" than more modern TVs. When I want to watch a move, or modern TV show, I normally use my 1080p LCD projector, or plasma TV.

I have partaken in and given advice to most of the forums on Audiokarma and Videokarma, since I collect and restore old TVs and radios, have a Thorens TD-124 and other classic turntables, collect vintage jazz 78s; I LOVE old, WORKING, technology. Yes I watch the GE802 regularly and listen to FM and play 78s on it. Also I'm a computer geek with a collection of various systems, and I'm always hangin' in the NotebookReview forums. But at the end of the day I come home and watch "Zeke and Luther" and CNNHD on my Samsung C7000. I'm not proud - or stupid..

[MelodyMaster]

Incidentally, (sorry for the multiple posts) because of this conversation I dragged the Ikegami into the living room. Now, this is a 1968 all-solid state Ikegami that used to be a camera control monitor at CBC. It has an original Conrac picture tube with broadcast phosphors, A VERY expensive tube once..I put it on the composite output of the Bell (satellite) PVR, and watched portions of Torchwood, some movies, MSNHD, a few other things on the box, and the colour is IDENTICAL between the Ikegami and Samsung plasma. The greens, cyans, blues and yellows are spot on, dark tinted greys are extrememly close, flesh tones are identical, the Ikegami gives SLIGHTLY more red to skin blush areas, but only when comparing side by side. This Samsung is as good a broadcast check monitor as the Ikegami. That's interesting actually because the Ikegami is supposed to be set to Rec 601, whereas the Samsung is Rec 709, which depends upon less saturated red phosphors and has a slightly narrower gamut than 601. Nevertheless, there you have it, the best CRT monitor in the business is NOT providing a richer, more accurate picture than a modern, cheap, Plasma. I wish I could take an accurate picture. I'll work on that.

And remember that in the brightness race NO consumer colour TV made since 1957 actually HAS a tube with accurate NTSC broadcast phophors. Any CRT set you choose will do much worse than this broadcast Ikegami. Skin tones will be pale - more pinkish, greens will be bluish, blues desaturated, and greys green-tinted.

Which doesn't change the opinion I always had, that the pictures on that Ikegami are just gorgeous - but it doesn't offer HD.