[rafiprag]

Sony pulls the plug on Trinitron CRTs
Mon Mar 3, 2008 4:01PM EST
See Comments (25)

Buzz up!on Yahoo!The move marks the end of an era, as Sony throws its weight behind fast-selling LCD TVs. Long live Trinitron!

Sony has confirmed (via AFP and MarketWatch) that it will stop making tube-based TVs by the end of the month. Sony had actually ceased production of CRTs in Japan back in 2004, according to MarketWatch, but it was still churning out "Trinitron"-branded tube sets in Singapore and Malaysia for sale in Latin America and Asia.

The news is sad but inevitable, with the rapid rise in flat-panel TV sales taking a serious toll on the CRT market. I was a CRT holdout myself until just a couple of years ago, when I finally replaced my 32-inch Sony WEGA HDTV (my second WEGA, actually) with a 42-inch Westinghouse LCD TV (since replaced by a 46-inch Sony Bravia XBR4—and yes, I love it).

And indeed, many videophiles will still tell you that the latest flat-panel sets still can't hold a candle to CRTs in terms of video quality. My old Sony WEGA tube-based HDTV, for example, had the deepest, darkest black levels I've ever seen in a set, even compared to Pioneer's Kuro plasma line.

That said, my 32-inch WEGA weighed in at an astounding 250 pounds (the woman I sold it to actually brought along two personal trainers, who hauled the set away on a hand truck), and let's face it—46 inches beats 32 any day of the week, even if contrast ratios still fall short of CRT standards.

So, I'm curious—anyone out there still have a CRT TV? And if so, you planning on sticking with it, or are you ready to make the jump to flat panel?

[evans]

Originally Posted by rafiprag

Sony pulls the plug on Trinitron CRTs
Mon Mar 3, 2008 4:01PM EST
See Comments (25)

Buzz up!on Yahoo!The move marks the end of an era, as Sony throws its weight behind fast-selling LCD TVs. Long live Trinitron!

Sony has confirmed (via AFP and MarketWatch) that it will stop making tube-based TVs by the end of the month. Sony had actually ceased production of CRTs in Japan back in 2004, according to MarketWatch, but it was still churning out "Trinitron"-branded tube sets in Singapore and Malaysia for sale in Latin America and Asia.

The news is sad but inevitable, with the rapid rise in flat-panel TV sales taking a serious toll on the CRT market. I was a CRT holdout myself until just a couple of years ago, when I finally replaced my 32-inch Sony WEGA HDTV (my second WEGA, actually) with a 42-inch Westinghouse LCD TV (since replaced by a 46-inch Sony Bravia XBR4—and yes, I love it).

And indeed, many videophiles will still tell you that the latest flat-panel sets still can't hold a candle to CRTs in terms of video quality. My old Sony WEGA tube-based HDTV, for example, had the deepest, darkest black levels I've ever seen in a set, even compared to Pioneer's Kuro plasma line.

That said, my 32-inch WEGA weighed in at an astounding 250 pounds (the woman I sold it to actually brought along two personal trainers, who hauled the set away on a hand truck), and let's face it—46 inches beats 32 any day of the week, even if contrast ratios still fall short of CRT standards.

So, I'm curious—anyone out there still have a CRT TV? And if so, you planning on sticking with it, or are you ready to make the jump to flat panel?

If got a jvc high resolution crt 32 inch and am very happy with the quality. LCD is getting better but CRT still has that natural look to it you cant just yet get from a LCD. They are gettting better i recently had a look at a friends set a sony 40w2000 model and it was a very nice picture and half the weight of my set which is 60 kg!! If i do step up it will be a sony 40 inch as pioneer plasmas are weigh too much money.

[onkeh]

lol a self proclaimed "CRT holdout" and he was pushed over the edge by a Westinghouse

[fallenangle]

My main TV is still an aging but highly reliable 28" Sharp 4:3 CRT and likely to remain so as long as I'm still using my TV browser/STB. I do have a replacement, a Sony Wega 32" CRT WS earmarked for that in storage.

For my main video gaming TV I use the JVC HV32P37 WS (I also own another, also kept in storage) and I have a couple of older 20" 4:3 CRTs for retro gaming/bedroom use. Almost forgot: also a 17" Philips portable CRT in the kitchen which only recently replaced my 21 year old 20" Philips CRT the first TV I ever bought with my own money.

I think you could say I'm committed to CRTs for some time to come. Nothing against LCDs though - at Xmas I was retro gaming on a relative's 20" Sony 4:3. I don't really like it for broadcast TV and the max black isn't up to CRT standards of course but when any of my 20" CRTs die I'll be happy to replace them with equivalent LCDs.

[shenzi]

Yes, after a hunt I recently got a classic, Sony Trinitron 4:3 TV. The picture is superb. Sadly, it shows some flickering from time to time which may be a dry joint. If it is anything more serious, I will just go off an look for another.

I spend all day working on a LCD screen and find the CRT more relaxing to watch.

[tony_yates]

I'm on the look out for a CRT as I can't bring myself to pay the required amount of money for an LCD that matches a CRT for standard def TV and DVDs. It always makes me wonder why the weight of a CRT is always used as a selling point for LCDs; I mean I'll be putting my telly in a corner on a box and leave it there, do others move their's about often?

If anyone knows of a good place to look for a CRT 28-32" widescreen please let me know.

[evans]

Originally Posted by tony_yates

I'm on the look out for a CRT as I can't bring myself to pay the required amount of money for an LCD that matches a CRT for standard def TV and DVDs. It always makes me wonder why the weight of a CRT is always used as a selling point for LCDs; I mean I'll be putting my telly in a corner on a box and leave it there, do others move their's about often?

If anyone knows of a good place to look for a CRT 28-32" widescreen please let me know.

Well if your in a small flat the space the CRT takes up is significant especially 32 inch but agree with you there LCD has some way of getting the natural colors the CRT has and also the depth of the blacks. However they have improved. A friend of mine bought the Sony 40w2000 set and it is a good set to have. Myself im sticking with my JVC 60kg set until it can not go on

[Scapegoat]

I only 'gave up' on CRT last year - I had a HD games console and decided to got for a HD Sky so it seemed the right thing to do.

Weight not an issue, but screen size is. 40" HDTV and CRT doesn't cut it.

Blacks are not as good as my old Sony WEGA CRT, but the PQ in HD is amazing.

Overall pleased with the switch, but CRT does have good points yet to be matched by LCDs.

[lilyx]

Originally Posted by tony_yates

I'm on the look out for a CRT as I can't bring myself to pay the required amount of money for an LCD that matches a CRT for standard def TV and DVDs. It always makes me wonder why the weight of a CRT is always used as a selling point for LCDs; I mean I'll be putting my telly in a corner on a box and leave it there, do others move their's about often?

If anyone knows of a good place to look for a CRT 28-32" widescreen please let me know.

I recently bought a 32 inch black widescreen JVC from Currys online £199 including stand and free delivery.

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-27173

I simply can't afford an LCD of equivalent size and quality so I'll be sticking with good old CRT for sometime to come.

I do worry what I'll do if this one dies and they stop making them. I can see them being sold at a premium in the future due to the 'rare' factor.

[Wayne Moule]

Originally Posted by lilyx

I recently bought a 32 inch black widescreen JVC from Currys online £199 including stand and free delivery.

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-27173

I simply can't afford an LCD of equivalent size and quality so I'll be sticking with good old CRT for sometime to come.

I do worry what I'll do if this one dies and they stop making them. I can see them being sold at a premium in the future due to the 'rare' factor.

Is the JVC any good?

Asda have some CRT's.

[olly22n]

Hey, first post!

I'm moving on from my Sony 32" Wega to a plasma. I love the CRT but the space it takes up and lack of HD is a big factor.

Where is a good place to sell the sony??

[juLZ007]

Originally Posted by lilyx

I recently bought a 32 inch black widescreen JVC from Currys online £199 including stand and free delivery.

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-27173

I simply can't afford an LCD of equivalent size and quality so I'll be sticking with good old CRT for sometime to come.

I do worry what I'll do if this one dies and they stop making them. I can see them being sold at a premium in the future due to the 'rare' factor.

how do you find that tv?? it has me interested!!! plasma and lcd just dont cut it for sd content so CRT FOREVER!!! well, at least until there is enough hd out there...

[lilyx]

Originally Posted by juLZ007

how do you find that tv?? it has me interested!!! plasma and lcd just dont cut it for sd content so CRT FOREVER!!! well, at least until there is enough hd out there...

Click on the link in the post you quoted

And Julz no need to pm me and demand I answer ok

[lilyx]

Originally Posted by Wayne Moule

Is the JVC any good?

Asda have some CRT's.

I've had it for a couple of weeks and love it.
If you do a search on here it there are loads of references to it and you'll get a more rounded view.
That's how I came to decide on that one, through the stuff on here.
It's the reason I stopped lurking and joined up.

Yeah with Asda it's a choice of Daewoo, Daewoo or Daewoo.
I know nothing about them so can't comment

[Jez2007]

Originally Posted by lilyx

I recently bought a 32 inch black widescreen JVC from Currys online £199 including stand and free delivery.

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/stor...ory_oid=-27173

'Due to high demand the following item(s) are currently unavailable.'

[aekostas]

Originally Posted by olly22n

Hey, first post!

I'm moving on from my Sony 32" Wega to a plasma. I love the CRT but the space it takes up and lack of HD is a big factor.

Where is a good place to sell the sony??

Disclaimer: I cannot see how I can be right and all those people buying big TVs are wrong, so I am stating these so I can be corrected.

I agree about HD (if you have sources), but I cannot see how space is saved when going to plasma; the smallest one is 37" (which in my view requires ridiculous viewing distance, so there is no space issue in the first place). If I were to make the same decision I would measure up before thinking I am reclaiming space. Plus, I have so many boxes that need their own space.

[fredtheted]

The JVC is available for £1 cheaper at www.bennettsonline.co.uk

[Jez2007]

Originally Posted by fredtheted

The JVC is available for £1 cheaper at www.bennettsonline.co.uk

That's the 28" version...

[onkeh]

Originally Posted by aekostas

Disclaimer: I cannot see how I can be right and all those people buying big TVs are wrong, so I am stating these so I can be corrected.

I agree about HD (if you have sources), but I cannot see how space is saved when going to plasma; the smallest one is 37" (which in my view requires ridiculous viewing distance, so there is no space issue in the first place). If I were to make the same decision I would measure up before thinking I am reclaiming space. Plus, I have so many boxes that need their own space.

At the 28" or so mark, you're right there is no real space saved. As soon you get to 32", the tube size starts getting ridiculous (3 feet!) which means your TV has to be far further from the wall. True, the TV will no doubt sit on a stand with a DVD player etc. underneath, but this is only about 2 feet deep.

Moving to the larger sizes (40"+) you simply can't make CRTs this big. The biggest was a 37" tube (35" visible) and it was horrendously thick. I live in a smallish flat and if CRT was my only option I simply wouldn't be able to have a TV bigger than 28-30".

[aekostas]

Originally Posted by onkeh

As soon you get to 32", the tube size starts getting ridiculous (3 feet!)

Not sure where you got that 3 feet from; my Philips 32PW9509 is 54cm deep; 3 feet is 91cm.

Originally Posted by onkeh

Moving to the larger sizes (40"+) you simply can't make CRTs this big. The biggest was a 37" tube (35" visible) and it was horrendously thick. I live in a smallish flat and if CRT was my only option I simply wouldn't be able to have a TV bigger than 28-30".

And that's what bugs me. In a small viewing space surely one needs a small TV? 32" LCDs are deemed to be on the budget end and are crap by design. Have we all turned publicans or sth?

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by aekostas

And that's what bugs me. In a small viewing space surely one needs a small TV? 32" LCDs are deemed to be on the budget end and are crap by design. Have we all turned publicans or sth?

Your outlook to screen size depends what you viewing preference is. Such as just to watch basic tv in stereo sound or are you going for the "home cinema" route and trying to create the cinema experience (or surpassing it).

For the home cinema experience larger screen sizes make sense, at 9 foot viewing distance a size of 66-90" is recomended

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/v...alculator.html

Personally I can not understand the minimalist aproach for TV size or Audio if you spend 2hrs+ a day viewing it. That's an awful long time to spend each year not getting the full on experience.

Horses for Courses I guess.

[aekostas]

Excellent, that's what I was missing. Thanks Eric. I am guessing that for CRT (given radiation etc) that distance/size ratio would be impossible. OTOH, Freeview at 9 feet with a 66" telly would be extremely unpleasant, I guess.

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by onkeh

Moving to the larger sizes (40"+) you simply can't make CRTs this big.

Not only that how do you get a CRT through your front door? Someone commentated on the previous page about weight. No I don't carry my TV everywhere but one day my TV will be moved it into another room when it gets relegated to being the second set and it will be going on the wall. Can you mount a big CRT on the average wall?

[red16v]

My 32ZP48 is only 22" from front to back so I don't know where some of these larger figures are coming from?

We have always been delighted by this set which gives superb pictures under all conditions. I am certainly going to stick with our CRT for the foreseeable future.

[[nothing]]

Originally Posted by evans

Well if your in a small flat the space the CRT takes up is significant especially 32 inch but agree with you there LCD has some way of getting the natural colors the CRT has and also the depth of the blacks. However they have improved. A friend of mine bought the Sony 40w2000 set and it is a good set to have. Myself im sticking with my JVC 60kg set until it can not go on

But you see, this is the thing i've never understood.

Unless you wall mount, LCD/Plasma TV's don't save an awful lot of space. You still need a stand to put it on and these days, by and large, people have more equipment under the TV than ever before, often making the surface area taken up by an LCD stand far larger than that of a CRT stand.

[onkeh]

Originally Posted by aekostas

Not sure where you got that 3 feet from; my Philips 32PW9509 is 54cm deep; 3 feet is 91cm.

Sorry that was a typo, it should have been 2 feet.

And that's what bugs me. In a small viewing space surely one needs a small TV?

Not really, no? Wall space is cheap, floor space isn't. What's wrong with sitting close to a big screen, flat panels don't give out radiation like certain display technologies.

LCDs are deemed to be on the budget end and are crap by design

Depends if your viewing is primarily SD TV or HD/gaming/PC use.

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by [nothing]

But you see, this is the thing i've never understood.

Unless you wall mount, LCD/Plasma TV's don't save an awful lot of space. You still need a stand to put it on and these days, by and large, people have more equipment under the TV than ever before, often making the surface area taken up by an LCD stand far larger than that of a CRT stand.

true, but it runs flat to the wall only 18" odd inches, my sony 32 crt had to live in the corner as it was over 3 foot+, be more worried that its 5 foot tall

actually it hides the wall loool