Finaly got some new gear...

bubba966 · « **on:** 21 Jun 2005, 01:47 am »

After living with the same display for 5 1/2 years or so (yeah, I know. But it was a really, really nice 4:3 set...

) I finally upgraded today.

Sold my old set, and a couple of other things and got a demo model Loewe.

A 30" 16:9 Loewe Aventos CRT.

I'd wanted a Loewe 30" Articos, but missed out on that possibility over a year ago. The Articos is a better set than the Aventos. As it should be since the Articos was $5,700 while the Aventos was $2,000. But as I didn't have the $2K last year to get one of the closeout Articos models I thought I'd never pick up a Loewe (they aren't sold in the US anymore

). Turns out my local shop still had an Aventos and gave me a killer deal on it ($499!

).

Yeah, this was a shouldn't/shouldn't situation (shouldn't really pick it up, but shouldn't pass it up either). And the shouldn't pass it up part won out this time.

Man this thing is going to be killer once I get it calibrated...

Scott F. · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Jun 2005, 02:07 am »

Bubba,

Thats one screamin' deal. $499, I'm jealous

I tried talking my wife into one a few years back except it was the larger model. Needless to say that conversation went absolutely nowhere. Louvve makes one killer TV.

Enjoy!

bubba966 · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Jun 2005, 07:49 pm »

Quote from: Scott F.

Bubba,

Thats one screamin' deal. $499, I'm jealous

Yeah, couldn't pass that one up.

You can't even get some nasty ass 30" 16:9 tube for that price. And the Aventos has a better picture than even Sony's 30" XBR (which is what, $1,500 or so? )

Quote from: Scott F.

I tried talking my wife into one a few years back except it was the larger model. Needless to say that conversation went absolutely nowhere. Louvve makes one killer TV.

Larger model a few years ago huh? That musta been the 38" Aconda 16:9 tube that was $5,500 new. Decent set, but the 30" Aconda had a much better picture IMO.

I think the Aventos I got has a bit better picture than the 30" Aconda. And it's certainly better than the 38" Aconda. But the 30" Aventos isn't quite as nice as the 30" Articos.

You know Scott, last I checked the local shop still had a 38" Aconda. I think they were trying to sell it for around $1,500. I can ask them if they've still got it if you'd like. I know they've shipped gear across the country before...

Quote from: Scott F.

Enjoy!

Oh, I am.

Watched X-Men 2 last night. Even though I've not calibrated it at all, it kicked ass.

I've been drooling over the Loewe's for years. And I've needed a 16:9 set for a few years as well. I actually burned in 2.35:1 & 1.85:1 areas on my 4:3 32" Toshiba Cinema Series CRT Direct View set within about a year. Too much WS material with no FS stuff being played.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jun 2005, 06:29 am »

I bet HALO 2 will rock on that bad boy!

bubba966 · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jun 2005, 10:09 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

I bet HALO 2 will rock on that bad boy!

It might.

I don't know yet though as my 'box isn't currently hooked up.

Should be a quick enough fix though.

Woodsea · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jun 2005, 07:50 am »

Brian,
How come you did not go the front projector route? I absolutely love mine and am the envy of all who come to movie night at Woodsea's

You did get a spanking deal

bubba966 · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Jun 2005, 05:45 am »

I've actually got a FP w/7' screen sitting in the corner. Not using it because I think it looks like shit. And I'm sitting too close anyways for a 7' LCD image.

The Loewe has got the best PQ I've seen short of the $6K Loewe model & 35mm film. Doubt I could find the nicer Loewe model. And running film is a damn pain in the ass as well as horribly spendy.

If you make it back to Seattle and have a chance to stop by you'll see why I'm using a 30" 16:9 tube...

bubba966 · « **Reply #7 on:** 31 Jul 2005, 07:53 am »

Wayne of Bolder Cables was just over here.

I think he was a bit impressed with the Loewe....

Especially considering that I got it for under $500.

It's funny. Before the Loewe got turned on he says "that's way too small for me". After seeing it in action the picture size wasn't an issue any more. Went from "gee, that's way to small" to "damn that picture's fucking amazing. it sucks you right into the movie so well that the small size doesn't matter".

Was definitely one of the highlights of the evening...

mca · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Aug 2005, 02:00 am »

Have you had a chance to calibrate the Loewe yet? Just wondering what your thoughts are after it has been all tuned up.

Marbles · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Aug 2005, 02:24 am »

Quote from: bubba966

Wayne of Bolder Cables was just over here.

I think he was a bit impressed with the Loewe.... Especially considering that I got it for under $500.

It's funny. Before the Loewe got turned on he says "that's way too small for me". After seeing it in action the picture size wasn't an issue any more. Went from "gee, that's way to small" to "damn that picture's fucking amazing. it sucks you right into the movie so well that the small size doesn't matter".

Was definitely one of the highlights of the evening...

Almost sounds like you were watching a porno movie.....

bubba966 · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Aug 2005, 06:13 am »

Quote from: mca

Have you had a chance to calibrate the Loewe yet? Just wondering what your thoughts are after it has been all tuned up.

Have still only done a quick calibration with a slight bit of geometry adjustment. Turns out it the color/contrast/brightness/sharness/etc. was almost spot on when I got it. A little fine tuning was needed, but the pq didn't change a whole lot. 'course I thought it was great to begin with. Shouldn't have been too surprised to find out it was pretty well calibrated when I got it.

But the overscan was off, as was the placement of the image on the screen. So I did a quick re-adjust of the overscan & picture placement through the service menu.

I could still tweak the geometry a bit more. Especially if I get into the other geometry settings. Not sure if I want to do too much more though. Wouldn't want to damage the set by screwing with the wrong setting in the service menu.

While it looks great right now, I'd still like to get it ISF'd someday. But that''ll come close to costing as much to ISF it as it did for me to buy it!

Quote from: Marbles

Quote from: bubba966
Wayne of Bolder Cables was just over here.

I think he was a bit impressed with the Loewe.... Especially considering that I got it for under $500.

It's funny. Before the Loewe got turned on he says "that's way too small for me". After seeing it in action the picture size wasn't an issue any more. Went from "gee, that's way to small" to "damn that picture's fucking amazing. it sucks you right into the movie so well that the small size doesn't matter".

Was definitely one of the highlights of the evening...

Almost sounds like you were watching a porno movie.....

Of course you'd be the one to say that...