Karaoke Forums

Monitors - which size to get.

I bought a couple of cheap 26" CRT TVs to start myself off with, but they're a pain to transport as you can imagine. Now that I am gigging regularly with karaoke, I want to get LCD monitors & stands.
My question is, which size should I go for? The prices aren't really much different between 17" & 22" but some of the stands only hold up to a 19".

Also, can anyone recommend a good LCD stand from a UK dealer?

If you use LCD monitors, how do you store them? Can you get flight cases for them?

Thanks

For the staging area i've never needed more than a 13" CRT monitor. With the price coming down on LCD tv's, I may go a little bigger.
As far as stands go you may be able to custom make one cheaper than a 'pro' made one.

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Definitely, LCD TV's are getting very cheap especially the smaller ones. I'm trying to get a 52 inch for the house (not for karaoke as I have a smaller one ) but still pretty difficult to find one in the sub-$2000 range. CRT's are pretty much obsolete.

For the singers screen I bought and empty Floor speaker Monitor cabinet, an put a 13" lcd in it. I covered it with a piece of 1/4" plexiglass, so I wouldnt have to worry about it. Power supply and all internal.

Most customers like it, because it isnt apparent to the audience they are reading words off of a tv screen.

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That is a very cool idea. I am going to steal it, just so you know.

Yeah good idea EElvis.

For singers i use a 15 inch lcd that's velcro-mounted on a music sheet stand. I leave the legs at the venue and put the tvs in a 18 gallon rubbermaid container for transport with a lot of other stuff; mics, batts, remotes,etc...

The lcd tvs are polaroid- brand from walmart and were like $290.

Be Careful with those lcd monitors. I bought a sharp a few years back, and I picked it with 2 fingers (fromt & Rear) and broke the inner glass. Monitor was history after that.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

I guess I'm one of the few who still uses a CRT monitor (12").

I like it for it's heft. When the table it sits on gets bumped (which is constantly) it stays put. I don't have to rag on the singers to be careful. As if that works anyway.

I'm with you Bill. My tvs have taken many a tumble. I'm afraid to switch over to LCD.
I too like the weight and size of a small CRT monitor. I think the LCD tvs look cooler, but I'm not ready to see one destroyed by an accident.

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Bill and Babs, you both are right about that. My lcds have hit the floor a couple of times and thank gawd they still work fine.

A couple of reasons i bought them was to save space and for a more professional look, but they do cost 3x more than your average tv. Being mounted on music-sheet stands they look great but are very vulnerable to being knocked over.

Being completely mobile every show, the biggest reason for the purchase was to lighten my equipment load. My venue doesn't provide anything karaoke related at all- i bring everything in and take it home every night. There's no storage room for anything.

I'm wondering what I'm going to do when my CRT monitor gives out. I don't think they make CRTs anymore.

I put a handle on the top of it so I can carry it easier. This one has never taken a tumble. Even in my nuthouse room. I put it on a large steady table in front with room for the mics, ashtrays, and drinks. It's worked out perfect.

I've not seen any monitors bigger than 13 inches. Bigger monitors usually belong to the house. I cannot fathom buying 26 inch TVs to schlep to gigs. LCDs are cool, but I think they are not good for any outdoor shows you might do. The screen just kind of washes out and you can't read it depending on where the sun is coming from.

Hmm, sorry this might be the only opportunity I ever get to say this. I got more inches than anyone else here!

Ok back to reality, I don't need to worry about outdoor gigs. Can't do many of them in London. No need to worry about the effects of the sun, I worry more about the effects of rain+electricity

For my shows, I use a regular 20" flat screen tv, but have toyed with the idea of switching to LCD monitors. I'm like you guys and worry about the "tumble" effect from some of the rowdy singers. I really like the stage speake idea, gonna give that a bit of thought myself. As far as my 20" tv, it sucks to pack in and out at each show, but ya gotta do, what ya gotta do.

Well clearly, I'm working too hard. I got them cheap tho cos the place where I got my tv's (little warehouse in Watford) had lost the remote for one of them. No bother for me so £40 the pair. I pay more than that in petrol to get to my Friday night gig next door

That monitor in a wedge cabinet covered in perspex is a stroke of genius, you should patent it mate! I shall steal the idea whilst I can afford it.

I have a 20 inch LCD, but use my 15 inch always.. Seems to fit..

Edit to add.. (I buy them used.. Never pay over $50.00 USD and never worry about them)

Yeah they still do. They are becoming obsolete though. They are also MUCH cheaper than they used to be.

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Pros have been doing this for years. Check out some concert footage or even awards shows, with the right camera angles you can clearly see them; what looks to the audience like a regular speaker monitor can indeed be a hidden video monitor

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I was packing up the other night, had the hp 17" monitor just sitting on the floor, somehow it got tipped over face down on the floor there must have been a pebble or something, the glass inside shattered, I did'nt realize it at the time it looked normal, when I set up the next night it lit up but was like a klidascope, made a mad dash to walmart bought thier cheapest $149, terrible 15" very dim, I bought a 19" at Frys for $139 after rebate its great I returned the walmart one they are very fragile
since the LCD's are not effected by magnets I made a mount on top of my singers monitor, it works great......

I keep a back up at home just in case there is an accident, but I know in the future it will be more difficult to find them. Ebay always seems to be the way to go for vintage equipment. I wouldn't be surprised to see them there.

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