Perfect CRT TV size for retro gaming

[ZP3]

So I am looking to buy (or get free) a CRT TV to do my retro gaming on. What do you guys consider to be the perfecr size? I currently have a 20 incher that looks fantastic, but I would like to hear your opinions about 27-32 inch tvs.

[celerystalker]

I like 19-27", mainly because most vintage arcade monitors were either 19 or 25", and that's kind of what I equate with retro gaming.

[ZeroCool]

i got a 27 inch but Id love a 32. Unfortunately I got no room and it weighs a ton. The bigger the better

[ZP3]

i got a 27 inch but Id love a 32. Unfortunately I got no room and it weighs a ton. The bigger the better

That's my thinking, too. I just didn't know if being bigger=being more pixilated

[Mr Mort]

IMHO, it depends on the size of the room you're in, the size of the stand/entertainment center you'll put it on, and how far away you'll be sitting.

Another thing to consider is weight. A 30+ inch tv can easily get extremely heavy.

Bearing that in mind, a smaller tv will look like it has a sharper picture.

[Dashopepper]

IMHO, it depends on the size of the room you're in, the size of the stand/entertainment center you'll put it on, and how far away you'll be sitting.

I would base it on this. I went from a 20" to 27" to a 36" Sony Trinitron. When i got the 36" I was worried the picture was going to be too stretched and less defined and that the 27" would look better, but I could not have been more wrong. The picture is still super sharp and pixels look great on everything from NES to N64. so as long as you're not downgrading tv quality, a bigger size shouldn't matter.

[ZP3]

I would base it on this. I went from a 20" to 27" to a 36" Sony Trinitron. When i got the 36" I was worried the picture was going to be too stretched and less defined and that the 27" would look better, but I could not have been more wrong. The picture is still super sharp and pixels look great on everything from NES to N64. so as long as you're not downgrading tv quality, a bigger size shouldn't matter.

Awesome. I actually will be upgrading both size (20" to 32") and quality; going from a prima to a sony trinitron. Can't wait!

[Leo_A]

I would base it on this. I went from a 20" to 27" to a 36" Sony Trinitron. When i got the 36" I was worried the picture was going to be too stretched and less defined and that the 27" would look better, but I could not have been more wrong. The picture is still super sharp and pixels look great on everything from NES to N64. so as long as you're not downgrading tv quality, a bigger size shouldn't matter.

Why would it look too stretched? Aspect ratio doesn't change just because the size of a tv is increased, so it was never going to look "too stretched".

Seen another user make this bizarre statement in a similar CRT thread here recently, and still don't get what the concern is.

[Greg2600]

27"

32" IMO is a bit too big, unless you're going over component, graphics get too stretched. Also a beast to move around.

[bust3dstr8]

27" is perfect for all my 2D systems. I know what they mean by "stretched" some of the larger tvs will have a fairly large dot pitch and not look as sharp as say a fine pitch 25" set.

[BetaWolf47]

27" is probably the most comfortable size. Take it from someone who had a 36" Trinitron in a crowded bedroom at one point: anything bigger is overkill unless you have a dedicated basement for gaming or something of the sort.

[ZP3]

Why would it look too stretched? Aspect ratio doesn't change just because the size of a tv is increased, so it was never going to look "too stretched".

Seen another user make this bizarre statement in a similar CRT thread here recently, and still don't get what the concern is.

So bigger CRT TVs wont stretch at all? I've heard that before somewhere.

[theclaw]

So bigger CRT TVs wont stretch at all? I've heard that before somewhere.

No. Basic physical laws. The same number of pixels but larger, must look larger.

[Leo_A]

So bigger CRT TVs wont stretch at all? I've heard that before somewhere.

A SD 4:3 tv regardless of size is still going to be 4:3, still is going to have the same number of pixels, and said pixels are still going to be proportioned the same.

I don't get why this word is entering into these threads. Your picture isn't going to be stretched the larger you go up in size. The height and the length of the picture on the screen increase appropriately in order to maintain their proportions, hence what we call aspect ratio. If we were talking about 16:9 tv's and someone posted about their concern that a particular model might stretch 4:3 material to 16:9 with no option to pillarbox and maintain the original 4:3 aspect ratio, I could half understand it even though such a tv sure would be pretty rare.

But 4:3 is 4:3 and such tv's will always have a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Nothing is being stretched the larger you go up in size.

[WCP]

If you go with a Sony PVM, the best size is 20 inches. I know this from plenty of experience. I've tried the bigger monitors, and they all have problems eventually. 20 inch RGB monitor is the way to go.

[drunk3nj3sus]

Really all depends on how far you prefer to be away from the TV when you play, if you play fairly close to the screen anything over 20" would be too big, I play 8-10" away from the screen so 27" is perfect, imo anything bigger than 27" is unnecessary unless you prefer to sit real far away from the tv or play a lot of same screen multiplayer games

[otaku]

27inch sony wega is what I always used and loved and would love to have again if I get back into retro gaming

[ZP3]

I've got a 32" trinitron coming my way this friday; I think this could be the one! I like my 20" for the room/space I have now, but next year I will have a much bigger area.

[CRTGAMER]

I've got a 32" trinitron coming my way this friday; I think this could be the one! I like my 20" for the room/space I have now, but next year I will have a much bigger area.

Good for you. I have the WEGA HD CRT (yes tube) and love it. Even Retro Consoles all display beautiful on it and yes very clean even without the scanlines of SD tubes.

[A.C. Sativa]

Another thing to consider is weight. A 30+ inch tv can easily get extremely heavy.

Yeah, this alone would keep me from getting anything bigger than a 27".