Help buying CRT HDTV

[fuctfuct]

I am going to start looking for one. Might take while as i live in a fairly small city. I am pretty much limited to what can be found on this site http://www.usedvictoria.com (not many people use CL here).

What i would like help with is how to quickly test these things for geometry, convergence, and other things to look for. Do you need to test every input in every mode (480i, 480p and 1080i)? I don't want to show up at a guys house and test the thing for hours then not buy it hehe

I'm pretty sensitive to these CRT problems but i am also aware that most if not all CRTs have them to some degree. Also if anyone knows how to fix these problems if the set isnt perfect but not horrible. I have gotten into a few SD CRT service menus before but then i just get scared lol

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified- ... V_13878270

[Krooner]

HD CRT set display in 580p or 1080i they interpolate everything else, so as far a test every input goes you don't need to it's pretty black and white. IIRC some later HDCRT can do 720p but they were phased out before it really took hold.

Why must you have a CRT over LCD/plasma?

[fuctfuct]

Why must you have a CRT over LCD/plasma?

Price (these are cheap as fxxk now a days), LCD ghosting sucks, LCD blurring gives me a headache, LCD input lag sucks, CRT has (IMO) a better picture then all but the very best LCDs (that i cant afford), Retro games suck on LCDs (IMO).. but im not sure how they will look on an CRT HDTV, I have owend many LCD HDTVs but never a CRT HDTV, I have done the whole SDTV for retro LCD for current gen thing and would like to try to have one TV for both... Thats all i can think of ATM heh

[CRTGAMER]

Thrift stores a good source.

Maybe for testing, bring an upscaling DVD player and especially your favorite Retro console. The DVD player for the higher resolutions of HDMI/Component and the older console for SVideo and Composite. Keep in mind the HD CRT won't work with Retro Lightguns. There are non HDMI/DVI EDTVs but you won't get the higher 720p or 1080p out of them.

A nudge to my CRT vs LCD signature link.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I've never seen a CRT HDTV under 160lbs. Just keep that in mind. CRT's are heavy in the first place, the HD ones seem to be even heavier as a general rule.

I play my Saturn on a plasma and it looks fine. Personally, I'd just save up a little longer and buy a higher quality LCD. It takes less room, you get warranty, and you won't break your back.

[CRTGAMER]

I've never seen a CRT HDTV under 160lbs. Just keep that in mind. CRT's are heavy in the first place, the HD ones seem to be even heavier as a general rule.

I play my Saturn on a plasma and it looks fine. Personally, I'd just save up a little longer and buy a higher quality LCD. It takes less room, you get warranty, and you won't break your back.

All personal preference on type of screen image, especially dealing with lower resolutions of Retro consoles.

But you are not kidding about the weight. I initially bought a Sony CRT non HD, then upgraded to the same sized Sony HD CRT. The HD tube really adds to the weight!

[deathclaw]

What about LCD + good upscaler? Keep in mind, that I want to play NES games as well.

Thrift stores a good source.

Maybe for testing, bring an upscaling DVD player and especially your favorite Retro console. The DVD player for the higher resolutions of HDMI/Component and the older console for SVideo and Composite. Keep in mind the HD CRT won't work with Retro Lightguns. There are non HDMI/DVI EDTVs but you won't get the higher 720p or 1080p out of them.

Wow, I have never thought about this. Do you think NES games would look good via upscaling DVD player? Wouldn't be better to buy an ordinary upscaler instead?

[fuctfuct]

I've never seen a CRT HDTV under 160lbs. Just keep that in mind. CRT's are heavy in the first place, the HD ones seem to be even heavier as a general rule.

I play my Saturn on a plasma and it looks fine. Personally, I'd just save up a little longer and buy a higher quality LCD. It takes less room, you get warranty, and you won't break your back.

Weight isn't really a concern. I work in construction so getting another strong guy to move it with me and place it in a location where it will rarely ever move again isn't really worth thinking about hehe.

I have bought expensive LCDs before and i always find something i hate about them. The most expensive one i ever bought was 1300 and for that price (in my mind) it better fucking be perfect. It wasn't = returned. So as a general rule i will never spent more then about $500 on one (easier to live with silly annoying things if you payed less).

What about LCD + good upscaler? Keep in mind, that I want to play NES games as well.

If the XRGB wasn't so expensive id consider it

Thrift stores a good source.

Maybe for testing, bring an upscaling DVD player and especially your favorite Retro console. The DVD player for the higher resolutions of HDMI/Component and the older console for SVideo and Composite. Keep in mind the HD CRT won't work with Retro Lightguns. There are non HDMI/DVI EDTVs but you won't get the higher 720p or 1080p out of them.

Wow, I have never thought about this. Do you think NES games would look good via upscaling DVD player? Wouldn't be better to buy an ordinary upscaler instead?

I dont think you understood what he was saying here.

[ChuChu Flamingo]

If you're hooking up HD consoles to a HD CRT I would recommend widescreen. If not, you will have bars on HD stuff that isn't 4:3 (almost all Xbox 360/PS3/Blue Ray movies are 16:9)

As far as geometry is concerned, no CRT is perfect. That is what Plasmas and LCDs exceed at.

Also, if you want to do some testing on the TV to see how it works with different resolutions, bring a PS2. You will need to hook it up via component and put in either Disgaea/Ico/PS1 game at 240p. For composite, just bring a NES. The NES will show how good the comb filter is in the TV.

As far as geometry/convergence you will need a test pattern, which often come with AVIA guide to home theater or something similar and test on all resolutions (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i)

I recommend the Sony Wega HD trinitron CRT. The one I have has a native resolution of 480p or 1080i and is 4:3. If you plan to do any HD gaming, please get a widescreen version of one. If not, there will be bars on it if playing in anything past 480p (some games have bars even in 480p)

One last note, light guns will not work on these CRTs

[fuctfuct]

Thanks for the testing options. And yea i was definitely not looking at anything 4:3.

Also, i don't think i have ever played a light gun game in my life. Well maybe duck hunt for 5 seconds when i got my first NES but thats about it.