Sony GVM-2000

The Sony GVM-2000 is a 20-inch Trinitron multiscan color video presentation monitor released by Sony in 1989. It was designed as a multipurpose monitor for broadcast, computer, and presentation use, capable of displaying resolutions from standard definition 240p/480i up to 800×600 at 60 Hz.

Features

The GVM-2000 features Sony's Trinitron aperture grille tube technology with an anti-glare (AG) coating. Its multiscan capability, accepting horizontal scan frequencies from 15 kHz to 36 kHz, allows it to display a wide range of input signals from standard NTSC video to VGA and SVGA computer resolutions without the need for external scan converters.

Front-panel geometry controls make adjustment convenient when switching between display resolutions. The monitor uses two removable input boards for RGB: one with a DB-9 connector (supporting both analog RGB and digital TTL RGB signals) and one with five BNC connectors. The monitor includes a built-in mono speaker and amplifier, with a color temperature of 9300°K.

The GVM-2000 uses the same tube (A51JKQ10X) and neck board as the Sony PVM-2030, delivering a softer and more natural image at 480p than most VGA monitors of the era. However, the 0.55 mm aperture grille pitch is somewhat coarse for 800×600, and fine details may be lost at that resolution.

Photos

Notes

The later Sony GVM-2020 is essentially the same monitor in a beige case, with one minor change to the G3 board near the power supply. The GVM-2020 superseded the GVM-2000 and was the final model in Sony's GVM product line. No additional input boards were ever produced despite Sony's promotional materials suggesting future expansion options.

The chassis is very complex, with 19 separate PCBs and numerous wire bundles. When servicing this monitor, careful documentation is important to avoid missing connections during reassembly. Calibration requires adjusting more than a dozen trim pots, ideally with the help of an oscilloscope.