General query about an unknown TV

[Seeker47]

Sorry for the vagueness here, but I'm given the task of finding out something about a 40" Sony tv that is approx. 10 years old (?). There is no manual, nor markings on the front that give me a good indication of what it is. I could probably get the model info from the back of it, but it is one big, heavy mutha', and is lodged inside a large built-in. My first thought was that it was a CRT, but I can see the depth of it, and, based on the XBR CRTs I've seen elsewhere, I think it should be about 1/3 deeper, if it was a CRT.

So -- for now -- my question boils down to this. Did Sony used to make rear-projection sets, and were any of them considered good ?

[jagabo]

Yes (LCOS and CRT for example), and yes.

[minidv2dvd]

the final sony crt's weren't all that deep. wegas and xbrs. does it look something like this? and weigh about 300lbs.?

[jagabo]

40" CRT? I think 36" was the largest.

[minidv2dvd]

no sony had 40's - wegas and xbrs.
http://reviews.cnet.com/direct-view-tvs-crt/sony-wega-kv-40xbr800/4505-6481_7-9453304.html

[edDV]

Can you snap a picture and post it?

Screen size is measured diagonally.

[jagabo]

no sony had 40's - wegas and xbrs.
http://reviews.cnet.com/direct-view-tvs-crt/sony-wega-kv-40xbr800/4505-6481_7-9453304.html

Looks like you're right!

[Seeker47]

the final sony crt's weren't all that deep. wegas and xbrs. does it look something like this? and weigh about 300lbs.?

Weight I couldn't really guess right now, but it would not surprise me. The framing, border area was black, not silver, and much slimmer.

[Seeker47]

Can you snap a picture and post it?

Screen size is measured diagonally.

Yes, we measured it diagonally. I'm almost 150 miles from there right now, but will be back in a couple weeks, at which point I can take some pix. In the meantime, I will check to see if I have any shots of the entire built-in console, and if the view of the tv in it is good enough to be of any use.

[minidv2dvd]

the rear projection sonys looked like this 40" - the base is part of it.

[Seeker47]

the rear projection sonys looked like this 40" - the base is part of it.

I'm going to try to upload the one pic I have. If that works, tell me if you think it looks like a match. There seems to be more to it, but I'm not sure as to the base.

I have seen the big XBR CRTs -- like the one in the earlier pic -- and those look to be considerably deeper than the one I was curious about.

[jagabo]

That's obviously an RPTV. Hence the large section below the screen.

Also, touch the screen. If it's hard glass it's direct view CRT. If it's flexible plastic is RP.

[Seeker47]

That's obviously an RPTV. Hence the large section below the screen.

Also, touch the screen. If it's hard glass it's direct view CRT. If it's flexible plastic is RP.

Thanks. I did not touch the screen when I took that pic, but RPTV was my best guess.

So, if it's at least 10 years old, probably not HDTV capable ?
If it was in good working condition, would you keep it ?

My main experience with any RPTV was a big-screen Hitachi (also at least 8 years old), that a relative has, and I thought it was one of the worst big-screen pictures I've ever seen.
(But maybe Sony did it much better.)

[jagabo]

So, if it's at least 10 years old, probably not HDTV capable ?

I would guess it's SD only.

If it was in good working condition, would you keep it ?

Probably not. It's probably very power hungry. And SD on a 4:3 40" TV is pretty fuzzy.

My main experience with any RPTV was a big-screen Hitachi (also at least 8 years old), that a relative has, and I thought it was one of the worst big-screen pictures I've ever seen.

A lot will depend on what technology is used. A ten year old CRT RPTV will probably look like crap now. An LCD RPTV might just need the projection bulb replace (but even that will probably cost a few hundred bucks).