Differences between CRT and flat panel

[Jeffhs]

I have a flat-screen TV, but I have heard and read these sets don't last all that long compared to CRTs. My question is, if I go back to using one of my 19" CRT televisions after the flat set quits, what differences, if any, will I notice in the picture? I realize I won't be seeing HD, even if I use a cable box ahead of the set, but I'm wondering if the picture I do see will be any clearer or sharper than NTSC was. One concern I do have is the letterboxed picture I will likely get on channel 3 (NBC) in Cleveland, which is full HD. Will the black bars above and below the picture eventually damage the CRT? I realize there is no way to eliminate the letterbox effect without an HD cable box ahead of the TV.

Thanks for any and all replies.

[Jon A.]

I wouldn't think any damage would be done by the black bars. It's the bright, thin line caused by loss of deflection (or use of the Magnavox Odyssey game console) that ya gotta worry about. Also, I've seen no appreciable improvement in picture quality of most flat panels over CRTs. In some cases a flat-panel's picture is even worse. I've only seen an improvement on a flat-panel that's being fed by a Blu-Ray player.

[TVTim]

My flat panel gets a great picture IF I use the HD box. With a standard def box the picture is not as good as a CRT.

[old_tv_nut]

Generally, the SD picture on an analog set from a downconverted HD broadcast will be slightly better than the analog picture on an analog set. Digital cable or satellite boxes MAY not have as good analog output as broadcast converter boxes.

Running the SD analog output into a flat screen set is sometimes terrible because some of the earlier and cheaper flat panel sets had poor analog to digital conversion - but you are not planning to try this setup, so you should be OK.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Jeff, as long as you watch a mix of letterboxed content and full-screen channels, you are unlikely to get screen burns from the black areas of the 16:9 shows. Keep your contrast set low to be extra careful.

If the set has direct video inputs (as opposed to needing to tune to channel 3) for the external tuner, you may see a bit sharper picture than you ever got from analog broadcasts or cable.

[soundman2]

You can still get screen burn with black bars at the top and bottom. It happened on our old 28 inch 4:3 Toshiba TV. Had to scrap it

[Jon A.]

Good thing I don't use cable then. I reckon a TV would have to be ran for quite a long time for black-bar screen burn to happen. I don't have many DVDs either, I might opt for full-screen from now on if I can.

[ChrisW6ATV]

The key is moderation, watch different types of movies and channels (full-screen and widescreen) and use low to medium contrast, and you are unlikely to ever have a problem. Soundman2 lives in the UK where, if I remember right, most programming became widescreen several years before HDTV started, so his set was probably displaying a lot more shows with black bars than without.

Originally Posted by Jon A.

I might opt for full-screen from now on if I can.

Oh, no! Don't watch any true widescreen movies (especially) in "full-screen" settings or versions. You will lose major parts of the scenes as the set (or the DVD itself) chops off the sides to zoom the rest into the narrower, old-style screen area. Do you want to see "Ghostbusters" with one of the Ghostbusters chopped out of the picture?

[AshTray900]

Letterbox wont hurt the crt. Flat panels actually have the ability to outlast a crt but only if built well. I have a samsung monitor from 2004 that died a few years later due to shitty capacitors when I replaced with higher rated better quality it has been running well since. If its fluorescent backlit it will last the life of the lamp. If led it will last the life of the leds if the manufacturer uses quality parts. Same is true for crt. Ive recapped an 83 model a couple times and its still going. Got a 73 zenith thats still going but picture tube is nearing the end. Its not quite as bright as im sure it was originally