Hi guys,
I'm hoping to pick up a gently used CRT HDTV display. I'm guessing that this season will probably be a good one for finding a late model set that somebody is upgrading to a sexy new flat panel.

From what I can tell, the CRT displays that are available seem to have a native display resolution of 1080i.

I have a Samsung DTB-H260F tuner connected to my old standard def. TV. The picture is pretty good on the 480i output. I plan to use this tuner on whatever HD-Ready set I pick up. The tuner has a swith on the back to select 480i/480p/720p/1080i.

Will I have better results setting the output of the DTB-H260F tuner to 1080i all the time, and letting the tuner do the upscaling on a 720p broadcast (such as a football game on fox)? Or will the TV do a better job scaling the picture if I flip the switch to 720p output for certain shows/games?

I have a feeling that wearing out the switch is a good possibilty to worry about as well.

Anyone have any input on this for me?

Thanks!
Matt

It's convenient to have 720p input on a CRT, but I would suggest you send it 1080i when possible.

I find that a/v sync is better that way with my 40XBR, and the picture is just a little sharper.

I'll try my Samsung STB and post again if that changes my opinion.

Okay, the Samsung SIR-T351, which also has that 4-position switch, is now connected to this Sony HDTV. :)

I'm just going to talk about lipsync, and I'm going to assume that 10:00's HD programming on NBC and ABC are properly synchronized.

Neither the STB nor the TV can make ABC'S 720p look synched up to the audio. Having my Sony DVR upscale it to 1080i is a marked improvement over anything the Samsung can do with this television.

NBC's 1080i programming is synched very well when the Samsung is set to output 1080i, and worse, as expected, when set to 720p.

So 1080i is the setting to use for HD, but in addition there is a/v lag with 720p no matter how the Samsung is set.

Whew, that was windy.

EDIT: testing performed with component video cables. If you can afford a CRT with HDMI or DVI-HDCP, I'd go with that.

If you can afford a CRT with HDMI or DVI-HDCP, I'd go with that.

Thanks for checking on that for me. I'll have to see what comes up available over the next few weeks. I'm hoping that I can find an early adopter that upgraded to a brand new set for the holidays and just wants the old beast gone.

-SF

Thanks for checking on that for me. I'll have to see what comes up available over the next few weeks. I'm hoping that I can find an early adopter that upgraded to a brand new set for the holidays and just wants the old beast gone.

-SF

Keep an eye on Craigslist. The quality of the video processing in the TV will be entirely dependant upon make and model. Sony Wegas tended to be universally good in terms of video scaling.

If you can afford a CRT with HDMI or DVI-HDCP, I'd go with that.

Avoid DVI unless you can check for compatiblity with HDMI.