Some 480I CRT's look better compared to a low quality under $1,000 1080P LCD screen

[HDTV1080P]

I watch all my BLU-RAY movies at 1080P quality but for family members I connected a few BLU-RAY players to 480I displays. I connected the BLU-RAY players to two 480I 4:3 CRT's. What surprised me is that on a high-end Panasonic 480I CRT from the early 90's using the S-Video jack the picture quality was better compared to some off brand 1080P monitor that one gets for under $1,000 or under $700 at a discount retail store. The under $1,000 HDMI 1080P and under $700 HDTV had more resolution detail compared to the 480I display but over all I liked the picture quality on the 480I CRT better since the contrast ratio, shadow detail, and off axis viewing was better over the cheap LCD 1080P. Now of course when comparing it to a Pioneer Kuro Plasma the 1080P picture is much more enjoyable compared to the old 480I CRT or under $700 off brand 1080P. Some of those under $1000 or under $700 1080P TV's have poor contrast ratios.
The BLU-RAY player when connected to a high-end 480I CRT from the 90's had a clearer 480I picture compared to a already excellent quality super bit DVD. Watching the Fifth Element on BLU-RAY versus super bit DVD one could see less digital artifacts and a overall better quality with the BLU-RAY even when BLU-RAY was down converted to 480I quality.


P.S.
When I compared a old 1080I CRT to modern higher end 1080P LCD screens I could see deeper blacks and a better over all picture quality with the CRT, accept for when the latest Pioneer Kuro entered the picture, the Pioneer seemed to have a better over all picture quality then the best 1080I CRT. Overall the 1080I CRT appeared to have a little deeper blacks compared to a Pioneer Kuro. Of course this is a none issue since HDTV CRT's and front projector CRT's are no longer being made.

[Driver_King]

One more reason why I still use my 27" Samsung HDTV.

[tron3]

My one HDTV is a 34" Sony WEGA tube set. We all gush over the picture on these fancy LCD and Plasma sets, yet nothing is as good as tube tv. Especially an HDTV set.

Having an HD tube TV is akin to an audio enthusiast having vynil records.

[rded]

This is testament to the excellent quality of CRTs. Its really sad that the technology got abandoned as I believe that they could have really made crts bigger and slimmer. But everybody wanted those flat pannel lcds and plasmas I had a 34" 1080i sony wega and that TV had significantly better resolution and detail vs my 42" toshiba regza. Let's not even discuss black levels as non of my existing tvs(52"xbr4, 37" sammy a550, 23" sammy lcds)can match it. I was really dejected when my windows leaked and killed my 34" wega...
BTW my wega even had better standard 480i PQ on cable than my 23"sammy and 42"toshiba at that time.

[Abel1337]

Originally Posted by rded

This is testament to the excellent quality of CRTs. Its really sad that the technology got abandoned as I believe that they could have really made crts bigger and slimmer. But everybody wanted those flat pannel lcds and plasmas I had a 34" 1080i sony wega and that TV had significantly better resolution and detail vs my 42" toshiba regza. Let's not even discuss black levels as non of my existing tvs(52"xbr4, 37" sammy a550, 23" sammy lcds)can match it. I was really dejected when my windows leaked and killed my 34" wega...
BTW my wega even had better standard 480i PQ on cable than my 23"sammy and 42"toshiba at that time.

I even the view in front of your couch, sir.

[rded]

Originally Posted by Abel1337

I even the view in front of your couch, sir.

Huh??

[ADRiiAN`]

I've always thought about that.

Higher end CRT's do look absolutely more incredible than some of these HDTV's that call themselves LCD's.

[JasonR]

I have a 26 in CRT with a Blu-Ray player and a 40 inch LCD with a Blu-Ray player, both are sexy.

[PLASMA-1080P-FULLHD]

Plasma display panel is the closest we have right now to a tube HDTV. I used to have a 27 inch CRT HDTV and I got to say the black level on those thing is awesome. LCD fanboyz might complaine about the glaire issue on the CRT tube TV tho. Anywayz, that just my 2 cents.

[SkillzthatKillz]

i think the kuros and the new laser tv's have crt's beat. but lcd's do not

[ambientcafe]

LOVE the inky blacks on my 03' vintage Hitachi SWX 65", 319 lb., 2-piece, 1080i (via DVI) CRT rear pj monitor....if only it had a wider viewing angle. The 6,000:1 contrast ratio on my Panny AX100 LCD front pj, as projected on my Draper 140" grayscreen, 'pales' in comparison....although it bests the Hitachi on its infinitely wider viewing axis. Again, it's not just image resolution that gives a picture its punch, but contrast as well.

[bhampton]

I think all (undamaged) CRT's look better than LCDs.

I can tolerate laptop and cell phone LCD screens but in my Home Theater I'm lucky I have a SONY CRT Front Projector running at 1080p.




I'll stick with CRT for as long as I can. It looks the most natural and therefore realistic.

-Brian

[bhampton]

Quote "Of course this is a none issue since HDTV CRT's and front projector CRT's are no longer being made."

Are you sure? I bought new CRTs for my projector from Sony 2 years ago. New in the box,... factory fresh... it's heavenly.

I think VDC display systems still manufactures CRTs for projectors...

http://vdcds.com/products.html

You can still buy new CRT FP from them ... you know for like 20K and stuff.

Or,.. you can do what I did... buy a used CRT Fp for ~$400 and put new tubes in it.

I couldn't be happier with my CRT FP.

-Brian

[welwynnick]

I'm with Brian and the OP.

I'm a JVC RS1 user, but the best pictures I've seen to date have STILL been from CRTs, and CRT PJs in particular, which don't have pixels. You can have as big a screen as you like and stand close to it and it still looks convincing.

And having subjects appear to leap out of a black background is one big step closer to being there.

We stayed at my wife's grandmothers house recently. She had an old CRT and a good TV ariel - no frame doubling or line doubling or any nonsense like that. It was worth nothing, but still had brilliant PQ. Seems to me the less video processing the better, and some of the quality comes from pure anaogue signals.

Nick

[Steelmaker]

My first hdtv was a Hitatchi 51" SWX CRT. At the time I absolutely loved that set with 2 exceptions. One was the limited viewing angle and the other was the unsightly lens flare effect. This is where in a given film a light source from a certiain angle in a scene would project a sort of "half moon" flare. I researched it and found out it wasn't a defect from the set but rather a natural effect that was inherent from the CRT technology. I now have a Sony KDS 60A2000 and it completely beats the crap out of my old Hitatchi in every single way.

I guess my reason for saying all that is because while I agree that rear projection is still superior to everything other than the Panny and Pioneer plasmas, CRT rear projection still has it's drawbacks. The newer DLP sets from Samsung and the Sony SXRD rear projection technologies are superior to CRT.

[olds403]

While I am a fan of LCoS(I have a sony SXRD set) and DLP, they are not superior to CRT in the area of black level. CRT(and possibly new Kuro's) are the champ in this very important area. Black level is what gives the picture depth and realism. LCD just does not get dark enough(for me) to make it a realistic, involving image.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by olds403

While I am a fan of LCoS(I have a sony SXRD set) and DLP, they are not superior to CRT in the area of black level. CRT(and possibly new Kuro's) are the champ in this very important area. Black level is what gives the picture depth and realism. LCD just does not get dark enough(for me) to make it a realistic, involving image.

I'll gladly trade slightly less black levels for sharper picture, better color, and no annoying lens flare effect. Seriously, I did not notice a drop off in black levels at all going from my CRT to my LCoS. My Sony has an all around better picture than my old Hitatchi.