What is the best CRT TV for Retro Gaming?
Depending on the platform you use to play your old-school games.
The best CRT TVs to use if you plan to play your games on their original consoles are those that support RF/coxial cable, composite cables (Red, Yellow, and White cables), and don’t support component cables (Red, Blue, and Green). If you want to play them on a CRT TV, you might want to look on Amazon, eBay, or another website.
Find out about the fascinating details below when searching for the best CRT TV for retro gaming.
Table of Contents
Best Crt TV For Retro Gaming
Toshiba AF
The Toshiba AF, with its enormous 20″ screen size, is a nice option if you need to fill a sizable hole in your game room.
Okay, so you don’t need a completely empty wall to fit it on, but this TV was unbeatable when the casings were so heavy that two people were needed to lift them!
All of your old games that were never designed to be played in widescreen are ideal for the AF range’s 4:3 aspect ratio.
Additionally, the built-in speakers sound pretty darn good!
This is a good option that is reasonably priced. It has a maximum resolution of 480i and a refresh rate of 60Hz.
Philips Discoverer
A very uncommon TV that hardly ever appears on auction sites is the Philips Discoverer. The moment they do, though, you can bet they’ll be snapped up in a flash.
Look at it, it’s the ideal accessory for any retro games room!
This peculiar 14-inch TV, also known as “The Space Helmet TV,” was the result of a partnership between NASA and Philips to commemorate the first space shuttle launch in 1981.
Yes, the How awesome is that?
40 years ago this $500 was the cost of the TV. That would be equivalent to $1,686.58 in today’s currency at current inflation rates.
Oh my, that wasn’t a cheap purchase!
JVC D-Series
The JVC D-Series has the traditional “first TV set” that a lot of us had in our bedrooms in the past. It’s a cute little thing with plenty of power even today.
Nowadays, 32″ is the most common screen size on second-hand websites, but games like Super Mario 64 still look fantastic on it at a 4:3 resolution.
What makes it the “D-Series” and why?
The Digital 2 Line Comb Filter and a component input for DVD players were features that were included with every D-Series TV.
That’s a lot of Ds right there!
Additionally, you really can’t go wrong with a horizontal resolution of 700 lines!
JVC Videosphere
The JVC Videosphere is pretty rad, don’t you think? It’s obvious that the Discoverer and the Sega Dreamcast TV both served as inspiration.
False; given that it was released in the 1970s, the order is unquestionably reversed. It has no competition because it was the first helmet TV and this one also functions as an alarm clock.
The best retro screen for that classic NES feel is this black and white television. With a massive dial on top to adjust wave frequencies and a battery pack for outdoor play, it totally feels like something that dropped from an alien craft…
… maybe it did…
You’re in for a real treat if you can find one that works. It won’t be cheap, and finding the parts is even harder than finding the actual device.
Still smashing some Super Mario Bros. on this would feel amazing, right?
JVC TM-1650SU
Our ranking of the top CRT TVs for old-school gaming includes the JVC TM-1650SU, which comes in at number eight.
It is a strong rival for the Sony PVM-14M2U with 550 TV lines of horizontal resolution, and it has a component/RGB input that is compatible with all of your favorite vintage consoles.
It works with both PAL and NTSC systems, which is good news for gamers in Europe. It also comes with a wired remote, which isn’t necessary but always makes me smile (not that we Europeans need the remote, of course).
A system settings screen also allows access to all menu settings—pretty sophisticated for the time, eh?
The JVC TM-1650SU has a 16″ screen, as the name might imply, giving it the advantage over the PVM in terms of viewing area. If you prefer to avoid the Sony classic, this is a reliable option that won’t let you down.
Ikegami HTM
Ikegami HTM looks like it walked into our living room from a sci-fi movie from the 1980s.
A clear image that more than does your favorite games justice is produced by this tiny baby’s 900 horizontal lines. With a maximum output of 1080i, it operates in both NTSC and PAL regions.
This is yet another excellent option for those seeking a different appearance from the traditional PVM range, with adjustable chroma and an ostensibly “optimal white balance.”
Sony 40XBR800
The Sony 40XBR800 rounds out our list of the top CRT TVs for classic gaming, but it’s by no means the least important.
It comes with a stand and shelving for all of your vintage consoles, making it a beast.
Our list’s largest CRT TV measures 40″. It boasts 4:3 viewing with 16:9 enhanced viewing mode (which probably sounded pretty swish back in the day.
These TVs cost a pretty penny when they appear on second-hand websites. We’re talking over $1,000, so be prepared to have a call with your bank before you search,
Still, the picture quality is spot on, as is the remote with glow in the dark buttons…
Sony Hi Scan
The Sony Hi Scan Series comes in second on our list of the top CRT TVs for old-school video games.
Yes, I am aware that it appears far too contemporary to be on this list, but bear with me. For everything from the NES to the Wii, this HD Ready CRT line will provide stunning visuals.
This range is available in both 4:3 and 16:9 formats, allowing you to shop around and find the set that is ideal for your setup.
The picture quality is exactly what you’d expect from a Sony model, and the sound was always excellent on these devices.
These days, the Hi Scan series is quite pricey, so if you want to add one to your collection, be prepared to spend a sizable sum of money.
Sony PVM-14M2U
The best CRT television for old-school gaming is without a doubt the Sony PVM-14M2U.
Just take a look at this thing; aside from being the standard Instagrammable piece of equipment for your setup, it is incredibly durable and reliable. All the top retro games look fantastic up on ours, which has never let us down.
Every old console looks fantastic on the PVM at 14 Prime with a 13 Prime viewable screen. Games appear steady and smooth as well as sharply defined thanks to the Trinitron color screen’s resolution of an astounding 600 lines.
Can anyone here recall the first TVs to have actual knobs for aperture, chroma, and other movable features? Even though I wasn’t born, I enjoy fiddling with this device to optimize my favorite games.
Sony BVM-9045QD
The Sony BVM-9054QD is ranked fifth on our list of the best CRT TVs for old-school video games. The PVM-14M2U may be more popular, but it still has some pretty tasty stats.
It’s a pretty diddy screen with an 8 Prime viewable area. A wired remote can control it, and it has 450 lines of resolution.
As a side note, when I was younger, the wired remote for my grandma’s TV seemed like the best invention ever!
This small TV has a cool handle and is ideal for taking to friends’ homes. It is the ultimate portable gaming computer; pair it with an NES or a GameCube. All of them look great from this height!
Why Should One Buy A CRT TV?
You shouldn’t for the majority of uses. They weigh a lot and are large. Compared to an LCD TV, they use more energy. They produce a display that, for the most part, is inferior to a contemporary flat panel; for example, almost all of them are standard definition rather than HD, the corners are frequently less sharp than the center, and the geometry is distorted with barrel or pincushion distortion. (Except in cases where you have an old plasma TV or a fancy new OLED TV, the CRT is preferable for areas of extreme darkness.) You cannot simply dispose of them as regular trash because they contain hazardous materials that need special processing. (The majority of the time, recycling them costs money.) And buying a CRT TV is typically unnecessary because people will gladly give away functional models that they have replaced with new flat panels.
Retro video gaming is one reason, that I am aware of, to want a CRT TV. On a flat panel, old video games don’t look right. On an old TV, but not on a modern one, some older games produce video signals that aren’t fully standard. Additionally, light gun games require a CRT; a flat panel is incompatible with them. See more about Best Height For TV On Wall
Are Old CRT TVs Still Having Access To Channels?
They can still be used to watch regular TV shows if they are still operational.. The only difference, in my opinion, is that the signals are now digital, but the channels and corresponding operating frequencies have remained the same. Therefore, a converter box will be required for tuning.
The $50 converter may be what you need…
When Does A Game Qualify As Retro?
As a general rule, travel back two generations, or 10–15 years, from the generation you are currently on.
Even between consecutive generations, there will be a noticeable difference in overall quality, but between two generations, there will be a big difference, especially in terms of graphical capability.
Retro is essentially just a subject…
The End
I wouldn’t advise watching them on an HDTV from their original consoles because the image would be hazy. Additionally, NES/Famicom games that make use of the NES Zapper most likely only function on a CRT TV (and not on an HDTV). The Power Glove and other comparable accessories might also need a CRT TV. Additionally, even if plugged improperly (I once ran into that issue), the images from some classic consoles may not appear on specific HDTVs.
