|
Below is old news. Most recent news will always
be shown on the main
page.
New lower price on professional JETI Specbos
meters
February 27, 2012
Professional calibrators (or an enthusiast with
really deep pockets) take note!
Effective immediately:
Contact us for meter only pricing.
The
Specbos 1201 and 1211 are the most affordable true reference color
analyzers available on the market today. Just mount either on a tripod, facing towards the source, connect to
ChromaPure Professional and use as you
would any other color analyzer.
At some point many professionals conclude that their work requires a
reference colour analyzer. SMPTE has established standards for such a device. It
must measure color accurately to within ±0.002 xy at or above 10 cd/m2 and
luminance accurately to within ±0.5 cd/m2 for white field measurements. These
are very exacting specifications that no standard tristimulus colorimeter can achieve, at
least for chromaticity. For this level of accuracy you must have a 5nm
spectroradiometer.
Unfortunately, such devices are not cheap. The Photo Research and Minolta
reference devices start at about $15,000 and go up to near $30,000. The
X-Rite EyeOne Pro is reasonably
affordable, but it is a 10nm device that cannot routinely achieve ±0.002 xy
accuracy. Furthermore, in addition to being expensive, true reference devices
also often suffer from practical limitations. They can be slow and have problems
with low-light readings.
In the last few years a German company JETI Reference
Instruments developed two true reference spectroradiometers, the
Specbos 1201 (also known in the U.S. as the
Orb Optronics SP100)
and the Specbos 1211, that solve most of these problems.
First, they are relatively affordable, that is at least what passes as
"affordable" in the context of reference devices. Second, both are reasonably
fast for higher luminance sources, and the 1211 is speedy even with low
luminance sources. They are also amazingly compact and portable and both include
a nifty laser spotter that allows for accurate aiming.
The only feature these incredible devices give up to the established Photo Research and Minolta
competitors is stand-alone operation. The Minolta and Photo Research
alternatives allow for aiming through optical sights and readouts on a small LCD
screen. They are fully functional devices without a PC. In contrast, the JETI
devices work only when attached to a PC via USB with custom software (such as
ChromaPure of course!). For display/home
theater calibration this is a non-issue as you'll be using calibration software
anyway.
Confused about meters? See our
FAQ: Which meter
is right for me?
Questions? Email us at:
chromapure@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Special pre-order price on the new HDMI 1.4 card for Sony CRT projectors
February 13, 2012
The new
IFB-FULLHD v3 card starts shipping March 5, 2012.
Order today at a special pre-order price. Quantities
are limited!
Upgrade your Sony CRT projector
by adding two HDMI 1.4 inputs with 3D support, gamma
correction and infrared remote control! Don't be
stuck watching PS3, Blu-ray, and DVD at only 480p!
Add digital HDCP-compliant HDMI 1.4 inputs allowing
you to watch hi-def content at up to 1080p
resolution!
The
IFB-FULLHD card allows you easily add digital devices such as
Blu-Ray players, PS3, Xbox360, Satellite/Cable HDTV set-top boxes, and HTPCs with HDMI graphic cards to your
Sony CRT projector. Simply plug the card into your projector, your DVI/HDMI
devices into the card, and watch!
How does the 3D
work? When used together with a
Radiance video processor, the IFB-FULLHD v3
HDMI card allows 3D movies, games, and other content
to be viewed on your Sony CRT projector. The
Radiance does the processing to convert the 3D
signal into something your Sony CRT projector can
understand and display, while the IFB-FULLHD v3 HDMI
card interfaces with and controls your 3D glasses.
Enjoy 3D at 720p120Hz or even at custom resolutions
like 1080p75Hz.
The
Optoma 3D-XL or
Viewsonic VP3D1 3D video processors have
also been tested with this HDMI card. Unlike the
Radiance however, the output resolution is fixed at
720p120Hz.
Any
Infrared (IR) Active Shutter glasses or
Radio Frequency (RF) Active Shutter glasses
that include an emitter will work with the
IFB-FULLHD v3 card as long as the emitter has the
standard 3-pin DIN connector.
How does the
new v3 card compare to the older v2 card?
Complete information on the new card can be found in the
manual. Below
are a few highlights:
|
Feature |
IFB-FULLHD v2 |
IFB-FULLHD v3 |
|
HDMI version |
HDMI 1.3 |
 HDMI
1.4 |
|
3D support with sync output |
-- |
Yes |
|
Radiance sync support
(The Radiance can control the 3D sync timing on the card's 3-pin DIN
connector instead of the card) |
-- |
Yes
- Via Input 1 |
|
Gamma |
Improved Gamma for
more linear greyscale (changes suggested by Walter/WTS) |
Even
more advanced Opamp |
|
Sharpness |
Sharper Image (changes
suggested by Mike Parker) |
Even
more advanced Opamp |
|
Picture purity |
Cleaner/Less noise
(changes suggested by Mike Parker) |
Even
more advanced Opamp and new analog power supply design |
|
Range expansion |
Yes. Supports 0-255 RGB
level support for higher dynamic range (in addition to 16-235) |
Yes. Supports 0-255 RGB
level support for higher dynamic range (in addition to 16-235) |
|
Stability |
ESD enhanced to
prevent electrostatic discharge |
ESD enhanced to
prevent electrostatic discharge |
|
Black boost |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Able to manually select colour space
with remote |
Supported |
Supported |
|
Sync polarity adjustment |
-- |
Yes |
|
Optional horizontal image shift |
-- |
Yes |
Questions? Email us at
MoomeCard@CurtPalme.com.
More Information »
Marquee Anti-Banding Mod now available
December
12, 2011
The Marquee banding problem
as seen on a convergence grid
Fix the banding issues on your Marquee,
Vidikron Vision One/Two, or Madrigal CRT projector
with this mod!
The
Marquee Anti-Banding Mod removes bunching and
spreading of scan lines that appear as lighter and
darker bands across the image, especially on white.
If you find that your Marquee picture has waves or
an picture with uneven brightness, this mod is for
you.
An additional custom programmed EPROM chip is
added to your control (CLM) board to give rounded
waveforms in place of sawtooths. We also store your
settings, replace the lithium backup battery, and
restore settings so nothing is lost.
This mod is available for all Electrohome Marquee
CRT projectors and clones, including:
- Marquee 8000,
8110, 8110+, 8500, 8500LC, 8500LC Ultra, 9000,
9500LC, 9500LC Ultra
- Accurate
Imaging Technologies Accurate 8, 9, XL
- Accurate
Imaging Technologies Integrated 8
- Accurate
Imaging Technologies Modular 8,9
- Accurate
Imaging Technologies Ultimate 8-X, 9-X
- Crystal View
CV-1, CV-2, CV-3
- GTT Audio Video
HT Reference 8, 9
- Madrigal MP-8,
MP-9
- Reference
Imaging CinePro 8x, 9x, 9x Elite
- Spatz Tech
RE8000, RE9000, RE9500
- Theater
Automation Wow (TAW) HD-800, HD-900
- Vidikron Vision
1, 2, 3
- Visual Dynamics
Reference 8/9
For complete details see our
Marquee Anti-Banding Mod page.
More Information »
ChromaPure and Radiance are winners in the Best
of 2011 awards!
December
5, 2011
Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
recently announced their
Best of 2011 awards,
and a big congratulations
goes out to:
- Tom Huffman and
his team for winning in the 'Best
Calibration Software' category with
ChromaPure 2! Two years in a row!
- Jim Peterson and
his time for winning in the new category 'Best Video
Processor' with the new
Radiance Mini 3D!
We've always thought the two make a killer
combination and the editors at Secrets seem to
agree:
"Initially, we were very impressed with
ChromaPure and are happy to say that with the latest
version that still holds true. The interface is
still very clean and straightforward, making it easy
to get started for anyone. The additional features
offered in the new version have added more power and
customization than was previously available, yet
without added complexity.
Overall,
ChromaPure is still my choice for calibration
software and what I plan to continue to use. When
combined with the
Lumagen Radiance, the results that
I was able to achieve were even better. I had
thought that an external CMS was somewhat outdated
now that most displays and projectors included some
sort of CMS, but I was certainly wrong in that
regard. With the Radiance I was able to achieve
results far beyond what I could do with the display
controls, and a far better image as a result of it.
Given all of the issues that we have found recently
with Blu-ray players, receivers, and processors with
how they handle colorspace information, adding an
external CMS can resolve all of these issues, and
give you a far better image to boot. It’s a piece of
gear that I didn’t want to return, and that I hope
to pick up for good in the future."
- Chris Heinonen of HomeTheaterHiFi.com
Links:
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity best of
2011 awards
ChromaPure software and meters at CurtPalme.com
discounted prices
Lumagen RadianceMini3D video processor - currently
on sale until Dec 31
Complete list of awards »
RadianceMini 3D Video Processor SALE - Save an
extra $200!
November 22, 2011
Save an additional $200 off our already
discounted Radiance video processor,
now only $1395! That's $600 off the regular price!
Free US/Canada shipping and equivalently discounted
international shipping. Sale ends Dec 31, 2011.
ORDER NOW »
The RadianceMini 3D features the same award
winning video processing as the bigger
units but simply reduces the number of input/output connections
available. Perfect for today's home theaters where you route
and switch everything through a receiver or pre-amp anyway!
As with the other members of the Radiance line,
proprietary No-ring™ scaling, linear-Gamma
RGB-color-palette CMS, 21-point parametric grayscale
calibration, video deinterlacing, MPEG artifact
reduction, temporal noise reduction, and other
features, combine to provide the best video quality
available.
HDMI 1.4 3D is also supported, including scaling
and aspect ratio control for 3D Blu-ray movies for
use with an anamorphic lens, such as those produced
by Panamorph®. For dual-projector 3D, two units can
be used with each receiving 3D and outputting video
for either the left-eye or right-eye.
Combine it with the award winning
ChromaPure
software to auto-calibrate any display: Anyone with
little or no training in video technology can now
calibrate their display in just 5-10 minutes.
Buy once, use
forever! The Radiance 3D is the only video processor that we
know of that, over the years, has kept up with new
features and offered upgrades to existing users -
often through completely free software upgrades!
Most other companies we know of do not do this.
Instead, they make you buy a new model as new
features are introduced.
You don't hear this often but CurtPalme.com is
comfortable in saying that the Radiance is the one
true "buy once, use forever" video processor that
has stood the test of time. The Radiance is
completely over engineered with processing power
that has proven that it can take on just about
anything. Truly phenomenal support from Jim Peterson
and his crew!
See our
Radiance order page for more details
and pictures!
Questions? Email us at
lumagen@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Sale on select HDMI cards - Limited time only!
November 15, 2011
Moome's having a limited time sale on his HDMI cards
for Electrohome
Marquee projectors & clones (Madrigal, Vidikron,
etc) and NEC XG / Runco 991 projectors.
These cards are a must-have for enjoying Blu-ray
1080p Full HD on your CRT projector!
Both feature two HDMI inputs, IR remote control,
adjustable gamma boost for perfect black details,
and more. Installation takes 5 minutes (plug and
play).
Sale ends January 15, 2012.
For complete details visit the
Marquee VIM-FULLHD or
NEC XG-FULLHD order pages.
Questions? Email us at:
moomecard@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Mid & high end projector blowout
October
28, 2011
See our
CRT Primer to read why CRT projectors are still used in home
theaters where picture quality is paramount. Our
Projector Rankings page will show you how they
stack up. Not sure what
projector is right
for you? Email Curt
for help!
It's time to blow out some of my mid and high end
projectors at great prices!
Marquee 8500: I have two only with excellent
condition tubes, very low hours on them. 1200
lumens, 1080p capable, filament and other
reliability modifications done to the sets. $1500
each.
Sony
G90: Brand new green tube, no wear on the R
and B tubes. New Dallas chip. Original Sony remote
included. Fantastic condition overall, a phenomenal
1080p image. $3500.00
Marquee 9500 Ultra: October 2002 build date,
all new tubes in the set. Rare HD10E lenses
included, which are equivalent to the HFQ900 lenses.
The Ultra build date has all the latest performance
mods in it. $6500.00
Marquee 9500 Ultra: Also a 2002 build date,
very light wear on the tubes, a low hour (<2000)
chassis and on the tubes. $3500.00
Barco 909: Two sets available. Mint
condition, these were re-tubed literally 100 hours
before they were pulled out of service. HFQ 900
lenses, the best possible CRT lenses. 2500 X 2500
resolution possible. Nice blue cases in great shape.
P43 LUG tubes makes these sets ready for 3D to boot.
Original shipping cases and remotes included. It
doesn’t get better than this! $7000.00 each
See our
eBay listings for additional items. Interested or have questions?
Email Curt!
See All CRT Projectors »
ChromaPure 2.2.7 now available
October 13, 2011
ChromaPure 2.2.7 is now available for immediate
free download for existing customers.
New features:
- PRO meters now
include corrections for LG LED backlit LCD and
LG standard LCD displays for even greater
accuracy.
- In consultation
with X-Rite, we made an adjustment to our
i1
Display Pro III support that provides
significantly better repeatability at low light
levels.
- The Color
Management module now includes a CIE chart.
- The Advanced
Color Management module now includes support for
the
Lumagen Radiance as a signal generator.
- When
initializing the
JETI 1211 spectroradiometer,
the application now automatically measures and
sets the cycle rate of the target display.
Bug fixes:
- The
AccuPel
signal generator would lose default settings
after working in the Advanced Color Management
module. This has been fixed.
- Connection to
the selected meter would be lost when cancelling
out of the Options module. This has been fixed.
- If the user
neglected to initialize a meter before selecting
auto-advance, the system would become unstable
when taking grayscale readings.
- The system
allowed users to select a null value from the
signal generator drop-down. This has been fixed.
To download, visit our our
ChromaPure
order page.
Confused about meters? See our
FAQ: Which meter
is right for me?
Questions? Email us at:
chromapure@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Projector parts
blowout: Part 2
August
19, 2011
The "Almost Free Stuff"
OK, over the next few weekends I'm clearing out a
whole bunch more CRT stuff to make room for the
higher end stuff coming in.
I've mentioned this a couple of times, but this
time I'm serious! I'm going to be getting rid of
most of my ES focusing stuff, 7" tubes, and anything
to do with the older CRTs. I'm virtually giving this
stuff away, just cover the packing material,
postage, and a couple of bucks for my teenage
helper(s) (girlfriend's son) to pack the stuff.
This applies to, but is not limited to:
- AmPro 2000,
4000, any Ampro sets prior to the 2000 (1500,
etc.)
- Barco ES
focusing analog projectors, including 400, 600,
1000, 1001, 1500, 1600, etc.
- Barco 500, some
800 boards
- Electrohome ECP
- Vidikron 7"
stuff (same as ECP)
- Zenith PRO
851/Runco 750/GE Image 150, 160, etc.
- NEC GP3000, NEC
DP1200 (select parts are still here)
- Sony 1000
series, all of it.
- Some Sony 12XX
stuff (email
for details)
- Any SD 130,
SD187 and 07MS tubes showing any signs of wear.
Most of the boards are good, some are labelled as
'defective', some might have minor damage (bent
transistors, snapped controls on the Sony 10XX
boards, for example.
The "Not Free Stuff"
- The 'more'
valuable ES focusing items, like ECP HV and LV
supplies. Cheap, but not quite free.
- I do have some
new R and G SD187 and 07MP tubes that I'll be
selling at attractive pricing, ditto for used G
and R tubes showing no wear.
Email
for details. No good blues left in stock as far
as I know.
If you're still running these sets, here's your
chance to stock up on spare parts, as I won't be
buying any more sets unless someone gives them to
me, and they are local.
Email me
if you think I should be giving away some ES stuff
not listed above.
Sony Qualia 004 Digital Projector Repairs
The Sony Qualia 004 projector is the high end,
$27K USD SxRD projector that Sony came out with in
about 2003 that was the first digital projector
image that I thought was reasonable. Although
marketed to the broadcast and pro industries
originally, a lot of high end home theaters were
also outfitted with this projector model. Subsequent
to the Qualia 004, lower end models were introduced
at lower prices, but they never looked like the
original Qualia (in my opinion).
Well, the day has come that it’s now in excess of
7 years since Sony discontinued the Qualia 004, and
I have had two calls in the last week from customers
that have defective Qualias as Sony no longer
supports the product. Sony allegedly won’t even take
the units in for repair. Now that the Qualia is a
few years old, the power supplies are dying often,
resulting in intermittent operation, or a dead set.
Fortunately, I’ve repaired a few of these now,
and I can repair a Qualia power supply for far less
than Sony was charging for a new board. I’ve
identified the weak spot in the power supply, and
upgrade the parts so a repeat failure is unlikely.
The better news is, I only need the power supply PC
board, not the whole 100lb projector to complete the
repair.
Please pass my name on to anyone owning a Sony
Qualia, as it is likely that it will need servicing
at some point in time.
Interested or have questions?
Email Curt!
See All CRT Projectors »
High End Barco 909
CRT projector available
July
6, 2011
See our
CRT Primer to read why CRT projectors are still used in home
theaters where picture quality is paramount. Our
Projector Rankings page will show you how they
stack up. Not sure what
projector is right
for you? Email Curt
for help!
We've got one Barco 909 CRT projector available!
This is a top
of the line set, 1080p capable and beyond. It's the
highest end CRT projector Barco ever made with 9"
tubes and a completely redesigned chassis. The 909
is the industrialized version of the Cine 9. Both
have identical specs:
- 3200x2560
max resolution (nearly x4 the resolution of 1080p)
- 180Mhz
bandwidth
- 180Khz max
scanrate
- 9" tubes with
advanced 6-pole beam correction
- 81 zones of
convergence
More information is available on the
Barco 909 brochure/spec sheet. The Cine 9 /
909 is rated #1 on our
CRT projector rankings list.
The Barco 909 is hard to find and this one's
in good shape with only 1100 original hours. Case is
blue with a couple of minor scuffs, the keypad cover
is intact (the ones that always break off), comes
with original remote. Top of the line HFQ900 lenses
installed. Zero tube wear, mint condition all around
electronically, $8500.00 plus shipping.
Interested or have questions?
Email Curt!
See All CRT Projectors »
The
new EyeOne Display 3 colorimeter: A true game
changer!
June 22, 2011
Buy direct from our ChromaPure partner at
prices lower than buying off their own website! Same
product, same support, just more money in your
pocket at the end of the day.
ORDER NOW »
dis·rup·tive tech·nol·o·gy: "a new
technology that unexpectedly displaces an
established technology by providing substantially
new or improved functionality or similar
functionality at a significantly lower cost."
The new
X-Rite
Display 3 colorimeter is truly
groundbreaking and certainly disruptive: It performs
three times faster and is able to read lower light
levels than our previously recommended general
purpose meter, the
Chroma 5.
Better features, better performance, and at a
substantially lower cost as well!
Features
- Excellent
low-light performance (real-world performance
shows good results down to approximately 0.003
cd/m2)
- No dark reading
- Built-in tripod
mount
- Built-in hinged
high-quality diffuser
- Very good
accuracy
- Extremely fast
- Available in
PRO configuration, which enhances accuracy even
more
The new
X-Rite
Display 3 offers near professional
performance at a price affordable to any enthusiast.
In fact, its performance is so close to professional
colorimeters, such as the Klein K-10 or X-Rite’s own
Hubble,
than it has become extremely difficult to justify
purchasing such devices that come in at 10-20 times
the cost of the
Display 3.
When it comes to home theater calibration, the color analyzer is often the weakest link in
measuring and adjusting a display device. Because of
the unprecedented price/performance ratio of the
Display 3,
it is most certainly one of the most
important products ever developed for display
calibration. Technology marches on!
A new Display 3 PRO is
also now available for order that takes the meter one step further and offers
substantially enhanced accuracy across multiple display types with colour and
white point accuracy that in most cases exceeds that of the
EyeOne Pro
spectroradiometer.
When someone needs to choose one single sub-$1000
meter for video calibrations, the Display 3 PRO
is now the number one choice as it offers professional grade
performance at a price affordable to the amateur
hobbyist or enthusiast. No other single meter even
comes close. This title used to be held by the Chroma
5 PRO, but with the introduction of the Display
3 PRO, we see no reason to suggest the Chroma
5 PRO anymore.
For complete details on the performance of the
new Display 3 including videos, see our new
Display 3
order page.
Confused about meters? See our
FAQ: Which meter
is right for me? (newly updated!)
Questions? Email us at:
chromapure@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Auto-Calibrate for ChromaPure now available!
June 3, 2011
What is ChromaPure
Auto-Calibrate?
This product allows anyone with little or no
training in video technology to fully calibrate
their display with almost no user input. Just setup
a few simple options, click Auto-Calibrate, and then
just go have a cup of coffee while the process
completes, usually in 5-10 minutes.
This feature is an optional add-on to ChromaPure
Standard, and it works in conjunction with a
DVDO Duo
or Lumagen Radiance
external video processor. The processor acts as both
a test pattern signal generator and calibration
device. The Auto-Calibrate software controls the
processor and the color analyzer to get the most out
of your display. It will even generate a before and
after calibration report for you.
The display's performance with respect to each of
these parameters is presented in colourful charts
and precise numerical values, both of which can
update in real time as calibration adjustments are
made.
ChromaPure is based on a before/after model. When
the calibration is finished, the user can generate a
printable report that depicts the performance of the
display before and after calibration.
Auto-Calibrate will adjust the display's
grayscale, gamma response, and color gamut to within
industry standards.
Auto-Calibrate is
available to ChromaPure Standard users at a $139
CurtPalme.com discounted price. It is free for
ChromaPure Professional users. ChromaPure
Professional users should
contact us
to enable this option.
What do I need to use ChromaPure
Auto-Calibrate?
ChromaPure
Plus
We are also offering a new version of ChromaPure
called
ChromaPure Plus. It adds support for the
AccuPel video test
pattern generator that now include 3D test
patterns. The perfect compliment to the new
3D-Theatre
that adds 3D support to any HD display! The MSRP for
this version is $300, available at a
CurtPalme.com discounted price of
$280.
Confused about meters? See our
FAQ: Which meter
is right for me?
Questions? Email us at:
chromapure@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Add 3D to any HDTV/Projector!
May
16, 2011
No 3D? No problem!
Don't replace your perfectly good HDTV!
Turn your
home theater into a 3D home theater with the new
3D-Displayer
and
3D-Theatre
and start watching 3D content!
Play 3D movies, 3D games, 3D satellite/cable, and 3D
internet videos on any HDTV/projector.
The
3D-Theatre
supports every 3D signal type in existence today
including frame-packing, side-by-side, top-bottom.
It is firmware updatable so that new features can be
added in the future as needed!
Upgrade to 3D at a fraction of the cost of buying
a new display!
Completely plug & play. Works on all standard
HD displays. If you're able to watch Blu-ray or HDTV
today, now you can do it in 3D too.
Which 3D
converter is right for me?
Which 3D converter you need depends on what sort of 3D content you want to
watch and what kind of display you have:
|
Feature |
3D-Gamer |
3D-Displayer |
3D-Theater |
|
3D games on 100/120Hz DLP TVs/projectors |
✓; |
✓ |
✓ |
|
3D games on any
HDTV/Projector |
|
✓ |
✓ |
|
3D Blu-ray
movies on any
HDTV/Projector |
|
✓ |
✓ |
|
3D
satellite/cable
on any HDTV/Projector
(ESPN 3D, DirectTV 3D, SKY 3D, etc.) |
|
|
✓ |
|
3D internet
videos on any
HDTV/Projector
(3D mkv files, etc.) |
|
|
✓; |
|
|
$189 USD
More information
|
$299.99 USD
More information
|
$499.99 USD
More information
|
We also carry a complete line of
3D glasses to get you up and started without
difficulties, including the latest universal Radio
Frequency (RF)
glasses that work with any converter or TV.
See our complete line of
3D products for complete details. Start
watching Blu-ray movies like
Tron: Legacy 3D and
Despicable Me 3D as well as sports and
movies on
ESPN 3D,
DirectTV 3D and
SKY 3D and see what you've been missing!
Reviews/Testimonials "Outstanding job VIP, well done. My
Home Theater experience has changed forever. Big
thanks go out to Jonathan at VIP, this product is
amazing and far surpassed anything I expected.
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome product!!! Two Thumbs way
way up!" - WellyWell
"No ghosting on the image and the 3D effect on
my 120" screen is out of this world... This blows
the Movie Cinema's away, when you can set this up on
a big screen. And I love the added bonus of
taking the 3D-Theatre to anyone's house to enjoy 3D
since it works on any display. What more can i say
except i am glad Optoma delayed their product since
the 3D-Theatre is 110 times better and supports ALL
formats (unlike the 3D-XL) So if your thinking of
making the move to 3D but can't afford a 3DTV, or
heck, why even bother buying a 3DTV when you can
use the 3D-Theatre with your existing TV and/or
projector ... PRICELESS" - Ian
"ONE WORD! AWESOME!!! Don't let the
small size or the very basic appearance of the
3D-Theater sway you in any way! It's the performance
of this little box that really impressed me. After
waiting quite some time for the 3D-XL to come out
which still hasn't shipped in any volume I decided
to get this instead, and sure glad I did. It is
super simple to setup and works perfect with the PS3
and also with my WD TV Live media player for playing
SBS 3D files. I have it hooked up to my Optoma GT720
120hz 3D Ready short throw and watching 3D
Blu-Ray on a 135" screen is simply breathtaking! Get
one you won't be disappointed!!" - John
Questions? Email us at
kal@curtpalme.com
See All 3D Products »
Massive projector blowout!
May
5, 2011
See our
CRT Primer to read why CRT projectors are still used in home
theaters where picture quality is paramount. Our
Projector Rankings page will show you how they
stack up. Not sure what
projector is right
for you? Email Curt
for help!
We're pleased to announce the immediate blowout
of almost 40 CRT video projectors that we're selling
for a premier A/V installation company in Seattle.
Most of these are single owner sets that were traded
in, and have exceptionally low hours compared to
retired industrial sets that can have 40,000+ hours
on them. We also have the ability now to replenish
out parts stock on some Barco parts that we were low
on (HV quadruplers for example), and are also
offering special pricing on tested, working and
guaranteed modules and other parts.
This is also last call for all of our analog
video projector parts that have been sitting here
gathering dust. We’re blowing out our
Barco 1000
series,
Barco 400 and 600
parts and
Sony 1000
series
and
Zenith PRO 840/851 sets and parts. Pricing:
We’re more or less giving these parts away for the
cost of shipping and a tiny handling charge to cover
customs charges and packing material. If you’re
still running one of these older analog convergence
projectors, we’d be happy to send you a big (or
small) box of backup parts to keep the old beasts
going. Most of the boards are known to be working, a
few have issues, but are still good for parts use.
Email us
with your specifics.
Onto the projectors from Seattle! Below is a very
brief description of the sets. Before shipping, they
will all be tested, any standard reliability
modifications will be done that we do to all the
sets we sell, and each one will be test run for 24
hours. All include remote controls where applicable
and where possible, a hard copy of the
owners/installation manual. Some cases will have
minor marks and scratches on them, typical for
projectors that have been moved around a bit. There
are numerous projectors in the below collection that
I will need to bring to Vancouver to test and repair
fully. I’ve left those off the list for now, but
they are merely duplicates of the sets listed below.
A note to our industrial customers such as flight
simulators and planetariums: Here’s a great chance
to buy a spare projector at a very reasonable cost,
and check out a couple of the 'literally new', under
500 hour projectors, very hard to find at this
point. The projectors listed with tube wear below
for the most part have exceptionally light wear, I’d
rate them a 7-8 on
our scale of 1-10.
Email us for
more specifics. At these prices, the lightly worn
tube sets are worth the cost of parts alone, as a
test chassis or a spare parts unit that works in
case of an unexpected failure in an installation.
7" sets
The Runco 800 and 900 series below were based on
the Barco 708 and Cine 7 chassis. Late models, and
are either in the stock Barco cream color, or as
noted, Runco painted them black.
Barco 708: Worn tubes, no lenses. $250.00
Runco DTV 947: White, 248 hours, literally a new
set. $1000.00
Runco DTV 947: Black, 4900 hours, tube wear. $350.00
Runco DTV 940: 2071 hours, no wear. $700.00
Runco DTV 943: 4528 hours, light green wear. $500.00
Runco DTV 943: 926 hours, no wear $800.00
Runco DTV 940: White, 14401 hours, no wear (retubed?).
$600.00
Runco DTV 947: White, 1980 hours, light green wear.
$500.00
Runco DTV 863: Black, 5980 hours, green wear. $350.00
Runco DTV 943:: Worn tubes. $300.00
Runco DTV 943: 373 hours, literally new. $1000.00
Runco 760: Video only projector, value only for the
tubes. I’ll part this one out here if
someone wants to save on shipping costs. $150.00
Approx 10 more Runco DTV/Barco 708 sets
nonworking shape, priced TBA once I check them out.
Electrohome ECP 4500+: Good tubes, powers up, this is the latest version of the ECP
series of sets, has the sharper 07MS tubes
installed.
$250.00
7-8" sets (NEC PG based)
Runco 900: Black, 2900 hours, good tubes. $500.00
Runco 900: Black, 4200 hours, worn tubes. $250.00
Runco 900: White, 1265 hours, good tubes. $600.00
more Runco/NEC PG sets in nonworking shape.
Prices TBA once I run through them.
8" sets
Vidikron Vision 2/Marquee 8500: White, 3006 hours. Very light
green wear. $1600 with the lightly worn green, or
$2000 with a new green tube installed.
Sony G70: 2458 hours, very low
wear on the green. $1500 as is, or $2400 with a
brand new set of tubes installed (original Sony).
Barco 808: Good condition, unknown hours, tubes in
excellent shape. $1500.00
Runco DTV 991: 4600 hours, green and blue wear.
$400.00
NEC XG 85: 110 original hours, literally as new.
$1700.00
Marquee 8500: Excellent tube condition. $1500.00
Approx 1-2 additional NEC XG sets in boxes, untested.
3 more Barco 808, untested, minimal tube wear. Prices TBA.
9" sets
Runco DTV 1000: 4928 hours, light green wear.
$2000.00
Runco DTV 1100: worn tubes, parts value only. $450.00
Runco
DTV 1100: 4139 hours, no wear on tubes. $2500.00
Runco
DTV 1100: 2930 hours, light green wear. $2000.00
Also in this lot are a whole bunch of video
scalers and Runco processors that came with the
above sets. I’ll need to go through these, but
figure on $25-50 per scaler, depending on the model.
More info to be announced as we go through them.
Accessories
DVDO HD scaler: Excellent condition, original
box, remote and instructions included. $75.00
Marquee video switcher: With 2 RGB and 2 Video/Svideo
cards. $50.00
Barco 800 switchers with various input cards: Free
for the cost of shipping.
ECP switchers with various cards installed: Free for
the cost of shipping.
45’ RGBHV cable: Very thick, very high quality.
$50.00
Questions? Email Curt!
More Products »
AccuPel DVG-5000 Video Test Pattern Generator
April 19, 2011
What the pro's use to calibrate! Buy direct from
our ChromaPure partner at prices lower than buying
off their own website! Same product, same support,
just more money in your pocket at the end of the
day.
ORDER NOW »
The
AccuPel DVG-5000 is the latest in a line of
highly-regarded video test pattern generators
designed by renowned video engineer Greg Rogers.
Our
ChromaPure partner is now the exclusive distributers of this AccuPel devices and
CurtPalme.com is able to offer this product at a special discounted price!
The digital-only DVG-5000 offers several enhancements over earlier AccuPel
devices, including new test patterns and native HDMI output all at a lower
price.
The new AccuPel DVG-5000 is fully integrated with
ChromaPure Video Display Calibration Software
and can be bundled with any colorimeters or spectroradiometer.
Contact us for details.
Why use a test pattern generator? Why not use a test
disc for calibration?
There are two reasons to use a high-quality test
pattern generator:
- Accuracy:
Thousands of hours of engineering effort has
gone into creating the AccuPel line of
generators all for the purpose of creating test
patterns of the highest possible quality. All
professional calibrators should use an external
video test pattern generator, such as the
AccuPel.
- Speed:
Each
AccuPel ships with a remote control that allows
very rapid access to any test pattern. More
importantly, the AccuPel interfaces a PC and
video calibration software, such as
ChromaPure, via USB. This allows the
software to control the AccuPel automatically.
This means that whenever the user takes a
measurement from the software, the AccuPel first
provides the necessary test pattern without
further user invention. If you have not used
automation with your calibration sessions, you
cannot imagine how much faster the process flows
and how much easier the calibration procedures
become.
Pattern generators
are what the pro's use. Professionals start by
calibrating just the display, as accurately as they
can get it. A pattern generator like the
AccuPel DVG-5000 would be used, which they
know they can trust. A professional calibrator works
backwards up the chain and calibrate each input
separately. If the DVD or Blu-ray player is skewed,
they'll want to set a mode on the display that
compensates for it, but they won't want to use that
mode when, say, cable TV is being watched.
Professionals know that they have no idea what
the customer’s DVD or Blu-ray player is putting out,
but they know they can trust their pattern
generator. If you paid a professional to come
calibrate your home theater, they would ’d bring in
a pattern generator like the
AccuPel DVG-5000. Now you can do that too,
at a price that is a fraction of the cost of some
competing pattern generators.
Questions? Email us at:
chromapure@curtpalme.com
More Information »
ChromaPure 2.1 now available
March
19, 2011
ChromaPure 2.1 is now shipping!
Upgrades for 2.0 users is free,
email us
for details. 1.x users can
upgrade at our CurtPalme.com discounted price of
$55.95.
ORDER NOW »
This is a significant upgrade, in many ways
even more profound an upgrade than 2.0!
New features in ChromaPure 2.1
- The Advanced Color Management module has
been completely redesigned with significant new functionality, including:
- All data is saved.
- All data may be exported and shared as
charts, raw xyY and dE, or in an Advanced Color Management Report.
- New charts showing dE and luminance
performance at all points.
- The ability to use information from
this module to calibrate to 75% Rec. 709 in the standard Color
Management module.
- The method for training a field meter to match
the response of a reference meter has been completely redesigned from using
linear offsets to a four-color matrix calculation. This significantly improves
the accuracy of readings in the Advanced Color Management module and will
slightly improve accuracy throughout. This new method applies to both the Meter
Offset (renamed Meter Correction) module and PRO meters (new licenses will need
to be issued for these).
- The signal generator feature has been
completely redesigned with significant new functionality, including:
- Port settings for serial devices are now
sticky per device chosen.
- Users may now setup a signal generator,
begin work, and then change the parameters of the signal generator without
closing and restarting the application.
- When you setup a signal generator, close
the application and then restart, ChromaPure remembers your generator
settings and automatically applies them. You can begin work immediately.
- The Quantum Data 780/Sencore MP500 test
pattern generators now support user-selectable 100% and 75% patterns and RGB/YCbCr
color spaces. The Lumagen Radiance now also supports user-selectable 100%
and 75% patterns.
- The Pre/Post-Calibration Grayscale modules now
include percentage output information and an option to display gamma data in a
line chart or curve chart.
- The Data Conversions module now includes a
color difference section in which the user can enter reference and test colors
in xyY and see dE in all of the four major dE methods and percentage errors in
hue, saturation, and lightness.
- The application now uses a rolling average to
improve consistency for low-light readings when using the Hubble colorimeter.
- White and black pluge patterns have been added
to the built-in test patterns.
- The Gamma module now supports readings at all
5% increments.
- The Lumens Calculator has been completely
redesigned. You can now enter information about lumens, lux, foot lamberts, or
cd/m2, provide information about the screen, and then the module calculates
results in lumens, lux, foot lamberts, and cd/m2.
- ChromaPure now supports the AccuPel
DVG-5000 video test signal generator.
Enhanced features in ChromaPure 2.1
- The appearance of the White Balance module
has been significantly enhanced.
- The appearance of the Color Management
module has been significantly enhanced.
Bug fixes in ChromaPure 2.1
- The accuracy of the CIE94 dE method has
been improved.
- The Built-in test patterns no longer show a
duplicate window.
- The Display 2 meter can now be initialized
after using the i1Pro without restarting the application.
- Some users had experienced random freezes
when using the Display 2 meter. This has been fixed.
New Videos
Confused about meters? See our
FAQ: Which meter
is right for me?
Questions? Email us at:
chromapure@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Felston DD740 Digital Audio Delay: Last chance to
save $50!
March
17, 2011
$50
off promotion ends March 31, 2011! ORDER NOW »
When you watch TV or movies, do you ever notice
how picture and sound are sometimes OUT OF SYNC? The
presenter's lips don't move quite at the same time
as their voice? Irritating isn't it. This is known
as lip sync error.
Lip sync error affects a huge number of displays,
including modern plasma TVs, LCD screens, DLP TVs
and digital projectors.
What causes lip sync error?
There are many causes but most boil down to the
video signal being delayed more than the audio
signal allowing speech to be heard 'before' the lip
movement that produced it is seen.
Digital image processing within broadcasts and
within modern displays delays video and allows audio
to arrive too soon.
Sound "before" the action that produces it can never
occur in nature and is therefore very disturbing
when the brain tries to process this conflicting and
impossible visual and aural information.
How do you fix lip sync error?
The only way to correct lip-sync error caused by
delayed video is to delay audio an equal amount.
The
Felston DD740 digital audio delay solves
lip-sync error by letting you add an audio delay to
compensate for all the cumulative video delays - no
matter what their cause - at the touch of a button
on its remote.
Unlike the audio delay feature found in most a/v
receivers, the
DD740 is designed for easy
"on-the-'fly" adjustment while viewing with no image
disturbance. This makes fine tuning for perfect
lip-sync practical as it changes between programs or
discs, and the DD740's 680ms delay corrects larger
lip-sync errors common in HDTV.
Questions? Email us at:
lipfix@curtpalme.com
More Information »
Pre-Spring Clearout!
March
4, 2011
See our
CRT Primer to read why CRT projectors are still used in home
theaters where picture quality is paramount. Our
Projector Rankings page will show you how they
stack up. Not sure what
projector is right
for you? Email Curt
for help!
Here are a few select projectors that I’m selling
off inexpensively, as I got a great deal on these
when I purchased them. All are fully tested and
throw a great image.
- Sony D50
(QTY 1): This is a good compact little 800
lumen CRT projector, great for 1080i and 720p HD
images. c/w remote and ceiling bracket. Light
16:9 green wear, the blue and red tubes are in
excellent shape. If you’re using a worn tube
D50, here’s a great way to upgrade to a lightly
used projector. $450.00
- NEC 6 and 9
PG projectors (QTY 2): I got a great deal on
two sets of mint PG CRT tubes, so I will put
them into any of the NEC PG projectors I have
here. The tubes look as new, no visible wear on
any of them. I have 6 and 9 PG projectors here.
These sets put out 800 lumens, are EM focusing
for a sharp image, and the NEC PG series has
been a very reliable unit and I’ve sold dozens
of them. c/w ceiling bracket and remote. $600
each. If you already have a worn tube NEC PG,
and don’t need the ceiling mount or remote,
knock $100 off the price. A great way to upgrade
either from a set that has seen better days, or
if you’re using an ES focusing projector, here’s
your chance to get into an EM focusing projector
for cheap.
- Runco 980
Ultra/NEC 6 PG Xtra projector (QTY 1): Low
hours, light 16:9 wear on the green tube only. A
good upgrade from an ES focusing projector, and
it provides a bit more punch from a plain NEC PG
or PG+ projector. Point board installed. $600
c/w ceiling bracket and remote. $100 off if you
don’t need the remote or ceiling bracket.
- Runco DTV
991/NEC XG 110 projector (QTY 2): I just got
this unit in from a local installation. The set
only has 1200 hours on the chassis, and as a
result the set is in great shape. Runco added an
electric screen connector and painted the white
NEC case black. The case is in good shape with
minimal marks on it. The set throws an amazing
picture, and will last for years. $1100 with
remote and ceiling bracket, knock $100 off if
you want to upgrade an existing NEC projector
and you already have the remote and ceiling
bracket. A rare opportunity to get into an
excellent 8” 1200 lumen EM focusing projector.
- Ampro 4600
(QTY 1): This is Ampro’s top of the line 9”
projector, and this particular unit is one that
was manufactured after Ampro shut down, as it
has the Elite Video stickers on it. Very light
16:9 wear on the green tube, the R and B tubes
are in great shape. c/w ceiling bracket and
remote. 1080p capable without the image shift
issue that some of the early 4600s had.
$1000.00.
We also have other makes and models (as well as
other A/V products) listed in our
eBay store!
Graphic Artist/Designer needed!
I am ramping up a second website that I want to
have look similar to the
www.curtpalme.com
website. The site is up (www.soundsolutionscanada.com),
but it lacks the graphics work that is on the CP
site. I’m looking to work with someone on an ongoing
basis that can supply good looking graphics the way
the CP site has. I have a webmaster that can put the
information on the site, I need someone to make my
tech articles and the graphics on the site look
good. As the site expands, I could also use some
simple CAD type drawings to illustrate some of the
tech articles I’m writing, as I’m finding out that
there’s very little in the way of basic sound system
tech info on the internet currently.
Ideally, I’d work with someone that would take a
CRT projector in trade for some work, the way I did
it with Kal for the CP site, but I’m flexible. If
you have some spare time and are good with Photoshop
or similar and have a good eye for what looks good,
let’s talk!
Questions? Email Curt!
More Products »
HDMI 1.3 input card for NEC XG/Runco 991
available once again
February
15, 2011
If you're looking at adding an
HDMI 1.3 input card
to your NEC XG or Runco 991 CRT projector, now's your chance!
Due to popular demand, Moome's decided to make another batch of his
XG-FULLHD HDMI 1.3 input
card after being sold out for almost 12 months.
The XG-FULLHD card is now available again at a special $50 off pre-order price.
The estimated ship date of mid-April 2011. Quantities are limited, first come
first, served!
If
you're interested in adding HDMI 1.3 to your NEC XG or
Runco 991 to get into Blu-ray and other
high end video, this is the card to do it with.
Reviews/Testimonials
"I received my XG-FULLHD HDMI card today and I love it!
The picture is much better than what I was seeing previously. I was using a Sony BD300 and VP30 video processor and was never very happy with
it. Now I have the VP30 plugged directly into the new HDMI card and the picture
is sensational. Couldn't believe how easy it was to install and setup.
Thanks Moome!!" - Rob
"...very quick install/setup and first impressions are that the XG-FULLHD
card is noticeably sharper than my previous setup..." - Lance
"There is no doubt the XG-FULLHD card creates an image that is better than
the previous DVI card...colors are more natural, test patterns are sharper.
Is the card worth it? That would depend on your budget, and what you expect out
of this product. For myself, I say yes it's worth it... The PQ has taken a
step forward, and just looks 'right'. This card IS a step up in all areas of
image reproduction." - KennyG
"The color rendition of the Moome [XG-FULLHD] card is really quite
impressive. The first thing that hit me when going back to the DVI card was
how much better the HDMI card did to create a vividly lifelike image with more
subtle gradients. " - JArseneau
"The image is very sharp and the colours wonderfully vibrant and
realistic! The black levels are outstanding!! Its certainly given this XG135
a few more good years without missing out on the latest Hi def formats." -
Alan
"Finally installed my Moome XG-FULLHD card into my XG135LC. All sources fed
through a VP50 and the results are stunning. Had the projector calibrated by ISF
tech. Worth every cent." - Andrew John
"Installation could not have been more simple which was a relieve to
me. As a matter of fact, I had more trouble running my 20’ HDMI cable through
the attic than I did installing this card. It literally is a matter of removing
two screws and replacing the blank panel with this card. The Moome card looked
physically like it was always in the XG. That is to say, it doesn’t look like a
mod or add on but rather an OEM piece. I
figured that I am about as familiar with the Fifth Element on Blu-ray as any
other title I have so that was the first thing I popped in the Panasonic BD30
player. My split second first impression of the image was that it was
noticeably sharper than my previous setup and I
was pretty sure that I was seeing a vividness of color that was not present
before. Previous user reviews of this card kept coming to mind and I have to
say that I agree with most everything that has been said here. For instance, a
comment regarding less noise in the image really made sense to me as that
was my impression as well. An overall smoothness which cleaned up the image a
good bit without softening fine details in the slightest. I switched back
and forth between my sources (Blu Ray, HD-DVD, HD Cable) and never once did the
card miss a beat or the projector click like it used to when changing sources."
- Dropzone7
Questions? Email us at:
moomecard@curtpalme.com
More Information »
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