Rear-Projection: CRT

Rear-projection TVs (RPTVs) are great if you are considering a large-screen TV (40 inches and greater). The basic idea of RPTVs is to combine a projector and a screen into one box. The projector casts the image on the rear of the screen. You see the image when you look at the screen head-on.


Photo courtesy Panasonic and Matsushita Electric Corporation of America
RPTV

CRT Rear-projection TVs
CRT rear-projection TVs use three cathode ray tubes to shoot red, green, and blue onto a projection screen. These huge beasts have long been a staple of home theaters.


Photo courtesy Sony
A 53-inch CRT rear-projection TV

Pros:

  • They offer the most screen size for your buck.
  • They have excellent picture quality.
  • They have excellent black level.

Cons:

  • They are very heavy and deep.
  • They cannot be viewed in bright light.
  • They have a narrow viewing angle.
  • They are hard to maintain.