Pioneer Elite RPTV problem solved.

[Happy Camper]

No, no, no. This set is still impressive compared to the flat panels. Better color, blacks and grayscale. The new ones are spectacular in the show room but are bright and fatiguing after a while. The one thing that's a drawback is 1080i vs p but 720 p don't look too bad for sports. The replacement cost of $3500 would have been tough leather to chew, glad I didn't have to give it up (yet). We did swap out our couches with home entertainment chairs though. Soooooo much better on the back.

[pixelthis]

No, no, no. This set is still impressive compared to the flat panels. Better color, blacks and grayscale. The new ones are spectacular in the show room but are bright and fatiguing after a while. The one thing that's a drawback is 1080i vs p but 720 p don't look too bad for sports. The replacement cost of $3500 would have been tough leather to chew, glad I didn't have to give it up (yet). We did swap out our couches with home entertainment chairs though. Soooooo much better on the back.

Well, good luck with that ace, but RPTV tubes are driven much harder than direct view CRTS, the fact that they have lasted so long is a miracle, but I BET THEY ARE QUITE DIM.
Its called viewer acclimation, you gradually get used to a gradually
dimmer and dimmer pic.
With a 55" panel selling for less than 1400 (for a decent one)
your sets days are numbered, because you are looking at not one, but three replacement tubes, if you can find them.
But don't fret, after looking at 1080p for awhile the tears shed for your big screen homeless condo will be few, especially when
you free up enough floor space for another bedroom.