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are Tubes dead?

post #1 of 26
3/8/07 at 6:24pm
Thread Starter 
I've noticed that recently in stores, it is getting harder and harder to find a quality (SDTV) tube television. Most of what there is for tube TV's is crap from Funai and Orion. The last manufacturer of (somewhat) decent SDTV's seems to be Philips, and I heard they have exited the tube market. Does this mean they will no longer make CRT tv's? I'm looking at a nice 20" model they have at Walmart, is now the time to buy it? or can I wait a bit longer? HDTV does not interest me at all and nothing beats an old-fashioned tube for me. Is philips going to continue to manufacture and sell this TV or will they have Funai make it for them? or will they discontinue it alltogether?

it is truly sad to see LCD's and Plasmas take over the market for televisions. CRT is a very mature technology and to me, it is much easier on the eyes. Plus they have proper black levels too, something that drives me insane on LCD's/
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post #2 of 26
3/8/07 at 6:51pm
Couldnt agree with you more. I know HDTV is all the rage but I could care less. My old Mitsu 35" tube tv has a beautiful picture. I'll be damned if I fall for the marketing push for LCD & plasmas.
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post #3 of 26
3/8/07 at 7:38pm
Philips? I hardly think that Philips is making the best SDTVs. You can still buy Sony SDTVs.
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post #4 of 26
3/8/07 at 7:53pm
Yes. Tubes are officially dead.

Sony will offer no new CRT televisions anymore. A Sony executive was quoted in TWICE a few days ago confirming this fact.

If Sony isn't making CRT's, then the CRT is officially done. Stick a fork in it.
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post #5 of 26
3/8/07 at 8:40pm
You forgot the new Samsung SlimFits coming out soon.
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post #6 of 26
3/8/07 at 8:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by weirdlookinguy View Post

Is philips going to continue to manufacture and sell this TV or will they have Funai make it for them? or will they discontinue it alltogether?

Some of the Philips TVs are made by Funai and has been this way for eight years now.
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post #7 of 26
3/8/07 at 8:43pm
CRT tube TVs are not dead yet. Just keep getting your old one repaired.
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post #8 of 26
3/8/07 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
I agree with you guys, Sony made the damn best tubes you could get. Unfortunately, I don't have the money for a nice trinitron right now. The way CRT's work fascinates me, there are lots of repair guides on CRTs out there online and I could spend all day reading on CRTs. I actually miss the days when LCD was unheard of..... I guess you could say I'm kinda obsessed with how tubes work. I think my best bet is to go out and try to get a nice sony before they're discontinued for good, thanks guys.
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post #9 of 26
3/9/07 at 5:55am
There's an Indian company called Videocon that does not think so, as India's TV market is 95% CRT. They have:

- bought Thomson's tube (component) business
- bought Electrolux India
- been working on a deal to buy Daewoo Electronics
- made a bid for LG.Philips Displays (tube component business supplying diverse TV manufacturers)

Additionally, they are interested in a stake in LG.Philips LCD (LCD panel business).

So maybe your next CRT will come from India.
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post #10 of 26
3/9/07 at 6:16am
My Sony XBR960 CRT is only a year old , Ill have this one for awhile before being forced into something with lesser picture quality, at least by then there should be something worthy out (hopefully).
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post #11 of 26
3/11/07 at 11:38pm
My main TV is a DLP, but my bedroom TV is a 13" CRT. I hope CRTs stick around for a little while. I don't feel like dropping $400 on an LCD or something just to watch some late night shows.
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post #12 of 26
3/13/07 at 7:10pm
There will still be CRT sets sold just nothing of quality.
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post #13 of 26
3/14/07 at 7:50am
Yeah, I've noticed that in stores too. I went to best buy to view the sony 970. it was running a coaxial cable while surrounding LCD's were running HDMI and component cables. The 970 out performed them all. I'm sure the 970 quality would only get better with a component or HDMI plug. But CRT isnt the hype in the market anymore, so they are unfortunately leaving. I wish Bose would leave instead.
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post #14 of 26
3/14/07 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lambo_freak View Post

I wish Bose would leave instead.

Why Bose? I love my Bose Companion 5 speakers.
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post #15 of 26
3/14/07 at 3:19pm
Does anyone know if Loewe still makes CRTs in Europe?
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post #16 of 26
3/14/07 at 8:25pm
Thread Starter 
yeah, now that Sony has stopped making CRT's it's over. I really don't understand why everybody hates CRT's. They have GREAT picture quality, are more durable, and are easier on your eyes. Of couse, everybody is buying into the "lighter weight, more energy efficient" BS that the manufacturers are pushing. tubes are dead.... period. In fact, this is motivating me to go out and get a Sony XBR970 before they are all gone. I know my local Fry's had some new in-box ones in stock a few days ago
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post #17 of 26
3/15/07 at 12:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by weirdlookinguy View Post

yeah, now that Sony has stopped making CRT's it's over. I really don't understand why everybody hates CRT's. They have GREAT picture quality, are more durable, and are easier on your eyes. Of couse, everybody is buying into the "lighter weight, more energy efficient" BS that the manufacturers are pushing. tubes are dead.... period. In fact, this is motivating me to go out and get a Sony XBR970 before they are all gone. I know my local Fry's had some new in-box ones in stock a few days ago


The more and more I read these posts, the more I appreciate my Sony XBR960. All I hear now is "I want a Flat screen. There so sexy and sleek." Excuse me, are you intrested in the actually picture quality of the unit or how it looks???!! Cause Ive seen some of these POS. No thanks. Not until they improve on the blacks & contrasts. For now I'm happy with my big TV with its big backside. I don't give a damn if my TV is not on the wall.. Its all about the PQ to me.
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post #18 of 26
3/15/07 at 3:19pm
Thread Starter 
I couldn't agree more, GoBlu. People love how "thin and lightweight" the TV is, then set it on it's stand. After a while, the "oooh" factor of how thin the TV is goes away. Then the TV sits there for years. the thinness did nothing more than look nice for a few weeks. The light weight is also useless because the tv is not moved around much if at all.

I'd take beautiful, gorgeous PQ over thinness that will only amaze me for a few days
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post #19 of 26
3/15/07 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoBlu View Post

The more and more I read these posts, the more I appreciate my Sony XBR960. All I hear now is "I want a Flat screen. There so sexy and sleek." Excuse me, are you intrested in the actually picture quality of the unit or how it looks???!! Cause Ive seen some of these POS. No thanks. Not until they improve on the blacks & contrasts. For now I'm happy with my big TV with its big backside. I don't give a damn if my TV is not on the wall.. Its all about the PQ to me.


Could'nt have said it better myself!
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post #20 of 26
3/15/07 at 6:01pm
Ignorant people are the one who likes the looks of the TV instead of the picture quality. If
consumers still buys a lot of CRT today, the manufacturer won't be shutting down their factory.
Because manufacturer spend a fortune on making and shipping these behemoth and when no
one buys them, they are left holding their own balls. So I should vote for not LCD, not Plasma,
but a FED. It's the closest thing you can get with CRT except with depth and weight.
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post #21 of 26
3/15/07 at 9:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoBlu View Post

The more and more I read these posts, the more I appreciate my Sony XBR960. All I hear now is "I want a Flat screen. There so sexy and sleek." Excuse me, are you intrested in the actually picture quality of the unit or how it looks???!! Cause Ive seen some of these POS. No thanks. Not until they improve on the blacks & contrasts. For now I'm happy with my big TV with its big backside. I don't give a damn if my TV is not on the wall.. Its all about the PQ to me.


I wish I had a 960. I'm trying to find one. I agree with that post 100%.
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post #22 of 26
3/16/07 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by weirdlookinguy View Post

I couldn't agree more, GoBlu. People love how "thin and lightweight" the TV is, then set it on it's stand. After a while, the "oooh" factor of how thin the TV is goes away. Then the TV sits there for years. the thinness did nothing more than look nice for a few weeks. The light weight is also useless because the tv is not moved around much if at all.

I'd take beautiful, gorgeous PQ over thinness that will only amaze me for a few days

Are you so sure that a good Plasma will only amaze you for a few days? I was a hardcore CRT guy and had an excellent 32" HD Panny tube TV which i dearly loved, but now that i've had my Plasma for almost 2 years i still enjoy watching HD as well as SD TV much more than i ever did with the tube TV. To me, HD programming is wasted on the smallish tube TV screens. HD looks better on the Plasma, and SD looks about 95% as good as it did on the tube TV but still SD is excellent on either one.

I didn't buy the plasma because it's sexy, and i don't like hanging a TV on the wall, but sometimes it allows one to install a TV in a room that otherwise was unable to accept a big tube TV. In my case, going to a big flat panel TV made my living room feel much larger and more open, and since the screen is located a foot closer to the wall it made it easier for guests sitting off to the side to see the screen. Another big plus is that the Plasma is less reflective so it doesn't get washed out as much as the tube TV did on a sunny afternoon so in effect i actually get a better picture in these conditions.

Is the absolute picture quality better on my Panny Plasma than it was on my Panny HD Tube TV? No, but the overall viewing experience is much better on the Plasma. Do i miss the old Tube TV? Yes, but the Plasma is more enjoyable to watch.
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post #23 of 26
3/16/07 at 10:31am
LG.Philips Displays changes name

Check out the last sentence.
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post #24 of 26
3/16/07 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWalters View Post

Are you so sure that a good Plasma will only amaze you for a few days? I was a hardcore CRT guy and had an excellent 32" HD Panny tube TV which i dearly loved, but now that i've had my Plasma for almost 2 years i still enjoy watching HD as well as SD TV much more than i ever did with the tube TV. To me, HD programming is wasted on the smallish tube TV screens. HD looks better on the Plasma, and SD looks about 95% as good as it did on the tube TV but still SD is excellent on either one.

I didn't buy the plasma because it's sexy, and i don't like hanging a TV on the wall, but sometimes it allows one to install a TV in a room that otherwise was unable to accept a big tube TV. In my case, going to a big flat panel TV made my living room feel much larger and more open, and since the screen is located a foot closer to the wall it made it easier for guests sitting off to the side to see the screen. Another big plus is that the Plasma is less reflective so it doesn't get washed out as much as the tube TV did on a sunny afternoon so in effect i actually get a better picture in these conditions.

Is the absolute picture quality better on my Panny Plasma than it was on my Panny HD Tube TV? No, but the overall viewing experience is much better on the Plasma. Do i miss the old Tube TV? Yes, but the Plasma is more enjoyable to watch.

I second randy's post!

My next tv will deffinately be a plasma when the time comes to upgrade, since it's the closest thing to CRT PQ so far without any geometry,convergance or focus issues that are inherant to CRT technology in general.

the biggest complaint with CRT is the weight and bulkiness..IMO it doesn't bother me anyways since once i find a suitable place for it it remains there for quite a while.
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post #25 of 26
3/16/07 at 2:06pm
Despite having bought the 42" LCD, we mainly watch the 27" Sony CRT (over 11 years old) on SD cable for everyday normal use which is great.

The 42" LCD is in an adjacent entertainment room for 1080P Viewing for Blue Ray DVD viewing as well as 720P/1080P PS3 gaming purposes and adding an upconvert DVD Player to assist my older collection of DVDs on the big screen.

We still embrace our CRT and have welcomed the larger screen LCD for a completely different purpose. Keeps the technology from fighting one another and not being too redundant!

Having bought the 1080P capable flat screen at a very low price without an ATSC tuner and all the other negligent add-ons, we've kept the budget very realistic.

I sent the 46" Sony XBR2 packing and back home after deeming the technology payback not substantial vs the overall solid gold cost.

We are enjoying the best of both worlds with the CRT intact!

Besides, no sense spending high coin on future technology when the possibility of laser TV hitting these shores within a year or two and making other so-called super cool flat screens obsolete quicker than a Comadore 64... Hopefully laser TV can deliver all the goods at once and not piece meal itself to death...
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post #26 of 26
3/18/07 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lambo_freak View Post

Yeah, I've noticed that in stores too. I went to best buy to view the sony 970. it was running a coaxial cable while surrounding LCD's were running HDMI and component cables. The 970 out performed them all. I'm sure the 970 quality would only get better with a component or HDMI plug. But CRT isnt the hype in the market anymore, so they are unfortunately leaving. I wish Bose would leave instead.


I play mostly games on my xbr970. ps2, xbox, even I tried an old one of my SNES
side-scrollers, on my new tv, a week ago. i was ASTONISHED at the good graphics
with the "lawnmower man" on the SNES! so clear, so photographic!
the final fantasy XII looks so so much better with this tv, than with my "old"
toshiba 27".

so here is a 34" tv with a game from the very old console days, showing a game image that is very very good, far far better than I would have imagined a SNES
game to be, of course i found a S-video cable for my snes, that helps, but
from what i have read here, that for

SD- SOURCES

the crt tube excels over lcd, is true.

do not play your ps2 games on a lcd, i read.

freestone
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