sethm said:
Age old question-
I am looking to replace my old CRT.
I have Direct TV (not HD - yet, and at least not till they have 150 HD channels, which I am told is some time this year, which could mean next year).
I like the look of the LG & Samsung slim TV's - both a widescreen 30 incher.
At this time the display is great compared to a LCD w/regular signal.
On a 32" LCD a regular signal is somewhat blurry.
I have a DVD w/HDMI so would work with either the new CRT widescreen or a new LCD tv.
The weight is not an issue & price not an issue.
All (two) cents will be considered.
Typically, blacks are better with CRTs, and picture geometry is better with LCD (e.g., straight lines are more likely to actually be straight with an LCD). People tend to notice the blacks more. LCDs have no chance for burn in, and do not need magnetically shielded speakers near them. LCDs use less power, and are less likely to cause eyestrain (which is more noticeable when sitting close, as, for example, when using one for a computer monitor). Many LCDs have had issues with refresh rates being slow, so that motion can be blurred with them, though this depends upon the particular model. In my experience, I have seen less "red push" (overemphasis of red) with LCD than with CRT, so I have seen truer colors with LCD, though that may or may not be usual; it is, however, true of the ones I have happened to see.
From purely a picture quality standpoint, then, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. However, the black level is probably the thing that most people will be quickest to notice, and they will tend to then judge the CRT to be simply better. It is, however, generally inferior in some ways.
If I were buying a TV today, and if I did not care about weight or price (though both do matter to me), I would select a good LCD. And I would buy one as large as would be reasonable for the space I had, which would be larger than any CRT TV ever made (at least for consumer use).
