All About Tube TV

The classic

The tube TV, or more correctly the cathode ray tube (CRT), was the mainstay of television and computer displays until recently. Supplanted in many areas by newer technology the CRT is still quite a good display to center your home theater around. Companies like Sony and Samsung have created flat screen tubes that have enhanced the clarity and image acuity of this nearly centuries old technology. Samsung offers a flat screen tube that is up to ten inches shallower than other brands.

A TV by any other name

Whether it is Sony's Direct View widescreen or Samsung's TX widescreen it is still a Tube TV, albeit a very fine one. The important things to pay attention to though are the features that your TV comes with. Pay close attention to all of the following,

Resolution: Make sure your tube TV is a true HDTV and can process ATSC standards. HDTV is designated as 1080i, while standard resolution is 480i.

Progressive Scan: This is the new way in which a picture is formed in HDTV. The old way is referred to as interlaced. Progressive scan forms the entire picture in a sweep from top to bottom or vice versa. Interlaced TVs, our old TVs, form a picture by illuminating every other line in one sweep, thus the picture was only half as dense as possible.

Connections: Make sure the TV you purchase has a lot of them. The list of a good set should be similar to the following; 2 Rear RF Inputs, 2 rear (480i/ 480p/ 1080i) Auto Sensing Component Inputs, 1 Side 1 Rear (shared)S-Video Inputs, 1 Rear Fixed A/V Monitor Output and 4 Composite A/V Inputs 1 Side, 3 Rear (shared).

Comb Filter: A comb filter's task is to remove residual color from the brightness of a signal. Comb filtering enhances fine detail, cleans up image outlines, and eliminates most extraneous colors. Comb filters are not required and not used with S-video or component video connections since those connections carry the chrominance and luminance information separately.

Dollar for dollar a tube TV is quite a bargain when compared to Plasma and especially LCD TVs. HDTV models also rival the aforementioned in both brightness and resolution. Pound for pound though is another story; the tube TV is quite a bit heavier than its flat panel cousins. Also consider a conventional set's size. You may be able to lift the TV but fitting it into your car may be another issue all together.

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