Front Projection: CRT

When you are looking for screen sizes in excess of 100 inches, it's time to consider front projection. Not a TV in the true sense of the word, front-projection TV (FPTV) works like the projector you see at your local movie theater. A separate projection device casts the image onto a dedicated screen on the adjacent wall. If you are looking for a true home theater and you have deep pockets, this is the way to go.

Photo courtesy Silicon Light Machines Front projection is an excellent choice when you need a huge screen.

Some lower-end front-projection models don't produce a bright enough picture to view it in a fully lit room, and you'll have to dim the lights to get a good view. The lumens value indicates the brightness of the projected picture; the higher the lumens number, the better.

CRT Front-Projection TVs
CRT projectors combine three cathode-ray tubes in one box to fire red, green, and blue light to create the image on the screen.

Pros:

• They have a huge screen size.
• They have great picture quality for the size.

Cons:

• They are very expensive.
• They require calibration and maintenance.
• They require custom wiring and installation.