Best And Brightest
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday July 24, 2006
CRT TVs are outstanding value - if you can find them. Rod Easdown tests three 66cm widescreen models.
Just a couple of years ago, 51-centimetre CRT TVs, the conventional tellies with the squarish 4:3 screens that have been around for almost 50 years, were the biggest sellers in Australia. We went looking for some the other day and found just three on display in one of the city's biggest department stores. So we asked a salesman whether people had stopped buying them."Well, I guess they have but only because they can't buy them," he said. "We still get plenty of inquiries but none of the big brands seem interested in making them any more."At the prices (the display models ranged from $249 to $399), we reckon it's probably because the manufacturers are sick of building TVs that have such tight margins. Maybe they're becoming heavy-handed in trying to wean us off the cheap and cheerful end of the TV market. With so many sexy flat-panel screens around (from 33 centimetres), it's easy to see why so many buyers are finding the extra cash.The message is clear: if you want a seriously cheap telly you better buy reasonably soon because they seem to be going the way of cassette decks and portable CD players.The shame of this is that none of the flat panels can match the picture quality of a really good CRT. Premium CRTs have beautiful resolution and excellent colour balance. They also have brightness levels and contrast that blow vastly more expensive LCD TVs into the weeds. The trouble with CRTs is that they're heavy and lumpy and about as sexy as a 1975 Holden Kingswood wagon.In department stores, the CRT format appears to be holding its own in the entry-level widescreen format. If you want a smaller widescreen of about 66 to 72 centimetres, CRTs are outstanding value. You can get excellent picture quality, beyond almost anything LCD can deliver, for less than $700 and a superb example for $1000-$1200.You will need more space to accommodate the TV and a solid mounting point for it (they weigh up to 70 kilograms), but you'll be buying a great performer built around technology that's reliable and long-lasting.Contrary to what many people will tell you, you won't have to throw a CRT TV out when the analog broadcasting network ends. Just connect the TV to a digital set-top box and it will happily reproduce digital broadcasts.Grundig MFW70250This has Dolby virtual surround sound, Teletext and a sleep timer and looks great. The range of connections is extensive and includes handy plugs for a camera or games console and headphones. The picture has excellent colour balance and is sharp and well defined. Dimensions: 790mm wide x 490mm high x 500mm deep; 35kg.RRP $799, stand not included (spotted for $549)Sanyo CP28WF2This has conventional looks but packs good value. Connections include a SCART plug and front plugs for games, camera and headphones. It has a sleep timer, volume lock, Teletext and virtual surround sound. Picture quality is well detailed and reasonably sharp, with good colour balance. Dimensions: 774mm wide x 491mm high x 508mm deep; 40kg. RRP $649 (spotted for $549)LG RT28FZ85RXThis seems expensive for its specification and the picture has fragments of ghosting around the outlines, which, although minor, are noticeable against the other two. It has a sleep timer, child lock and Teletext. A good range of connections with handy games-camera-headphone plugs. Dimensions: 848mm wide x 537mm high x 535mm deep; 42kg.RRP $749 (spotted for $699)INFOFILEGrundig 1300 131 072 www.grundig.net.auSanyo 1300 360 230 www.sanyo.com.auLG 1800 725 375 www.lge.com.auVERDICTWe thought the LG was expensive but we liked the value of the Sanyo, which has a good picture. But the Grundig looks best here, even when turned off. The picture quality is easily the best and the sound is good, too.NEXT WEEK:We compare digital cameras with a difference.
© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald