Hey guys, I've been reading up on some of these old HD direct-view CRT sets, and am seriously considering getting one to tide me over for a while, what with the dirt cheap prices that I can snag a used one for now. I figure I'll use it instead of my DLP for my video games, thus solving my input lag problem and getting a nice high-contrast picture, until plasmas are good and cheap a few years from now.

Anyhow, I've been researching a few of the different TVs, and I think I've narrowed down the ones I want to the following:

Sony KD-36XS955
Sony KV-34XBR960
Sony KV-40XBR800

Each of these TVs has something that the others doesn't. The KV-40XBR800 is the biggest, and since I'm going to be putting off buying a big-ass plasma for a while because of this, I'd like a decent-sized screen in the meantime.

The KV-34XBR960 has independent input memory, which is something I want. Especially since, I read, the KV-40XBR800 has a much darker picture over DVI/HDMI than it does over its other inputs, and I don't want to have to adjust the picture settings every time I switch inputs. On the bad side, though, I'd prefer a larger 4:3 screen to the KV-34XBR960's 16:9 screen, because I know the picture will be tiny when watching 4:3 content, whereas a 36" 4:3 TV is still a respectable 33" when watching widescreen content.

And that brings me to the KD-36XS955, and the questions I have about it. It's a 4:3 screen, which I like, though smaller than the 40XBR800. It also shares with the KV-34XBR960 some newer features that the XBR800s don't have that give it a somewhat nicer picture. However, I haven't been able to find any information on whether or not it has independent input memory. Does anybody know? And, if it doesn't, how does is its picture look over HDMI? If I calibrate it in a different input, will it still look good in HDMI, or will I need to adjust it again?

And, just for the heck of asking, are there any other direct-view CRTs I've left out that I ought to be considering? Since I'm going to be putting off buying a spiffy new TV for a while, I want my stop-gap CRT to be somewhat "future proof", meaning, at the least, that it needs to have HDMI or DVI input.

An important consideration you didn't mention is the kind of tube the TV has. Sony made two CRT HD tubes, The Hi Scan and the Super Fine Pitch. The Sony HDTVs with the Hi Scan tube display at 853x1080i. The Sony HDTVs with the Super Fine Pitch tube display at 1400x1080i.

The only Sony TVs with the SFP tube are the 910, 955 and 960. All other Sony HD CRTs sport the Hi Scan tube, and that includes the 970.

I have both a Hi Scan TV and SFP TV at home and I can tell you that the SFP tube is noticeably sharper than the Hi Scan. The bump up in resolution from 853 to 1400 is not insignificant.

Thanks Lucky Ducky,

I'd heard about SuperFine Pitch, but I didn't realize how big a difference in resolution it was. I think that narrows it down to the KD-36XS955 and KV-34XBR960 for me, and preferably the KD-36XS955, which is too bad because the KV-40XBR800 is far more common than either of them, and the KD-36XS955 seems about impossible to find.

This list of Sony Trinitrons might be handy for you. It lists every Trinitron made along with some info on inputs and screen size. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FD_Trinitron/WEGA

Thanks Lucky Ducky,

, and the KD-36XS955 seems about impossible to find.

That's because we really like what we have; but every once in a while one pops up in the discussions.

No independent input memory on it though, at least as far as I know. Picture for me looks great over HDMI (I feed a Dish HD vip211 at 1080i). Really looks identical when watching HD recorded shows over my Network HD streamer/DVDplayer via component; and also identical when using the OTA ATSC tuner and from my previous experience using a cable card - all the same to my eyes which I guess is because most of the source started the same.

You could use the three picture presets to get a quick change setting with the remote as these are adjustable. Vivid is particularly gross as default - so that's the first one I would adjust

Thanks Lucky Ducky,

I'd heard about SuperFine Pitch, but I didn't realize how big a difference in resolution it was. I think that narrows it down to the KD-36XS955 and KV-34XBR960 for me, and preferably the KD-36XS955, which is too bad because the KV-40XBR800 is far more common than either of them, and the KD-36XS955 seems about impossible to find.

Don't forget the KD-34XS955, which is what I am using for my Blu-Ray.

Thanks guys! Now I just need to find one of these things somewhere in the neighborhood of the Tristate (MD, VA, PA) Area.

Damn! Why is it that every single one of these things that comes on Craig's List is in New York (except for one in Philly)? Didn't anybody else in the world buy them? Just blowing off steam.

Be patient, the SFP tube is worth the wait. Or you can do what I did and pick up a Hi Scan to hold you over until a SFP comes along.

I didn't plan it that way but I had this Hi Scan 36 inch 800 for about a month then I saw the 34 inch SFP 910 come up for sale cheap and thought I would be sorry if I didn't snag it. So now I have both, but I have room for them both so it's not too bad.

Saw a KD-36XS955 come up in New York with stand for $250, and a free Xbox on the side. Wasn't there for long. Would've even made the 5+ hour drive (each way) if it were a weekend (and would've tried to reserve it if I didn't have irrevocable plans). Man that was painful to watch.

Maybe I should just remove %$*#ing New York from my Craig's List searches so I don't have to look at it anymore.

Both my sets came with the stand, the 800 was $450 and the 910 was $300. It's pretty important to have the stand, or else use some strong piece of furniture to place them on.