Thread Number: 72799  /  Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Who Still Watches a CRT Television?
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Post# 961835   10/10/2017 at 20:45 (2,360 days old) by philcobendixduo (San Jose)        

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Just curious to see how many AW members still use a CRT television as their "primary" set.

I am one of the "CRT fans" that watches a 1998 Mitsubishi 32" CRT console TV.
I would estimate that it's on about 7 hours a day so has about 50,000 hours on it.
It still works perfectly and has a good picture and excellent sound. Never been repaired.
I watch mainly old TV shows and movies on cable or DVD so it's perfect for what I watch.
I thought about getting a flat screen last year but couldn't bring myself to chuck out a perfectly good TV with a beautiful oak cabinet.
So, I will keep watching my CRT TV until the day it dies (or the day I day - which ever comes first!).

Any other CRT watchers out there -what brand and how old is your set?





Post# 961837 , Reply# 1   10/10/2017 at 20:58 (2,360 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
We Still Have One

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A JVC IIRC.

Keep it around because can longer find televisions with VCR connections any longer, and have an extensive collection of recordings.

When had cable also used to record shows for playback later. Have gone to OTA which is slightly less reliable in terms of reception so that is no longer possible.


Post# 961839 , Reply# 2   10/10/2017 at 21:02 (2,360 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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Well, until last night my one and only TV was a CRT set... But it's stopped working, as I mentioned in a thread I created here earlier. I have no idea what will happen next. CRT TVs are "good enough" for me, but a part of me does sort of like the idea of a flatscreen because there is less bulk. But, as I say, CRT is good enough--and potentially cheap used. If I can find one used, of course. I've noticed that my local Goodwill--which carried them--seems to have stopped carrying them. So, due to cost of replacement, I may just do without a TV for a while.


Post# 961840 , Reply# 3   10/10/2017 at 21:02 (2,360 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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It's not the primary but I have one in the bedroom.  27" Magnavox dated Oct 1987.  Has a Roku on it (which I seldom use), and I've been watching GH (via cable) on it for a couple months.

Also have a 20" RCA in another bedroom, dates to approx 1985.  The picture was bad, washed-out, last time I tried it.

Also have a 23" Emerson Sanyo dated Dec 2005 that hasn't been used since the grandmother died Dec 2013.


Post# 961841 , Reply# 4   10/10/2017 at 21:11 (2,360 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Many places no longer accept CRT television for donation

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Since the market basically dried up after the digital broadcasting mandate became effective.

You see televisions of all sizes (including some TOL SONY, JVC and others) on curbs or whatever here in NYC left for rubbish.

That being said you can find plenty of used and even often NIB CRT televisions on fleaPay, CL and the other usual online sources. Some at reasonable to near give away prices.

What killed CRT televisions here in NYC was when local cable providers changed their systems and began requiring *everyone* get one of their boxes. This even when people already had newer televisions that already had built in digital converters.

Time Warner and others stated it was necessary because their boxes gave more options or whatever. What a load of flannel! They wanted to get people who were receiving service by merely connecting cable wire to television to pony up.

By the way proof how many are still watching tube televisions can be seen in prices paid for those digital converter boxes. You know, the ones that were given away free or whatever in advance of the USA moving over to digital broadcasting.

Get yourself one of those boxes, add a good antenna and you'll never need cable television.


Post# 961843 , Reply# 5   10/10/2017 at 21:18 (2,360 days old) by Supersuds (Knoxville, Tenn.)        

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I'm still using a 1983 13" Sylvania in the kitchen, with rabbit ears and the converter box. The channel selector is getting "noisy" (don't know the exact term) and probably needs some contact cleaner, but I don't know enough about these things to start taking it apart. I know you can get a lethal jolt if you don't know what you're doing.

Post# 961845 , Reply# 6   10/10/2017 at 21:29 (2,360 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

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I still have a 12" RCA click station tv in my bedroom that has not been turned on since this digital crap started. Got a 25" GE console color tv downstairs, which none work without a converter. Have a 34 or so" cheapie Emerson, somewhat smart tv that works fine and I can watch anywhere in the house.

Post# 961862 , Reply# 7   10/10/2017 at 23:43 (2,360 days old) by dartman (Portland Oregon)        

I used to fix old sets and sell them. I started when tubes still dominated the market and hybrid and solid state sets were just becoming comon new. My first HDTV was a Toshiba cinema series 34hfx84 CRT set I paid 1225 cash for in 2005. 34" screen, 160 lbs, beautiful picture, looked way better then the LCD sets available then. I still have it working today and my sister uses it in her bedroom. I have many boxes of tubes back to the 20s from collecting them to fix the sets I got, a couple of Beltron CRT rejuvinaters, and some misc parts here and there.
I think the display technology has improved tremendously since the early flat screens and I now watch a new 55" Hisense 55H8C 4k HDR set. Awesome picture, lightweight, 4 year warranty. It even looks great playing upscaled 1080p stuff. I used a CRT computer monitor till probably about 2012 too, last one a Sony 21" that weighed close to 100 pounds.
OLED can show just as nice black levels and colors as the best CRT sets now, and well designed led/lcd sets can come pretty close and use a lot less power.
The thing about CRT sets is they had like 70 years to get it right so they were as good as it gets for a while, and CRT computer monitors can display almost any resolution completely perfectly, a lcd monitor only looks good at it's native resolution.
When I played computer games I would pick the display resolution that looked good and gave good frame rates. Now you have to run the native res or it looks like poo and that takes a fast card and cpu to do the job.
CRT tv's still look great playing old tapes and standard definition old school TV shows so if you're into those keeping a old good working set around will make you happy, and many of the last true hd CRT sets can still give you a great picture, they are just small and heavy. People used to try and find the last uber high end Sony hd crt wide-screen sets as they had such nice pictures. Now if I decide to get rid of my Toshiba I'll be lucky to get 75 bucks for it and probably would end up giving it away even though it was right up there with Sony in the day.


Post# 961866 , Reply# 8   10/11/2017 at 00:01 (2,360 days old) by sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)        

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I still have my big Sony 30" Trinitron. It resides in a big cabinet in the guest room. Was in the living room until around 2004, when I got a 42" Visio LCD for the living room. Then it moved to the family room/office, and was able to receive digital broadcasts via a Panasonic DVD recorder that could do such a conversion. Finally got a 32" flat panel for the family room. The DVD recorder stayed (and is still in use today recording selected programs) but the Sony CRT moved to its retirement location.

For a while I had a Toshiba 21" set on a high shelf in the wardrobe in the master bedroom; that got replaced by a 21" Samsung flat panel, which I rarely watch any more anyway. It was still working when I donated it to Goodwill (where it probably got crushed and sent to Asia to recycle the components). And so it goes. Oh, and I still have a little 13" B&W GE set; still works but is kind of a hassle to hook up to anything. That one was my main set in the '70's.



Post# 961868 , Reply# 9   10/11/2017 at 00:23 (2,360 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)        

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I have a flat screen tv, but I do like CRT tv's better than flat screen tv's. One VERY RARE tv that would be cool to have would be a 1954 RCA CT-100 tv.

Post# 961871 , Reply# 10   10/11/2017 at 01:28 (2,360 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit)        

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I collect a few vintage sets and the daily watcher in the living room is a 1965 RCA CTC-17XE color console in danish modern cabinet, all tube. Beautiful picture, accurate color, does need a sound alignment performed, audio is rather weak. When I finally repair it, the RCA will trade places for a while with a Zenith 25MC33 round screen color set. When working it has a better color than I have ever seen on ANY set including all the modern televisions. NTSC scan lines are the limiting factor on these older sets though, phosphor based color still cannot be surpassed though.

Post# 961880 , Reply# 11   10/11/2017 at 03:20 (2,360 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I still have a 1989 Magnavox 20" in my sleep room that I bought new when I moved to my first apartment, but I think the tuner just went out on it.  I guess it's time to find a smallish LCD television to go in its place. 


Post# 961883 , Reply# 12   10/11/2017 at 04:08 (2,359 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        

What is a CRT television?

(I'm just kidding, but it also answers the thread question.)


Post# 961888 , Reply# 13   10/11/2017 at 05:10 (2,359 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

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I have two Samsung flatscreens, in the livingroom and in the bedroom. The 21 inch Sony tube TV that was in the livingroom before, is now in the kitchen. I still use that TV a lot.



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Post# 961889 , Reply# 14   10/11/2017 at 05:22 (2,359 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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My Panasonic plasma unit is modification of CRT technology, yes?  Each display cell is a kind of mini CRT, yes?


Post# 961904 , Reply# 15   10/11/2017 at 07:42 (2,359 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        

No, Plasma is not a modification of cathode ray tube technology.

Plasma screens use discrete envelopes of gas. A voltage is applied and the gas fluoresces, a bit like a neon sign, or a fluorescent tube. Pixels are individually addressed, or addressed in groups.

CRT technology involves a creating a vacuum in a glass tube. The faceplate has a metal shadowmask built in. Three phosphors (red, green and blue) are applied to the screen. The electron guns are aligned to only see their corresponding phosphors. A heater heats the cathode and high voltage up to 30,000 volts is applied to the electron gun cathode. A stream of electrons zooms towards the final anode near the shadowmask. Electromagnetic scanning coils sweep the beam across the screen, and down the screen.

The CRT phosphors retain the illumination for a significant period of time. This, coupled with the persistence of human vision image retention, fools us into thinking the image is smooth.


Post# 961925 , Reply# 16   10/11/2017 at 09:25 (2,359 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

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I know when a CRT breaks it sounds like a bomb going off.  When I worked at Goldstar in Huntsville, AL, occasionally we would hear a loud BOOM and everyone would take off running toward the sound to make sure no one was hurt by the implosion.


Post# 961932 , Reply# 17   10/11/2017 at 10:49 (2,359 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit)        

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When did you work at Gold Star? I own a 1981 Gold Star color table top set.

Post# 961940 , Reply# 18   10/11/2017 at 11:50 (2,359 days old) by brucelucenta ()        

I got rid of my last one about 4 years ago. They were just too big and heavy and took up too much space. The flat screen tvs I have now go on each of the fireplace mantles and fit perfectly. They are huge in comparison to the old 37" tube tv too and have a much better picture. I was surprised how much space the old tv and stand ate up. I nearly got a hernia getting the old one up the stairs to get rid of it too!

Post# 961943 , Reply# 19   10/11/2017 at 12:12 (2,359 days old) by iej (.... )        

They’re horrible to watch when you get used to UHD.
I find myself thinking: did I really watch that?!



Post# 961948 , Reply# 20   10/11/2017 at 12:59 (2,359 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        
Many places no longer accept CRT television for donation

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We have had that issue out here in WA. I think there were disposal laws in place, and if a thrift store couldn't sell the TV, they had to pay for special disposal. So they refused to accept TVs. Although they did get "donated" regularly. Perhaps a small TV stuffed in the bottom of a box, covered with clothes. Or--best of all--people who'd come by after the store had closed, and leave a TV out back.

 

Now Goodwill has some partnership for recycling. For a long time, they'd try to sell the TV. If it couldn't sell or was broken, it went to recycling.

 

Not sure why I'm not seeing them do that now with CRT sets. Maybe the Goodwill I shop just hasn't been getting them recently. Maybe they are too hard to sell in this flatscreen world, and it's not worth bothering with.


Post# 961951 , Reply# 21   10/11/2017 at 13:19 (2,359 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)        

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There are quite a few tube TV's on Craigslist in the range from free - $25.-

Post# 961952 , Reply# 22   10/11/2017 at 13:21 (2,359 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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CRT computer monitors can display almost any resolution completely perfectly, a lcd monitor only looks good at it's native resolution.

 

And this was one thing I liked about CRT monitors when I used them. Years back, I ran a modern system (Internet) and an older Classic MacOS system (for productivity). The ideal resolution settings were different for the two worlds, but a CRT monitor could happily work with either system (although the Macs needed a special adapter to connect the monitor cable to the Mac, which would also "tell" the Mac what sort of monitor was in use). At one point, I even had a switch box, and I could flip between two computers.

 

I still have older Macs around, but don't really use them much. I can use them with flatscreen...but it's far from ideal. But it's good enough for using a Mac long enough to print something on my old LaserWriter.

 

While I missed the range of working resolutions, I have to say overall I prefer flatscreen monitors. They seem to be much easier on my eyes.


Post# 961953 , Reply# 23   10/11/2017 at 13:24 (2,359 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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phosphor based color still cannot be surpassed though.

 

I don't know if this is still the case, but I recall a lot of people doing hard core graphics work who clung to CRT monitors. They cited better color as a reason for sticking with CRT monitors IIRC.


Post# 961956 , Reply# 24   10/11/2017 at 13:39 (2,359 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)        

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I still have a 1997 Magnavox 25" in my bedroom, its starting to go, once it does, out to the trash it goes, see no reason to buy a replacement until its dead....

I also have two in the kids bedrooms, Sylvania TV/DYD/VCR combo's.....will use them until they drop dead....


don't understand though, since just about everyone has some sort of 'pay cable'....why don't the newer TV's become available without a built in tuner....seems a waste of money/equipment for something that doesn't get used.....digital box's of some sort select all the channels for us....

when we had the 60" Sony WEGA, all we had to do was get this 'card' from the cable company that fit in a rear port, that allowed the TV to operate without an external digital box...

I did see a DVD/VCR combo recently that was tuner-less....which made sense...why pay for something I can't use...


Post# 961963 , Reply# 25   10/11/2017 at 13:52 (2,359 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
We had a CRT Toshiba 32" in the BRuntil a few months ago

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and it had a perfect picture, but was so hard to move for cleaning &c, got a 32" Toshiba flat screen, had a hard time giving away the ctr for free on CL, but finally a gamer wanted it!

Still have at camp a CRT 19" color Sylvania from around 10 yrs ago that cost $89 new at Sears, and still has an excellent picture!

We have free over-the-air TV (4 PBS, 8 channels total) with our flat screen and antenna, we've never had cable, and never will!


Post# 961964 , Reply# 26   10/11/2017 at 13:53 (2,359 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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why don't the newer TV's become available without a built in tuner

 

I've sometimes thought a tuner-less TV might make sense.

 

But, at the same time, the cost of the tuner might not be that much, due to economies of scale. For all I know, a TV tuner might now be a 10 cent chip used in every TV made by a given company.

 

Then, of course, there is always that argument that "it adds only a little to the cost, and so it might as well be there 'just in case.'" I remember a local audio dealer years and years back who carried NAD, and all the sample models were stereo receivers. He pointed out that the comparable integrated amplifier was only $50 or so less...so you might as well just buy the receiver, and get that radio tuner.


Post# 961967 , Reply# 27   10/11/2017 at 13:59 (2,359 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.)        
"They cited better color .."

I agree, that was the case.

I know for a fact that my parents' 2007 Samsung LCD (with cold cathode backlighting) could not display green grass as naturally as their previous CRT telly. The grass looked artificial on the LCD.

A slightly later Samsung 2008/2009 model they also have, has superior green tones.

Shop display models these days, look absolutely fantastic.

I presume the now LED backlighting, has a superior output spectrum range - a bit like how your home furnishings look a different shade, depending on whether incandescent bulbs or compact fluorescent tubes, or LED bulbs are installed.


Post# 961968 , Reply# 28   10/11/2017 at 14:07 (2,359 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)        

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I tend to watch most television in my office/den where my computer lives. In the living room is this big, super-heavy Panasonic flat screen CRT set I purchased when I bought this house in 2001. I pretty much use it when I'm cooking since the kitchen is open to the living/great room. It's been a very fine TV and the flat screen coupled with the recessed area it fits in makes it appear less "vintage".

 

Take a look at the photo. See that 55" LED 4K set sitting on the floor? I purchased that 4 months ago to replace the big CRT set. It's been sitting there all this time, never plugged in, while the warranty ticks away. Fortunately it came with a 2 year extended one. The set is turned around so the cleaning ladies won't hit it with the self-propelled vacuum. There's really no excuse for my laziness. I have a hydraulic lift table that makes removing the old set a simple one-man job, even for an old man like me with a bad back. Pull it out, lower the table and roll it over to the front door where the local thrift shop Revivals will gladly pick it up. There's a ceiling-mounted projection/screen set-up that I use for movies. Don't ask when that was last used. I think "Gone With the Wind" was new.

 

I bought a very nice new Yamaha Internet stereo receiver before I bought the new TV. It's still in the box!  I need to get off the pot, have my back surgery (which I canceled in March even though Medicare and my insurance covers everything) and get my fanny in gear.


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Post# 961993 , Reply# 29   10/11/2017 at 15:30 (2,359 days old) by cfz2882 (Belle Fourche,SD)        
several in use

-big old '70s looking 1982 Zenith "space command"console is the main set-performance still very good,mever mind that it is sneaking up on 36 Yrs :)This set plays the VHS and the 1982 RCA CED disc player-also still going strong at nearly 36 DVDs and other digital sources play on the 2010 Panasonic 42" plasma or 2010 42"Sanyo plasma.
-1957 Hotpoint portable: looks good atop the fridge,still works but more decoration than DD use.
-1983 RCA 19"in bedroom
-1981 RCA 19" in garage workroom.
-a large stack of other 1955-05 CRTs await repair or deployment :)


Post# 961996 , Reply# 30   10/11/2017 at 15:56 (2,359 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

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We had a few, a teeny tiny portable that was not near adaptable for HD/Digital-cable type use, just basic cable & antenna (rabbit ears)... So that one had been gotten rid of after we'd left our apartment...

There was another that was larger, and eventually it stopped working... --I think it was another portable...

Then a large 24" diameter in the living room, that go replaced w/ our first flat screen, just to buy a few more--one that fell off the kitchen counter & I'm trying to prevent another TV from going there--too close to where I prepare food & cook!


-- Dave


Post# 962001 , Reply# 31   10/11/2017 at 16:46 (2,359 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

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I have my mom's RCA 26" cabinet tube TV from the early 1980s. Still works but it is not my primary TV. The narrow picture is a result of the program being broadcast - the full screen is functional.

Gary


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Post# 962010 , Reply# 32   10/11/2017 at 17:50 (2,359 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia)        

I resisted for years the changeover from CRT to LCD. Michael had a 40" Panasonic CRT in 4:3 ratio when I moved in, that'd cost him $5000 in 2000. When his Mum's 1988 Panasonic CRT died in 2007 we bought a 42" Panasonic LCD, once I got used to it, I've never looked back.

The 40" CRT is still up at his mums and working, the only issue was that the Analog Tuner failed during the move, however since the End of analog broadcasting this has no longer been an issue.

in 2012 we bought one of the last made in Japan, 50" Pioneer based Panasonic Plasma TV's. The picture quality was exceptional then and still is now compared to other HD screens. Until there are more 4K video sources (Or Australia gets internet capable of streaming at 4K) it'll stick around as my favorite TV.


Post# 962022 , Reply# 33   10/11/2017 at 19:17 (2,359 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida)        

Both bedrooms still have CRT sets, but are seldom used. Both are 20" sets, basically the same except one is silver and branded Sylvania, the other is black and branded Emerson. I believe both are 2007 and 2008 models. They have flat glass on their tubes and have a pretty good picture. I bought the Sylvania right when CRT sets were going off the market but didn't want to pay the extra cost for an LCD which were still fairly expensive compared to CRT.

Up until a few years ago, we had a Sanyo 32" CRT in the living room about a 2002 model, something went wrong so it got replaced with an LCD, which got knocked over by accident in the middle of night and replaced with an LED.
I don like the how light and compact the flat panel screens are compared to the tube ones. That Sanyo was a monster to move!

I felt the Sanyo had a better picture than the replacement sets, and definitely better sound though.

I noticed Laundress mentioned the new sets have no input for VCRs, what kind of VCR is it? I have a Sony in the living room and it still connected right up to the newest LED set using the red and yellow plugs.

I do know my old Atari console won't connect to even the TVs in the bedrooms as it uses the old style two wire antenna connection. Has to use a converter of some kind.


Post# 962026 , Reply# 34   10/11/2017 at 19:30 (2,359 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida)        
Tuners

Personally don't like having all of these remotes to watch TV. Although ours are all programmed to work with the cable box remote. I suppose one could watch over the air TV using the TV's built in digital tuner, but I've never tried is since I don't have an antenna. Both the new LED and my older CRTs have digital tuners.

My Sony DVD/VCR doesn't have a tuner. I think when I recorded stuff on it, I had to plug the cable box into it. Haven't recorded anything since I first got it about 10 years ago.


Post# 962039 , Reply# 35   10/11/2017 at 21:33 (2,359 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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I noticed Laundress mentioned the new sets have no input for VCRs, what kind of VCR is it? I have a Sony in the living room and it still connected right up to the newest LED set using the red and yellow plugs.

 

I've been looking at flat screen TVs on-line the last day or so (partly because of this thread), and it's not hard finding a TV with composite input. I'm assuming it should work fine with a VCR, although I suppose there would black bars on the TV screen (since video tape isn't widescreen). The only sneaky thing is that the composite seems to be integrated sometimes with component video inputs--use all three inputs for component, but use one of the three inputs (specially labeled) for composite.

 

Of course, a lot of people were used to using the RF connection (antenna). That said, line level (composite video/ line level audio) is probably better, since the signal doesn't have to be converted to RF and back again. Line level connections have always performed better in my tests. I do note that some TVs seem to claim analog support in their tuners, and so perhaps those can support a VCR.

 

I note S-VHS connectors seem to be non-existent on modern TV sets, but I think all devices I've seen with S-VHS outputs also had composite video.

 

The big pain I see is that there appears to be only one set of line level analog connectors now on TVs. I have a VCR, a LaserDisc player (seldom used, though), and a DVD player. I suppose switching could be done elsewhere--home theater receivers usually have switching ability (at least the older units I've seen), but I A) don't have a home theater receiver, and B) I'm not sure I'm interested in having one.


Post# 962040 , Reply# 36   10/11/2017 at 21:37 (2,359 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

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Earlier, I was thinking about the talk about leaving out tuners, which some don't need or want. One thing I wouldn't mind losing off TV sets are the speakers and amplifiers to power them. TV sound was lousy on CRT sets (at least the newer ones I'm familiar with--things might been better on, say, a 60s console set), and has only gotten worse on flat screen sets. I always--always--route sound through my audio system.


Post# 962064 , Reply# 37   10/12/2017 at 03:37 (2,359 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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LordKenmore:  The only sneaky thing is that the composite seems to be integrated sometimes with component video inputs ...
Interesting that component video inputs are available.  I recently read that DVD players now don't have component outputs, only HDMI for hi-def ... although 3rd-party converters supposedly can be found.  My plasma panel predates HDMI so I have concerns if/when I need to replace my player, which is already outdated and can no longer pick up YouTube and Pandora due to changes in network security protocols (NetFlix still works).  I don't want to replace my plasma until it dies.


Post# 962068 , Reply# 38   10/12/2017 at 05:47 (2,358 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Cannot recall where or exactly when noticed VCR connection

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Or lack thereof. It was several years ago now at least because haven't looked at new televisions in some time.

Cannot recall exactly why at the moment, but the DVD player (Phillips) is routed through the VCR. That was the last new device added, and it was done a few years ago. The Phillips is an older model that plays DVDs from various zones. So can watch my British programming quite easily. Came in handy during the Downton Abbey craze as had DVDs sent from UK instead of dealing with the long drawn out (and delayed) PBS showing.


Post# 962084 , Reply# 39   10/12/2017 at 08:01 (2,358 days old) by GRWasher_expert (Athens)        

I had an old 1987 Blaupunkt color CRT TV which was working perfectly until 2012.Then it became useless because of the analog switch off.It didn't have any scart or rca input,so I couldn't connect any set-top box.

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Post# 962166 , Reply# 40   10/12/2017 at 15:53 (2,358 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)        

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I still HAVE a 27" Sony from 1998 as my 'primary' TV. But it hasn't been turned on for over a year. Any 'TV' I watch is done on the computer monitor now. I use a Tablo box to record off air to watch through the network.

I need to haul that Sony off for recycling. Then I will be down to the last four remaining CRT's in the house (3 oscilloscopes and an older RF spectrum analyzer). I purged the house of all other CRT's years ago, good riddance.


Post# 962180 , Reply# 41   10/12/2017 at 17:04 (2,358 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)        

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We have a 55 inch rear projection tv from 2006, as our primary set. I also have several [100] crt sets from the 40s to the 80s. Some work and so don't.

Post# 962183 , Reply# 42   10/12/2017 at 17:07 (2,358 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
I had a 35" Toshiba for years. The picture had a wonderful film-like quality. Unfortunately, moving it was a multi-person monumental pain. It was recycled in 2014 or 2015 and two 32" LG's entered the house. They will undoubtedly have shorter lifespans than the CRT, but the picture is quite good and motion blur isn't a big issue.

Being able to pick up and move a TV that weighs no more than a bag of groceries: Priceless.

I dodged cable around the same time and now do my watching on Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix via the little black Apple TV box. It's Siri-enabled so you can, for instance, say "Find Elvis Presley documentaries on YouTube" and a list pops up on the screen. If your request is open-ended, it will, naturally, try to find the item at iTunes first.


Post# 962391 , Reply# 43   10/14/2017 at 01:00 (2,357 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Now have an LG 49" UHD 4K flatscreen---no going back for me.My CRT HD rear projector just sits in the room-unused and unplugged.Just too big and heavy to move.See LOTS of CRT sets in the appliance dumpster at the dump site I go to.Don't know what their final fate will be.Most folks out my way no longer want CRT sets.Even yard sale shoppers don't want them.Many times if the set is at a yard sale--you see like $5 posted on it--then that is scratched off-FREE put on instead-even then the poor set just sits there.

Post# 962394 , Reply# 44   10/14/2017 at 01:37 (2,357 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

I talked with someone I know who works at the Goodwill store I've mentioned above. She doesn't know exact policy in place these days, but did say she's under the impression they don't even try to sell any CRT sets that are donated. She thinks they automatically go to recycling.


Post# 962409 , Reply# 45   10/14/2017 at 06:29 (2,356 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Probably the TVs and other electronic scrap items go to the overseas electronic scrapyards in third world countries where the wiring is burned in open fires to get the copper,same with circuit boards-the parts on the boards are melted down and they try to recover what little gold is in the components-open fires and vats of acid.Then the CRTs are smashed with hammers to get the copper from the deflection yokes which on the newer sets are cemented onto the neck of the cRT-then the glass from the tubes is dumpted anywhere-even in creekbeds.In US recycling scrap plants they are truly recycled-but this is VERY expensive.

Post# 962410 , Reply# 46   10/14/2017 at 07:09 (2,356 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida)        

IMO other than the size and weight if I had a perfectly good CRT or rear projection set i'd keep it. I hear people say their new flat panel set has almost as good a picture as their old one. Why replace it then? I think people got obsessed with having a new "flat screen" and keeping up with everyone else that quality didn't matter as long as it was flat.

As for thrift stores see the same CRT ones at Habitat Restore all the time. New Hope also takes them. I never see any TVs at Goodwill or Salvation Army.

After the hurricane I saw several beside the road. Not sure if surges got them. Even saw a flat panel set lying on its face on the ground in front of a wooded lot down the street next to all the tree limbs.

I too saw a CRT at an estate sale a black RCA seemed to be 32" or so with the remote and free on it. Still sitting there at the end of the sale. Would need a crane to get it outside!


Post# 962414 , Reply# 47   10/14/2017 at 07:57 (2,356 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
One huge problem with CRT televisions is getting rid of them

launderess's profile picture
Many local areas no longer have sanitation pick-up, but require dropping off the set at a designated E-Waste collector.

As you can imagine not everyone is keen on lugging a heavy TV or whatever to a recycler, so you get illegal dumping.

www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-...

We've been talking about CRT televisions, but don't forget about those old computer monitors.

resource-recycling.com/e-scrap/2...


Post# 962437 , Reply# 48   10/14/2017 at 09:01 (2,356 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
We have one.

Not that we watch it, but it works perfectly. It had one repair years ago, I think the start circuit.
Vintage 1982 ish RCA 25 inch Colortrak oak swivel console.
It was my in laws.
I had a 1986 27 inch colortrak stereo table console. I gave it to my folks when we got a new cabinet it didn't fit in. My brother said the vertical hold went out on it and he trashed it. Nice of him to ask me first. Str~unzo.


Post# 962468 , Reply# 49   10/14/2017 at 11:01 (2,356 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit)        
Here is my RCA

speedqueen's profile picture
I figured I would post a couple pictures. The picture is better in real life. The camera made things a little blurry.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 2         View Full Size
Post# 962627 , Reply# 50   10/15/2017 at 00:28 (2,356 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

My new flatscreen TV has a BETTER picture than my old RPTV.Someday will have the old TV hauled away.And my old RPTV cannot show 4K UHD movies.Another problem-newer DVD players no longer have component video outs like older ones did.So--the old RPTV just sits behind the new set.Remember when it was delivered almost 20 yrs ago-had to take down two doors to get it into the TV room.Oh yes-the CRT's in the old set are starting to get soft-had to crank up the brightness and contrast.

Post# 962703 , Reply# 51   10/15/2017 at 13:12 (2,355 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
Nice set Richrd.

I like Danish modern. Namely a 1969 Zenith Amundsen or Lundberg.

Post# 962864 , Reply# 52   10/16/2017 at 12:12 (2,354 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)        

countryford's profile picture
Here is a picture of me next to my 1956 Philco, after it was restored. The second one is a picture of my collections. More have been added.

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 2         View Full Size
Post# 962871 , Reply# 53   10/16/2017 at 13:07 (2,354 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)        
countryford...

twintubdexter's profile picture

What a collection! What a selection! I hope that's what heaven is like...or any other place I'm headed. Thanks for posting.


Post# 962882 , Reply# 54   10/16/2017 at 13:54 (2,354 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)        

countryford's profile picture
Twintubdexter
Head over to phoenix for a visit and you can see the collection. Palm Springs isn't too far away.


Post# 962953 , Reply# 55   10/17/2017 at 00:20 (2,354 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

50's type TV's have a liking for these-Watching older Sci-fi horror movies on these is kinda neat-and their all wood cabinets at least are attractive-unlike the plastic "clamshell" cabinets of 80's-thru the last of the CRT sets.NICE collection of the older classic TV's I used to work on RCA,GE transmitters that would send to those!The chrome & glass era!!!

Post# 963877 , Reply# 56   10/22/2017 at 13:50 (2,348 days old) by Artcurus (Odessa)        

I retired my Magnavox 25 inch color tube set from 1972 in 2007. I so miss that set, the color, the picture depth, the contrast and black level blows my 55 inch flat screen to Hell.

I was getting tired of having to pull it down every year for maintenance, and oh the joys of 6GH8. (Some here will know exactly what I'm talking about).

The other more serious issues is that it ate the video output tube on a regular basis, and the horizontal/damper tube prices were rising to astronomical levels.

Believe or not, this set came in as a repair when I was around 8 years old in 1977, the customer decided not to repair it, I fixed it, and it became mine.


Post# 963903 , Reply# 57   10/22/2017 at 17:30 (2,348 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

I have 2, yes 2 monster CRT's I'd love to get rid of.  They are one of the largest CRTs ever made, 38" wide screen 1080 sets.  Got one originally in 2003, one of the first HD sets, $3K  had OTA HD tuner built in as well as a Directv HD receiver built in.  Great picture, first one died,  had a service contract on it from Sears and they gave me all my $$ to buy a new one.  Picked up the second cheap and used it for a parts donor.  Having an electronics background I got the original working easily, moved the 300lb plus unit to the basement rec room where it still sits.  I might turn it on once a year if that.  Both it and it's donor are taking up space and I have no need for either.

 

Been seriously considering moving on from the RCA's replacement, and 2007 50" Samsung plasma to a 4K model.  Not sure I want to spend the $$$ on OLED, might go with some version of LED, though not my favorite display type, if tamed they can look quite good.  I'm a big proponent of professional calibration of displays, but that can be costly, I paid $300 to get the Sammy calibrated early on.  Still has a great image, but want bigger and 4K.  I bought a meter and have calibration program and have gotten fairly good at it.  Odds are I would try my had with the new set and see if it meets my standards.


Post# 963941 , Reply# 58   10/22/2017 at 21:26 (2,348 days old) by dartman (Portland Oregon)        
4k sets

If you want a cheap but great looking 4k hdr set look at the Hisense 55H8C and their bigger 65" version. They are dirt cheap, look great, and do HDR pretty well. TCL I think it is has a really nice P series bunch of sets with multi zone local dimming and HDR and is supposed to also look great.
You could get one cheap and watch it and decide how you like it and upgrade to your dream uber set later, if you don't like it you aren't out thousands of dollars.
My set also came with a 4 year warranty as soon as I registered it online and I paid 550 for it. It does go on sale regularly for less but not sure the newer 2017 version still has the great warranty, their other new sets now have a year I think and no clue what TCL offers. The big Chinese manufacturers are offering very advanced sets cheap now to break into the market here, and keep bringing out even better sets for a good deal.
the black levels on mine is great as long as your close to centered on the screen and it's very bright and sharp even playing upscaled 1080p video.


Post# 963952 , Reply# 59   10/22/2017 at 23:00 (2,348 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

Yeah, I was/am giving the TCL some serious thought.  Read very good reviews, and it's very budget friendly.


Post# 963955 , Reply# 60   10/23/2017 at 00:37 (2,348 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        
Speedqueen - Richard

askolover's profile picture

"When did you work at Gold Star? I own a 1981 Gold Star color table top set."

 

I went to work at Goldstar in 1991 after I finished college for my first career.  We made televisions for Sears, Citizen, CurtisMathis, JCPenney, and I'm sure a few others.  I usually worked on the table top models 20"-32.  Occasionally they would loan me to the console set line (I liked the console line because it moved a little slower).  I did everything from chassis assembly, white balance, color/tint, final inspection, and packaging.  It was a clean climate-controlled job.  Now Nursing is a climate-controlled job but it isn't always so clean :-(


Post# 963958 , Reply# 61   10/23/2017 at 01:37 (2,348 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA)        
If these older TVs had beautiful color,

neptunebob's profile picture
I remember when I was a boy my dad would take me to Horne's department store and I would see color TVs where Walter Cronkite was on the news in a vivid purple, and our aunt who paid "top dollar" for everything had an RCA TV where the color image looked like a bad "acid trip". I think this might have been one reason color TV may have been slow to catch on, we did not have one until 1974. I don't think it was until about 1980 that one could buy a color set that was reliable about the image. The thinking was I would rather look at a clear B&W image than a bad color one. So why is your old TV so "beautiful" when the new ones back then looked so bad?

Post# 963962 , Reply# 62   10/23/2017 at 05:38 (2,347 days old) by speedqueen (Metro-Detroit)        

speedqueen's profile picture
Askolover - Thanks for the information about your career at GS. Very interesting.

Neptunebob - Your aunt's set probably had thrown a 6gh8(likely the one by the color crystal), like Akronman's Magnavox, sets of this era just ate these tubes, ESPECIALLY RCA. Also, because those sets were at a department store, they might not have gotten a proper setup.


Post# 963964 , Reply# 63   10/23/2017 at 05:44 (2,347 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)        

daveamkrayoguy's profile picture
Surprisingly nearly all of all our old CRT's have been Color, but my grandparents bought a fairly large-sized black & white in the '70's (the thing had a jack for an earplug) to replace various black & white sets, (the one before it was a very small, compact table-top sized) then eventually in the '80's getting their very first color...

Somehow the compact CRT my wife & I had, I believe was also a color set (a surprise considering its little size) and I remember various B&W portables growing up, that my family had, which despite being an American brand, had Japanese components, inside & all breaking down, one, by one...



-- Dave


Post# 963968 , Reply# 64   10/23/2017 at 06:53 (2,347 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)        

askolover's profile picture

A little known fact about Goldstar televisions....we used tubes made by Phillips and Zenith (back then Zenith was not a part of LG...Lucky Goldstar), and I think occasionally I would see an RCA tube but I'm not positive about that.  At Christmas, Sears was our biggest customer and we worked overtime building sets for them.  I enjoyed that job...I later returned to college for another degree in nursing.


Post# 964024 , Reply# 65   10/23/2017 at 14:21 (2,347 days old) by Revvinkevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)        
No more CRT's for me

revvinkevin's profile picture

 

 

The last ones I had were #1, a 27" Hitachi from the mid / late 80's and #2, a 50" Toshiba rear projection.  The Hitachi was a really great TV even after 25 years with good image quality and color accuracy, plus really good stereo sound.  I was very happy with this one.

 

The first Toshiba projection TV I had was bought back under the 5 years "bumper to bumper" extended warranty.  Service tech's were never able to get the picture and color dialed in correctly and after 2.5 years, got a full refund.  When it's replacement finally died (another Toshiba) 2 or so years ago, I replaced it with a 55" Samsung LED flat panel.  Much less bulk & weight, plus a better picture too.  Have been very happy with it!


Post# 964028 , Reply# 66   10/23/2017 at 15:31 (2,347 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

I remember when I was a boy my dad would take me to Horne's department store and I would see color TVs where Walter Cronkite was on the news in a vivid purple, and our aunt who paid "top dollar" for everything had an RCA TV where the color image looked like a bad "acid trip".

 

I can't comment about 1970s color TV from personal experience. But I seem to recall reading old Mad Magazine pieces that made fun of it.

 

Also I recall a crack I read in a British electronics book: NTSC stands for Never Twice the Same Color. LOL

 

 


Post# 964029 , Reply# 67   10/23/2017 at 15:37 (2,347 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)        

lordkenmore's profile picture

So why is your old TV so "beautiful" when the new ones back then looked so bad?

 

I can only speculate, but maybe the TV was somehow better than what competitors were doing. Also it may be also a factor of broadcast quality--I assume the equipment TV stations use has evolved and improved over the years. The TV is only as good as the signal put into it...


Post# 964090 , Reply# 68   10/23/2017 at 23:25 (2,347 days old) by dartman (Portland Oregon)        

I think for some sets as far as proper tint and color balance many owners didn't care that much, plus many cheap sets had sub par circuitry and really didn't resolve the color properly. I liked Zenith sets best, but many of the later sets did a good job as long as you spent some time tweaking and calibrating them properly. I always set the white balance, black level/contrast, and brightness as perfectly as I could for any decent set I rebuilt or used for myself. I had a few Magnavox late 80s sets that had a excellent picture, some of the later RCA sets could look really good, and many of the Japanese made sets in the 19" size had excellent pictures. Sony had a tube and look all their own. I usually preferred other makers sets but I did use a 26" Sony console set that looked very good, unfortunately the first big Trinitron tube had major reliability issues and they sometimes only lasted 3 to 5 years before the CRT was shot and the picture looked like crap. They didn't take a cleaning or rejuvenation well either so usually you had to buy a new or rebuilt tube to make it look good again. I did a few and they were difficult to setup and get everything right too.
Some of the cheaper early sets had a really flat picture with lousy black levels and contrast too, so you had to be picky unless all you wanted was something cheap you could sorta stand to watch that was color.



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