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Looking for a CRT to play my old game consoles on. Would much appreciate suggestions

post #1 of 13
3/13/12 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
As for size, the bigger the better in my opinion(unless someone more informed can tell me reasons why a bigger CRT wouldn't be better, other than the crushing weight. :P) But just to throw a minimum size out for the sake of it... 32". But like I said, bigger the better.

I was wondering what brand you guys would suggest? Would you also suggest buying used since it's harder and harder to find quality new CRT's these days? Where should I search? I was also wondering if I should look for a widescreen CRT or the standard 4:3? I plan on playing older gaming systems on it and that's it.

NES
SNES
Genesis
Saturn
N64
GameCube
PS2
Wii

Those are all the systems I plan on hooking up to it. So I guess, the more inputs the better? I haven't had a CRT since I was a child so I really don't remember if they have multiple inputs to be able to hook up multiple systems at a time. If not, I think I can live with that. I am really looking for the BEST PICTURE POSSIBLE.

If anybody can offer some advice/suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. Also, what are the advantages of CRT projectors over single tube CRT's and vice versa?

Again, any help is appreciated.
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post #2 of 13
3/13/12 at 6:40pm
Try and find a sony trinitron tv since alot of people have told me they are pretty good.You can use craigslist to find those local to your area who are selling crt tv's.I currently am using a samsung 19inch curved crt for my nes,20 ich flat emerson crt for n64,sega genesis and a 27inch flat screen rca crt fpor my saturn and dreamcast.
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post #3 of 13
3/14/12 at 2:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukenukems View Post

Try and find a sony trinitron tv since alot of people have told me they are pretty good.You can use craigslist to find those local to your area who are selling crt tv's.I currently am using a samsung 19inch curved crt for my nes,20 ich flat emerson crt for n64,sega genesis and a 27inch flat screen rca crt fpor my saturn and dreamcast.

Thanks for the suggestions! Doing some research, and I think I may need to get TWO CRT's. One 4:3, and one 16:9 because apparently some consoles look better on the 4:3(NES, SNES, N64, etc.) and some look better 16:9(Wii). Does that sound right? Also, what is the difference between curved and flat CRT's? Again, I appreciate the suggestions and am currently looking through Craigslist and eBay for the Sony Trinitron. All kinds of different models, though.
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post #4 of 13
3/14/12 at 6:49am
If u really want the best picture quality get a CRT monitor like the Nec Multisync Series. There are 35 and 36 inch TV's made by NEC.

Models are :
XM37 Plus - XM3760- 35"- 65khz Horizontal Max - 1280x1024 - 1080i, 720p compatible
Has 2 S-Video/RCA inputs, 1 RGB input and a VGA input
XP37 Plus - XP3790 Same as XM37 Plus but has a 95khz horizontal max (1080p and up to 1600x1200)
XM37 Xtra - XM3761- 36" viewable, Same as XM37 Plus model but it has Component inputs and a 70khz horizontal
XP37 Xtra - XP3791- Same as XM37 Xtra but has a 100khz horizontal max frequency (QXGA and 720p at 120hz)

You can also check for Mitsubishi Megaview monitors.
There are these models:
XC-3716C - Megaview 37 Older model but really great monitors, has S-vid inputs, A RGB input and a special sort of connector which in real is VGA but requires an adaptor. This TV supports only 40khz horizontal (1080i max and 800x600 max)

XC-3730C - Best Megaview made - 85khz Horizontal http://vbp1.com/ecat/img/pdf/5268-XC3730C.pdf

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Of course youd need a selector for these TV's but if u know what to do, these are hands down great tv's.

Sony Trinitron like the KV-32FS120 are great for older games too.
The reason why i am suggesting monitors is that they have RGB inputs for older consoles like the NES, SNES, genesis, N64, etc and have the possibility to be used in RGBHV for the best image possible.
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post #5 of 13
3/14/12 at 6:53am
Yes, 4:3 is the best for all the consoles up to the WII. If u get a Nec XP/XM37 Xtra model, u can use component.
The Wii and the PS2 offer component cables which make the pic look AWESOME. (i use my Wii in 480p and no TV comes close to mine)

Monitors are multi-sync so they CHANGE resolution according to input signal. Newer tv's and all consumer CRT's display only their native resolution. (1080i for HDTV's)
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post #6 of 13
3/17/12 at 9:36pm
I don't know what the differences are between the curved screens and flat screens.How's your search going so far?
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post #7 of 13
3/19/12 at 9:20am
Theres not much of a difference between curved screens and flat screens. Technically, almost all CRT's are curved. Trinitron tubes (even those advertised as flat) have a slight curve from left to right (from the top the left and right sides of the tube is more inward than the middle of the screen like this : (
Most tubes also have a curve from top to bottom, making it almost round. Trinitrons advertised as flat aren't really flat but the glass in front of the tube itself is square (or rectangular). If u look closely to your TV, you will see that the phosphor array itself is slightly curved inwards at the left and right sides.

What difference does it make?
Its really down to the tech, shadow mask or trinitron tube.
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post #8 of 13
3/28/12 at 12:19am
If you plan on playing light-gun games such as Duck Hunt and Time Crisis, then you should stay away from high definition sets. That equipment only works on standard definition sets (480i & 240p).

I always liked the final line of standard definition CRTs that Toshiba made. My buddy has a 26" (16:9) and another buddy has a 27" (4:3). Both are great, but I know there was also a 30" (16:9) model produced. I believe it was the 30DF56.

I don't see why you need two TVs when you can always transform a 16:9 TV into a 4:3 one (albeit slightly smaller) by pressing a button on the remote that adds the black/gray bars to the sides. Or if it doesn't bother you, you can stretch out the 4:3 picture to fill the entire 16:9 screen. I'm not a fan of that approach since it distorts the image.
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post #9 of 13
3/28/12 at 1:33pm
The advantage of a HD Monitor is that the light gun will still work since resolution will be a unconverted 480i or 240p. Another reason to choose a good quality monitor. HD CRT sets (i.e. KV-34XBR960) display 1080i and ONLY 1080i, so lightguns,etc will not work as stated by LordSte.
I use a 36" 4:3 (XP-3791 Nec XP37 Xtra) and that equates to a 33" 16:9 image in 720p/1080i/1080p with a blu-ray, xbox360 or ps3.
The 34XBR960 has a 34" 16:9 viewable tube but it doesn't support 1080p and aint multisync.
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post #10 of 13
4/25/12 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by neccrttv View Post

If u really want the best picture quality get a CRT monitor like the Nec Multisync Series. There are 35 and 36 inch TV's made by NEC.

Models are :
XM37 Plus - XM3760- 35"- 65khz Horizontal Max - 1280x1024 - 1080i, 720p compatible
Has 2 S-Video/RCA inputs, 1 RGB input and a VGA input
XP37 Plus - XP3790 Same as XM37 Plus but has a 95khz horizontal max (1080p and up to 1600x1200)
XM37 Xtra - XM3761- 36" viewable, Same as XM37 Plus model but it has Component inputs and a 70khz horizontal
XP37 Xtra - XP3791- Same as XM37 Xtra but has a 100khz horizontal max frequency (QXGA and 720p at 120hz)

You can also check for Mitsubishi Megaview monitors.
There are these models:
XC-3716C - Megaview 37 Older model but really great monitors, has S-vid inputs, A RGB input and a special sort of connector which in real is VGA but requires an adaptor. This TV supports only 40khz horizontal (1080i max and 800x600 max)

XC-3730C - Best Megaview made - 85khz Horizontal

---

Of course youd need a selector for these TV's but if u know what to do, these are hands down great tv's.

Sony Trinitron like the KV-32FS120 are great for older games too.
The reason why i am suggesting monitors is that they have RGB inputs for older consoles like the NES, SNES, genesis, N64, etc and have the possibility to be used in RGBHV for the best image possible.

I had no idea there was a difference between crt tvs and monitors. This was a super useful post. Thanks =)
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post #11 of 13
4/26/12 at 9:02am
If you live near worcester/Boston! (not mine)

http://worcester.craigslist.org/ele/2976474730.html

Its a XC-3717C with a 61khz horizontal max so it easily does 720p and just falls short of 1080p's 64.5khz requirement. (Ask him model number before buying lol it could be something else that what he advertises)

This one should be good for 480i/480p 720p and 1080i
Computer resolutions up to 1280x1024 @ 60hz

The best resolution would be 640x480 @120hz or 800x600 @ 100hz for PC use.
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post #12 of 13
4/26/12 at 9:16am
This one too could be nice but ask for model cause the numbers are unreadable
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ele/2900734060.html

It looks like it has a TON of inputs
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post #13 of 13
5/2/12 at 4:10pm
CRTs are good but be sure to bring a friend if you're going the Craigslist route. They're heavy! I was tempted to buy a 24" widescreen PC Monitor a few years back ago but the thing was 100 lbs. The 22" CRT I settled for was still 80 lbs.
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