-40%

Sony PVM-L3200 32" Trimaster Video Monitor, great D32 CRT retro game alternative

$ 343.2

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Display Type: LCD
  • Type: Video Monitor
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
  • Screen Size: 32 in
  • Brand: Sony
  • Connectivity: 3G-SDI
  • Condition: Fully working prior to shipping, but listing "as is" due to inability to make guarantees if shipped. Click "read full description" for all details, and see all pictures.
  • Model: Sony PVM-L3200
  • MPN: PVM-L3200

    Description

    Ships from NY, same or next business day after payment.
    Also available for local pickup. Best Offer will only be considered for local pickup.
    Although this rare monitor could still be used for professional and commercial applications as originally intended, this is less likely given that newer options are available for that sector, so I am advertising it mainly as an option for movie and gaming enthusiasts to enjoy an extremely high-level picture quality and other benefits at this relatively large screen size for a low price.
    I think of this as a BVM-D32 alternative--with an actually bigger viewable area, and perfect convergence/linearity ;)--for leaner pockets (and less lifting strength and space!). Given its features it's also a great alternative for any other multiformat CRT, or CRTs in general (and at 57lbs, weighs less than a 14'' CRT BVM).
    The L-series of Sony PVMs and BVMs was introduced a couple of years after the last Sony professional CRTs, the A-series, with the deliberate goal of offering professionals something truly good enough to replace them. This meant that Sony had to include all the features that would offer comparable benefits to CRTs, while trying to overcome the disadvantages of LCDs that kept many from making the transition. For us now, this means that monitors like this one have features that turn out to be beneficial for retro gaming and other older video content like DVDs, Laserdiscs, VHS, etc. These are some of those features:
    1. A high grade custom wide color gamut CCFL 120Hz 10bit (per
    RGB color)
    driver, 12bit output 1080p panel capable of accurately reproducing CRT colors (SMPTE-C and EBU phosphors) and CRT gamma, as well as other color matrices for HD content (which multiformat CRTs cannot do).
    2. True interlaced reproduction of SD (480i/576i) and HD (1080i) content, with no I/P conversion, artifacts, or delay, reproducing the authentic look of interlaced pictures on a CRT (in fact with less noticeable flicker than on the PVM and CRT BVMs). Top quality deinterlacing is also available.
    3. SD (480i or 576i) and ED (480p or 576p) content can be integer scaled 2x or aspect corrected for SD content which used non-square pixels (both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios are displayed correctly) with no loss to picture quality whatsoever.
    4.
    1080p and 1080i sources are displayed full screen with no scaling, and other resolutions like 720p, 480p, and 480i, as well as PC/VESA resolutions can be displayed either with unscaled 1:1 pixel perfect matching or scaled.
    5. Black frame insertion to greatly improve motion resolution.
    6. Black detail mode to improve LCD blacks.
    7. No noticeable input delay, since unlike commercial TVs there is no needless processing applied to inputs. I have not measured lag on this monitor, but as someone who still uses CRTs and is used to their fast response I can say added lag is not a problem at all with this monitor.
    All content from 480i to 1080p looks great and can be displayed via HDMI, while analogue sources only need an analogue to digital converter in pass-through mode (such as a RetroTINK-5X, GBS-C, OSSC, Framemeister, etc.). 240p sources can also be displayed with any of those retro game scalers at 5X without further scaling on the display for a crisp picture.
    As for the monitor's condition, it is fully working without functional issues. The screen is free of scratches as it has had a protective plate that can be removed or placed back--I will sell it with the protection plate on for safe transport/shipping, and the new owner can leave it in place or remove it for purer colors and less reflections. The panel is healthy, has 43k hours on it but still gets perfectly bright at normal white and black level settings, and with stable accurate colors. I believe it was used lightly and with varied content as a presentation monitor at Univision. I scanned the screen for any stuck pixels and only found two that are only really noticeable against a bright solid color (see last photo), not really on normal content. I have seen pixels like this get unstock after the panel is powered on for some time (this one has been unplugged for a while), but I can't make guarantees. Cosmetically the frame is in good condition (see pictures).
    I will sell it with HDMI input as the default to make it most easy to use even if you don't have a BKM-16R or 15R controller unit, but I do recommend getting one to have full control of all features. You can usually find one for about 0 or less if you wait for a deal.
    I've used another L3200 unit (this one was my backup) for a while. IMO this model is ideal for plenty of SD and HD content. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about how to get the most out of these monitors.