Topic: Monitor question (Read 6179 times)

Schwenny · « **on:** May 12, 2007, 01:21:24 pm »

Hello,
I have an 6 year old Barco monitor that I'm very happy with, now I'm starting to have problems calibrating it. So later this year I'm planning on getting a new flatscreen monitor. Like a lot of other people I have no clue on what to get. Would be nice with a large screen so I've been reading about the NEC SpectraView 2690 (what's the difference to the MultiSync 2690 WUXi?). So basically my question is does anybody know if that monitor will be better or worse than my Barco? Off course I understand that there's always a difference between them since they are totally different kinds of monitors... But I guess that things must have happened in these 6 years since I bought my Barco. Or do I have to buy one of these smaller and incredible expensive NEC or Eizo monitors to come up to the quality of my Barco? Or would even the Apple 30" do the job for me? Or maybe somebody can recommend some other options for me. It doesn't have to be cheap but off course I don't want to spend a fortune if I don't have to...

Håkan

digitaldog · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2007, 11:02:10 am »

IF you're happy with the Barco and it can still get to its target calibration, leave it alone. Ain't nothing out there that will compare to it on the LCD front at any cost if you're still looking for a reference grade display system. Maybe in a few years (or less I hope). I'm still babying my Sony Artisan the same way (but do have a spare). If it ain't broken, keep using it.

Schwenny · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2007, 12:04:56 pm »

Yes, I'm very happy with my Barco. It's just that sometimes I have a problem calibrating it, it says it can't reach target white. But after I while I always seem to be able to calibrate it, and after I always check it and normally it says it's excellent. I'm just worried that my Barco is getting too old, after all I've used it daily for 6 years now.

A client of mine have a few years old Artisan that they don't really use for critical work so would it be better for me try to buy it from them? Or is my Barco still ok since I'm actually able to calibrate it? As far as I can tell everything still looks great on the Barco... How old can an CRT monitor like this one last?

Regards,
Håkan

digitaldog · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2007, 12:29:15 pm »

Quote

Yes, I'm very happy with my Barco. It's just that sometimes I have a problem calibrating it, it says it can't reach target white. But after I while I always seem to be able to calibrate it, and after I always check it and normally it says it's excellent. I'm just worried that my Barco is getting too old, after all I've used it daily for 6 years now.

You may have to lower the target white luminance as this is a sign its wearing down. Or change the geometry to a smaller size to focus the intensity into a smaller area.

Schwenny · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2007, 12:52:32 pm »

Yes that's what I do, it was a suggestion I got from Barco to lower the target white. I normally have it on 80 cd m2, sometimes to be able to calibrate and reach the target white I turn it down to about 75, calibrate it and then turn it back to 80 and calibrate it again without a problem... So the question is how far down can I turn the target white before it's no use for me?

digitaldog · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2007, 01:01:02 pm »

Quote

Yes that's what I do, it was a suggestion I got from Barco to lower the target white. I normally have it on 80 cd m2, sometimes to be able to calibrate and reach the target white I turn it down to about 75, calibrate it and then turn it back to 80 and calibrate it again without a problem... So the question is how far down can I turn the target white before it's no use for me?
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You don't want to do that! If you calibrate it at 75 cd/m2, you have to leave it that way.

Schwenny · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2007, 01:10:58 pm »

But I calibrate it AGAIN after I turn it back to 80. Is that a problem? And after I always check my calibration with the Calibrator Talk software and I always get it to Excellent then. Is it better to have it on 80 or 75 normally? How far down can I turn it without a problem?

digitaldog · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2007, 01:20:38 pm »

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But I calibrate it AGAIN after I turn it back to 80. Is that a problem? And after I always check my calibration with the Calibrator Talk software and I always get it to Excellent then. Is it better to have it on 80 or 75 normally? How far down can I turn it without a problem?
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As long as you calibrate and profile the same behavior, that's fine.

Schwenny · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2007, 01:30:51 pm »

Ok, and any thoughts of far down I can turn it? And is there going to be any difference for me to have it on 75 or 80?

Regards,
Håkan

thompsonkirk · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2007, 01:31:21 pm »

I wonder, Andrew, about the digital-age-old advice that monitors should be replaced every 3 years or so? Is this just because their luminance won't get up to par? Or are there other good reasons for the customary advice?

I just replaced a 5-year-old LaCie CRT with a Cinema Display, & I know these monitors aren't in the Barco-Artisan league. But the LaCie could still pump up matched luminance values of 100 in all channels. I was surprised how precisely the 2 monitors matched while I had them both hooked up & had tamed the ACD's brightness. The main difference was how tired my senior eyes got when I was looking at the CRT.

If the LaCie still meets its WB setting, is it then a solid backup, or can I give it to a Struggling Artist with confidence that it's pretty healthy? I wouldn't want to pass on a dog (if you'll excuse the expression).

Kirk

digitaldog · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2007, 02:16:29 pm »

Quote

Ok, and any thoughts of far down I can turn it? And is there going to be any difference for me to have it on 75 or 80?

Regards,
Håkan
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The differences are tiny and the lumanice is based on ambient light around the unit. So worse case is you need to work in a slightly darker cave like condition.

pfigen · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2007, 02:58:14 am »

The Barco is unique in that you can use the front control panel to tell how many hours the monitor has been on. This will give you a big clue as to whether or not your Barco is nearing its useful life. Barco rates their tubes at 30,000 hours, but if you've gone more than 20,000 on it, it's probably getting time for bed. As far as I know, my Barco was the last one to be repaired by the west coast repair facility and after that, they are apparently not working on them anymore.

Schwenny · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2007, 06:04:10 am »

Quote

The Barco is unique in that you can use the front control panel to tell how many hours the monitor has been on. This will give you a big clue as to whether or not your Barco is nearing its useful life. Barco rates their tubes at 30,000 hours, but if you've gone more than 20,000 on it, it's probably getting time for bed. As far as I know, my Barco was the last one to be repaired by the west coast repair facility and after that, they are apparently not working on them anymore.
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Hmm, when I look it says that I've used it for 46,471 hours... That's about 21 hours a day, every day. But for sure I haven't used it that much, when I leave my studio I turn off my computer, I can't turn off the Barco but it's a black screen. So it seems to count those hours also. The reason why it's not 24 hours a day on average is that when I travel for a couple of months each year I unplug the Barco so it doesn't get any power at all. So maybe at the most I've used it a third of the time it says.

So my question is does those hours count also when it gets some power but the screen is black but the computer is turned off and I'm not using the Barco?

Regards,
Håkan

digitaldog · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:33:49 am »

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So my question is does those hours count also when it gets some power but the screen is black but the computer is turned off and I'm not using the Barco?

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Doesn't matter. The hours are what they are, can you calibrate and maintain the calibration? If so, its workng fine. The old 3 years for a CRT was very average and not something to set your clock to.

pfigen · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2007, 03:15:10 am »

The hours may be what they are, but any monitor with that many hours is probably getting close to the end.

Author Topic: Monitor question (Read 6179 times)