For those like me, who can't find any PVM at a reasonable price locally. What are the best consumer grade CRT TVs for retro gaming? What about Sony Trinitrons? Which models are better and which ones to avoid?
Printable View
For those like me, who can't find any PVM at a reasonable price locally. What are the best consumer grade CRT TVs for retro gaming? What about Sony Trinitrons? Which models are better and which ones to avoid?
Sorry, but you don’t need a PVM to enjoy retro gaming. Developers certainly didn’t design their games for it. Might as well play on an HDTV.
Trinitrons have always had longevity and focus issues, increasing with size. If you want the best reliability with a good picture, hard to go wrong with ‘90s Panasonic. That is what I use.
What model Panasonic?
Any from the ‘90s. Panasonic shared their CRTs so even the cheapest sets often had high quality tubes. They had a high end series called ‘Tau,’ but they were only available in larger sizes. I prefer 20” because anything larger has visible scanlines.
Just look for one with a good CRT and you should be good IMO.
make sure you get a 90s crt. they were much better, more durable and have better screens even if they don't support 480p, but who cares when you can do that on an hdtv.
I have the most plentiful style of silver Sony Wega and good quality s-video connections and transcoded component looks as good as or better than the RGB monitors I have and have seen.
The speaker sound is also great. It makes all pixelart games feel like I'm playing them on a deluxe arcade cabinet.
I have 2 really good ones. A Sony Trinitron from maybe the mid 2000s and a Daewoo and the Daewoo is excellent. Really rich colors. Both are CRT flat screens with a silver body.
Yeah, Trinitrons are pretty solid, and give you good bang (screen size/colors) for the buck. I used one for years until I was able to get my hands on some RGB monitors, but I still have my Trinitron tucked away in case I need it.Quote:
Originally Posted by SegataS
The only better consumer option I'd think would be a decent JVC set, as they're quite nice too. I had a JVC I'Art on hand last year that I saved from recycling but ultimately decided to let it go due to space reasons and my comfort with the Trinitron's service menu to adjust stuff.
My CRT TV of choice for 16-bit and 32-bit gaming is a Wharfedale from the mid 00's. It looks and sounds great and has never let me down.
I'd say you're looking for the individual condition of the display -- does it have a clean, bright picture? -- along with having at least one component connection. You can usually find people just giving away CRTs, and so long as the brand is decent and the picture quality good, that should be fine. I believe the biggest benefit in picture quality is going to be how you connect the device to the CRT more than the CRT itself.
There are a number of things you have to do to check the condition of the tube. A bright picture by itself isn't enough to give it a clean bill of health.
No way. A great CRT with an excellent comb filter will pull a fantastic image from RF while a crappy Trinitron will blur even SVideo.Quote:
I believe the biggest benefit in picture quality is going to be how you connect the device to the CRT more than the CRT itself.
Yeah, good luck doing that with a free set on a curb, at Goodwill, etc. etc. Of course better components should allow for a better picture, but I at this point, you go with the best available display. I wouldn't be so hung up on which is the "right" brand or model to get.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blades
Your own video configuration at home with improve everything it feeds into. It's what I'd prioritize for sure.
Aren't we saying the same thing?Quote:
Of course better components should allow for a better picture, but I at this point, you go with the best available display.
IMO I wouldn't pick up a curb set for obvious reasons. A very quick test anyone can do is turn down the color setting to 0 and see what happens. If the picture isn't perfectly black and white, the jug is toast. It takes 5 seconds maximum.Quote:
Yeah, good luck doing that with a free set on a curb, at Goodwill, etc.
The problem with Trinitrons is their longevity, they just don't have it. More likely than not, the tube will be tired or it could have a myriad of weird Sony CRT problems like crushed blacks etc.
I picked many a CRT off the curb, more than one 27" Philips and my current one, a 32" JVC with all the trimmings. That was a bear to get into my car. God knows how long they were baking under the Arizona sun but they all worked great.
Never heard of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mega Drive Bowlsey