CRT TV or LCD plasma?

[Victorian]

Which TV is better for SNES / N64 / PS2,

Panasonic Quintrix 100Hz CRT model TX-32PK20F

or

Panasonic Viera plasma flatscreen 42" HD ready (with 2 scart inputs) instead?


Any ideas?

CRT tube


Plasma flatscreen

[Mayhem]

If it isn't outputting progressive, then the CRT all the way here, so the consoles you mention for sure.

[JamesC]

I use CRT for anything pre-HDMI.

[Katzkatz]

CRT for anything pre-HDMI or component. The later CRT TVs were really superb in terms of quality, they managed to perfect a flat CRT screen and also things like a better comb filter(it helps separate the colours and luminescence from analogue signals). I also tend to think the aliasing on CRTs are better for old machines that have an analogue output.

[stvd]

I have similar tv's Panasonic 42" plasma and a Panasonic 28" crt (not widescreen).
I use the crt mainly for Xbox coinops due to the light gun working with it.
I run almost everything through the plasma. Another xbox/ps2/wii (for the moment) via component, scart for older systems and even my Atari VCS.

[outdated_gamer]

In my opinion, image quality didn't really start to matter before the Sega Dreamcast. The games for the older consoles were made for CRT TVs and their interlaced image and the worst possible outputs (RF or composite) in mind. I know a lot of retro gamers like to use high quality output methods like RGB, but infact those only reveal more of the graphical shortcommings like excessive dithering, jagged edges, murky textures and so on. I noticed this on emulators - the worse possible filter I use, the "better" the games look. Donkey Kong Country on the SNES is a prime example - the game looks like crap unless you use the "composite filter" which blurrs all the edges and gives it a fuzzy but authentic look. So to be short, I think HD LCD screens and quality output methods are a total waste for the pre-HD systems. But to each his own.

[Victorian]

Thanks for the replies


I just found myself a 36" Philips Matchline TV, I have decided to use a CRT because it works with lightguns.

And well.. The Panasonic Quintrix is better and pretty much in mint condition, I think it may be slightly newer than the Philips Matchline and the image quality is probably better also.
The Philips Matchline looks old, it has probably been moved around a lot. But it is 36" (in reality ~35") - so... Do I want the Quintrix which may be one of the best CRT's, or the worn Matchline with decent image but slightly larger.

Hmmm... Perhaps I should use the Matchline 35" for lightgun games, cant have a too large screen for that

[English Invader]

The PS2 looks great in component and will work just as well on a flatscreen as a CRT. Just switch the aspect ratio to 4:3 to avoid a stretched image.

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

I'll never play anything SD on anything other than a CRT. Sony Trinitrons are the best you can get in my opinion.

[DPrinny]

I'll never play anything SD on anything other than a CRT. Sony Trinitrons are the best you can get in my opinion.

They are if you can get them cheap

For the rest of us some of the ones I use are bloody fantastic
Bigger ones exist

Space wise up to 21" are fine

Best bet is to check sites like Gumtree, Free cycle or local Ebay auctions for whats out
Charity shops can be patchy, but check for British heart foundation electrical stores

Buying wise, make sure it has front AV ports and scart.
Face buttons wise make sure you can switch to AV using buttons on the front as remotes can go walkies

[greenberet79]

I have a Panasonic Viera plasma 42 inch and just for general TV watching it's a bloody marvel. It's great for sport and nature documentaries - the picture really pops off the screen. It's a shame plasma died out.

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

Never realised they were expensive!
Last one I purchased was £15

[paranoid marvin]

I have a Panasonic Viera plasma 42 inch and just for general TV watching it's a bloody marvel. It's great for sport and nature documentaries - the picture really pops off the screen. It's a shame plasma died out.

Same here, can't beat a Panasonic plasma for really great contrast. As for gaming, most done through PC monitor, sometimes with filters to make it more 'authentic'. Once hooked a SNES up to a 37 inch lcd - it looked awful.

[DPrinny]

Never realised they were expensive!
Last one I purchased was £15

Depends where you go, as I said BHF usually sells them cheapest