Two TV's excessive?

[Robocop2]

So we are moving to a different home here locally and are losing one of the rooms the kids have to play in. Thing is we also are also going to need one less TV because of that. The one in danger is my dear 36" XBR Trinitron. I already have my 46" flat panel in my game room/ office to use and the size is quite useful to me so I do not want to drop to the 36" alone.
My question is do any of you think putting both of the aforementioned TV's in the same room is a bit excessive? My LCD seems to work with all my older consoles quite nicely and has the inputs needed so that makes me hesitant. But I hate the idea of losing the CRT. It's been forever since I used a tube to game on but I like the thought of hooking the older consoles to it and using the LCD for the modern systems. I know a few have a set up like that and wanted to see how that works out? The biggest issue to me is the sheer size of the two as neither of them are small sets.

[Polygon]

If you have the room, why not?

However, if you don't please don't get rid of it. Put it away until you're in a place where you can. If you really enjoy retro gaming you should have a CRT and eventually you're not going to have easy access to good quality CRTs. Right now all of my consoles are on a single LCD. I have a nice Trinitron as well, but it's only a 27" and I have it in it's box waiting for the time I have the room for both.

[Aussie2B]

I have my HDTV and SDTV in the same room, and it's fine by me.

[wiggyx]

I, rather embarrassingly have 3 TVs in one room (DLP and 2 CRTs). Like other said, if you've got the room...

[Gameguy]

Keep the CRT in case you want some light gun games, I still like playing Duck Hunt every so often. It's a good one too, if it was something low end it wouldn't be that big of a deal to lose it.

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

Seems like guilt/rationalizations are only holding you back. That's not healthy.

2 tv's is the natural progression of a gamer's entertainment center.

[treismac]

Multiple TVs in a room may not be aesthetically pleasing but whatever. If you have the room and so forth...

[Aussie2B]

I think if they were side-by-side, that'd probably be kind of ugly, but if they're on, say, opposite walls, that should look decent.

[scaleworm]

Keep them both.
If you know the CRT does what you need it to do, keep it. It is not as if you will not use it, right, Plus, it IS paid for.

(chanting) Keep it, Keep it, Keep them Both!

[wiggyx]

XBR Trinitron


Keep the CRT in case you want some light gun games, I still like playing Duck Hunt every so often. It's a good one too, if it was something low end it wouldn't be that big of a deal to lose it.

Might not even be an option :/

[skaar]

I feel we're at a time where it's barely worth lugging a CRT around through a move.

I've had a 27" Toshiba with stand I keep upstairs in an extra bedroom for my retro gaming needs. If it died... well....

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/27-Toshiba-CRT-TV_18994051

[wiggyx]

Well yeah, it's a Toshiba, not a Trinitron LOL!

[Jack_Burton_BYOAC]

Well yeah, it's a Toshiba, not a Trinitron LOL!


Actually, the patent expired on the trinitron technology some time ago, so plenty of other manufacturers make televisions with aperture grills and wires. That Toshiba looks like it could be one of them.

[wiggyx]

It's a 27" Toshiba, not a 36" Sony. Better?

[Rickstilwell1]

I have 6 TVs. The 3 big ones are in my living room and the three small ones are in my bedroom. My girlfriend has no problems with that at all.

[wingzrow]

I have three, and I've never thought it excessive.

720 samsung hdtv (work monitor)
1080 samsung hdtv (movie & hd games screen)
Sony PVM CRT (RGB gaming monitor)

Everything has a very specific purpose.

[Rob2600]

What does your wife think about having two TVs in the same room? I think that'll be the deciding factor. :)

[Daltone]

What does your wife think about having two TVs in the same room? I think that'll be the deciding factor. :)

I think that this may well be right...

[cheesystick]

I'm having the opposite problem. I only have an old CRT TV and I don't really have room for a second TV in my room. I share a house with roommates, so there isn't much in the way of communal space and I can only really have what it is my room. I'm more of a retro gamer, so I really don't want to part with my CRT, but I put 150 hours into Skyrim on my CRT and I couldn't read any of the text the whole time. I feel like I missing out of a lot of the graphics of the newer systems, but I only have space for one TV, and it's all CRT for me. My friends baulk at how I'm so behind the times, not having a HDTV and all.

[Xander]

I'm having the opposite problem. I only have an old CRT TV and I don't really have room for a second TV in my room. I share a house with roommates, so there isn't much in the way of communal space and I can only really have what it is my room. I'm more of a retro gamer, so I really don't want to part with my CRT, but I put 150 hours into Skyrim on my CRT and I couldn't read any of the text the whole time. I feel like I missing out of a lot of the graphics of the newer systems, but I only have space for one TV, and it's all CRT for me. My friends baulk at how I'm so behind the times, not having a HDTV and all.

Holy crap dude.. I bought a PS3 with Skyrim, hooked it up with my CRT and I couldn't read the text either. It never crossed my mind to keep going, it was unreadable! How the hell can you put 150 hours in skyrim without being able to read anything.

[xelement5x]

A nice CRT is hard to give up, especially if it's still in nice shape and looks good. If you want an aesthetic trick to keep it but not have it side by side with the LCD, see if you can get a stand for it and stick it in a closet.

If you've got the room to build a mini-setup with a CRT in the closet, it's nice because you can still easily use it, but also have it hidden away when you're not using it. Also, unless you've got an outlet in the closet a power strip with a decent extension cord coming off it works well to make it easy to hook up quickly.

[LordsOfSkulls]

KEEP IT!! or Send it to Me.


The problem is now no one makes CRT, it harder and harder to find good ones or ones that work or do what you want it to do....


I am actually on hunt for CRT right now that is in good shape....

Not to mention TVs back that last LONG TIME and not break in 3-6 years like they do now days...

I still have one CRT that i had for over 14 years... and all the time people ask me why i keep it and not throw it away and upgrade.....

Couple Reasons....

1) Working built in VHS

2) Works for my Older Consoles (SNES/PSone/PS2/Xbox/Gamecube)

3) More Reliable and lasted this long

4) Outlasted 3 of my LCDs/Plasmas so far >.>

Simiply put dont betray something that been working hard for you =)

[RP2A03]

I'm more of a retro gamer, so I really don't want to part with my CRT, but I put 150 hours into Skyrim on my CRT and I couldn't read any of the text the whole time.

You need to get a sharper tube and use component. I was able to read the text in Skyrim on my I'Art, though it took some effort sometimes. It may also help to tune the focus so that it is sharper in the middle instead of even throughout the raster.

[CRTGAMER]

So we are moving to a different home here locally and are losing one of the rooms the kids have to play in. Thing is we also are also going to need one less TV because of that. The one in danger is my dear 36" XBR Trinitron. I already have my 46" flat panel in my game room/ office to use and the size is quite useful to me so I do not want to drop to the 36" alone.
My question is do any of you think putting both of the aforementioned TV's in the same room is a bit excessive? My LCD seems to work with all my older consoles quite nicely and has the inputs needed so that makes me hesitant. But I hate the idea of losing the CRT. It's been forever since I used a tube to game on but I like the thought of hooking the older consoles to it and using the LCD for the modern systems. I know a few have a set up like that and wanted to see how that works out? The biggest issue to me is the sheer size of the two as neither of them are small sets.

Scrutinize the non HD signals from TV stations and your older consoles. I found that the HD CRT is more forgiving and handle all the resolutions pretty well. The LCD should be superior for HD signals, but loses out on non HD channels. That said, keep both if you can make the room somehow.

[Greg2600]

a 36" CRT must weigh 100 pounds, I'd hate to be the one lifting that one around.

[mightykendar]

Even if you decide not to actively use it at this time, I'd keep it around if you have the space (or storage elsewhere), especially whereas it's a high-quality television. I see lots of other CRT televisions when I'm out thrifting, but it took a while for me to find a Trinitron. I'd hang on to it if I were you.

[Greg2600]

Even if you decide not to actively use it at this time, I'd keep it around if you have the space (or storage elsewhere), especially whereas it's a high-quality television. I see lots of other CRT televisions when I'm out thrifting, but it took a while for me to find a Trinitron. I'd hang on to it if I were you.

People sell them for $25 or plain give them away on Craigslist in my area (Northern NJ) all the time. I would love to take a few and store them for the future, but there's no way. They are simply back breakingly heavy, and you need a pickup truck to get them home. Not to mention every listing the TV is on the 2nd floor of the house!

[Cornelius]

The question is moving it. I believe yours weighs in at 265 lbs. They are just a beast to move around at all. My father in law had the same set and got rid of it not too long ago. He offered it to a lot of family and myself. While I'd have loved it, there is just no way I could deal with the moving part of it. His brother did end up taking it, but it wasn't fun. I did take his 21(?) inch set, and I think something in the 24-28" size would still be manageable. Just have to sit closer, and at least with retro-gaming that feels appropriate.

They also made a 40" version. That thing was well over 300 lbs.

[kedawa]

I currently have three monitors (no name 19" LCD, Samsung 17" flatscreen CRT, and a Commodore 1084s) in my computer/living room, and it isn't too bad, but I wouldn't want 2 big screens.
I'd really like to find a nice 9" TV for my bedroom, but they're hard to find. I had a Memorex one a decade ago that I eventually passed along to family, but I always wanted the little white Sony Trinitron that I always saw in the local Sony Store.

[XYXZYZ]

I have two TVs side by side, a 27" CRT and a 50" plasma. I do all of my general video viewing on the CRT, and I keep the plasma reserved for "special" things, like movies, anime or whatever I want to devote a nice viewing experience to. That way the coolness of the big screen doesn't wear off. :p

[StealthLurker]

Not at all.

I've got 3 HDTVs (46" Samsung, 42" Samsung, 37" Panasonic) plus 2 RGB CRTs (25", 20") in one room.

.

[Greg2600]

I have two TVs side by side, a 27" CRT and a 50" plasma. I do all of my general video viewing on the CRT, and I keep the plasma reserved for "special" things, like movies, anime or whatever I want to devote a nice viewing experience to. That way the coolness of the big screen doesn't wear off. :p

27" is manageable, I've carried them myself. 32" and up is a big problem like I said. They don't fit in sedans and need a couple people to carry. Not worth the back injury.

[Leo_A]

I sure wouldn't want to move a 27" CRT very far alone. My 24" Trinitron is a chore thanks to it being just bulky enough and oddly shaped enough where it's hard to get a grip on its 70 odd pounds of weight.

Manageable in my eyes would be something more around 20". 27" might just barely be doable but it's not something the average sane person would ever want to attempt alone after trying it once. Not something I'd call manageable. :)

Had my eyes on a nice 32" Trinitron a year ago and was all set to pick it up until I decided I better check the dimensions with my car just in case. Needless to say it wasn't going to fit in my Chevy Impala and I have my doubts it could've made a couple of turns and twist in my house to its final destination or would fit where I was planning to place it.

Hated to leave that deal behind but it just was too big for both my car and my house.

[Robocop2]

I appreciate all the insight. I'm about 99% sure they're both going to share space in my new office/gameroom/room of doom. Placement is going to be key but I'm not going to know exactly where they need to fit until I get moved in. At least aesthetically they match each other since they're both XBR's but side by side a squat 4:3 and a 16:9 might look odd. I just can't let what is an awesome CRT get sold off on the cheap or left to rot somewhere. It may not be able to play light gun games but my expectation is that the older consoles should look lovely on it and also be more of a traditional experience. I'm not really concerned about the big lug and its 250lb weight. Movers are going to get to deal with that. Just hopefully they can be careful enough not to drop it down the stairs on the way out.

I remember seeing the 40" version back when they were new. It was out of my price range since this one was the last of its kind at the store (display model) and its been bullet proof all these years but its heavy to even scoot around so I"m glad someone else can worry about doing that for me.

[CRTGAMER]

I appreciate all the insight. I'm about 99% sure they're both going to share space in my new office/gameroom/room of doom. Placement is going to be key but I'm not going to know exactly where they need to fit until I get moved in. At least aesthetically they match each other since they're both XBR's but side by side a squat 4:3 and a 16:9 might look odd. I just can't let what is an awesome CRT get sold off on the cheap or left to rot somewhere. It may not be able to play light gun games but my expectation is that the older consoles should look lovely on it and also be more of a traditional experience. I'm not really concerned about the big lug and its 250lb weight. Movers are going to get to deal with that. Just hopefully they can be careful enough not to drop it down the stairs on the way out.

I remember seeing the 40" version back when they were new. It was out of my price range since this one was the last of its kind at the store (display model) and its been bullet proof all these years but its heavy to even scoot around so I"m glad someone else can worry about doing that for me.

Good for you! Older non HD signals will look a lot better on your HD CRT. Maybe post a side by side simultaneous screen shot comparison of a non HD station broadcast on both TVs when you get it all set up? It will be a great reference pic showing the difference between a HD CRT and a HD LCD.

Of note for anyone looking into getting a HD CRT. Beautiful pic but a lot heavier then a non HD CRT of the same size. A good preventative measure is installing a solid anchor in the back since CRTs tend to be front heavy. Also for the WEGA's there is an inexpensive repair should the TV fail.

Twenty Dollar Repair Guide - http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=32118

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/download/file.php?id=5043

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/download/file.php?id=5106

[Robocop2]

Hmm interesting repair. That is probably going to be an eventuality with this set as sometimes it does exhibit the same behavior they note in that thread. That should be interesting to try out....

[BlastProcessing402]

Two TV's is in no way excessive. I've had two TV's in my gaming area since the SNES days. I like to be able to have a TV on in the background on one set while playing on the other. Among other things, it helps me better keep track of how much time I've farted away playing my games. No more blink and "WHA? it's light out?"