1978 RCA Colortrak & 1995 GE CTC-177-reliable sets?

[Dennman6]

I have a 1978 RCA Colortrak 25 inch console owned since new when my dad bought it at a K-Mart in Feb.1979. This set was replaced in Dec.1995 by a new Zenith 27 inch(non-console). This RCA had 2 repairs in its history-1980, fusible resistor near AC input went out(probably a power surge-whoever used surge protectors in those days?) & 1992, another power surge during a storm here in Indiana.The set was actually purchased in Liverpool, NY when we still lived near there by the way. The model number is GC-648-S, don't have the chassis number(can't move the set right now). This set still has its original picture tube, which still has a nice range of colors-especially nice greens on this set. Picture brightness has dimmed overall, but still has a razor-sharp image which surprises me. What is the general impression of this set/chassis as far as quality & reliabilty? This set has held up well, has been degaussed, & is now on a surge protector! Made in Nov.1978 at the Bloomington, IN plant.

Last week a guy at work gave me a nice 1995 GE XS Stereo 27 inch oak console on a swivel base, chassis is CTC-177. This one also made in Bloomington, IN. His sister bought a new 32 inch Toshiba, so out went the GE(which works perfectly, nothing wrong with it). This set also has excellent color(again favors greens & a nice purple too-"full color fidelity"). I've heard that mid-90s RCA/GE sets had reliabilty issues as far as power supplies going out, & this set seems to function well. It has never had any repairs, according to the guy's sis. Imminent demise coming for this one's PS or am I paranoid? I in fact bought a new GE 25 inch set in 1996 which DID crap out in 1998-yep, bad power supply the repair guy told me. Has run fine since, but kinda verifies the RCA/GE fear.

By the way, that 27 inch Zenith(made in Mexico) my dad got to replace the 1978 RCA? It went in for service last Dec.2005 for a bad power supply. Tech said Zenith quality was sinking by the 1990s, & picture tubes were 'soft' to him. And in the last 8 months this Zenith sometimes goes to a mostly green screen then comes back, soooo...a-hem. What would YOU buy new today? My tech recommends Sony & Toshiba CRT sets over the various Mexican/Chinese RCA, Sharp, Philips, etc.