Widescreen CRT HDTV Apect Ratio

[i am a hobo]

Hello,

I'm in the market for a Widescreen CRT HDTV,
I'm under the impression that these aren't made anymore since all I could find from Google were used.

I found some on Craigslist, but before I pull the trigger, I'd like to know one thing.


The details on the page say the aspect ratio is 4:3, but isn't the aspect ratio on wide screen TVs 16:9 ?

Will a video whose original format is 16:9 show as 16:9 on the TV, without any black bars ?


Thank you for your time

[robjv1]

Yes, if the TV is 16:9, which there were several made by Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic that I recall.

What page are you looking at and/or what model #?

[DB83]

Was there EVER such a thing as a CRT HDTV ? HD is a digital medium. CRT was an analog medium (CRT = Cathode Ray Tube)

AFAIK no HDTV was ever 4:3 as, as you say, both definitions produce a 16:9 picture.

A 16:9 video will display on a 16:9 screen without any black bars. If the AR of the video is greater, eg 2.40:1 then you still get black bars even when the dvd/blu-ray says '16:9'

[robjv1]

There were several here in the US, although the effective resolution of them was less than today's 1080p. They were interlaced devices, with the best models topping out at 1440 x 1080i. There were 4:3 and 16:9 models.

The Sony models were often noted as the best: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FD_Trinitron/WEGA

A few of them had a stunningly beautiful picture though. The fatal flaw were geometry issues, which were hard to alleviate. The biggest models weighed in at over 200lbs. I still use an XBR 960 as my bedroom TV, it makes for a great hybrid TV for a little HD and SD DVD. A lot of people use them for old videogame systems.

[sanlyn]

Was there EVER such a thing as a CRT HDTV ? HD is a digital medium. CRT was an analog medium (CRT = Cathode Ray Tube)

HDTV display panels are analog devices. Your eyes can't see digits. Digital video is converted to analog RGB by devices called DACs (Digital To Analog Converter) of one kind or another. The same thing happens with digital audio. Human eyes and ears are analog devices -- they can't do anything with 0's and 1's.

I'm certain you've watched digital DVD's on a CRT.

[DB83]

I sure have.

Maybe I was thrown by the OP's choice of words

My Sony HD tv, as opposed to a HDTV, sure is not a CRT. But in the next room is a 28 "" Sony Beast. And that is a CRT.

[pandy]

Was there EVER such a thing as a CRT HDTV ? HD is a digital medium. CRT was an analog medium (CRT = Cathode Ray Tube)

Oh no - why only digital and why only non CRT? - there was HD capable (pre HD ready) CRT TV's (at least but for sure not last Samsung WS32Z409TQX and Philips 32PW9551/12) equipped with HDMI interface.
HD is not digital - in fact first standard - MUSE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sub-Nyquist_sampling_encoding was analog one or HDMAC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-MAC .
And today still HD or even higher than HD video can be transmitted as analog video signal - VGA, YPbPr etc. can be used to pass analog HD quality video.

[DB83]

Ok. I will now stand in a corner with appropiate hat on and try to forget I ever contributed to this topic

[i am a hobo]

Wow, that was quick.

Here's an example:
http://hartford.craigslist.org/ele/3322988008.html

[_Al_]

I still use an XBR 960 as my bedroom TV, it makes for a great hybrid TV for a little HD and SD DVD.

That's valid also for streaming video into your house from web, using Netflix and such services and to hook them up to some cheapest media streamer (Roku , WDTV Live plus and such). No need to throw away CRT's, they could be used around the house , basement, garage, sunroom.

[i am a hobo]

Although, the other listings had an aspect ratio of 16:9 for their wide screen tvs.


One other thing I'd like to know is which has less lag if any, HDMI or DVI, as the tvs i found either had 1 or the other or neither.

I'm mainly purchasing it for gaming purposes, and would want the least lag possible.

For PC gaming, HDMI or DVI are options.
and
For console gaming, HDMI or component are options.



Thanks for all the input

[jagabo]

DVI and HDMI are the same for basic video. Any differences would be in the individual TV's processing.

[robjv1]

Wow, that was quick.

Here's an example:
http://hartford.craigslist.org/ele/3322988008.html

Be sure to look closely at the model #s and compare them to that Wiki page for features. The type of model will determine the type of tube it has, and the type of tube it has will determine the resolution. A lot of the earlier models have a very old style (green text overlay) menu design and are missing ATSC tuners. Newer ones have more modern menus and offer more inputs, as well as remembering the settings for each input and picture mode. As far as Sony's go, the XBR 960 is thought of as the defacto best model of the line. The XBR 970 is the last model to be made and is also a very good looking TV, despite the fact it does not have the Super Fine Pitch tube design. The older models have DVI, the newer models HDMI, but of course you can use an HDMI to DVI adapter with audio cables as well with the sets. Some of the nicer models (910, 960) have better speakers and a subwoofer built in.

One other thing I'd like to know is which has less lag if any, HDMI or DVI, as the tvs i found either had 1 or the other or neither.

I'm mainly purchasing it for gaming purposes, and would want the least lag possible.

For PC gaming, HDMI or DVI are options.
and
For console gaming, HDMI or component are options.

Thanks for all the input

The lag tends to vary by model. I would google one of the popular model #s on AVSForum. There is quite a bit of discussion in great length over there about all of these models over the years.

[i am a hobo]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

But my question wasn't really answered.


Here's a samsung widescreen TV, it's a CRT, and its SD
(i know, i was asking about an HDTV, but this is another one i came across)


Newegg says that the aspect ratio is 4:3

So what happens when a DVD or cable channel is in 16:9 when viewed on this TV ?
It's widescreen, so doesn't that mean that the whole screen should get filled up, as in no black bars ?

Or what ?

[MilesAhead]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.

But my question wasn't really answered.

I have a Sony WEGA 27" HDTV CRT type(can't find the exact model number but it looks like an old style color TV. It's not flat screen.) The screen is 4x3. If it receives a 16x9 signal through component or HDMI input, it automatically switches to 16x9 enhanced mode. The picture is compressed vertically. Yes, you get the black bars at top and bottom. But if it's a real 16x9 video then you don't get black bars on the sides. The thing is pretty heavy. I had to ask a neighbor to help me get it off the floor onto the furniture. I'd guess it's about 110 LBS but it's wide. Too bulky for one guy to lift unless he's in the NFL.

Anyway, on the plus side, when you have a good source, the picture quality is excellent. It tops out at 1080i. It also has 720p but the 1080i resolution looks much better. It can do progessive scan 480p for old progessive scan DVD etc..

If you input a 16x9 signal the TV actually upconverts. If you have 4x3 DVD you want upconverted and "postage stamped" then you need an upconverting DVD player. I have Philips upconverting DVD connected via component and WD HDTV for USB connected via HDMI. Both look excellent.

But you are interested in the gaming. I'm not experienced there. I've been doing computers for a long time but for games I quit after mastering pinball. Real pinball not the simulation.

My niece has a giant Sony flat screen. The thing is a monster. She's a big football fan and likes to watch the games on the big screen in HD. But when she stops by she marvels at the picture quality. If you have a good source it's like lookin' out the window.

edit: almost forgot. The main down side to this unit is it only has an analogue tuner. These models came out before the broadcast changeover. But if you're hooked up to cable box, DVD and set top box, then it doesn't matter. But you are down for live input if your cable goes out.

[jagabo]

Newegg says that the aspect ratio is 4:3

So what happens when a DVD or cable channel is in 16:9 when viewed on this TV ?

You won't know until someone who has one can tell you. But generally, it will either letterbox the widescreen image, stretch (distort) it to fit 4:3, or zoom into the center 4:3 portion of the 16:9 frame. Usually there's a choice via the remote control.

[i am a hobo]

Awesome, that's just what I needed to know


thanks guys for replying you two

[jagabo]

Awesome, that's just what I needed to know

You may not get the choice of all three.

[robjv1]

Regarding your question, on both of mine it is selectable via the remote/menus for how 4:3 content is displayed, but as jagabo guessed quite astutely -- the options given vary by model an in some cases by resolution. You'd be wise to look up the manual of the model you're looking at getting to ensure it will handle 4:3 content the way you want it to.

On my two HD CRTS, only one of the two models gives you all three options (letterbox, stretch or zoom). For 720p and up, both sets have different zoom options (and different degrees by which you can adjust the zoom settings) than for content fed in 480i/480p.

[jagabo]

It can also vary by input. Ie, the options with HDMI may be different than the options with composite, etc.

[MilesAhead]

Awesome, that's just what I needed to know


thanks guys for replying you two

I forgot to mention I have a Sony WEGA 20" SD TV. It's probably closer to the model you are talking about. It has a manual 16x9 enhanced mode. On occasion the signal from the cable will be the wrong aspect ratio. Now and then I'd get a movie that's 16x9 but they put out the signal 4x3 so that people look too thin and too tall. The enhanced mode compresses the picture so that it's 16x9 and in this case corrects the aspect ratio. But if you enabled it on 4x3 input you get short fat people. 4x3 .avi I play on my DVD player can be shown "postage stamped" depending on how it was encoded. In that case I get black bars all the way around. But due to the compression, the image looks sharper. Even though it's only 480i. In DVD player options I tell it the TV is widescreen. That way I can use the enhanced mode in some circumstances.

It seems like a small difference. But once you get used to the sharper image you don't want to watch normal 480i if you don't have to. I'd rather lose a bit of screen size and get the sharper detail.

Providing of course the aspect isn't messed up by enabling the enhanced mode.

[julitomg]

Something like this?
http://www.muamat.com/classifieds/240/posts/5_Buy_and_Sell/52_Electronics/3943923_28_i...Delivery_.html
http://www.adverts.ie/tv/sony-trinitron-widescreen-tv-crt/1773442

[MilesAhead]

Something like this?
http://www.muamat.com/classifieds/240/posts/5_Buy_and_Sell/52_Electronics/3943923_28_i...Delivery_.html
http://www.adverts.ie/tv/sony-trinitron-widescreen-tv-crt/1773442

The one that says Sony WEGA looks like mine. It's definitely not the widescreen. Mine looks like a regular 20" color TV. It just has composite and component inputs in addition to cable screw on stub. If it's the same one the simulated Surround Sound isn't bad. I have my DVD player connected to it and my stereo system to output out of both systems at either end of my bedroom. The sound isn't bad considering the kludge. For game sound effects it should be fine.