Hey guys, I want to clean the lenses in a big screen tv. The tv is about 8 years old. The image that the tv shows is really faded. You can tell what your watching, but it's just not clear.
I'm pretty sure that if I open up the back of the tv and look for the lenses (red, blue, et cetera), all I will have to do is clean them with some lint-free cloth and windex.. Anyone else have any input? I hope I am doing it right. Or any website that I can go to and get more information?

Thanks,
Evan

 

I'd invest the 100-150 dollars and get a professional to come and clean it. That will help a little, but probably not alot. The lenses/light source naturally fade with age so eventually it will become terminal and you can buy Plasma!

 

Really?
I would hate to have to go buy a Plasma Tv..

 

Evan,

Actually, the problem is probably not a dirty lens. The phosphors in a projection TV fade over time, and they will do so faster if you are running the brightness and contrast too high. Did you ever calibrate the TV in any way? When they come from the manufacturer, the brightness and contrast are usually maxed out which looks horrible and increases wear on the TV immensely. It might just be getting old and you will have to bump up the contrast to adjust for the lower light output caused by age. Once you get to this stage though, it is getting to be on its last legs if you want any kind of a quality image. Hope this helps. To anyone else out there, the first thing you should do when you get a new projection TV is drop the brightness and contrast to around 30% of the default level. Then use a disc like Video Essentials or Avia to fine-tune the display.

 

It's actually my girlfriends parents tv. I just hate looking at how faded the image is. It just looks as if i'm trying to watch tv thru a few layers of dirty glass. I was hoping I could do something nice for them. I guess I still might give it a try and also check the brightness and contrast for them.

By the way, I have a HD 65 inch WideScreen, should I still check the brightness and contrast on it? That's the first thing I will do today when I get home... Thanks..

 

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/

Lots of info for us HT enthusiasts.

 

Evan,

YES!!! You need to check yours out. I have a 56" widescreen HD display as well...they come from the factory looking like shit!!! Buy Video Essentials or Avia, you will not be sorry. I went the extra step and had mine ISF calibrated by a pro, soooooo worth it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by secretvampire
[B]Evan,

YES!!!

 

Yea! A fellow aggie. Who do you use to calibrate it? I use Gregg Lowen who is well known on the Home Theater Forum, he is a miracle worker.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by secretvampire
[B]Yea!