Neanderthal seeks good-value CRT

[robman]

Hi all,

Our existing 27" CRT is beginning to die ahead of schedule. (The screen periodically, and with increasing frequency, "blacks out" briefly. This drives my kids nuts.) We are not yet in a financial position to spring for an equivalently sized LCD, so we need to pick up another CRT to tide us over for the next few years. So, to cut to the chase: What would you recommend with the following specs?

Cost: roughly $300
Size: 27-32"
Most neutral colors possible (minimal red push)
Front RCA jacks for game console

Usage: non-digital cable, GameCube, DVD. The DVD player (Pioneer DV-588A) has component, RCA, and S-video outs.
Many prehistoric thanks!

 

[Nick250]

I had a ~$350 27" Panasonic in that price range. I liked the picture a lot, even better than the higher priced competition.

Nick

 

[tomahawktim]

I'll second the recommendation from Nick250.
Keep in mind though, the Panasonic CT-27SL15 can only display 480i. If your dvd player offers progressive scan, it will not be used to its full potential. ( if that is even a concern )

Otherwise, I can say this 4x3 27" tv performs well for the price.
I recently gave this set as a gift to my sister who prefers to watch her tv and dvd movies in the 4x3 aspect ratio.
After a few simple tweaks the picture quality is quite satisfactory.

 

[westcott]

I will toss in a vote for a 27" Trinitron tube like the Sony Wega.

I watch almost all of my standard definition programming on this CRT.

 

[Hi Ho]

Take a look at the selection of Sanyo TV's at Wal-Mart. My family has had Sanyo CRT's since the 1970's and all of them still work like new. The picture quality is excellent. I'm not a super videophile but I'd say anyone would be hardpressed to say that the Sanyo doesn't look as good or better then competition in the same price range and beyond. I would not recommend a Sony CRT as they have an abysmal reliability record.

 

[JeffD2.]

Take a look at the selection of Sanyo TV's at Wal-Mart. My family has had Sanyo CRT's since the 1970's and all of them still work like new. The picture quality is excellent. I'm not a super videophile but I'd say anyone would be hardpressed to say that the Sanyo doesn't look as good or better then competition in the same price range and beyond. I would not recommend a Sony CRT as they have an abysmal reliability record.

Sony has stopped manufacturing CRT's anyway. and they almost certainly would not fall into the OP's price range. Until the last few years, I've never heard of reliability issues until they moved the CRT manufacturing plant out of Japan.

I agree with the reliability of the Sanyos and the Pannys. They've lasted a good long time for me.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

That seals the deal, I'm buying a 34" XBR next month. My last chance to own one of the greatest CRT sets ever. So sad to see the highest picture quality technology die a quiet death.

 

[westcott]

Just curious. Does anyone know if Mitsubishi is still making CRT's with Diamondtron\Trinitron technology still?

 

[WmAx]

That seals the deal, I'm buying a 34" XBR next month. My last chance to own one of the greatest CRT sets ever. So sad to see the highest picture quality technology die a quiet death.

Does this mean that this(and all) Sony CRT televisions are now just being sold on existing backstock from a warehouse? I thought that the 34" XBR was a new product that was recently introduced. I noticed this television in a store recently, and was rather impressed [subjectively]. I hope this product is still around by the end of the year. I intend to purchase this product specifically for use with the PS3.

-Chris

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Does this mean that this(and all) Sony CRT televisions are now just being sold on existing backstock from a warehouse?

Sony closed its California CRT plant earlier this year. There was some warehouse material at the time, but most of it has been sold. According to the AVScience forum, new Sony CRTs are made in Mexico and/or China.

I thought that the 34" XBR was a new product that was recently introduced. I noticed this television in a store recently, and was rather impressed [subjectively]. I hope this product is still around by the end of the year.

I am planning on buying this set soon, and researching it found it does have a history. The 34" direct-view CRT is not new. Sony has been making them for several years. New for 2006 is the model KD-34XBR970. Now here's where it gets odd.....
*2005. Sony has 2 34" CRTs, the 34HS420 and the more expensive 34XBR960. The XBR has cablecard slot, some wacky tuner, and most importantly a SFP (Super fine pitch) tube which supposedly gave it much more resolution.
*Lack of consumer demand forces Sony to close the California factory.
*More people demand LCD/SXRD for HD, and most wont pay $2000 for a 34" CRT when they can have a 42+" LCD.
*CRT still delivers better PQ than LCD/SXRD.
*Sony drops the XBR960, with its prized SPF tube, and renames the HS420 the XBR970 (with its regulat Trinitron tube, but a new tuner that accepts digital + HD broadcast).

So then, 2006's KD-34XBR970 is not, technically, as good as 2004-2005's KD-XBR960. BUT, the 970 is still the best CRT on the market today (of course some Toshiba fans will probably not agree). Also but, the 970's $1100 price is also less than half of the 960's $2500 MSRP.

So the 970 remains an excellant TV, even if not the "best" Sony ever made. And I plan on getting one in a week or two for HDcable, Xbox360, and HD movies. (and its still better contrast & color than digital displays for $1100).

 

[Thunder18]

I've been noticing a lot of SD sets in Best Buy and Circuit City with built-in digital tuners for about that price range, or not much more. They'll look better with dvd's and you'll get a little bit of future-proofing.

 

[zildjian]

I have one of the HD widescreen Sony CRT (KV-30HS420) that was made in Mexico (says July 2004 on the back of the set), and I have been very pleased with it. I want to put actual HD on it sometime soon.... just want HD-DVD to take off with more titles. This is the 6th Sony TV I've had, 5 of which have been CRT's, and I've happy with all of them. They all still work, even the 1988 27" Trinitron. Watch me say that and something bad happen to one of them. (knocks on wood...).
Brad