Projection Tv

CRT Projection TV HDTV Technology Has Been Around Since The 50's

CRT (cathode-ray tube) technology has been around since the early days of television in the 1950s. The cathode is part of the set's tube system which sends out the stream of electrons to the front of the tube. The front portion of the tube receives the electrons on a phosphorous-coated surface. The electrons cause the surface to glow.

What is new and improved about the CRT units is that today they are compatible with the high definition signal. The advantages of choosing a CRT high definition TV include the lower price. This is due to the set using traditional technology. Since the technology has been around so long it is also easy to repair and typically very reliable. The picture quality on a CRT TV is very good. The contrast in the blacks and whites is very strong and the high definition signal is well received and utilized. Most manufacturers have CRT high definition units available in their product selections. Those companies include Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Toshiba and Samsung.

Now for the bad news. CRT high-definition TVs are bulky and heavy and compared to the newer projection TVs they are unattractive. Because of the older tube style, CRT TVs are subject to a condition known as burn in. When an image is left on the screen for a long period of time, the image gets burned into the tube and appears as a ghost image on the screen. This can happen when movies are played in the wide screen format or when video games are played - both for long amounts of time with the same image on the screen.

CRT high definition sets are usually limited in size to 40 inches and the typical size is in the 26 to 36 inch range. While those sizes would have seemed adequate a few years ago, in the heavily competitive television market, today's projection TVs are reaching sizes of 60 inches and beyond for in-home use. Projection TVs for corporate, retail and educational uses are going well beyond those sizes.

A review of Hitachi's CRT high definition TVs shows a healthy list of features. The sets include 1080i capability, a DTV tuner, Picture-in-Picture, black enhancement and they are Energy Star compliant. The sound system is stereo with simulated surround sound. For user control, Hitachi's CRT models come with universal remote control, parental locks, a sleep time and closed caption decoder.

If you decide on a CRT TV, take some careful measurements and either opt for delivery and set up from the store, or make sure you have several strong and willing friends. The units from Hitachi range in depth from 22 to nearly 26 inches. They stand from 50 to 60 inches tall and weigh from 151 to 259 pounds.