I asked this in the Samsung slimfit topic, but I wanted to get opinions from other people as well. Just wondering if anyone uses a br player with their HD CRT and how does it look. Wheather it's a stand alone player or the PS3. Thanks for any opinions.

I have a PS3 hooked up to both a 30" HD CRT and a 1080p projector (through a switch). While Blurays on the HD CRT it do look better than DVDs, I would not recommend buying a standalone player for Bluray on a HD CRT because it is just not worth it due to the small screen. However, it is definitely worth it for my projector due to the large screen size.

HD-DVDs and blu-rays look fantastic on my calibrated 34xbr960s (I own 2). You'll get a noticable difference in colors and blacks; regular DVDs look washed out compared to HD media. Also, you don't have to worry about issues with upscaling DVDs. Event Horizon looks far better in 480p than upconverted to 1080i on my Toshiba A-2, but with the blu-ray coming out at the end of December, I don't have to worry about issues like that.

I have a PS3 hooked up to both a 30" HD CRT and a 1080p projector (through a switch). While Blurays on the HD CRT it do look better than DVDs, I would not recommend buying a standalone player for Bluray on a HD CRT because it is just not worth it due to the small screen. However, it is definitely worth it for my projector due to the large screen size.


Thanks for the headsup. I'll be getting a PS3 soon. I have a 30in CRT HDTV and games look great on it. Does the small screen make it look bad or just not as good as a bigger screen?


HD-DVDs and blu-rays look fantastic on my calibrated 34xbr960s (I own 2). You'll get a noticable difference in colors and blacks; regular DVDs look washed out compared to HD media. Also, you don't have to worry about issues with upscaling DVDs. Event Horizon looks far better in 480p than upconverted to 1080i on my Toshiba A-2, but with the blu-ray coming out at the end of December, I don't have to worry about issues like that.

Upconverting looks ok, but if blue ray looks way better, than I am sold. From what I have been readin, it seems like I won't get the true benefit of BR unless I get a TV that's bigger than 50in. Is this true?

Thanks for all the info.

Does the small screen make it look bad or just not as good as a bigger screen?

It's because smaller HDTV screens aren't big enough to notice the difference. It doesn't make it look bad, it's just that it's not big enough to show the difference. This is why buying a 32" 1080p HDTV is a waste of money today. You should buy at least a 46" if you want a 1080p TV.

Upconverting looks ok, but if blue ray looks way better, than I am sold. From what I have been readin, it seems like I won't get the true benefit of BR unless I get a TV that's bigger than 50in. Is this true?
I think too many people go with the "the screen has to be x number of inches" argument. There are blu-ray/HD-DVD movies where the transfer is way better than the DVD (example: Dawn of the Dead remake) and others where it's only slightly better (American Psycho). If you sit within 5 feet of the set, I definetly think you will see a difference between a regular DVD and a blu-ray. If you're really indecisive, you can rent a blu-ray movie after buying your PS3. If you don't think there's a big enough benefit, you can return the machine and the movie is just a rental.

i just watched transformers on blu-ray from my PS3 on my 30" 30HF85 Toshiba 1080i crt and it was great. sure, it's not a shiny new 60" lcd but its nice.

Not worth it unless you have a Super Fine Pitch Sony. I have that and a Panny CT-30WX15.

Totally worth it even if you have a hi-scan CRT at least 30" in widescreen mode. Get your eyes checked, and read the quality ranking thread, and don't pay more than $20 US for a movie, ever.

Totally worth it even if you have a hi-scan CRT at least 30" in widescreen mode. Get your eyes checked, and read the quality ranking thread, and don't pay more than $20 US for a movie, ever.

where do ya get blu-ray discs for $20 or less?

I have an SFP sony and would not watch BR disks on that set. That said I almost never watch standard DVDs - but will watch HD movies (Starz/HBO others) casually on the SFP using the cable card interface.

I do have a PS3 and will watch BR on my Marquee 81110 FP. ( about 80 inch diagonal - set for 1080i on the projector out of a Moome Ext box via HDMI). My cable box PVR is also dedicated to the big screen for time shifting HD movies when I really care about a good experience.

For me BR on the Sony just doesn't make sense, as its nowhere near the experience of the big screen. Perhaps if it was all I had available as a display I might watch it on that set and it might make a difference (versus regular DVDs which I don't watch) if I sat 5 feet away; which I don't.

Totally worth it even if you have a hi-scan CRT at least 30" in widescreen mode. Get your eyes checked, and read the quality ranking thread, and don't pay more than $20 US for a movie, ever.

Even the top disc player upconversions are than the HiScan, not that Hi-Scan feature would help you on Blu-ray.
The colour is better on the Sony sets than my Panny, but the resolution is essentially the same.

where do ya get blu-ray discs for $20 or less?
BOGO deals and rental places.
Even the top disc player upconversions are than the HiScan, not that Hi-Scan feature would help you on Blu-ray.
The colour is better on the Sony sets than my Panny, but the resolution is essentially the same.
If I understand your broken english, you believe visible rez to be digital in nature on a CRT. It isn't.

I can easily see the difference between an upconverted DVD and true HD, even a 720p ATSC broadcast. Sitting seven feet away from 40XBR800, which has to upconvert 720p. My vision is corrected to 20/14 with glasses.

It's like RalphArch says. If I had a big ol' 1080p display that's what I'd watch HD with. But I don't, and there is a difference with HD even if it isn't being displayed as well as possible.

HD-DVDs and blu-rays look fantastic on my calibrated 34xbr960s (I own 2). You'll get a noticable difference in colors and blacks; regular DVDs look washed out compared to HD media. Also, you don't have to worry about issues with upscaling DVDs. Event Horizon looks far better in 480p than upconverted to 1080i on my Toshiba A-2, but with the blu-ray coming out at the end of December, I don't have to worry about issues like that.

Agreed the colors and blacks will get your attention. This can be seen even on a non-hi def set. Hi-def downconverted looks better than standard upconverted. And since we are in a crt forum there is the issue on flat panels not rendering depth in a picture as well as some crt's. Owners of sony crt's will know what I'm talking about.

some comments confuse me here.

I own a 36XBR800 and hi-def is a huge difference compared to standard dvd.

its night and day to these eyes.

some comments confuse me here.

I own a 36XBR800 and hi-def is a huge difference compared to standard dvd.

its night and day to these eyes.

yup, no reason why HD would suck on an HD CRT. the picture my PS3 sends to my 30HF85 Toshiba looks amazing both on blu-ray and with games. it even looks ok with some of the HD signal from my cable company, but i can't stand to watch normal SD tv anymore. i watched Transformers on bluray and was blown away by the picture quality.

from what i have read i am i hoping that my Toshiba CRT lasts a long time so i don't have to buy an LCD.

I will say, out of all my friends who have LCD or Plasma, not one can touch my Sony CRT HDTV. I am not saying new sets are not as good now. but from what I have seen, I havent seen one yet that beats my set.