LEARN WHAT CRT GAMING IS AND WHY THIS TECH IS BACK AND COOLER THAN EVER

Big, flat screen ultra HD TVs with full stereo setups are the best way to experience gaming of all kinds, right? Wrong! Instead, consider the heavy, bulky beast of a tube television. The ones with the thick bezel and chunky buttons. If you remember owning one of these 20 years ago but have since tossed it out for an upgrade, we have some news: these TVs are making a comeback in the world of gaming.

But why? What does CRT gaming have to offer? Well, as it turns out…quite a lot.

WHAT IS CRT GAMING?

In short, CRT gaming is using a cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV for playing video games. A cathode-ray tube is a vacuum tube that emits electron beams to display images on a phosphorescent screen.

Even if you haven't seen one before, you would be able to recognize a CRT television straight off: they are big and boxy, with a convex screen and a back that angles downward before squaring off. They also weigh quite a bit and use real glass screens. They do, however, also have different inputs such as composite, S-Video, component, and RF. By plugging in a retro gaming console like Nintendo, Sega, or GameCube, you get to experience the wonderful world of CRT gaming.

WHAT’S THE BENEFIT?

CRTs are perfect for retro gaming. Anything PS2 era or older especially is best on CRT. You get vivid, accurate colors, great contrast, and a quick input response. Best of all, it’s proof that sometimes less is more: CRT displays melt away those jagged, low-resolution details that 4k TVs like to sharpen. Tube TVs hide the flaws of HD upscaling and smooth out your gaming experience. Low resolution console games with pixelated art also benefit from the fuzz of a CRT display as the naturally rough pixels get smoothed out into a softer, more natural look.

On the more technical side, the majority of CRT TVs were originally created to display 240 lines of horizontal resolution (240p). An electron gun inside the TV directs electrodes at the screen, striking areas made of metal that block certain areas of the screen. The phosphors that are not covered by the mask emit light, resulting in the vivid brightness, vibrant colors, and deep blacks that CRTs are known for. Neat, right? Even the upscaling devices to provide options like scanlines in an attempt to improve the look of retro games on flat-screen monitors don’t hold a candle to the original thing.

But alongside the pleasing effect CRTs have on image quality is the warmth and fuzzy feelings you get with old technology. It has a way of transporting you, of getting you outside your head and into a different world. CRT gaming is therapeutic for many people. And, even if years ago you played those old video games on a large tube TV, the incredible thing is: CRT gaming is better than you remember.

SUMMARY

Going backwards is sometimes the best way to get what you want from technology. While bigger and brighter screens are addicting, and are certainly wonderful for those 4k movie nights, at the end of the day sometimes it’s the old boxy tube televisions that bring you the most happiness.

Are you a gamer looking to start or expand your CRT setup? If so, then you’re in luck! We have CRT TVs with built-in component RGB inputs as well as S-Video for getting high-definition picture from your retro gaming console. You can find our large selection of tube TVs here. Happy gaming!

https://spencertified.com/collections/vintage-tube-televisions