PVM 2030 CRT Retro Gaming Review

[@jimellis5604]

I wish you would upload more. You're very funny, so it doesn't matter what the video is about.

[@riggel8804]

Thanks! I keep it to once or twice a month. I got a bunch of hobbies and I try to keep it fun.

[@kingloganatorboarding1907]

Such a great picture for the time and still holds up for what it is. So nice if you look really close you can even see the unicorn technology that upscales the picture. 🤘

[@riggel8804]

Haha yeah I figured I'd through on the unicorn suit to review the unicorn CRT.

[@RetrofIex]

What’s funny is that I obsessed for a long time about the gaming aspect, then I just like the CRT and set-up aspect more. I have like 12 consoles in my gaming room and I barely ever play a videogame for more than 10 min due to just being so busy working, but I seem to enjoy cleaning and polishing glass on my CRTs and organizing everything the way I want it to look.

[@riggel8804]

Haha. Your not alone. I think the majority of guys into crts spend more time collecting and tweaking their setup than actually gaming.

[@RetrofIex]

@@riggel8804 it reminds me of middle aged men who collect fancy antique cars that just sit around as decoration and are almost never used except to drive to a show to display it for others

[@riggel8804]

@@RetrofIex Boomers had their cars/music, Gen X had their movies/music, millennials had their video games, Gen Z has their cell phones.

[@RemoWilliams1227]

Soooo very true bro.

[@swardmusic]

Yesss on the audio stuff man. Really loving my pioneer side mount speakers on my old kuro Plasma.

[@riggel8804]

Pioneer made some good stuff. Gonna shoot a audiophile vs videophile video soon. Might interview a boomer.

[@KindaCool]

I've always loved the awesome aesthetic of these, I've lusted after one for quite some time now. The only downside is no on screen menu for geometry, etc, I've gotten used to that with my M2U and would really miss it. Lower endoscopy monitor, ehhh? I'm assuming you wiped this bad-boy down with a lysol wipe or two when you first brought it home? :P

[@riggel8804]

There actually was some old gel caked onto the side when I got it. Doubtlessly used to ease the scope in. Kinda gnarly. One time I was playing a guy Street Fighter 2 Turbo on the 2030. I started telling him the story of the monitor and I noticed it made him uncomfortable so I leaned into the gross part of the story. Totally through him off his game.

[@KindaCool]

@@riggel8804 Ha! That story is sooo Riggel!

[@LameGaming]

Awesome monitor, wish I could find a 2030. I feel you about the 90s sonys.... I kind of like my old 40 series pvms better than my newer m2u's.... Probably because both my m2's ( a 20 and a 14") are on the bench tore down. Did a recap on the 20m2u and brought it back to life, dialed geometry and the picture in then started playing games, within 30 min the geometry started stretching, then the screen started jumping, then full vertical rolling like I lost vertical sync. This was after i fixed the grounding tabs on the back of the tube from shooting lightning bolts, and swapping faulty front control panel pcb. The picture looked great for the 30 minutes it worked but man these m2's seem issue prone. Eventually ill try recapping vertical circuit again, and if that dont work ill swap sync chip and vertical ic's but putting it off because i dont have time. My old 40 series are rock solid after recap and i dont mind tweeking pots instead of having an osd. Anyway, yeah id jump on a 2030 if i could find one cheap that needed a little work. Seems like this era of sonys were more reliable. Edit.... 😆🤣🤣 the unicorn pajamas, was that an easter egg for us to find in the video? Lol

[@KindaCool]

I was thinking maybe this was filmed on Halloween for the unicorn outfit? 😀

[@riggel8804]

yeah it was filmed on Halloween. I had the outfit sitting right there and was like FuKiT.

[@riggel8804]

Yeah dude I been following your pvm struggles on your channel. It's bummer that that's how you got into them. I might of gave up on the m2us after all you have gone through on them but I know how it is when you start a project--got to see it through. Yeah, I filmed on Halloween and had the costume lying on my bed so I just threw it on. It's always a little embarrassing to record crts and see your reflection in the glass so I thought I might as well make a joke out of it. Maybe next time I will film naked or something.

[@LameGaming]

@@riggel8804 I got to be careful what I wish for lol.... Found a pvm 2030 on marketplace 40 min away. Talked to the guy, hes moving to the east coast in a few weeks. I wanted it but didnt want to pay that much. Waited a couple weeks and he offered it to me for almost half price so took the road trip sunday. Tube is nice and bright, has a bit of corner distortion and image bounce... Ill probably order caps for it soon. Love the cube industrial looks of this model! Running out of room lmao

[@riggel8804]

@@LameGaming Sometimes that image bounce goes away once it's been powered on for awhile. I think the caps need to recharge after they've been turned off for a year but I'm sure the thing could use a recap anyways. What do you think about cutting a hole in the side and making a door to access the geometry pots? Sounds like it's time to sell a couple monitors/tvs to make some room. I have to do this myself now whenever I get something new. I'm all maxed out.

[@bearclaw5115]

I just went to a guy's house in Toronto to look at a Sony consumer set and he also had several of these pvm's in his garage. Although they were actually 25's I believe. They looked like really funky cubes, I didn't know Sony made such a thing and I thought they must be s___. Now after watching this video, I think I should have made him an offer on one of them! He also had this enormous crt projector. You know those battery powered toy cars that kids drive around their yard in? This projector was a big as those. I couldn't imagine in what application a old crt projector of that size would be useful, but that's a sign of a true electronics enthusiast! Anyway, this projector must have had some serious magnetism in it because it completely ruined the crt I came to look at that he placed next to it. Be careful where you store your crt's!

[@riggel8804]

Yeah I've picked up a couple magnaised crts--sometimes you can correct it with magnets. You should contact that dude and try and get those pvm2530s. Those are bad ass. There is also a 32 inch variant and the mythical pvm4030!

[@infinity2z3r07]

She still looks nice for an old lady lol...30+ years wow. it would be fun if it had a service menu where you could see the hours edit: got to the part where you said no OSD. Oh well haha

[@crt_rex]

Another banger video and monitor. There's one that looks similar in Europe, but if I recall correctly, it's 27 inches and very low TVL. But let's talk about those pants you're wearing... lol. :) Was that a tail I see dangling? PS: As I watched on, I see it's a unicorn onesie or something, lol.

[@riggel8804]

Yea dude it was feeling the Halloween spirit.

[@crt_rex]

@@riggel8804 Well, we sure laughed when we noticed here, well played. :)

[@John__Olive]

7:45 A bit late to this video but I'd definitely be interested in hearing whatever you know about audio.

[@gamingtv394]

This is my favourite 20” monitor. It has cool old school look, mines is from 1995. I have 2530 as well. Pretty controversial to say this monitor picture quality looks better than a 20M2MDU.

[@riggel8804]

Yeah there a lot of 20m2mdus out there and probably a lot of cheerleaders for them as well. I got one I am going to get around to reviewing eventually. It's a really convenient monitor. I could of picked up a 3230 a couple years back but the dude wanted $500 for it. Fair price but I'm more about that poverty gaming.

[@كلناالحُسين]

❤

[@bogusbogusbogusbogus]

If you made a video talking about audiophile stuff I would watch it

[@riggel8804]

It's coming in the next few months.

[@bogusbogusbogusbogus]

@@riggel8804 awesome man

[@babixillo]

@@riggel8804 i'd watch it too, kinda interested in that subject in complementary of these crts

[@RetrofIex]

Is there any way to fix a Trinitron’s cracked/broken plastic base/foot at the bottom front of the set? I have one from 1998 and it has a great picture (well based on my personal standards) but the base piece that sticks out at the bottom is completely cracked off on one side.

[@riggel8804]

You could just cut a piece of wood to fit the foot on the other side and bolt it in. Or glue it in. Or you could just stack up some card board and set it on it. That's what I used to do....The card board thing. Nothing like a $1000 pvm propped up on beer boxes to warm my heart.

[@RetrofIex]

@@riggel8804 thanks. I figured out the only thing i could really do was use a plastic friendly heavy duty bond like loctite and glue it back together. There is a gap from where a piece broke off but i think if i just cut out a piece of gray duct tape and cover that, it wont look perfect but should improve it alot

[@Dstring611]

Which do you prefer between this and your BVM-1911 and why?

[@riggel8804]

1911. No contest

[@retroromsspa1061]

Exlete monitor