So when I heard about SED a few years ago and learned about how it worked and how fundamentally similar to CRT it was, I was over the moon.

It’s just so disappointing to see this wonderful technology languishing. History has a habit of repeating itself and the superior product doesn’t get up. Will it ever get up? I wonder.

In the meantime I’m seriously considering buying a second-hand widescreen 82cm (36″) CRT. People often list them on eBay because they want to upgrade to a bigger screen. This size is big enough for me and these sets are mostly high spec and can handle high definition, usually with a set-top box. Some of the Panasonic and Sony models have fantastic clarity. I’m sure many would think me crazy to want to “downgrade” like this, but I don’t want or need a big, modern screen, I just want a clear screen. I’m just very fussy.

Tue 28 Apr 2009
SED still breathing

Sorry for the de de de moment of brain fade as Carlos Mencia would say.

Thanks,

Steve

In April 2009 during NAB 2009, Peter Putman was quoted as saying “I was asked on more than one occasion about the chances of Canon’s SED making a comeback, something I would not have bet money on after the Nano Technologies licensing debacle. However, a source within Canon told me at the show that the SED is still very much alive as a pro monitor technology. Indeed, a Canon SED engineer from Japan was quietly making the rounds in the Las Vegas Convention Center to scope out the competition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_electron-emitter_display

It was taken from this article:

http://displaydaily.com/2009/04/27/nab-2009-the-season-of-their-discontent/

I have a Pioneer Kuro 6010 Plasma (60″) next to a Sony 40″ XBR800 CRT. I also have a Sony 32″ KV-32HS510 CRT that was my main TV from 2000 until 2007.

Here is my situation and observations.

My Sony 32″ is a great TV, but I wanted a bigger size. After researching online and in Home Theater magazines, I went with the Pioneer. The HD picture was outstanding. The SD picture was disappointing. I felt letdown about the SD so I decided to buy a used Sony 40″. After comparing the Sony CRT 40″ and the Pioneer next to each other, the Pioneer was better. This included sources such as Charter Cable, Charter HD through a Scientific Atlanta PVR, ATT U-Verse HD PVR, Panasonic Blu Ray Player, and a Panasonic DVD Recorder with 120 gig hard drive. My conclusion is that the Pioneer magnifies the problem with SD. The SD source looks worse the more it is enlarged but still looks as good as the CRT. I thought I would still use the Sony for SD programs or DVDs, but I only use it for dubbing while watching the Pioneer. I sit 8 feet away from both TVs. I could sit up to about 4 or 5 feet away with the Pioneer. The Sony needs at least an 8 foot viewing distance because any closer the viewer sees the screen door effect.

For me, the Pioneer has made the past CRTs obsolete in a side by side comparison. The Pioneer also made me lose the desire for a front projector system.

I would still buy a SED tomorrow if they were available in any size. My perfect TV would be about a 7′H X 14′W screen SED for about $5000 (Hey, I can dream).