Who Still Watches a CRT Television?

[kb0nes]

I still HAVE a 27" Sony from 1998 as my 'primary' TV. But it hasn't been turned on for over a year. Any 'TV' I watch is done on the computer monitor now. I use a Tablo box to record off air to watch through the network.

I need to haul that Sony off for recycling. Then I will be down to the last four remaining CRT's in the house (3 oscilloscopes and an older RF spectrum analyzer). I purged the house of all other CRT's years ago, good riddance.

 

[countryford]

We have a 55 inch rear projection tv from 2006, as our primary set. I also have several [100] crt sets from the 40s to the 80s. Some work and so don't.

 

[frigilux]

I had a 35" Toshiba for years. The picture had a wonderful film-like quality. Unfortunately, moving it was a multi-person monumental pain. It was recycled in 2014 or 2015 and two 32" LG's entered the house. They will undoubtedly have shorter lifespans than the CRT, but the picture is quite good and motion blur isn't a big issue.

Being able to pick up and move a TV that weighs no more than a bag of groceries: Priceless.

I dodged cable around the same time and now do my watching on Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix via the little black Apple TV box. It's Siri-enabled so you can, for instance, say "Find Elvis Presley documentaries on YouTube" and a list pops up on the screen. If your request is open-ended, it will, naturally, try to find the item at iTunes first.

 

[tolivac]

Now have an LG 49" UHD 4K flatscreen---no going back for me.My CRT HD rear projector just sits in the room-unused and unplugged.Just too big and heavy to move.See LOTS of CRT sets in the appliance dumpster at the dump site I go to.Don't know what their final fate will be.Most folks out my way no longer want CRT sets.Even yard sale shoppers don't want them.Many times if the set is at a yard sale--you see like $5 posted on it--then that is scratched off-FREE put on instead-even then the poor set just sits there.

 

[lordkenmore]

I talked with someone I know who works at the Goodwill store I've mentioned above. She doesn't know exact policy in place these days, but did say she's under the impression they don't even try to sell any CRT sets that are donated. She thinks they automatically go to recycling.

 

[tolivac]

Probably the TVs and other electronic scrap items go to the overseas electronic scrapyards in third world countries where the wiring is burned in open fires to get the copper,same with circuit boards-the parts on the boards are melted down and they try to recover what little gold is in the components-open fires and vats of acid.Then the CRTs are smashed with hammers to get the copper from the deflection yokes which on the newer sets are cemented onto the neck of the cRT-then the glass from the tubes is dumpted anywhere-even in creekbeds.In US recycling scrap plants they are truly recycled-but this is VERY expensive.

 

[fan-of-fans]

IMO other than the size and weight if I had a perfectly good CRT or rear projection set i'd keep it. I hear people say their new flat panel set has almost as good a picture as their old one. Why replace it then? I think people got obsessed with having a new "flat screen" and keeping up with everyone else that quality didn't matter as long as it was flat.

As for thrift stores see the same CRT ones at Habitat Restore all the time. New Hope also takes them. I never see any TVs at Goodwill or Salvation Army.

After the hurricane I saw several beside the road. Not sure if surges got them. Even saw a flat panel set lying on its face on the ground in front of a wooded lot down the street next to all the tree limbs.

I too saw a CRT at an estate sale a black RCA seemed to be 32" or so with the remote and free on it. Still sitting there at the end of the sale. Would need a crane to get it outside!

 

[launderess]

One huge problem with CRT televisions is getting rid of them

Many local areas no longer have sanitation pick-up, but require dropping off the set at a designated E-Waste collector.

As you can imagine not everyone is keen on lugging a heavy TV or whatever to a recycler, so you get illegal dumping.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-accepting-e-waste-drop-off-borough-article-1.2456144

We've been talking about CRT televisions, but don't forget about those old computer monitors.

https://resource-recycling.com/e-scrap/2017/10/12/crts-challenge-public-private-sectors-alike/

 

[vacerator]

We have one.

Not that we watch it, but it works perfectly. It had one repair years ago, I think the start circuit.
Vintage 1982 ish RCA 25 inch Colortrak oak swivel console.
It was my in laws.
I had a 1986 27 inch colortrak stereo table console. I gave it to my folks when we got a new cabinet it didn't fit in. My brother said the vertical hold went out on it and he trashed it. Nice of him to ask me first. Str~unzo.

 

[speedqueen]

Here is my RCA

I figured I would post a couple pictures. The picture is better in real life. The camera made things a little blurry.

 

[tolivac]

My new flatscreen TV has a BETTER picture than my old RPTV.Someday will have the old TV hauled away.And my old RPTV cannot show 4K UHD movies.Another problem-newer DVD players no longer have component video outs like older ones did.So--the old RPTV just sits behind the new set.Remember when it was delivered almost 20 yrs ago-had to take down two doors to get it into the TV room.Oh yes-the CRT's in the old set are starting to get soft-had to crank up the brightness and contrast.

 

[vacerator]

Nice set Richrd.

I like Danish modern. Namely a 1969 Zenith Amundsen or Lundberg.

 

[countryford]

Here is a picture of me next to my 1956 Philco, after it was restored. The second one is a picture of my collections. More have been added.

 

[twintubdexter]

countryford...

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">What a collection! What a selection! I hope that's what heaven is like...or any other place I'm headed. Thanks for posting.</span>

 

[countryford]

Twintubdexter
Head over to phoenix for a visit and you can see the collection. Palm Springs isn't too far away.

 

[tolivac]

50's type TV's have a liking for these-Watching older Sci-fi horror movies on these is kinda neat-and their all wood cabinets at least are attractive-unlike the plastic "clamshell" cabinets of 80's-thru the last of the CRT sets.NICE collection of the older classic TV's I used to work on RCA,GE transmitters that would send to those!The chrome & glass era!!!

 

[artcurus]

I retired my Magnavox 25 inch color tube set from 1972 in 2007. I so miss that set, the color, the picture depth, the contrast and black level blows my 55 inch flat screen to Hell.

I was getting tired of having to pull it down every year for maintenance, and oh the joys of 6GH8. (Some here will know exactly what I'm talking about).

The other more serious issues is that it ate the video output tube on a regular basis, and the horizontal/damper tube prices were rising to astronomical levels.

Believe or not, this set came in as a repair when I was around 8 years old in 1977, the customer decided not to repair it, I fixed it, and it became mine.

 

[mattl]

I have 2, yes 2 monster CRT's I'd love to get rid of.  They are one of the largest CRTs ever made, 38" wide screen 1080 sets.  Got one originally in 2003, one of the first HD sets, $3K  had OTA HD tuner built in as well as a Directv HD receiver built in.  Great picture, first one died,  had a service contract on it from Sears and they gave me all my $$ to buy a new one.  Picked up the second cheap and used it for a parts donor.  Having an electronics background I got the original working easily, moved the 300lb plus unit to the basement rec room where it still sits.  I might turn it on once a year if that.  Both it and it's donor are taking up space and I have no need for either.

 

Been seriously considering moving on from the RCA's replacement, and 2007 50" Samsung plasma to a 4K model.  Not sure I want to spend the $$$ on OLED, might go with some version of LED, though not my favorite display type, if tamed they can look quite good.  I'm a big proponent of professional calibration of displays, but that can be costly, I paid $300 to get the Sammy calibrated early on.  Still has a great image, but want bigger and 4K.  I bought a meter and have calibration program and have gotten fairly good at it.  Odds are I would try my had with the new set and see if it meets my standards.

 

[dartman]

4k sets

If you want a cheap but great looking 4k hdr set look at the Hisense 55H8C and their bigger 65" version. They are dirt cheap, look great, and do HDR pretty well. TCL I think it is has a really nice P series bunch of sets with multi zone local dimming and HDR and is supposed to also look great.
You could get one cheap and watch it and decide how you like it and upgrade to your dream uber set later, if you don't like it you aren't out thousands of dollars.
My set also came with a 4 year warranty as soon as I registered it online and I paid 550 for it. It does go on sale regularly for less but not sure the newer 2017 version still has the great warranty, their other new sets now have a year I think and no clue what TCL offers. The big Chinese manufacturers are offering very advanced sets cheap now to break into the market here, and keep bringing out even better sets for a good deal.
the black levels on mine is great as long as your close to centered on the screen and it's very bright and sharp even playing upscaled 1080p video.

 

[mattl]

Yeah, I was/am giving the TCL some serious thought.  Read very good reviews, and it's very budget friendly.