Even though the technology behind our smart TV panels is getting better and more sophisticated, there is still a base of users who will invest all the money necessary. an old television. This is because they have many benefits when it comes to playing retro games.

Those who love retro video games consider CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions to be a gem because they are old games can be shown in their maximum glory and without the need for post-processing. Below these lines, we explain why it is so popular and which models usually stand out on second-hand portals.

Why are CRT TVs better for playing retro games?

If you are one of those who still have your CRT television, do not give it up yet because there are very few users who will pay good money for one of them. And these televisions They are popular among the retro gaming community mainly because they replicate the original experience of classic consoles in ways that modern displays cannot match. And although the picture quality of new panels has improved significantly, there are still a lot of gamers who prefer to play games on these old-fashioned televisions and consider them a relic.

Image: Jason Leung (Unsplash)

One of the main reasons is that retro consoles like NES, SNES, Sega Mega Drive, PS1 and others are more compatible with analog signals. They are designed for use in CRT televisionsIt offers full compatibility with analog signals such as composite (RCA), S-Video and RGB. These signals are the ones that best match the resolution and technology of CRTs and provide a sharp and natural image for low-resolution graphics.

Unlike today’s televisions, which need image scalers to process analog signals, CRTs offer native compatibility with these formats. This means retro video game lovers have the peace of mind of being able to enjoy their old consoles and games without worrying about image degradation or lag.

JVC professional grade monitors. Image: Moritz Mentges (Unsplash)

Another very striking feature of these televisions is exactly, zero or nearly zero latency. This is very important for retro games, especially in platformers or fighting games, where precision in controls is often important. Scaling and rendering processes introduce a lag in the display, which can negatively impact gameplay. It is true that new televisions deal with this issue better each time. input lagbut for very old games and consoles, the television does not process the signal as well as CRTs.

In addition to all these, there are many users who prefer the visual aspect of games on CRT televisions. Due to the nature of these televisions, horizontal lines separating the pixels (scan lines) They give it a touch that many retro game lovers will like. Nearly all retro games were designed with the limitations of CRT televisions in mind; Therefore, this blurring effect caused at the edges of the image displayed by CRTs “hides” pixel visibility, making games have a much less flat visual appearance.

There’s also a sense of nostalgia inevitably attached to retro games and consoles, which is a strong reason why CRT televisions have become popular for this niche. The processors of modern LCD and OLED televisions do not handle retro games very well. Although they can operate almost seamlessly, the overall local gaming experience on CRT televisions is something that attracts more and more users.

Which are the most popular CRT televisions on the market?

Image: Sony

Among the CRT televisions that are most envied by the retro gaming community are those aimed at professional and broadcast environments. Sony PVM-20M4U or Sony BVM-20F1Uhold the podium. PVM (Professional Video Monitor) and BVM (Broadcast Video Monitor) are very advanced professional grade monitors and have all kinds of video inputs and features to make the most of retro gaming. Of course, don’t expect to get one of these for anything other than an exorbitant price.

In another, much more acceptable category, Sony’s Trinitron television seriesModels like the 32-inch Sony Trinitron KV-32FV310 or the 27-inch Panasonic CT-27SF14 are TVs that often attract the attention of retro gamers. Other very popular models also include 32 inch JVC AV-32S33 or Toshiba 32AF44. Generally, Japanese companies of the time released very capable televisions to meet this market niche. It’s no surprise that Japan dominated the electronics and television industry in the 80s and 90s.

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