Display Types » CRT Projector $475

CRT front projector calibration is not for the faint of heart, but a careful calibration is absolutely necessary to get the magic a good CRT projector can provide.  Out of all the different display types, they show the most dramatic improvement with calibration; often going from annoying to watch to absolutely stunning!  They hold a special place in my heart; that's why I recently became a CRT front projector owner myself (first a Sony G70, now an Electrohome 8500 Ultra).  I provide complete CRT setup and calibration; all you do is make sure it's mounted properly and I'll take over from there.

I have calibrated most CRT front projectors, including Sony (entry level to G90), Electrohome, Barco, NEC, Runco, Ampro, and Dwin. 

There are three problems I commonly see with CRT front projection home theaters.  The first is inadequate light control.  Any ambient light will degrade the image.  Light may spill in around the sides of blackout shades, reducing the contrast ratio.  Having white walls in your theater room will also add greatly to this problem. 

The second problem is using an oversized screen. It's tempting to go with a huge 110"+ screen, but CRT projectors are more comfortable with smaller and medium sized screens.  All else being equal, the larger your screen is, the harder it becomes to get a bright enough image. Keep in mind that most projector's light output specifications are optimistic.  In order to achieve a punchy, dynamic picture without compromising other aspects of performance, it is best to keep your screen size moderate. 

The last is improper mounting. The angle and throw distance are critical.  If the projector is ceiling mounted, when it is not lined up properly with the screen it may be extremely difficult to move it. 

Having to compensate for these problems can degrade the performance.  Regardless, even if everything is not perfect, I will get the most out of your projector.

Scalers can be an intregal part of a CRT projection system.  If you have one with extensive calibration adjustments, it will be calibrated with the projector as a system.  The more extensive the gamma and multipoint grayscale adjustments are, the more it can help your projector look incredible.  The Lumagens are the best examples of calibration friendly, high performance scalers.

The calibration process is very time consuming with a CRT front projector, usually taking between 8 and 15 hours.  However, you won't believe the transformation-  it can take your breath away!

Note: Not all procedures are available or necessary on every projector.

ISF calibration: $475

• raster/tube face setup - makes sure the tube face is used to it's maximum, improving light output and resolution
• optical focus - twisting the lens, similar to focusing binoculars or a telescope, yielding a sharper picture
• Scheimpflug adjustment - advanced focus adjustment that helps focus to be consistently sharp across the entire screen
• electronic focus - ensures the smallest beam size or dot pitch possible, increasing apparent resolution
• astigmatism control - another focus adjustment that changes the shape of the beam spot, giving a sharper picture
• geometry with laser level- straightens picture, eliminating "speed bumps", correctly proportions images, and reduces overscan
• service level convergence - tightening overlap of red, green, and blue, eliminating color fringing and improving color definition
• lens striping if needed and requested - improves color uniformity from edge to edge (from left to right) across screen
• gamma adjustment - brightness ratio defining how bright the middle picture level is in relation to the peak brightness and dark shadows
• grayscale - foundation for accurate color reproduction, eliminating improper color tints in the grayscale, white will look white, black will look black, and gray will....well, you get the point
• scaler dependent adjustments - many outboard scalers commonly used with CRT projectors have sophisticated adjustments like multipoint gamma, grayscale, Y/C delay, color decoding, CMS, and others
• all used inputs/scanrates calibrated - many sets require separate calibration for different types of inputs, i.e. component, HDMI/DVI, 720P vs. 1080P scanrates