Traditional tube televisions go by a number of different names, including CRT televisions, tube televisions or simply direct view televisions. It is important to consider the features of each TV you are considering, and to make sure that the new regular tube TV is HDTV (high definition television) and DTV (digital television) read. It is also important to consider the size of the television. Traditional tube televisions are available in a wide variety of sizes, but most consumers who are considering a traditional tube television over a plasma or LCD TV will be looking for the largest size available.
Even though those sleek plasma displays and wall hanging LCD TVs get all the press, traditional tube televisions still have a number of important advantages in the modern world, including:
True Plug and Play Operation
It is hard to get a much simpler television set than a traditional tube TV. Assuming you have the power to get the TV into place, all you have to do is put the TV on a stand or in the entertainment center, connect the antenna or the cable TV signal and plug it in. This is certainly a great deal easier than hanging a wall mountable LCD or plasma TV, or setting a up a projector, a screen and a separate audio system.
Excellent Picture Quality
Even with the advent of plasma TV, LCD TV and DLP TV technology, traditional CRT televisions are still quite capable of delivering excellent picture quality, and these traditional tube TVs generally provide the best black level, shadow detail, contract and color performance of any TV. In many cases an HDTV tube television can provide superior image quality to the newer and more expensive varieties.
Lower Cost
While the costs of plasma and LCD televisions have come down quite a bit, most of them still retail for thousands of dollars. Traditional tube televisions in 23" and 25" sizes, on the other hand are priced in the hundreds of dollars. Even a large 36" widescreen CRT based HDTV ready TV typically retails for about $1,500. In contrast, a similar sized 37" LCD TV may be priced as high as $3,500. A traditional tube TV certainly offers a better value per viewing inch than either plasma, LCD or DLP.
No Problems with Ambient Light
Unlike some other types of televisions, a CRT television is very viewable with the room lights on, and it can be watched in a bright room without compromising the quality of the image.
Great Viewing Angle
The HDTV ready traditional tube TVs with flat screen tubes can be viewed from virtually any angle with little loss of picture quality. In viewing angle a traditional tube TV can be just as good as a flat screen TV like a plasma or LCD model, and they have a better viewing angle than rear projection technology like DLP TVs.
Maintenance-Free Operation
Unlike plasma, LCD and DLP varieties, the traditional CRT television has no lamps or filters to change, a long life expectancy, and no maintenance requirements.
Of course all is not perfect when it comes to traditional tube televisions, and there is certainly a reason why alternative technologies such as plasma, LCD and DLP have been making such inroads into the world of the traditional tube TV. Among the disadvantages of the traditional tube TV are:
Size and Weight
A typical 36" CRT tube TV measures a full two feet deep and can weigh more than 200 pounds, compared to the 3" depth and 50 pound weight of a typical 37" LCD TV. A traditional tube TV will require far more floor space than a similarly sized LCD or plasma TV. In addition, the weight of the traditional tube television makes it quite difficult and cumbersome to move.
Image Size
While the largest traditional tube television on the market have a diagonal size of about 38", LCD, plasma and DLP TVs are much larger. In addition, while LCD, DLP and plasma displays keep getting larger there is expected to be no further growth in the size of tube televisions. The size and weight of the CRT TV makes it very difficult to move beyond the current size limitation.
Old Technology
Rightly or wrongly, the traditional tube television is perceived to be yesterday's technology, and it certainly lacks the cool factor that the newer technologies bring with them. Even with this perception, however, there is nothing wrong with the technology itself. CRT television technology has served millions of consumers around the world, and there is no reason the technology cannot last years into the future. The advent of HDTV and DTV ready models can extend the life and the usefulness of this "old" technology far into the future.
No matter what type of TV you decide to purchase, however, it is important to shop around carefully in order to get not only the best price but the best overall value as well. When purchasing a traditional tube television it is a good idea to look for modern touches to this existing technology. Those modern touches include such things as flat picture tubes for clearer pictures, HDTV and DTV ready technology for future expansion and the availability of several different inputs for greater versatility. Some models of traditional tube televisions accept inputs not only from antennas, cable and satellite systems but from computer monitors, video games and other sources as well.
As with any technology purchase, it is important to shop around for the best possible deal when shopping for a new CRT television. Despite the growing popularity of LCD, plasma and DLP technology, it is the traditional tube television that still commands the largest market share, and this means there are plenty of models to choose from. Virtually every maker of electronics in the world makes at least a few traditional tube televisions, so comparing brands and models should be a snap.
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