TV Logic LCD Display - CRT Replacement? Could be!

So we've had a lot of discussions on the Final Cut Pro and Apple Color forums about what can we use to replace the current Broadcast CRT monitors that are EOL? I've not been overly impressed with the current crop of LCD monitors out there. My favorite to date, the Panasonic 1700W and 2600W are both good, but cannot completey replace my Sony CRT Broadcast monitor.

Well yesterday I got a demo of the new TV Logic 24" LCD Broadcast display and I have to say, WOW! I think we have a real contender for CRT replacement at a price that won't completely break the bank. Yes, it's expensive, but it's about 1/3 the price of what I've been seeing touted as a "True CRT Replacement" from other companies. Here's my intial thoughts on the monitor as I reported in the Apple Color forum yesterday. http://forums.creativecow.net/viewforum/223#2

Left to Right: Sony PVM20L5/1, TV Logic 24" with 64% ND Filter, Panasonic 1700W. Note the Sony is closest to the camera so it appears to be the largest display, but the TV Logic actually is.

Ok, first impression. WOW! They brought in two 24" models, one with a 32% ND filter and one with no filter. I didn't realize you could get an ND filter and it actually does make a difference in the image. Excellent demonstration by the TV Logic representative who spent the first 45 minutes really showing us all the various features and settings using a lot of test patterns and motion tests so we could really see what the LCD can and cannot do. First off, all the controls you would expect with a professional CRT monitor and a few more. Dual SDI (HD/SD) inputs are standard with loop through, Analog Component, S-Video and Composite are supported. Even 16 channels embedded audio are supported via SDI. Dual Link SDI is an option that is simply unlocked via a password input. Ok, HD looked spectacular as it should since it's a 1080 native display. Colors were within 1% to my Sony CRT. The Sony was a touch more red, but the TV Logic display can be fully tweaked, we left it at the factory calibrated settings. I liked the 1:1 option for 720p material. When playing 720p you can have the display up-scale the image to fill the 1080 screen or simply play it back in 1:1 scaling which is a nice option. Ok, here's what really impressed me. Standard Def playback. They have a 2:1 scaling option that presents high quality standard def playback. Full screen resolution fell apart a bit like I would expect with an LCD scaling SD footage up, but in the 2:1 scaling mode, it was extremely clean. With SD, the colors were spot on to my Sony CRT. The monitor can be set into an 'interlace' mode that accurately replicates what I see on the CRT both in HD and SD. You can turn this off by using a "Fast" mode but I actually preferred seeing this on. I played back an SD project I finished two weeks ago and could accurately see some of the interlacing issues a Map graphic was showing on the Sony CRT. We tried the unit out for about 2 and a half hours and I'm just really really impressed with it. I have to say, this really is a potential CRT replacement monitor. I would color grade on it and actually will get a chance to do that shortly. I'm going to get another one of these units in a few weeks with a 62% ND filter as I found the 32% filter a little too dark for my work. The rep said the 64% filter more replicates the brightness of my Sony CRT. The unit without the filter was just too bright. So in a few weeks I will get one with the correct filter and we'll have it fully calibrated to replicate my Sony. Then I'll write a full review on it. But WOW! Thanks to Christian Betong bringing these monitors to my attention! List US Price is approx. $8,000.

Left to Right: Sony PVM20L5/1, TV Logic 24" with 64% ND Filter, Panasonic 1700W. Note the Sony is closest to the camera so it appears to be the largest display, but the TV Logic actually is.