CRT, LCD, Video Inputs, Lightgun HD and More Guides

[retrosportsgamer]

Thanks - so how does the stretch work? Is it automatic with black horizontal bars?

Actually, you can set various options for displaying 4:3 images on a 16:9 tv. You can either have it stretch the image out or you can have it display as 4:3 with vertical bars on the sides.

HD CRTs do not have all the zoom controls as a LCD. But maybe this one might.

Regarding the 480i I mentioned above - is that not a flat screen, hence the guns would work?

[Jamisonia]

For an 16:9 TV HDCRT

I feel like the only setting that matters is 4:3 so that is pillarboxes the picture. You should never be distorting the original aspect ratio. The games that do support Widescreen are doing so by showing you more of the game, not by stretching the 4:3 image.

Zoom can be handy with displaying an image that has already been letterboxed in the source onto a WS TV. Example: Laserdiscs are displayed letterboxed already. The black bars are in the image. If you display them on a WS TV the image will be windowboxed, meaning black bars on all sides. You have to zoom in to the picture to display only the top and bottom black bars, which will preserve the original aspect ratio, and make the picture bigger, and the expense of resolution.

In the case of games, they are either 4:3 or 16:9. Display 4:3 with black bars on the side so it preserves the 4:3 aspect ratio. Display 16:9 so that it fills the screen.

[CRTGAMER]

Regarding the 480i I mentioned above - is that not a flat screen, hence the guns would work?

Any NON HD CRT works with Lightguns
The flatscreen term is confusing, refering to LCDs or in the case of older non HD Tubes that have a more flat front appearance. As long as the tube is a non HD 480i, a NES, Genesis, PS1-PS2 or Dreamcast lightgun works just fine. Even the NES ROB robot works with any 480i TV.

A side note, the Dreamcast Lightgun also has the unique capability of working with a VGA CRT Computer Monitor.

For an 16:9 TV HDCRT

I feel like the only setting that matters is 4:3 so that is pillarboxes the picture. You should never be distorting the original aspect ratio. The games that do support Widescreen are doing so by showing you more of the game, not by stretching the 4:3 image.

Zoom can be handy with displaying an image that has already been letterboxed in the source onto a WS TV. Example: Laserdiscs are displayed letterboxed already. The black bars are in the image. If you display them on a WS TV the image will be windowboxed, meaning black bars on all sides. You have to zoom in to the picture to display only the top and bottom black bars, which will preserve the original aspect ratio, and make the picture bigger, and the expense of resolution.

In the case of games, they are either 4:3 or 16:9. Display 4:3 with black bars on the side so it preserves the 4:3 aspect ratio. Display 16:9 so that it fills the screen.

A compromise
Its just a matter of personal preference. You can get the correct aspect ratio but not use all the screens estate resulting in a smaller pic. I prefer a full image on my 4:3 HD CRT so I always look for anamorphic when buying DVDs. Non anamorphic on a widescreen are really bad, resulting in black bars all the way around. I set the DVD player to widescreen for my 4:3 HD CRT. The screen distorts slightly at full screen, but again its a personal taste how to watch a movie or play a game.

I covered this in the OP with sample pics to get an idea of the stretch.


I also received a PM from D.D.D., responding here in case others want to add:

So I'm looking to add another CRT TV to the house and wanted to get some feedback.

Most of the TVs I've found so far have either been 1080i or 720p. Which would be better and why?
(The TVs are all widescreen and all 28" size BTW if it matters.)
Thanks dude~

Get the 1080i HD, even better a 1080p
If a HD supports 1080i it will also have 720p, so you can select either. I prefer 720 Progressive Scan over 1080 Interlace Scan. There is less flicker due to the way the screen is updated in progressive scan. For Widescreen the best would be 1080p, although I have never seen a 1080p HD CRT, just 1080i. For a 4:3 HD, its best to stick with 480p to get a full screen. Any higher resolution causes my HD 4:3 CRT to revert to widescreen with black bars on the top and bottom. 1080i is especially bad, the image has huge black bars on the top and bottom.

[Jamisonia]

I don't believe they ever made 1080p HD CRTs, and honestly there's almost zero material mastered in 1080p. Only Blu Ray Movies. There may be a few PS3 games actually in 1080p too. No TV is in 1080p. Movie networks like HBO are in 1080i, sports like ESPN is in 720p. Also the distance at which must sit for your eye to be able to resolve the differences between 720p and 1080p is far closer than most people choose to sit. Don't feel bad about not buying a 1080p TV.

CRTgamer is right, go for the 1080i.

CRTGamer, you actually watch your Widescreen movies scrunched into a 4:3 frame? How can you stand that?

[D.D.D.]

If a HD supports 1080i it will also have 720p, so you can select either. I prefer 720 Progressive Scan over 1080 Interlace Scan. There is less flicker due to the way the screen is updated in progressive scan. For Widescreen the best would be 1080p, although I have never seen a 1080p HD CRT, just 1080i. For a 4:3 HD, its best to stick with 480p to get a full screen. Any higher resolution causes my HD 4:3 CRT to revert to widescreen with black bars on the top and bottom. 1080i is especially bad, the image has huge black bars on the top and bottom.

So I found this one, WEGA ＫＤ-３２ＨＤ９００, widescreen, super fine pitch, and it's up to 720P on component or d-term (D4). I've always heard everyone talking about how great the WEGAs are and after seeing the back panel of one, I'm already pretty interested.

This thing has 1x component, 1x D-term (D4), 3 S-video w/composite, optical audio, etc (even a modem line). But it also has AV Multi which seems to be RGB... Would a PS2 or PS3 look better on AV Multi than component? Cuz I'm pretty sure since it's a propriety cable, I can't get one for Wii or 360.

Just overall, the WEGAs look great on input and everyone says they're great on picture so I think I'm gonna try to get one.

[CRTGAMER]

CRTGamer, you actually watch your Widescreen movies scrunched into a 4:3 frame? How can you stand that?

The squeeze is not that drastic
Just my personal preference to use all the screen's estate and still get all the pic in the best resolution. Anamorphic DVDs are the way to go, use the strectch if you want to. On regular 1.85:1 widescreen the image is full. On the really wide stuff such as 2.38:1 I still get black bars, but not as bad as non anamorphic movies.

From the OP:

So I found this one, WEGA ＫＤ-３２ＨＤ９００, widescreen, super fine pitch, and it's up to 720P on component or d-term (D4). I've always heard everyone talking about how great the WEGAs are and after seeing the back panel of one, I'm already pretty interested.

This thing has 1x component, 1x D-term (D4), 3 S-video w/composite, optical audio, etc (even a modem line). But it also has AV Multi which seems to be RGB... Would a PS2 or PS3 look better on AV Multi than component? Cuz I'm pretty sure since it's a propriety cable, I can't get one for Wii or 360.

Just overall, the WEGAs look great on input and everyone says they're great on picture so I think I'm gonna try to get one.

Not sure on the RGB but I think it will be very similar to Component.

[Jamisonia]

To each his own. At least none of the movie is being cut off with your method.

[D.D.D.]

Damn... I just found out that the lightest TV I was looking at (28") is about 120lbs! The 32" is 150 and the 36" is a chunk over 200lbs. Now I gotta ask someone for help lifting it and I really don't think that cheap plastic/felt covered thing in my trunk will survive. Backseat with a seat belt??

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Damn... I just found out that the lightest TV I was looking at (28") is about 120lbs! The 32" is 150 and the 36" is a chunk over 200lbs. Now I gotta ask someone for help lifting it and I really don't think that cheap plastic/felt covered thing in my trunk will survive. Backseat with a seat belt??

Pray that those seats fold down into a nice even floor.......pray.

[D.D.D.]

Damn... I just found out that the lightest TV I was looking at (28") is about 120lbs! The 32" is 150 and the 36" is a chunk over 200lbs. Now I gotta ask someone for help lifting it and I really don't think that cheap plastic/felt covered thing in my trunk will survive. Backseat with a seat belt??

Pray that those seats fold down into a nice even floor.......pray.

They do fold very nicely; I buy in bulk. Nothing quite like only having to buy TP once every 4 months & other good stuff. But anyway~

I just know that even the back of those seats is not particularly strong so rather than find someone with a pick-up truck, I'm gonna put the screen to the back of the seat and buckle it up. I've done that with smaller TVs but never one that weighs as much as me (actually about 5lbs more).