Best And Brightest
The Age
Thursday August 10, 2006
Old-fashioned TVs are outstanding value - if you can find them, writes Rod Easdown.
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 these 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 cm), it's easy to see why so many buyers are finding the extra cash.The message is clear: if you want a seriously cheap TV you'd 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 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 (they weigh up to 70 kg), but you'll be buying a great performer with reliable and long-lasting technology.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 it to a digital set-top box and it will happily reproduce digital broadcasts.The contendersGrundig MFW70250RRP $799, stand not included(spotted for $549)This 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. Specs: 790 wide x 490 high x 500mm deep; weighs 35 kg.grundig.net.auSanyo CP28WF2RRP $649 (spotted for $549)This 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. Specs: 774 x 491 x 508mm; weighs 40 kg.sanyo.com.auLG RT28FZ85RXRRP $749 (spotted for $699)This seems expensive for its specifications and the picture has fragments of ghosting around the outlines that, although slight, 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. Specs: 848 x 537 x 535mm; weighs 42 kg.www.lge.com.auVerdictWe thought the LG was expensive and 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.
© 2006 The Age