Cheap, nice 27" CRT @ Walmart for classic gaming

[VideoFever1982]

Really?

 

I've got a 19" wood grain Toshiba set from 1982 that still works and another 27" one from 1989 that works great. I've had the most problems with JVC TVs. Never really had a Sony TV but do have a Sony DVD player from 1998 that's still going strong.

Thank heavens for someone not trashing Sony's rep for once!

 

My Sony appliances:

 

* I owned a 28" CRT for five years and it worked perfectly. A friend now owns it and she's happy with it too

* I currently own a Sony 40" 1080p and its been absolutely fine

* A DVD player since 2002 (free with the TV) and it works perfectly well still

* A launch model PS3 which has been perfectly reliable so far

* A launch model PSP which has been fine

* My PlayStation from 1997 which works fine still (although it needed repairing under warranty)

* Owned two Walkmans as a child which were problem-free

 

As I never bought that POS PlayStation 2 I don't have an axe to grind...

I have to agree with ya on this one. Most everything i have is sony except for a couple of items. I never had a problem with sony and find some of their items to be attractive as well as performing well. I have the following:

Sony SLV-M20HF vcr paid 30 for this one

Sony SLV-775HF vcr this one was free

Sony SLV-960HF vcr this one was 10

Sony SLV-960HF another xtra this one was free

Sony SLV-575UC editing vcr older this one was free

Sony TC-WE475 dual cassette deck this was free

Sony TC-WE625 dual cassette deck and this was free also

Sony STR-DE945 5.1 av receiver Paid 80 for this one

Sony CDP-CE535 5 disc changer and this one was free

 

I had a 32" and a 36" Sony Wega but grew tired of them and they were so friggin heavy. Try lugging those to a third floor. I downsized till i get a new HD set.

As you can see, i can't complain. Most of my equipment was either free or cheap so its pretty good equipment especially at the cost

My dvd player is Pioneer and i have an older JVC Super VHS unit from 1992 thats still going strong.

The only thing i would stay far away from is Philips Maganvox especially the late 90's to present

[christianscott27]

Just go thrifting, most places around here have a couple biggies for under $50. It helps that you're not allowed to throw out TVs in this state. I got a 27 inch Sanyo for $40 and its my primary gaming set.

[shadow460]

My primary gaming screen is a Commodore 1701. It's perfect. I ain't griping about the small size, since I could be stuck gaming on a portable unit. Also, it's still kicking pretty good after what, 20 years? It probably needs a cap kit, but the distortion is barely noticeable as it is.

[accousticguitar]

Thank heavens for someone not trashing Sony's rep for once!

 

 

 

I've had good luck with Sony until recently. My last purchase was a pair of headphones that were in the $45 range. They were terrible! The sound was so tinny I couldn't use them. Luckily, I found some good headphones at Goodwill for $4. I'd like to get rid of the Sony ones but I don't want to foist such bad merchandise on some poor unsuspecting soul. They would be a good candidate for ebay if I wanted to give them some of my money (I don't). Used only once, like new...

Edited August 30, 2008 by accousticguitar

[dreamcastrip]

Very rare!

[+remowilliams]

My primary gaming screen is a Commodore 1701. It's perfect.

I'm another old C= monitor fan, I have 5 C1084S monitors. Simply awesome for classic gaming/computing.

[VideoFever1982]

I had a couple of nice 1701 monitors but i never really used them. Here are the tv sets i figured would go good in the retro game room. Samsung Celebrity 19" with woodgrain 1987 which i figured i'd use 2600 games on, Zenith System 3 25" stereo console for nes games, and RCA Colortrak 2000 27" from 1990 that i use for genesis. All a work in progress. I'd like to pick up a few more items and some vintage things for the new game room. I certainly can't see wasting stuff like this.

[Rik]

I can honestly say JVC are the best VCR,DVD,Sound System i've ever owned,reliable as f##k,and the quality is phenomenol IMO.All are over 10 years old,one 16,and never had to replace,and NONE have ever broken down once,thats the criteria thats important to me.

Edited August 30, 2008 by Rik

[gdement]

I'll give in example. In 2002, I purchased a 3-in-1 Symphonic 20 inch TV/DVD/VCR combo at Wal-mart at an amazing price of $199.99 (plus tax). The unit itself was cheap looking, but the price spoke for itself. So I took a shot.

 

The units DVD/VCR eventually broke on me 6 months later,but the TV kept going strong.

 

That always seems to happen with those combo units. Both the combo TV's I can remember people in my family owning ended up doing the same thing. The built in player dies.

[Rik]

I recently bought a 27 inch CRT flat picture tube,brand new for $199.Its an Electrohome,beautiful picture,LOUD sound,tons of functions.I figured id better get a NEW CRT while they're still available.The difference with this new one and my old 1976 Hitachi 26 inch,which crapped out last January is unbelievable,obviously.My classic video games look amazing now.It really is worth it to get a brand new CRT,picture quality deteriorates with time.Its not a JVC,but its good enough for me.Alot of stores are clearing out those CRT's now,for REALLY cheap,everyone wants plasma or whatever else is new,get them while you can.

Edited August 30, 2008 by Rik

[Rik]

I had a couple of nice 1701 monitors but i never really used them. Here are the tv sets i figured would go good in the retro game room. Samsung Celebrity 19" with woodgrain 1987 which i figured i'd use 2600 games on, Zenith System 3 25" stereo console for nes games, and RCA Colortrak 2000 27" from 1990 that i use for genesis. All a work in progress. I'd like to pick up a few more items and some vintage things for the new game room. I certainly can't see wasting stuff like this.

Beautiful!!!Those old wooden tv cabs are works of art.My old Hitachi's cab was made out of solid oak,it was top end back in 76,and expensive as heck,and JEEESUS,IT IS HEAVY!!!!!!,more like a piece of furniture than a tv!

Edited August 30, 2008 by Rik

[VideoFever1982]

I had a couple of nice 1701 monitors but i never really used them. Here are the tv sets i figured would go good in the retro game room. Samsung Celebrity 19" with woodgrain 1987 which i figured i'd use 2600 games on, Zenith System 3 25" stereo console for nes games, and RCA Colortrak 2000 27" from 1990 that i use for genesis. All a work in progress. I'd like to pick up a few more items and some vintage things for the new game room. I certainly can't see wasting stuff like this.

Beautiful!!!Those old wooden tv cabs are works of art.My old Hitachi's cab was made out of solid oak,it was top end back in 76,and expensive as heck,and JEEESUS,IT IS HEAVY!!!!!!,more like a piece of furniture than a tv!

Back when they were made really well and yes, really HEAVY!

[Artlover]

I'm another old C= monitor fan, I have 5 C1084S monitors. Simply awesome for classic gaming/computing.

Would you have any spare flybacks for a 1084S. Mine took a shit like 9 years ago, I'm still lugging the thing around hoping to fix it one day.

[VideoFever1982]

Just added these to my pile last night. A church was throwing them out. 2 identical 13" SR1000 sets from 1985. Both work great. These were back from the old Sears & Roebuck days.

[+wood_jl]

I can honestly say JVC are the best VCR,DVD,Sound System i've ever owned,reliable as f##k,and the quality is phenomenol IMO.All are over 10 years old,one 16,and never had to replace,and NONE have ever broken down once,thats the criteria thats important to me.

 

 

I'm going to have to second this. I've been beating on JVC VCRs for 15 (or so) years and never had a failure.

[+wood_jl]

When I was looking for a TV, I just put an ad on craiglsist that I would pay up to $20 for a working older TV with woodgrain (that was the key) to play Atari on. I got a ton of responses and scored myself a beautiful old 27" Magnavox for $14. I just brought along a pair of rabbit ears for testing and was good to go! Honestly, I can't see spending a lot of money (and to me, $300 is some cash) at Wal-mart, when people are willing to give away comparable sets. And those older sets have some character! Someday when I have a house I am going to get myself a nice 70s/80s console TV.

 

 

I was living in Laramie, Wyoming when I posted this original message. In a relatively unpopulated area like that, there were NO decent used TVs.

 

If "character" means shoddy sound, no S-video, and a round fishbowl screen......if those things do it for you, then knock yourself out. I don't know how this enhances the experience of a classic console.

 

Personally, I love CRTs but I demand a new, flat, vibrant picture with S-video whenever I can get it, and composite at the least. I fail to see how these qualities could possibly diminsh classic gaming. When I game with the old 130XE on S-video, it's like having a 27" Commodore 1702 monitor. Even 80 column text is sharp. If grainy RF input was acceptable, I might have been able to haul someone's garbage home, maybe from a Goodwill store.

 

Plus, I hardly think $260 is a lot of money to spend on a brand new television set today. If it was such a big amount to me, I wouldn't be wasting money on gaming to begin with.....I'd be buying food and trying to establish a savings account. Maybe try that criticism on people who spend 10 or 20 times that amount on a television yet can't pay their credit cards and cell phone bills. There's a lot of those people in the world.

Edited September 4, 2008 by wood_jl

[VideoFever1982]

When I was looking for a TV, I just put an ad on craiglsist that I would pay up to $20 for a working older TV with woodgrain (that was the key) to play Atari on. I got a ton of responses and scored myself a beautiful old 27" Magnavox for $14. I just brought along a pair of rabbit ears for testing and was good to go! Honestly, I can't see spending a lot of money (and to me, $300 is some cash) at Wal-mart, when people are willing to give away comparable sets. And those older sets have some character! Someday when I have a house I am going to get myself a nice 70s/80s console TV.

 

 

I was living in Laramie, Wyoming when I posted this original message. In a relatively unpopulated area like that, there were NO decent used TVs.

 

If "character" means shoddy sound, no S-video, and a round fishbowl screen......if those things do it for you, then knock yourself out. I don't know how this enhances the experience of a classic console.

 

Personally, I love CRTs but I demand a new, flat, vibrant picture with S-video whenever I can get it, and composite at the least. I fail to see how these qualities could possibly diminsh classic gaming. When I game with the old 130XE on S-video, it's like having a 27" Commodore 1702 monitor. Even 80 column text is sharp. If grainy RF input was acceptable, I might have been able to haul someone's garbage home, maybe from a Goodwill store.

 

Plus, I hardly think $260 is a lot of money to spend on a brand new television set today. If it was such a big amount to me, I wouldn't be wasting money on gaming to begin with.....I'd be buying food and trying to establish a savings account. Maybe try that criticism on people who spend 10 or 20 times that amount on a television yet can't pay their credit cards and cell phone bills. There's a lot of those people in the world.

Yeah, the flat screen hd units are great. $260 is not alot but when you get around $1500, thats another story. I myself want to pick up about a 61" widescreen But it'll be for movies and newer games. I still just can't see hooking up a 2600 to something like that. The way i see it, if you want hd and clarity, pick up a ps3. If you want to just sit and enjoy the 2600 the way you would have if it was 1981, then do just that. Theres no point in playing the 2600 in hd especially if your setting up a vintage game room. It wouldn't even look right.

Edited September 4, 2008 by VideoFever1982

[godslabrat]

My experience with Sony: when they're great, they're great. However, when they decide to cut corners, you get crap. And either way, you pay out the wazoo for the name. So, if you're going to overpay, at least get the good stuff.

 

My current TV is a Mitusbishi, which I think has served me pretty well in light of what I paid for it. I still would buy another Sony if it suited me. I would not ever buy another Samsung product, though. I made the mistake of buying a Samsung BluRay player instead of a PS3, and I really regret it. Long story short, Samsung crippled a damn nice player by releasing poor firmware upgrades, and refused to acknowledge that they were at fault.

 

I'm probably going to need a good CRT... Apparently, it's the only way to play light gun games. Losing those is my only regret for switching to LCD.

[godslabrat]

Theres no point in playing the 2600 in hd especially if your setting up a vintage game room. It wouldn't even look right.

 

I humbly disagree. My HD set loves my Atari and NES.

[VideoFever1982]

Theres no point in playing the 2600 in hd especially if your setting up a vintage game room. It wouldn't even look right.

 

I humbly disagree. My HD set loves my Atari and NES.

I don't know why. Whats the point of seeing blips and squares in hd? Its not like your trying to get realism out of it. It just seems silly to me. Its like playing your ps3 on black and white tv made in the 60's

[godslabrat]

Theres no point in playing the 2600 in hd especially if your setting up a vintage game room. It wouldn't even look right.

 

I humbly disagree. My HD set loves my Atari and NES.

I don't know why. Whats the point of seeing blips and squares in hd? Its not like your trying to get realism out of it. It just seems silly to me. Its like playing your ps3 on black and white tv made in the 60's

 

Well, you need to make sure you have a good connection and upscaler and all that... but I like to see my squares as squares, not all distorted like bubble tube CRTs wil make them. And flat-screen CRTs are just a step away from HD sets anyway.

[+remowilliams]

I'm probably going to need a good CRT... Apparently, it's the only way to play light gun games.

Another reason why I picked this up.

[VideoFever1982]

Theres no point in playing the 2600 in hd especially if your setting up a vintage game room. It wouldn't even look right.

 

I humbly disagree. My HD set loves my Atari and NES.

I don't know why. Whats the point of seeing blips and squares in hd? Its not like your trying to get realism out of it. It just seems silly to me. Its like playing your ps3 on black and white tv made in the 60's

 

Well, you need to make sure you have a good connection and upscaler and all that... but I like to see my squares as squares, not all distorted like bubble tube CRTs wil make them. And flat-screen CRTs are just a step away from HD sets anyway.

Thats strange. I've neve seen squares distorted on older tvs. Some people must have very bad connection or something. You mean all of us who have been playing atari games since they came out have been complaining for the last 3o years? I haven't

[jsoper]

My primary gaming screen is a Commodore 1701. It's perfect.

I'm another old C= monitor fan, I have 5 C1084S monitors. Simply awesome for classic gaming/computing.

My main tv, a Philips 27inch crt, blew out a week ago, so I hooked up a 1702 until I get a replacement. It's amazing how good those things still look.

[godslabrat]

Theres no point in playing the 2600 in hd especially if your setting up a vintage game room. It wouldn't even look right.

 

I humbly disagree. My HD set loves my Atari and NES.

I don't know why. Whats the point of seeing blips and squares in hd? Its not like your trying to get realism out of it. It just seems silly to me. Its like playing your ps3 on black and white tv made in the 60's

 

Well, you need to make sure you have a good connection and upscaler and all that... but I like to see my squares as squares, not all distorted like bubble tube CRTs wil make them. And flat-screen CRTs are just a step away from HD sets anyway.

Thats strange. I've neve seen squares distorted on older tvs. Some people must have very bad connection or something. You mean all of us who have been playing atari games since they came out have been complaining for the last 3o years? I haven't

 

You've seen it, it was probably just so subtle that it didn't bother you. Since tube TVs were the only option for so long, we stopped noticing the subtle distortion they introduce to the image. That distortion is there, though, and if you look at the same image side-by-side on a flat screen, you WILL notice it. You might not care, but you'll see it.

 

I'd rather not have that, is all I'm saying. If you feel you're getting a more authentic experience with an era-appropriate set, go for it. Everybody's different.