Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater looking to buy an RPTV

I agree 100%.

Only thing I'd add about CRT vs new tech... My dad recently bought a Mit 55inch RPTV. He did because they are 'better' than DLP etc, but I must say the thing is HUGE (its deeeeeep). If space is a concern, the DLP's and others even in RPTV form are miles smaller. Just putting that out there.

I'd think twice about CRT. It has a number of problems: size, convergance issues, glare (they have to use very thick glass), image noise.

Big old TV is just fine for most folks. With your speakers next to the TV, who cares how deep it is?
Picture on a CRT RPTV looks just as good to me as anything else I've ever seen.
Bottom line is price. Why pay a premium for some newfangled technology?

Craig:

Yes, they're huge and heavy, but properly aligned and converged the CRT rear-pro can look very very good. I've found the Sony and Hitachi CRT rear-pro sets in the 46- to 48-inch range to have an edge over other brands. And if you could put up with a smaller screen size then a direct-view CRT from Sony or Hitachi can look wonderful. But I understand the appeal of the big image. I'm about to make the switch to DLP myself. . .

Regards,

What!?

There are things that digital sets can do way better than CRT, hooking a PC up for instance, that alone has me interested in LCoS hopefully next year.

There is something like a $2000 difference between the DLP sets and CRT sets! They're $2000 better?

Big Will,

It's not that cut and dried. In my case, it's what will fit and not look ridiculously massive in a smallish living room. The DLP I have on loan--a 3rd-generation 50-inch widescreen Samsung--is just 14 inches deep and fits very nicely in a corner of my room. Moreover, I lifted it onto the stand myself. It weighs about 70 pounds, compaared to several hundred for CRT rear projection. My current CRT direct view is much heavier. For me, cost is a secondary factor. I also admit to being dazzled by the Texas Instruments Digital Micro-Mirror chip. I love the image contrast and the fact that no convergence is ever required. And so far, not even aligned and tweaked, the HD image quality on the Samsung is spectacular (assuming a good source, of course). I'd happily pay $3,200 (I think that is the retail) to keep this thing.

But if budget intrudes, and you have the space, I think a good CRT rear-projection is a no-brainer. They are way less expensive--about half the price of the best DLP and CRT rear-pro's--and can look very good.

Regards,