Out since the late 40s, CRT-driven direct view TVs have come a long way. Driven by CRT technology that, while bulky, is still the most common and reliable type of TV technology on the planet. CRT TVs offer an extremely clear picture and, when calibrated correctly, can produce a picture that rivals the big screen. Flat panels based on LCD and Plasma technology are slowly but surely replacing CRT as manufactures push to sell the chic TVs consumers lust for.

The largest direct view CRT TVs are 36-40 inches in the standard 4:3 ratio with many direct view CRT TVs available in the widescreen 16:9 format. A direct view TV's biggest limitation is its size, but its clarity should all but make up for that. For larger rooms, a direct view set might not be the right solution, and you may want to consider a rear projection TV, or Plasma TV.

There's a plethora of flat panel LCD TVs that are much more expensive than CRT TVs, and offer less picture quality. If you're tight for space give these a look, but for the best quality and bang-for-your-buck CRT is still where it's at. Despite the flat panels being shown more in showrooms, more CRT based TVs are still sold than any other type of TV technology.

Is a Direct View TV Right for You?
Many people do not want a huge projection TV taking over their home theater or prefer the smaller detailed look that a direct view TV offers. Also, many people don't want to spend $2000 on a TV. For these people, a direct view CRT-driven TV is the perfect fit.

Direct view TVs offer crystal clear images with almost every source out there whether it be a VCR, satellite, or DVD. While direct view CRT TVs suffer from a smaller screen size, they offer supreme clarity and the absolute best picture quality among all TV technologies.

The HDTV conundrum
HDTV compatibility is available in many direct view models. These sets offer a line doubling feature that upconverts any signal that is not high-definition to a progressive one that is supposed to show more detail.

The problem is that some of these "HDTV compatible" TVs offer low-end line doublers that actually make the upconverted image look worse than the standard definition signal. Look for HDTV compatible TVs that offer great picture quality with standard definition, DVD, and high-definition sources.

With direct view TVs you have a couple of options when it comes to getting an HDTV model. You can get a widescreen model (16:9) or a standard square format (4:3). The 4:3 version will display HDTV source in a letterboxed format, while widescreen models will display HD full screen and offer different image stretch modes for 4:3 sources. Either is a great solution, and it's just a matter of your personal usage or preference which screen format will best serve you.

What's the right size for your room
For most rooms a direct view TV is the perfect size, or the room can be arranged so that TV ends up being the right size. To start you'll need a rough idea where you are planning to sit, and where the TV is going to be located. If your starting out in a brand new room it's best to decide the TV position first, then measure the optimal viewing range from the TV to find out where to place your seating.

In order for a movie to give you the "you are there" experience you want the screen to take up as much of your vision as possible so sitting at or near the optimal viewing range will give you the best home theater experience.

The optimal viewing range is the closest possible point you can sit in front of a TV without seeing the lines of resolution (the lines that make up the picture). Sitting too close can cause nausea and headaches. This is normally a problem for people who buy too large a TV for their room. To figure out the optimal viewing range is easy: for standard definition TVs measure the size of the tube diagonally and multiply by 2.5, or use the HDTV equation of 3.2 times the screen height. That number is how far away from TV that the optimal viewing range rests. Of course you can sit farther away, but that'll take away from the experience.

Note: with HDTVs you can sit a lot closer due to the fact that you cannot see the structure that makes the image until you're right next to the screen. The guidelines for optimum seating with HDTVs are to sit as close as comfortably possible. The problem with smaller TV's is that you'll likely end up sitting too close for comfort. The optimal viewing range equation works well for projection HDTVs, but may be unpractical when you apply it to smaller direct view HDTVs.

What to Look For
You'll want a picture that can display the deepest blacks and the brightest whites. There's really no way of testing this in the stores since almost all of them never calibrate the TVs, and it's usually not the proper environment to accurately rate the TV. You'll simply have to rely on product reviews, a personal friend's experience, or the advice of the sales people (yuck). This leaves the inputs, outputs, features, and remotes of the set.

Connections
Any new TV you look at should have enough inputs and outputs to support all your current gear while leaving room for expansion.

Look for multiple video inputs:

• S-Video
• Component
• DVI
• HDMI

DVI and HDMI may only be offered on a few TVs, but since this is the preferred connection type of manufacturers for the high-definition DVD formats, these connection types may be very important down the road. It shouldn't be considered a deal breaker if the TV you're looking at doesn't have them.

There should also be outputs, but most likely all you'll ever need is one audio / video output for each type of connection. Multiple cable inputs should be available for those that desire Picture-in-Picture. For more info on the connection types see "Connections".

Features
A lot of manufacturers go nuts with different features, and it can be hard to keep it all straight. Overall anything that improves picture quality is great while anything that improves sound quality is worthless. You'll be using your sound system to produce all the sound; not the wimpy speakers on the TV.

3-D Digital Comb Filters are great, and each company offers it's own reasons as to why theirs is better. A better comb filter means less dots, fringing, and patterns you'll see on the edges of objects in the picture. S-Video and Component connections bypass the comb filter, making the comb filter a useless option if those are the only types of connections you are going to use.

For all other features such as multiple picture-in-picture, video freezing, and so on, you really need to ask yourself whether you'll ever actually use the features. If you're looking to get a really nice TV you'll end up getting most of these features you don't need anyway, but they can be pretty fun to play with. If one little feature is perplexing you on a decision between two TVs, be honest with yourself on whether you actually need it.

Remotes
Remotes can have a great impact on how you perceive your TV. If the remote is clunky and hard to use, you'll most likely enjoy your TV a lot less. A remote should fit comfortably in your hand with buttons sized accordingly to their function. You should be easily able to operate the remote with little or no light, and execute simple functions within one button press. Remotes that are non-intuitive strain your control and can ruin your home theater experience. If you hate the remote but love the TV, you can always get a universal remote that can do most of the common functions needed.

Recommendations
The better CRT driven TV will come with a flat screen surface with Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Samsung being clear leaders in direct view CRT TV technology. Samsung is the most recent entry into the market and offers nicely equipped direct view TVs. Samsung offers a TV that's 1/3 thinner by incorporating new CRT technology. Look for other manufacturers to implement the thinner CRT technology as well

Small Flat Screens
If you have a tight location that won't fit a bulky CRT you could opt for a small LCD panel. LCDs don't offer better picture quality than CRT TVs, and most suffer from color issues when viewing at an angle. You'll also pay almost twice as much for the thin screen size, but if the location is tight or the look of a flat panel is desired then an LCD panel may be your best bet.

Avoid the absolute cheapest flat LCD TVs as they tend to offer really poor video quality. When at the store ask for a non-HD demonstration so you can set how the TV performs with standard definition material. Watch for motion smearing as LCD technology can be slow when depicting motion.

Jumping to Plasma or Rear Projection
When you get into the more expensive price range of direct view TVs you run into the price of the Plasma TVs. 37-42 inch plasmas start at around $1500-$2000. If you don't plan on using your TV for massive amounts of video gaming, a Plasma TV may be a good option for you to look into. Also with tremendous reductions in the prices of DLP and LCD rear projection TVs, you may find you can afford a much bigger TV at the same price.

Brands: (in alphabetical order)

• Panasonic (www.panasonic.com)
• Philips (www.philipsusa.com)
• Samsung (www.samsung.com)
• Sony (www.sony.com)
• Toshiba (www.toshiba.com)
• Zenith (www.zenith.com)