Should I buy a Sony 36XBR250 for $40?

[Retromangia]

hey folks,

I very recently found a Sony 36XBR250 CRT Tube TV in a thrift store... and they only want $40 for it. (480i TV)

here's a link to this TV:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KV-36XBR2.../dp/B00001QGV2


Here's the catch... It's fuckin huge! I drive a small car, and I would need to ask for help from at least 2 other guys. Fortunately my parents would let me store it in the basement. (with a bit of bitching)

my question is... is all this heavy lifting worth it? I already own a 32" JVC (2001 model) Tube tv that looks damn good.... Would I be passing up the deal of a lifetime, or will there be more Sony XBR's down the road for this price?? Are there better model XBR's that are only 480i?


What to do?!? What to do?!?


I would probably use this TV in about 5 years from now when I get a bigger home, and finally have room for my room of doom.

What would you guys do?

CRT Gamer please chime in my man!

thanks,
retromangia.

[Bojay1997]

hey folks,

I very recently found a Sony 36XBR250 CRT Tube TV in a thrift store... and they only want $40 for it. (480i TV)

here's a link to this TV:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KV-36XBR2.../dp/B00001QGV2


Here's the catch... It's fuckin huge! I drive a small car, and I would need to ask for help from at least 2 other guys. Fortunately my parents would let me store it in the basement. (with a bit of bitching)

my question is... is all this heavy lifting worth it? I already own a 32" JVC (2001 model) Tube tv that looks damn good.... Would I be passing up the deal of a lifetime, or will there be more Sony XBR's down the road for this price?? Are there better model XBR's that are only 480i?


What to do?!? What to do?!?


I would probably use this TV in about 5 years from now when I get a bigger home, and finally have room for my room of doom.

What would you guys do?

CRT Gamer please chime in my man!

thanks,
retromangia.

I have the slightly smaller version of this TV (mine is the 27") and actually helped a friend move the TV you are looking at out of a second floor apartment with no elevator. The thing weighs literally several hundred pounds and could kill someone if it landed on top of them. The picture quality is good and I have always found Sony TVs including mine to be very reliable long term. Having said that, storing this monster for five years is going to eat a ton of space and I imagine that most of us who currently have the Wegas will be upgrading to flat panels in the next few years, so these are likely to be very, very plentiful on the used market.

[Zing]

What consoles are you going to use this with? It's a widescreen. I assume anyone with widescreen desires would just use a current model flatscreen.

If you are able to test the TV and see that it has no critical geometry issues, then maybe it is worth it. Although being in storage for five years seems like a waste, especially considering that you will need one or two strong friends to help lug it to storage, then to the final resting place.

[CRTGAMER]

BUY IT!
Is it the KV-36XBR250? That is a EDTV CRT. According to the manual this one is at 236 pounds, hefty stand needed. Longer you wait the harder it will be to find the good CRTs.

The manual:
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/KV32XBR250.pdf

[Steven]

I have this TV, or had. Yes, it's heavier than a mofo whale!

[horseboy]

36 inch tube TVs do not weigh enough to warrant 3 dudes moving it.

[Bojay1997]

36 inch tube TVs do not weigh enough to warrant 3 dudes moving it.

It's 236 pounds. How much can you lift? Frankly it's not even just the weight, but the uneven distribution of that weight to the front screen area and the fact that the edges of the TV along the bottom are not rounded and will actually leave deep grooves in your hands. I literally told my friend after his last move as did the other four guys helping to move the TV that if he moved again, we were bringing a sledge hammer to smash the damn thing into pieces first.

[allyourblood]

I say go for it. As for the weight, two guys ought to be able to lift it fine, unless you guys are really thin or small, in which case you might up it to three. We carry heavier stuff than this at my work with just two of us. Just plan your lifting and path in advance and you'll be fine. Oh, and bring gloves.

[Matt-El]

i just wanted to check:

This is a TV you will not be using for 5 years? and you need 2 people and a different vehicle to move it?

If this is the case I'd Say: Too much effort, for so little usage, for plans too far in the future.

[Retromangia]

you guys are awesome... I tried to explain this to my friends who don't play old games, and they thought I was nuts! "why would you want this old huge piece of junk".... little do they realize this TV was over $2K when it was selling at retail.


Anyhow, I've thought about it.... and I just think the TV is too damn heavy to buy right now. If I had my room of doom all setup and ready to go, I'd jump on it... but as of right now, it's just going to sit in my basement for a few years....

damn, I think I'm starting to cry a little bit inside

It really is the PERFECT TV for old games

ah well, thanks folks

end rant.

[Retromangia]

small update.... After I posted my last reply... I changed my mind again, mostly because I found some nice folks to help me move it.

unfortunately... I called the goodwill to put it on hold... and some guy was buying it AS WE SPEAK!

I let that one get away.

- Retromangia

[Retromangia]

Ok, so I'm back from the Shop again.... and it's true, my EDTV is gone'. out of my life forever. But like woman, there's more fish in the sea.


Anyhow, while I was there.. the manager there showed me another large Sony TV he had in the back of the shop. This model was a much cheaper model from 2000 (a year newer than the XBR), titled "KV-35S42".

It had almost no inputs in the back... just your normal A/V, and 1 lonely S-video. The XBR had like 15 inputs and outputs! =)

So anyhow... I have some technical questions about these two TV Sets.

CRT GAMER feel free to drop some knowledge on us please!

The XBR model uses a Hi-Scan Screen (853x1080i), and has Progessive Scan. My question is.... Would this TV be the PINNACLE of gaming for Gamecube, PS2, and XBOX era games which actually have the Progressive scan feature programmed into there games? I always thought that Progressive scan ran at 640x480? (Not 853x1080i).... Shouldn't I try to be matching the resolution of the TV to the resolution of the game output? Do they even make TV's with 640x480p screens? Or does Sony pull some mastery on us with there genius, and makes this even better?

While were still on the XBR subject.... with it's such high resolution, how would games from 80's and 90's look on it? I'm talking NES, SNES, N64, PS1.... I know most of those games output at 240p/480i correct?

Would they seem more washed out on this TV?.....or is what I've been reading correct, and the SONY XBR actually up-converts them to 960i and they look fucking amazing? If someone knows anything about this, I'd love to know!!

and Lastly... about the 2nd TV he showed me (KV-35S42).... Would Old NES/SNES/N64 games looks best on this because it uses the old 480i resolution? Or would they look better on the up-scaled Hi-Scan Progressive screen of the XBR?


If anyone can shine some wisdom on this topic, I'd love to hear from you.

thanks folks!

- Retromangia

[Parodius Duh!]

awesome TV, my buddy had one but he destroyed the screen via chainsmoking butts about 3 feet in front of it for years....and that sucker is heavy. I think he still has the original, matching stand....if thats something you wanted (if you get the TV) I could get it for you probably, but shipping is more than likely going to be expensive.

[Pete Rittwage]

I've tried it with myself and a friend before and no way you could move it safely. It is so heavy and hard to carry that it's unreal. Someone will get hurt, especially if you try to use stairs. And I only have the 32" 4:3 version.

[Retromangia]

So true guys... the people here that say you only need 2 people to move this thing are smoking crack (These are also the same guys who say they have a large Johnson... but really just have a teeny weeny). The front of the TV is probably about 100 pounds heavier than the back! Fucking Sony... there like, "you want the best TV Picture possible? Then you must sacrifice a friend to move it"

[NoahsMyBro]

Hey! If I tell you I have a teeny weeny , will that make my johnson huge??

Could this be a way to drive companies like Extense out of business???

[Pete Rittwage]

Although for $40 you could still afford to pay a moving company to go get it and deliver it for you and still get a good deal.

[CRTGAMER]

Definitely stick with a CRT for the Retro Consoles. A shame the other one got away. You can bring a console to the store and do a test run to be sure it works fine. This one though not as good, but it is still a Sony.

My just under 200 pound HD CRT Wega can be moved easily with two people. If you have to move the CRT far, you can get a wood dolly or two from Harbor Freight Tools. Careful, all the weight is towards the front. Be sure to put a vertical support under the center of the TV shelf.

Oh and be sure the helper doesn't have a dinner plate belt buckle.

The manual: http://www.docs.sony.com/release/KV32S42.pdf

You can search out Sony manuals HERE.



Click my CRT vs LCD signature link for more info.

[MachineGex]

These come up for sale all the time on Craigslist. I want one, but I am not going to store it. I am waiting til my cheap 36in walmart TV goes out and then I will grab one off of craigslist.

[allyourblood]

So true guys... the people here that say you only need 2 people to move this thing are smoking crack (These are also the same guys who say they have a large Johnson... but really just have a teeny weeny). The front of the TV is probably about 100 pounds heavier than the back! Fucking Sony... there like, "you want the best TV Picture possible? Then you must sacrifice a friend to move it"

I'm not saying the TV isn't heavy, but the fact remains that two people can lift and move such a TV, and no, that doesn't include everyone. No need to be insulting about it if you disagree. What a way to act, when people are trying to help you.