What is a CRT television and why is it the best kind of HDTV?

Answer 1

A CRT television is the kind we've been using since TV's became available for the public. The CRT is a large glass vacuum tube which emits an electron beam from it's neck that "paints" lines on a phosphor screen that glows when the electrons strike it. The reason it is superior to the new TVs is that it is not a "fixed pixel" technology. The CRT can display any resolution, provided the electron beam can be tightly controlled. So you don't need the complex procxessors used in the new sets to convert the incoming video signal to one that matches the fixed pixel resolution of the set. These processors all introduce artifacts into the displayed picture. Another factor, of course, is that they've had seventy years to perfect the technology. The problem with them is that you'd need a crane to lift a 50" widescreen CRT set.

Answer 2

Just one thing to add to that: they can do pure black, which most LCD displays can't do.

You won't find very many new CRT models, except for very cheap standard-definition sets. But, widescreen CRT HDTVs can sometimes be found quite cheaply on Craigslist, or as demos in stores.

There's also CRT video projectors: the kind with the three big lenses. They have one tube for each primary colour (red, green, and blue). They are tricky to set up, because each colour has to overlap perfectly to give a good picture, but the quality can be superb. They are also heavy, and the tubes can wear out or have images burned into them if they've been displaying the same thing constantly. But, there's lots of them out there used, for a fraction of the original cost, if you are willing to put in the effort. I'd suggest buying one locally, because shipping is risky and expensive, plus it's better to see what you're getting. And avoid the NEC GP-3000 projector: the power supplies fail and cannot be repaired since the parts are obsolete.

Answer 3

CRT TVs are the tube TVs that we have been using for the past 60 years. They are not the best HDTV. The only thing that CRT TVs are good at, are watching SDTV analog stations. They look sharper than an HDTV.

The best HDTVs are between LCD and Plasma. They are thin, light and small foot print. These technologies are great for movies, video games and TV.