A friend has offered me a 32" Toshiba widescreen CRT HDTV with a production date of 2002 (wasn't enough light to see the model # on the back. No HDMI inputs but had triple coax inputs and twin PbPrY inputs. Any word on the reliability of these Toshiba HDTVs? Free for the hefting...would you?

Weighs more than any TV legally should, and the thought of hefting it home has me questioning. The lack of HDMI has a definite end-of-life feeling to it. PrPbY outs on devices are dwindling. I'm not even sure if it has an ATSC tuner in it. It's always been connected to cable. What "era" did ATSC start showing on sets. I know a lot of CRT HDTVs were sold without ATSC capabilities. I know I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but this one has a cost -- a small moving crew to get it home haha!

Thanks!

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That TV sounds like one I just fixed and it did use a real Toshiba chassis. My set had a shorted HOT, blown B+ fuse, a bad cap in the horizontal driver circuit, and some loose connections. When fixed, it had about as good a picture as any other TV. I can't say what it looked like in HD, since I didn't have an HD source to try on it. And, this set didn't have a built in ATSC tuner. There were some "last gasp" CRT sets (mainly el cheapo 13"-27") built with ATSC/NTSC tuners; but, ATSC tuners were not required until early 2007.

If I were going after an HD CRT set, I'd look for a Sony. From what I've seen of them, they have the best picture and they have an HDMI input. I have an '04 30" HD Sony Trinitron that I have plans to repair (as soon as I gain enough strength to put it on the bench).

The main thing to consider is that recent Toshiba branded TVs are junk made by Orion (Emerson). I forget when it happened, but 2002 could be Orion.
The Orion Toshibas were only for 27" and smaller and began production in 2001. In 2005, Orion began making 32" for Toshiba. The OP has a 2002, so this one was made by Toshiba, and this one is a reliable set. Orion Toshiba CRTs finally ended in 2007, 2008 for DVD/VCR combos, and 2009 for LCD TVs. Beginning in 2010, Toshiba no longer deals with Orion and now contracts with cheapo Chinese makers that are much worse than Orion. DVD/VCR combos and DVD recorders are made by Funai now. Blu-ray players are made by Shin Shen Electronics in China.

Here's a very easy trick to identify if the Toshiba TV is made by Orion or not (excluding combo TVs). If the power button is located at the right side of the TV, it is made by Toshiba. If the power button is located at the left side of the TV, it is made by Orion. Toshiba has NEVER produced a TV with the power button at the left side. :yes:

But Toshiba still qualifies to be the world's largest outsourced major electronic brand. Nothing is made by Toshiba except for the ultra-expensive models. If you don't pay more for a Toshiba product, it will break in front of your face. :tears: If you buy the most expensive Toshiba TV that is made by Toshiba, it will last longer than Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony (in my opinion).

Not only that, but newer blue-ray releases will now force the player to limit component video output to 480i only. Just something else to consider before buying the set...

http://www.osnews.com/story/22897/2010_Analog_Sunset_the_End_of_Component_Video

Why this stupid mesaure?

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