Sometime next year, more Flat Panel video monitors will be sold than "regular" tube monitors. But something in this AP story caught my eye:
Digital CRT sets sold today are capable of handling high-definition TV, and video experts say CRT technology still represents the gold standard in picture quality with the deepest blacks and best color accuracy.
But the performance of LCD and plasma displays have improved dramatically in just the past two years, making the differences in picture quality insignificant to all but discerning videophiles.[Emph. added]
As the son of an audiophile and videophile, I know the buzzwords that the salespeople and installers use for the "One Percenters." Words like, "gold standard," "picture quality," "color accuracy," and "insignificant to all but discerning videophiles." These "One Percenters" are the same people who insist on vacuum tubes for their amplifiers, platinum styluses for their LP record players, and horn geometry for their loudspeakers. I call them dinosaurs. Do not ever tell a dinosaur that a digital signal is just as good as an analog signal. Hoo boy, you wanna see a red face?
Now, I need to make a distinction between One Percenters and sound engineers and video engineers. To the engineers, the raw analog signal is better, since "all" of the signal is present before they do their work on it. But they have instruments and detectors for all that. The One Percenters only have their ears and eyes, and digital signals, engineered properly, fool those senses all the time. It really is a case of The Emperor's New Clothes, where only the "best" or "most discerning" can detect the differences. That all being said, the CRT will still be sold for many years to graphic arts departments because the tube really is the standard for color accuracy, much like photographic film is still the standard for resolution. When it matters, the analog signal is the best. But does the analog signal really matter in your own home? Truly, the money spent on that 20,000 dollar LP player can be spent on something else.
Dear Mr. Joe
ReplyDeleteMy anut does not have a gold TV. We sometimes watch some things on the BetaMax. It is good, but the shows have many lines on them.
Your friend,
Nedra Z.
Hello Nedra Z.
ReplyDeleteI just have to let you know that BetaMax was the superior product in regards to picture quality. Much better than those mean VHS people. But they said Beta was too expensive, and Beta had to go away.
Beta going away made me sad.
Amen, Joe! Preach on, brother! I have a friend that just spent way too much money to rebuild a 1960's (1960's??? - I think) vintage guitar amp, because it "just sounds better". The main tubes were outragously priced, and that didn't count all the other stuff he had to replace. All this might be understandable if he were in a band, but I don't think it makes a difference to his dog, or me, during his basement jam sessions. I personally can't tell any difference between the tube amp and his other "inferior solid state" amp.
ReplyDeleteJoe, as always, you are correct sir. I solute you.
Sincerely,
Lamer er...uh VOR :-)
VoR:
ReplyDeleteOh good, someone knows what I'm talking about. I just heard from my Dad that there is actually an LP player out there that costs $75,000. Yes, as much as a good BMW. Insane, insane I tell you!
Dude - that turntable Dad is talking about cost $90,000. It was on the cover of one of his porn...I mean...stereophile mags.
ReplyDeleteAnd, ahem, as a 1 percenter:
Good Day, Sir!
$75,000 - $90,000 for a turntable?!!!!
ReplyDeleteJeeeez. I knew some of that high-end audiophile stuff was expensive, but ... wow!
I like good music as much as the next guy, but I just can't see myself payin' that much. I guess I will never be a 1 percenter.
Different strokes, for different folks, I guess.
You guys have a great day!