I know many people have discussed them here, but it would be nice if these had one home so people knew where to get them.

If you are looking to get an SDTV for the parents(who just want to turn the damn thing on and watch), or just want a spare for a bedroom/kidsroom/workroom/etc... I would recommend these.

Not because I have any of them, but because they are cheaper than LCD's, provide a MUCH BETTER OVERALL picture from any source because they are tubes, and alot of people don't too have to FUSS(except us here at the forum who don't care ;)) with aspect ratio's. These are ALL 4:3 tube tv's, and can be set to either 4:3(which would be best for the old folk) or 16:9(if preffered or needed). Some have a zoom, but most would not use it.

Also, at a 480i SDTV, these provide a nice picture from any source(analog/digital/whatever) for a nice price:

WalMart
Emerson 20" Digital SDTV(ATSC ONLY) $139.99 MSRP

RCA 20" Digtal SDTV(ATSC/QAM Tuners) 1 RF input only though for either/or) $149.99 MSRP

RCA 24" Digital SDTV(Same as 20" SDTV) $179.99 MSRP

Plus a PLETHERA(at least near me) of last years models on CLOSEOUT/CLEARANCE from the shelf. They are trying to make room for the new models. These would include the 27" versions of last years RCA(SDTV and HDTV Tubes), and the Sanyo's

Also, you may get lucky and find an CLEARANCE 27" SDTV Orion model, which is the same thing as the Toshiba's currently found elsewhere for a dirt cheap price.

Best Buy
Toshiba 27" flat screen or curved screen SDTV. MSRP $299(flat) or $249(curved). They will price match a local store. Plus 32" version's avaliable.

Sony 32" SDTV available. $599 MSRP. Usually FS170(ATSC/NTSC ONLY), but keep an eye out for FS130's(ATSC/QAM/NTSC) at BB or Circuit City. They may have one still lying around, and will be looking to get rid of it. 36" may also be available

Insignia 5" and 7" portable tv's(ATSC tuners only). 7" MSRP was $199, but I could not find a price on the 5". only had 1 of each available on the shelf.

Just thought I'd mention them too people.

never ever buy any thing from walmart. pure evil!

The only brand in your list worth looking into would be Sony. Toshiba used t be good, but quality has taken a nose dive since Orion start making TV for Toshiba. I bought a 32 inch Toshiba last year, and took it right back since picture was so soft and flat.

If one looking for quality tube TV at reasonable price, look no further than Sharp TVs. 27 inch for $260 and 32 inch version for $360. And they all carry one year parts and labor warranty. Their picture tube have very sharp focus.

Well, the RCA and the Philips are crap! The analog and digital tuners are separate, so you can't integrate both signals into one list. Joe Six-Pack won't understand when and how to switch between analog and digital mode...

The only brand in your list worth looking into would be Sony. Toshiba used t be good, but quality has taken a nose dive since Orion start making TV for Toshiba. I bought a 32 inch Toshiba last year, and took it right back since picture was so soft and flat.

If one looking for quality tube TV at reasonable price, look no further than Sharp TVs. 27 inch for $260 and 32 inch version for $360. And they all carry one year parts and labor warranty. Their picture tube have very sharp focus.

If you can still find one, Circuit City was selling the Sony 27" KD27FS170 for $279 before they discontinued it. I love mine.

The only good CRT to buy really is Sony. The rest can suck it.

If you can still find one, Circuit City was selling the Sony 27" KD27FS170 for $279 before they discontinued it. I love mine.

I picked up one of those last month for my father, I had Best Buy price match it.

Only a few stores were still carrying it then, if you want a Trinitron tube you better move quick because its the end of the line.

So no new Sony CRT's ever? It would be so easy for them to drop ATSC digital tuners into those 20, 24, 27 and 32" models and get another year's worth of sales. People will wind up buying Emersons and crap like that and end up really hating them.

BTW, I was in Walmart the other day and the 20" Emerson was NTSC only. I remember because it had a notice below saying it would no longer work after 2009. I don't know of any small (14, 20 or 24") CRT TV's with ATSC tuners.

The older emerson models are NTSC only but all the newer TVs will be ATSC. As most seem to be offering a ATSC SD set now. Offten 20_30 bucks more then the non ATSC version.


Many DVD/VCR DVD recorders are coming with built in SD ATSC tunners. So you can copy HD in 480i ( for those that would want) a few high end models are ED so they can record in 480p

There is a new SD version of the Sanyo HT30746 at Wal-Mart as well. Saw it there a week ago. Was $347 if I recall. Only 30 inch widescreen SDTV I know of (Akai used to make one ages ago). Personally since they lowered the price of the HD one to $398 I'd just as soon buy that as it has a lot more features.

Local Walmart here has just moved all the NTSC only CRT sets to a mid aisle clearance rack. The only CRT sets left in the main TV section now are a Sanyo 27", an RCA 20" and a couple of ILO models.

Red.

I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing that so many no-name brands nowadays are making TV's and selling them for so cheap. You would think in turn it's going to start making the big names to start using cheaper componets to match their prices. I can't get over how many new TV brands i didn't recognize at my local best buy! Once i got to a LCD made by Chef Boyardee i knew trouble was brewing.

I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing that so many no-name brands nowadays are making TV's and selling them for so cheap. You would think in turn it's going to start making the big names to start using cheaper componets to match their prices. I can't get over how many new TV brands i didn't recognize at my local best buy! Once i got to a LCD made by Chef Boyardee i knew trouble was brewing.


One can only look at RCA as an example of "a hollow shell of its former self". Its now a third-tier brand relegated to WalMart, etc. Time was when RCA not only was one of the leaders (It invented the NTSC color system) on the consumer market, it made the cameras, production/recording equipment, and in the case of NBC the programming.

Speaking of that brand, a 14" flat CRT with ATSC was on the shelf (and bigger 20" brother) at my nearest Wal Mart. The 14" was selling for under $120. Not sure of who produces the RCA TV's anymore, but likely a Chinese subcontractor that rebadges for other companies. As a side not the identical but NTSC only versions were off on a clearence pallet for $70.

Caution: If it has only one video input, which can be either composite video or S-video but not both, do not buy it. More hassle and cursing will surely follow.

You ahve to unplug the S-video cord before you can use composite, and vice versa. You cannot use one of those extenders that Radio Shack sells that brings both the composite and S-video around to the front for easy plugging.

Video hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/video.htm

I had not thought about that, thanks. Also make sure you have audio out. That comes in very handy when you discover the tinny speaker in the front of the set is totally inadequate and want to run the TV's audio through your stereo system..

Oh Sony, why have you forsaken us? Please build at least one CRT model for 2007. These no-name generic CRT's are a complete waste of money, but you don't fully realize that fact until you get home and try to set them up properly.

There's a JVC 27" widescreen Wal-Mart carries now for $400. It's HDTV with and HDMI input, surprisingly. I'm happy with my Insignia ($270 after rebate, Black Friday speical and no longer sold) even if it's a 4:3 set. Out of curiosity, how is JVC viewed as a company? I have no intention of buying this set, but... do they make awful products? Mediocre? They dumped these in the middle aisle across from the shoe section, a decent distance from the Electronics section, right next to another stack of SDTVs, and, of course, no demo model running.

Bought a 13" Dynex SDTV to sit next to my computer at Best Buy yesterday for $99. It has both an NTSC and ATSC tuner in it and works great. Got it home, hooked it up to a rabbit ears type antenna and it picked up all the local Milwaukee stations, both analog and digital. The only problem is that it is a bit slow changing digital channels.

Also make sure you have audio out. That comes in very handy when you discover the tinny speaker in the front of the set is totally inadequate and want to run the TV's audio through your stereo system.

I personally would not buy a TV without audio output, especially variable audio output. My TV have variable audio output and got it hooked up to 3 piece (2 satellite and subwoofer) computer speakers. And using TV remote for volume control, the sound is room filling and it is so convenient.

Currently, the Sharp CRT TV is the only manufacture that offer Variable Audio Output.

Speaking of RCA TV's HALEY.. i had one back in the day that exploded. It was pretty new too when this happened! probably only a few months. A jolt of electricity shot out from the back of it onto my back wall and up it! never seen anything like it!

About getting a Tv from walmart tho! I haven't stepped foot inside a walmart since i was waiting in line behind cottoneyejoe. He was a buying a fishing pole, a gun, a microwave, a tuxedo, milk, and a bag of doritos. I don't know about you guys but all those things should be bought in seperate stores if you ask me!

I saw a 36" Sony SD television at Circuit City the other day. I thought it had an excellent picture, the other SD's sets didn't look nearly as good.

I've seen a 32" Sharp that looked pretty good. That's the only non-Sony SDTV I've seen that seemed acceptable. Most of them are garbage.

I'm looking for a 20"-25" TV with ATSC tuner for my mother-in-law. She doesn't have cable TV and will be using a TV antenna to pick up local channels.

Any recommendations?

Wal-Mart has the Emerson 20" Flat-Tube TV w/ Digital Tuner CR202EM8 for $134.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5645597

That Emerson looks like it is also garbage with separate analog and digital tuners like the Philips and RCA.

The only one so far that looks suitable is the Insignia one at Best Buy, although I haven't tried it yet and wish someone would before I go across the border again to buy it. It is $169 but went on sale for $139 before.

Thanks, will check out the Insignia.

If anyone else has recommendations, please let me know.

So has anyone tried the Insignia yet? I want to buy it this weekend, but since I have to go across the border with it, I don't have the luxury of being able to return it easily if it's not satisfactory...

Never-Never-Never buy RCAThomson. They don provide any customer support. I purchased a RCA32v434t and it worked less than 9 months. Died in January and I am still trying to get my money back. This is only after receiving 3 replacements with identical prolems. Just get a run-a-round from Thomson-RCA. Never buy RCA and especially nevery buy from Walmart. I am without a TV or refund for 6 months now!

There seems to be an intense competition these days among CRT TV manufacturers to see who can produce the lowest quality TV that consumers will still buy.

I had not realized it had gotten to the point where a TV lasting 6 months is considered acceptable. Too bad. I remember when TV's lasted 20 years.

Guess TV's are the new computers, in that you are expected to buy a better one every couple of years because the old one is obsolete.

There seems to be an intense competition these days among CRT TV manufacturers to see who can produce the lowest quality TV that consumers will still buy.

I had not realized it had gotten to the point where a TV lasting 6 months is considered acceptable. Too bad. I remember when TV's lasted 20 years.

Guess TV's are the new computers, in that you are expected to buy a better one every couple of years because the old one is obsolete.
This applies to all electronic devices, including DVD player, VCRs, etc. Don't forget that old VCRs used to last 15 years.

The Kmart insert this week has a 20" Sylvania listed (same as Emerson?), while the Sears insert has a 20" Memorex. Not expecting much from either of these models.

Red.

Well, I got the Dynex (curved-screen version of the Insignia) at Best Buy. So far so good. Analog and digital channels are still cycled through separately, but at least I don't have to push a button to switch to and from "digital mode" like the others.

Tuner is great. Remains solidly locked on a digital signal that is always weak and full of interference on all my other tuners, including $2000 TVs.

My only gripe is that it requires the -1 to be pushed on the remote when selecting a digital channel, if not the analog channel shows up. It would be nice if they could get a firmware upgrade out over the airwaves to correct this.

Could you just use station presets to avoid pressing the "-1"? Sounds like a great price. I would expect to pay $99 for just a tuner.

Why did you get the Dynex instead of the Insignia?

Well, with the Dynex on sale at $125, it wasn't really worth paying $45 more just for a kitchen TV. Both operate exactly the same way, with the only difference being a flat screen (which looked warped more than anything else) and a one-year warranty on the Insignia instead of 3 months on the Dynex. I was getting the $20 4-year warranty so that didn't matter.

As for the -1 problem, yeah, I could cycle through the channels, but sometimes when you're in a hurry it can be a pain to punch in a channel number, and then end up on the wrong (analog) channel and have to hurry to put it on the right number for the digital channel.

So I assume the Insignia has the -1 problem also?

Yeah, both interfaces are EXACTLY identical.

Well, with the Dynex on sale at $125, it wasn't really worth paying $45 more just for a kitchen TV. Both operate exactly the same way, with the only difference being a flat screen (which looked warped more than anything else) and a one-year warranty on the Insignia instead of 3 months on the Dynex. I was getting the $20 4-year warranty so that didn't matter.

As for the -1 problem, yeah, I could cycle through the channels, but sometimes when you're in a hurry it can be a pain to punch in a channel number, and then end up on the wrong (analog) channel and have to hurry to put it on the right number for the digital channel.

What I meant was, can't you save a list of "favorite" channels and just cycle through those, rather than cycling through every single digital and analog station that the TV can receive?

I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing that so many no-name brands nowadays are making TV's and selling them for so cheap. You would think in turn it's going to start making the big names to start using cheaper componets to match their prices. I can't get over how many new TV brands i didn't recognize at my local best buy! Once i got to a LCD made by "Chef Boyardee" i knew trouble was brewing.
LOL
He's My Dad
;)

What I meant was, can't you save a list of "favorite" channels and just cycle through those, rather than cycling through every single digital and analog station that the TV can receive?

Yeah, you can delete duplicate analog channels when they're available in digital. After this, I only have like 7 digital and 5 analog channels left, so not much point of creating a "favorite" list. It would just be nice to be able to switch from 10 analog to 2-1 digital without having to cycle through them or enter -1 on the remote (assuming 2 analog has been deleted).

Foxfan,

How is the zoom capability on the Dynex? I know it doesn't have vertical compression for displaying wide screen format programming using all 480 lines. Presumably it scales the picture to less than 400 limes and puts black bars top and bottom? If you zoom to fill the 4:3 screen, is the picture centered on the 16:9 image or offset to the left? I'm considering the Insignia version for the bedroom and prefer the black cabinet.

Thanks,

Red.

The zoom capability is excellent. It is centered and not offset to the left on 720p channels like last year's infamous 27" model was. It only zooms 16:9 channels and leaves 4:3 stuff untouched (something the Sharp LCD I originally bought was unable to do). There is no vertical compression, but I wouldn't have used it anyways because it always leaves two different shades of black bars with 2.35 content.

Picture quality is better than expected too, though I must admit that it is replacing a twenty-five year-old Magnavox that still had knobs, so it's all relative.

i have a chance to get a jvc sdtv flat screen tv with ntsc and atsc tuner and was wondering if the jvc sdtv's are any good or if they are made by orion or some other off brand. i can get the 27" for around $200 brand new.

i have a chance to get a jvc sdtv flat screen tv with ntsc and atsc tuner and was wondering if the jvc sdtv's are any good or if they are made by orion or some other off brand. i can get the 27" for around $200 brand new.

JVC DTV AV-27F577 , It has a great PQ that rivals my Sony KD-34XBR970 HDTV. :eek:

This is a SD Digital TV with built-in NTSC and ATSC tuners, which means that it can receive analog and digital OTA broadcast. It is not a HDTV, but it will receive HD OTA broadcast W/ a simple homemade HD antenna that will be viewed in SD. This TV has 4:3 aspect ratio with the 16:9 option and a zoom for OTA HD.(to remove the black bars on the top and bottom)

I bought this TV (to replace my 1990 JVC analog TV, which still has a great picture) at my local HHGREGG on sale for $369.97 (My price was $329.97 after I asked the sales person if I could get a discount)! That's $40.oo off their already low price and $120.oo off the MSRP!

WOW what a diff. between analog and digital! I live in the Dayton Ohio area and I am able to receive all local broadcast I use to get only (6 channels) w/ my 1990 JVC , now I get up to 25 programs via local and distant over the air broadcast in standard def. and high def. using a homemade HD antenna . I am also receiving broadcast from Cincy and Springfeild Ohio along w/ another from Ky.
With this TV my viewing choices have more than tripled . Plus watching the programs now in SD and HD is so much better(cleaner) and w/ the audio in Dolby Digital which I have going to my Pioneer VSX-816K surround sound receiver via optical output, the sound is super. :D

So in closing if you can get this DTV, Run don't walk!
hyghwayman

so does jvc make there own crt's or someone else make them for them? because i have heard there are very few crt manufacturers left. i heard sony makes there own but alot of people have switched to having them made by companies like orion and i just want to make sure i would be buying something that would last.

I took a look at the Insignia 20" today at BB. They had it running their standard video feed, which gave a 16:9 picture with black (dark gray) bars top and bottom. It was immediately obvious that the position of the black bar edge was bouncing up and down as the scenes changed on the video. A switch to a bright scene produced a marked jump in picture size, with a fall back to normal size in a few moments. It looks like these sets don't have very good power supplies.

Red.

Well, CRTs are generally made that way. My old TVs and computer monitors did the same thing (picture size increasing with bright pictures).

Well, CRTs are generally made that way. My old TVs and computer monitors did the same thing (picture size increasing with bright pictures).

I had one NEC CRT computer monitor that did that. It would shrink and expand about a quarter-inch depending in the amount of white area. Have a Panasonic CRT (with a Samsung picture tube) that does that as well.

I have a Sony CRT TV, a Dell Trinitron CRT monitor, and a couple of Viewsonic CRT monitors that never do that. I think it's usually low end CRT TV's and computer monitors that do that, from my experience.

hyghwayman can you tell me if the jvc 27" says who makes the tube on the back? i was wondering if that jvc model was made by someone else for jvc or if the model was manufactured at the old panasonic plant before they closed down.

edit: well i went a head and bought the jvc. i went to 6 stores before i finally tracked one down, same chain fred meyers, who was clearencing them out. i had a gift card i received for $150 so i only payed $76 for the tv after tax. its pretty sweet so far. it says it was manufactured by jvc mexico.

i love getting in the digital channels. and they look nice as well. its funny seeing some channels have multiple sub channels that play different things like pbs and the cw. i think i have 3 pbs channels and 2 cw channels.

I took a look at the Insignia 20" today at BB. They had it running their standard video feed, which gave a 16:9 picture with black (dark gray) bars top and bottom. It was immediately obvious that the position of the black bar edge was bouncing up and down as the scenes changed on the video. A switch to a bright scene produced a marked jump in picture size, with a fall back to normal size in a few moments. It looks like these sets don't have very good power supplies.
I looked at that TV awhile back, and it looked really bad in the store. The picture was stretched towards the top left corner on the TV that I saw. The Insignias that I've seen seem to have really bad overall PQ, and the only other TVs I've seen with such wild geometry problems are the older Samsung Slimfits.

I can get a 20" Sony Wega analog TV. How will the add-on digital tuners work in terms of changing channels? Will it require a separate remote and will it have the '-1' problem described in previous messages?

Do you suggest I get the Sony now and the add-on digital tuner later or get a digital tv now?

This TV will be used for over-the-air only. No cable/satellite.

The problem is, I don't know of any decent 20" CRT's that have digital tuners. The arrival of digital tuners has coincided with the disappearance of good quality small CRT's.

I'm using a 20" Wega Trinitron with one of the WalMart HD tuners made by Hisense for a bedroom TV. Great setup. The WalMart tuners are going for around $40 on Ebay, last I heard, though you may have to update the software yourself (see HDTV reception hardware forum for very long thread about these units).

You won't have the "-1" problem if you use an add-on tuner. However, you will need a splitter for the antenna so that the analog tuner in the Sony CRT and the add-on tuner will each have their own antenna feeds.

Best Buy has a Phillips 20" for $149. Thoughts on this one?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8225921

The Philips is junk. You have to switch manually between analog and digital mode, and the scaling in digital mode was so horrible that it looked worse than analog.

Another possibility for a tuner might be to look into getting one of those Magnavox non-HD tuners with DVD burner and VCR built-in. I saw them in the WalMart ad for under $200. I think there is a thread on them in the DVR section.

No point in getting an HD tuner just to use on a non-HD set.

Looks like my best bet is the Dynex 20" for $135 at Best Buy

If your Circuit City still has any 27FS170 sets left, the web-site is now showing this set for less than many of the off brand sets.

Red.

If your Circuit City still has any 27FS170 sets left, the web-site is now showing this set for less than many of the off brand sets.

Red.

Good luck on finding one. The website has it for $139, but it's for in-store purchase only. The 10 stores within 100 miles of me are all out of stock. I paid $279 for mine and was happy at that price. The digital tuner is excellent. With local OTA it's as close as you'll get to HD with an SD set.

Looks like my best bet is the Dynex 20" for $135 at Best Buy

Yeah, I've had it for two weeks and it's working fine.

Last month, I helped my parents (in their late 60's) set up a no-name 32" SDTV (Ilo/Wal-Mart) that replaced their older analog console. The digiital QAM channels are tuned seperately from the analog (cable) channels. Picture quality is okay, but nothing to get excited about. Most of their viewing is locals and mainstream cable channels, and they felt the extra expense for an HD display wasn't worth it (the cable co in their town does not even off all the HD *locals*, and a small handful of national HD channels availble on E* and D*).

At least they are future proofed during cable outages when "rabbit ears" are needed.

Best Buy now has the 24" Dynex DX-R24TV on sale for 159.99. I'm going to check it out. I assume it will perform the same as the 20".

Another question. What antenna is best for SDTVs? Rabbit ear type or HDTV antenna?

For your answer you should start here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=611957

Speaking of RCA TV's HALEY.. i had one back in the day that exploded. It was pretty new too when this happened! probably only a few months. A jolt of electricity shot out from the back of it onto my back wall and up it! never seen anything like it!

About getting a Tv from walmart tho! I haven't stepped foot inside a walmart since i was waiting in line behind cottoneyejoe. He was a buying a fishing pole, a gun, a microwave, a tuxedo, milk, and a bag of doritos. I don't know about you guys but all those things should be bought in seperate stores if you ask me! I shop in walmart and buy some things there. THat is sterotypical. I could say to you that you should buy electronics in a electronics store. I also could say why are you buying cotton eye joe CRT"s. But I would not. I live in a blue collar family and would not do that. I am going to say though I am not buying crt's anymore. After I got my Samsung 4254 plasma(1600 dollar tv and i got it for 1100 at best buy), I am never going back.

There seems to be an intense competition these days among CRT TV manufacturers to see who can produce the lowest quality TV that consumers will still buy.

So True. I can not even find one with a headphone jack. On the rare freak occasions that they have one, it's in the back where it's useless.

hi, i'm not sure if i should ask this here or start a new thread

someone is having me help them look around for a tv, they just want a normal tube tv for about $300 or less, and want it in the sizes of 27" to 32", currently they are thinking about getting the Philips 27PT9007D/37 at walmart, anything majorly wrong with the set that would be a turn off?

they are the type that fit into the second line of the first post:

who just want to turn the damn thing on and watch
thanks :)