IandMR wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 7:02 am
I still get the impression that PVMs for most people have the edge over an RGB CRT Trinitron but that for some the latter's more familiar feel (going back to gaming in the 80s and 90s) is better.
This is the main problem with this subject, because while technically PVMs are undoubtedly better, that doesn't necessarily translate as a direct benefit in this use case. Simply put, the majority of the most popular retro gaming in the Eighties (and even early Nineties) was done on RF / Composite equipped TVs. Exception here being PC gaming, but that didn't really take off till Nineties, and RGB monitors for microcomputers were very expensive. This is something devs were of course aware of and it was quite often utilised by them - from the assorted, well known tricks, to the fact that the softer image served as natural, free antialiasing. Different shadowmasks also produce different, distinctive looks.
Secondly, not all PVMs are equal, it's all about TVLs and inputs involved. The cheaper models on ebay might have only 400-600 TVLs and S-Video, and that's really not much different than a modern RGB Trinitron or other top brand model. The higher end PVM/BVMs, with more TVLs will cost arm and leg these days, with bigger un's (>14") starting at 1200USD min. And 800 TVL and up is where you get the extreme scanlines - but that's another acquired taste, which for me is a bit of an internet-driven craze, tbh. Back in the day nobody would willingly want a window-blinds effect in their games. Sure, sharper image can look good, or interesting at least, but I think it largerly depends on a type of a game. I think for some it works well, eg Amiga Workbench, or text & detail-heavy games benefit greatly, others not so much. But this, again, is personal preference territory, not some stone cold gospel (same for flat vs curved, people will talk about geometry issues on the former but, honestly, these things are mostly visible only when you look for them).
I'm about to release a big update for my CRT SCR$ project soon, which has a lot of PVM/BVM photos. If you're interested I can post a few comparison shots here later (though it never works as well as looking at it in person).
As for longevity, there are no rules in this game, because of time periods, uncertainity, and entropy involved. I think you can check the hours on BVMs, but the PVMs are a great unknown, even though of course they were built to last and are more reliable than normal TVs, especially older models. But that still doesn't guarantee that yours won't pack it in the next day after you dropped hundreds of $s on it. After all, most of them were utilised in heavy duty use conditions. Meanwhile, you might find a consumer set that somebody kept in a spare bedroom and turned on 10 times a year, and it will go on fine for another decade or two. Nobody knows. For that reason, it's best to first check if there is somebody capable of TV repairs in your area before spending big (some of them are trivial for an experienced person, like caps replacement, but for me it's mission impossible. I nearly wrote a will before attempting a very simple sharpness adjustment on my allegedly perfect 20" PVM.)
That's related to thorr's advice from the earlier post, to just get one and test ride it if you want to scratch that itch, and sell on later if you don't need it anymore. This is usually pretty sound idea, which I use myself for a lot of modern/retro gear, the one problem here is the cost/bulk/fragility ratio. Unless you find one in driving distance and can pick it up yourself (and for 20" you will need 2 people - these behemoths are unwieldy and weight over 30kg) you are risking the shipping lottery which I mentioned in my 1st post. And when selling, you will face the same problem of packing the thing, carrying, finding a palette, etc. And it's still not a guarantee of flawless delivery. The smaller, 14" models, are a bit easier to deal with but still carry a risk. Eg my 400 USD, 800 TVL PVM (14E4), advertised as perfectly flawless, with a lot of good pics, by trusted seller who packed it profesionally, arrived with a small chip in the middle of the glass. It's tiny, but at this level you expect perfection and it can ruin your day. Don't know whether it has happened in delivery or the seller did not mention it, but that's definitely something to consider when thinking about the risk vs cost quagmire.
Overall, they can be a fun thing to have and possibly a good investment too, but it's good to be aware of all the potential issues and caveats.
