How to Buy a CRT Big Screen TV

Cathode Ray Tube TV's are among the least expensive big screen TV's you can buy. The picture is bright and of excellent quality and CRT TV's have a long life of 14 years of more. The big selling factor is the cost. You can get one for $2,000 or less. CRT TV's are bulkier than the newer TV's, but they are built to last and they can be viewed in bright rooms.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Visit electronic stores like Best Buy, Circuit City and Sam Goody's. Tell the salesperson you're looking for a CRT big screen TV.

2. Discuss your options. Decide what size TV you want and weigh the pros and cons of a CRT TV.

3. Consider a rear projection CRT if you want a screen larger than 40 inches. The projector and screen are combined into one box.

4. Look online at various CRT big screen TV's. Use a search engine to find some for sale.

5. Compare costs before purchasing a CRT big screen TV. A new 60-inch set costs $1,300. If you're looking for a used one for a rec room or college dorm room, they're as cheap as $50 to $300 on eBay.

Tips & Warnings

• The cathode tubes in rear projection CRTs have to be aligned or converged regularly to keep the images looking sharp and free of fuzzy borders.
• Most television sets have a circuit so you can align the tubes yourself. If not, bring it to a technician to fine tune it. It will cost you a few hundred dollars.
• Rear-projection CRT TV's are very bulky and heavy.
• CRT TVs are susceptible to burned images if a static picture is left on the screen for a while.
• Know that CRT big screen TV's don't have a great view if you're looking at it from an angle.

Resources

• Big screen TV buying advice
• Finding the best big screen TV
• Advice on buying televisions