Best tv for NES/SNES

[majax79]

I've been slightly confused with regards to classic systems and tvs.I've got a 32" Samsung LCD HDTV and the picture quality on the SNES isn't that great. I'm going to buy a CRT tv. I was wondering if it'll make a difference if it's analog or digital? Is there a particular brand of tv I should look out for? I haven't the slightest clue who made good CRT tvs.

I want to get the tv before I begin snes collecting.

[FxMercenary]

a 1992 Sony Trinitron XBR with detachable speakers and a top mounted subwoofer! Curved surface ensures light guns work perfectly!

[rpepper9]

No offense to FxMercenary, but at least get a flat front CRT, none of the curved face tubes. Then make sure it has the connections in the back that you want to hook in to. Sony makes great sets.

[GarrettCRW]

Are you using the S-Video cables for the Super NES, and is the video free of the "checkerboard" artifacting inherent in low-quality cables?

[Eyedunno]

Are you using the S-Video cables for the Super NES, and is the video free of the "checkerboard" artifacting inherent in low-quality cables?

Even using a Monster S-video cable (with no composite output), I still get checkerboard artifacts on my LCD. It kinda irks me. In any case, the LCD handles interlaced video terribly no matter what settings I use, and fast motion onscreen actually causes the video signal to lag and jump around. So I went and got a $20 14" CRT at Goodwill, which is working for my purposes, even though I can only use composite input, and I'm using separate speakers for stereo.

But yeah, if I had the money, I'd definitely get a largeish flat-screen CRT (actually, hell, if I had the money, I'd get a monitor that accepts RGB and use that :P ).

[Fatalstar64]

I don't really mind it as it only happens when the screen is extremely dark so I'm fine with my 26 inch Samsung lcd. Happens rarely within the actual games. It does look better however than other old tv's colors especially I plugged into an old TV to compare and it's much worse overall. I also notice that if you use an RF adapter it looks like absolute crap compared to the composite cables. Does anyone know of an LCD that does not artifact at all?

[Xomoi]

Late model Sony crts from the early 2000s are your best bet. I would stay away from any sony crt that has a built-in digital tuner since they lack many features and inputs that those without the digital tuners have. I agree with FXmercenary that the curved tube tvs are great, but it is much more difficult to find a quality one nowadays. I will list some of the more important things to look for and those to stay away from.

1. Convergence: Check the screen for any color separation, particularly around the edges. Convergence issues are very difficult to fix and usually require opening the back of the tv. Poor convergence is usually due to changes in the posistion of the CRT yoke (the mechanism that puts the image on the screen) from wedges that tend fall out over time. This is not that big of a problem for Sony tvs 32 inch and up since they have convergence controls in the service menu.

2. Darker screens are better than lighter screens: You need to look at the screen while the tv is off. The darker the screen the deeper the black level of the tv will be. Lighter screens make the darkest blacks look grey. If you take a look at several crts in a pawn shop, you'll know what I mean. This is often overlooked.

3. Inputs: Good crts will have at least two composite inputs, one S-video input, and an analog audio out. Some later model sonys have component video (a major plus).

4. Geometry: This is the most common problem of a crt and no crt has perfect geometry. Try to look for any image bowing or lines that are not straight. Many geometry issues can be corrected in the service menu, but research this thourghly before attempting.

5. Contrast and Brightness: Pay particular attention to the change from dark to bright scenes and look for any blooming or expanding images during this transition. If this occurs, it could be due to a weak power supply or short someone on the board. Stay away from tvs with this problem.

Pay attention to these five points.

[Emperor Megas]

No offense to FxMercenary, but at least get a flat front CRT, none of the curved face tubes.

What's your issue with curved tubes exactly?

[FxMercenary]

No offense to FxMercenary, but at least get a flat front CRT, none of the curved face tubes. Then make sure it has the connections in the back that you want to hook in to. Sony makes great sets.

Sorry but I have light gun games, and they dont work very well, if at all on flat screen CRT televisions. Virtua cop was all over the place on my Sony flat screen CRT.

That and flats aren't very Retro in my retro gaming room. Pics below

[Leo_A]

Never had any issues here with light guns on flat screen standard definition CRT's. If there was a widespread problem, I don't understand why I've been unaffected unless the NES Zapper is more tolerant of them.

[Mobius]

NES, Master System, and Saturn light gun games all work perfectly on my 27" flat screen CRT. Not sure why people keep saying they don't work. Mine is an Akai (actually a rebadged Samsung), and it's been absolutely PERFECT for retro games. I will be hanging onto it for a very long time (in fact, I have an HDTV I wouldn't mind getting rid of, but will still be holding onto this TV).

It has several composite inputs, S-video, and even Component inputs, plus a "squeeze" mode for full resolution 16:9 content. It has great color and geometry that's about as good as a CRT can get.

I think I bought it somewhere around 2001, so I would shoot for a TV from that era. It's pretty much where standard definition CRTs peaked, before the onslaught of HD and LCD.

[lotec25]

a 1992 Sony Trinitron XBR with detachable speakers and a top mounted subwoofer! Curved surface ensures light guns work perfectly!

does anyone have the model number of this tv? I have looked but cant seam to find it. I had seen one of these a few years ago and passed picking it up. I want the sub and all.

thanks

[Ed Oscuro]

The only place looking for model numbers will get you is spending too much on eBay. People don't usually advertise sets with the actual model numbers, you're lucky if they just mention the size and branding (Trinitron etc). Just try to find the best set you can, almost any Trinitron should do but if you just look at sets in a thrift shop you can usually spot the good ones.

[lotec25]

I have a nice CRT now, I am looking for this one, not just any trinitron. The attached sub and satalite speakers is the thing i am looking for.

[BocoDragon]

I'd also suggest a SMALL CRT. I'd actually say 27" is too large! I know because I have a flatscreen 27 inch Sony Wega... and I'd much rather play old school games on my smaller 21" Toshiba flatscreen.

Everything looks so much tighter and charming at that size. Also the "interlaced" look of the old games is not apparant on a small screen. Not just 8/16-bit... but even Playstation, Saturn, N64 games look far more tolerable on a small screen. It's even appropriate for PS2/Cube.

Bigger is not better... especially when we are talking about games that were created for a market of small TVs. Large setups just make it look wrong... and if you're buying a CRT for gaming in the first place, you want it to look right!

I recommend finding a small flatscreen CRT from the mid 2000s. They even have component inputs if you want to go all the way up to PS2/Cube/Xbox or Wii.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

.....

[BetaWolf47]

I thought it was only LCD tv's that light guns didn't work on?

[Leo_A]

A CRT with a curved screen and an s-video connection in the back. I have heard that CRTs with flat screens don't read the light guns. Also, the highest possible SNES connection is s-video, so that's why I mention that.

They were wrong, it has nothing to do with light guns working or not. Things like the NES Zapper work just fine on my flatscreen CRT's.

Of course, I'd still say get a curved screen because I've never seen a flatscreen CRT that didn't have significant geometry issues.

Inputs: Good crts will have at least two composite inputs, one S-video input, and an analog audio out. Some later model sonys have component video (a major plus).

Plenty of non Sony CRT's have component inputs too. They basically became an industry standard during the last 5 years or so of SD CRT production for anything except budget sets in the ~13" range (Even then, they sometimes had them) and the combination VHS or DVD CRT sets.

[Gavica]

my toastes NES and SNES look awesome on my LCD 46". I use av for nes and svideo for snes

[Parodius Duh!]

picked this baby up from the goodwill for 5 bucks today






and heres my daily driver....40" RCA home Theater....better than my buddies Wega....picture is perfect on this thing, especially for being so large.