Good TV for Old School Gaming ?

[mojoeskateco]

Thinking of buying this.

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-Sony-WEGA-KV-40XBR800-40-4-3-TV-W0QQAdIdZ421302519

Pretty sure I could talk the guy down seeing as he's moving and the TV weighs 300 lbs so I think he would be happy to just have it gone.

I still have to see if it will fit where I want it to.

Here's my current set up:



My TV (52" LCD) is on the other side of the room.

I'd like to have a separate setup for some old school gaming and keep the current gen stuff on the main TV.

The plan is to replace the Ikea Expedit Unit (the one on the left with all the NES stuff on it) with an Ikea Billy Bookcase on each side of the left wall (the same bookcases I have on the right) with a nice CRT TV in the middle and perhaps a shelf over top of it that connects the 2 bookcases.

It looks like this 40" unit is the largest CRT that they made back in the day and is of high quality.  It has lots of inputs and the stand looks like it will house enough consoles for now.

Just want to know if any one with any experience with these TVs thinks this would be a good pick up and what things I should look out for if I go to see it.

I was originally planning for 3 bookshelves along this wall so I would be sacrificing some storage space but I would be gaining a dedicated old school gaming area.  The 2 bookcases I would be buying would still give more room than the current cubed unit that is there now.  I would be saving the cost of a third bookcase ($150 approx) and I figure I can get a good CRT with a stand for less than that.

Now to get that plan cleared with the GF  

[dmc1974]

DO IT!  Dont think about it, do it!  I used to work at Sony and back in the day I worked on the production line that made these tv's.  Let me tell you this is hands down the best CRT tv ever made.  It will last you forever, it does take at least 3 people to move it and you pretty much have to have the stand that was made to go with it.  If I remember correctly it had split screen pip and at least 8 inputs in the back.  Its HD ready as well.  These retailed for around 3500.00.  I never had the room for one, but I always wanted one.  If you get it look on the back.  There should be a little sticker that says it was made in Mt. Pleasant, Pa (Im pretty sure we were the only Sony factory that made these).  If it does chances are I had some hand in making it!

[Arseen]

And the TV is compatible with light guns and R.O.B?

[dmc1974]

Yes definately, its a crt tv.  Just totally flat, but about 3 ft deep to accomodate the back of the tube.

[Sneak]

I've got the exact same TV.    Although mine is the 32" model.  I'm not at home, so I don't know the exact model I have, but it looks almost identical.  After looking quickly on google, I think the one I have is the "KV-32HS510" model.   So assuming this one is the same, only bigger.

As everybody else has said, heavy as hell.  I remember having to move mine by myself (just to the other side of the room), and almost gave myself a hernia!  

It has a few S-Video jacks, and (assuming it's the same as mine), multiple A/V jacks, and an RGB input...  It even has a DVI port on the back which you can easily adapt to HDMI (you just have to wire the audio seperately).

The light guns will not work (properly) on it.     I'm not sure why that is exactly, as it is a CRT TV.  I think because it's a later model CRT TV that can display HD, and I remember hearing something about due to it being able to display 480i (or something)??   Maybe somebody else could shed some light on why this is??  

Regardless, aside from the light gun issue, the TV is great for retro stuff.  

[mojoeskateco]

DO IT!  Dont think about it, do it!  I used to work at Sony and back in the day I worked on the production line that made these tv's.  Let me tell you this is hands down the best CRT tv ever made.  It will last you forever, it does take at least 3 people to move it and you pretty much have to have the stand that was made to go with it.  If I remember correctly it had split screen pip and at least 8 inputs in the back.  Its HD ready as well.  These retailed for around 3500.00.  I never had the room for one, but I always wanted one.  If you get it look on the back.  There should be a little sticker that says it was made in Mt. Pleasant, Pa (Im pretty sure we were the only Sony factory that made these).  If it does chances are I had some hand in making it!

The seller actually took a pic of the back that shows this info:

Model # KV-40XBR800
Manufactured at Westmoreland Co. PA 15666 on Aug 4, 2002

Not sure if it's going to fit though - might have to look for a 36 inch one since if I put the 2 shelves I want I only have 39.5 inches of room left and moving the couch over is not an option.

I really hate how the builder didn't make it a clean corner.  The extra foot or so on either wall would help so much!

[mojoeskateco]

This is likely what I will end up with given that it fits my available space perfectly.

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-Wicked-HDTV-ready-TV-Sony-XBR-W0QQAdIdZ419478772

Not buying this one though.

I'm sure I can find someone wanting to get rid of one and get it much cheaper.

I've got a 27" JVC l'Art model that I can use in the mean time.

[redsox2012]

And the TV is compatible with light guns and R.O.B?

It may not be compatible with light guns.  I recently found a 32 inch Samsung CRT which is HD ready, and my Zapper doesn't work with it.  I did some research and many people have said that if the TV is digital, light guns won't work even though it is a CRT.

[mojoeskateco]

Light gun use would be nice but is not a deal breaker.

Just found this one.

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-Sony-FD-Trinitron-WEGA-KV-36HS500-36-HDTV-with-Stand-W0QQAdIdZ408392299

It's not an XBR model but it fits my main criteria which are:

1. Cheap
2. Fits my available space
3. Comes with a stand made specifically for the TV.  Most newer stands won't hold a TV that heavy.  Plus it saves me from having to buy a stand.

[wiggy]

Yes definately, its a crt tv.  Just totally flat, but about 3 ft deep to accomodate the back of the tube.

No, it absolutely will NOT work!  HDTVs refresh the entire screen at once, SDTVs do it from one side to the other, and that's what a light gun needs in order to know where the gun is being aimed. It has absolutely nothing to do with it being a CRT. I used to play HOTD2 on the Dreamcast with my buddy on his ancient 60" rear projection TV back in the day. Worked beautifully.

Even some late model non-HD tubes won't work with light gun games. I just bought a 36" SONY Wega tube about 2 months ago JUST to play light games with, and much to my dismay, it's not very compatible with light gun games It also weighs 250lbs, and getting it DOWN into my basement was an incredible feat, getting it back up those stairs isn't gonna happen, ever unless someone wants to take it out of there themselves. 3 full grown adults could barely move it, so give serious thought before making a purchase like that. It's not terribly easy to move it about once it's yours.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question273.htm

[dmc1974]

Yes definately, its a crt tv.  Just totally flat, but about 3 ft deep to accomodate the back of the tube.

No, it absolutely will NOT work!  HDTVs refresh the entire screen at once, SDTVs do it from one side to the other, and that's what a light gun needs in order to know where the gun is being aimed. It has absolutely nothing to do with it being a CRT. I used to play HOTD2 on the Dreamcast with my buddy on his ancient 60" rear projection TV back in the day. Worked beautifully.

Even some late model non-HD tubes won't work with light gun games. I just bought a 36" SONY Wega tube about 2 months ago JUST to play light games with, and much to my dismay, it's not very compatible with light gun games It also weighs 250lbs, and getting it DOWN into my basement was an incredible feat, getting it back up those stairs isn't gonna happen, ever unless someone wants to take it out of there themselves. 3 full grown adults could barely move it, so give serious thought before making a purchase like that. It's not terribly easy to move it about once it's yours.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question273.htm

I stand corrected, I wasnt thinking about the refresh rate

[wiggy]

I used to think that any CRT would work with light guns (since that's what is generally believed), then I did some research when looking for a new tube and I STILL ended up with something that does't work as I had desired

[mojoeskateco]

So is it the ones that do HD that won't work with the guns?

I can find the curved (not flat) screen ones in my area for cheap / free but I want the best picture possible for my old school games without doing any modding.  Good simulated surround sound would also be a plus since I won't have any room for speakers.

I plan to hook up the following systems to it right now:

SNES, N64, Gamecube (mainly for the GBA player as I can play GC games on my Wii on the big TV over Component) with S-video

Toaster NES with Composite cables - I have a top loader, however I'd like to keep it in it's original state.  If I find a second one a mod would be likely.

Sega Saturn with Composite cables - would like to find an S-Video Cable.

[mojoeskateco]

Found this one.

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-36-Sony-Tube-TV-Best-Offer-W0QQAdIdZ397305970

It's a 36" Sony XBR

Width is apparently 38.5 inches so it will fit perfectly.

Their add says they want to get rid of it so I'm thinking I can get it for $30 - $40 max.

[wiggy]

That's the one that I picked up. So, if you care, it doesn't play friendly with light guns If you do pick it up, make sure to bring at LEAST 2 guys that weigh more than 130lbs with you. If you're all skinny bastards, then it might take 4 to do the job.

To answer the question a few posts above, NO HDTV works with light guns and many late, late non-HD tubes won't either. I guess being "digital" is what will kill compatibility for an SD tube. I imagine that means it refreshes just like an HD tube, just without the HD part.