When it comes to retro gaming, there are a myriad of different display types to choose from. The current go to display for most people is probably the modern day LCD TV – some of which still come with composite or component inputs for connecting older consoles with. However, if you’re not using an upscaling device your retro games will look like a blurred, terrible mess on modern televisions since they have such a high native resolution & often contain cheap scalers that are meant for upscaling movie/TV instead of gaming content.
Others insist that on using an older CRT tube TV, assuming you can live with the size and weight of the technology of yesteryear, that is. There is some truth to this, as older game consoles were designed with the idiosyncrasies of CRT’s in mind. This has fueled a surge in the amount of gamers looking for old broadcast monitors (CRTs used in professional settings) as they produce a higher quality image than a typical consumer TV would.
As someone who uses many different monitors, I wanted to take the time to focus on CRTs in particular. LED/LCD TVs are plentiful and cheap, and scaling solutions have already been well documented. So the majority of this guide will focus on other options. I have divided the guide below into a brief overview of specifications and a 2 sections on CRT recommendations: consumer grade televisions and professional broadcast style monitors.
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Inputs
The first things I always look at when I’m searching for TV/monitors are the inputs. Most consumer TVs made after 1990 will likely have at least a composite and s-video input or two which will probably be fine for most of the older pre 6th generation consoles. TVs with component inputs are also fairly common and are the ideal solution if you play a lot of 6th generation and newer games.
Also, there are actually some US made TVs that came with a scart input. But none of these will support true RGB without modification. Avoid RF only sets like the plague.
Some of the last CRTs ever made were produced with VGA or digital inputs such as HDMI. If you want one TV that can do everything, it’s probably best to look for one of these. The most popular and proflific of these types of sets are the Sony XBR series.
Broadcast type monitors such as the Sony PVM/BVM series will almost always come with composite, s-video, RGB, and component inputs. These will usually be in the form of BNC jacks so you will need a RCA to BNC adapter to make proper use of them.
Note: If you are using RGB scart for your consoles and are purchasing a broadcast monitor, consider investing in a scart to BNC cable.
Shadow Mask (Curved) Vs Aperture Grill (Flat) Tubes
This is more of a personal preference but it bears mentioning nonetheless: Consumer televisions and broadcast monitors fall into two categories and each of them have a slightly different “look” when it comes to displaying content.
Older TVs and monitors will almost always have curved picture tubes and will likely only carry s-video and composite inputs. If you’re going for that old school look, nothing really beats a curved tube style set. In my experience, many times flat CRT tubes suffer from convergence issues and I have found that it is difficult to get a good picture at the corners of the set.
The vast majority of curved CRTs not made by Sony use shadow mask technology. Shadow masks produce more of a grid like image and will often have very vibrant colors. Depending on the age of the set you may also get some luminance blooming (the brighter parts of the image will wash out the scan line look) which is fairly easy to spot if you test your unit in person before you purchase it.
CRTs made after the late 90s will often have a flat picture tube. Generally, flat screen CRTs will have slightly less distortion and reduced glare from light sources such as lamps or sunlight. Flat screen CRTs are more advanced internally and will usually have a lot of extra features such as signal processing to improve sharpness/contrast and perform color correction. Many of these sets will also have comb filters on the composite inputs which will help to sharpen and reduce dot crawl on a composite source considerably.
Flat CRTs mostly use Sony’s aperture grill technology. Aperture grills are found on most Sony consumer TVs and all Sony professional video monitors. The picture will have a flatter and more sharper/realistic appearance and much less glare due to the flatness of the screen.
Beware: On some more worn-out TVs you may be able to make out very faint horizontal lines, (the stabilizing wires of the Aperture grill) but this is very rare.
Horizontal Resolution
Horizontal resolution is a measurement of the TVs line count. The higher the TVs line count the finer and sharper the image it can display. Broadcast monitors have very high line counts that will display an almost perfect image – some might say too perfect – with very thin scan lines.
Additionally, most consumer grade television’s fall somewhere between 300 – 500 lines of horizontal resolution, which is about the ideal range for 240p and 480i signals.
Modern LED/LCD TVs have a fixed resolution that they will display content at. This is typically in the 1366×768 (720p) or 1920×1080 (1080p) range. Any content that is lower than the above resolutions will be blown up by the TVs built in scaler. Older consoles run in the 256×240 range which is why they look so bad on these monitors.
CRT Tubes
So you want the best picture possible, and you’re willing to hunt down a good quality CRT. The good news is that these old sets are cheap and plentiful. However, not all CRTs are created equal. Choosing the best CRT will depend entirely on your budget and needs. If you have a fairly decent budget, than I recommend you opt for a professional broadcast style monitor such as one in the PVM/BVM series. If you are more of a casual gamer and don’t want to spend a lot of money, shoot for a good consumer grade CRT, as these can oftentimes be found for free on your local craigslist.
Note: while certain model numbers may have more features than others, this is the wrong thing to focus on. I have come across a few barely used FS100s and 480i pvms that displayed a much better picture than my FV310 or my higher end BVM. Most crts have sat in someone’s living room or in a professional studio and probably were left on 24/7. So if you find one that hasn’t had a whole lot of use/hours than it will probably serve you very well and last much longer than a higher end model with lots of heavy use.
Consumer Grade TVs
If you don’t want to track down an expensive and likely worn out PVM/BVM RGB monitor, a consumer grade CRT is the next best thing. Most of the models below can be had for under $50 or even free as people dump their old TV sets to buy their snazzy new LCD TVs, which in reality have horrible black levels, terrible response times, and a fixed resolution that scales poorly with older content.
Snagging a good consumer grade CRT is an easy and headache free alternative to tracking down a professional monitor. This is especially true if you take the extra step to modify your set for RGB or acquire a set with component inputs and use a good converter.
However – just like in the broadcast sphere, not all consumer televisions are created equal. On the low-end, you will find old RF only TVs which will generally have a very low TVL count. Newer sets will have component and sometimes even digital inputs and a much higher TVL counts which will produce an image that is pretty close to a low-end broadcast monitor.
Unless you live in a place that still happens to produce CRTs, it is highly unlikely you will find any of these TVs new. So for simplicity’s sake, I have decided to focus on the TVs that are most commonly found on places like your local Craigslist, due to the size & weight of CRTs. Craigslist is also ideal as you may often be able to get a TV for free. I have found that many people will be more than eager for someone to take their old TV off their hands so you can usually find what you’re looking for fairly quickly and cheaply with little competition.
Here is a quick breakdown of the features you should look for in a consumer grade TV. I will separate the list below into two categories: 480i and 480P/1080i:
480i TVs
Most of these 480i TVs are 4:3 aspect ratio and come in sizes ranging from 27″ – 36″. Keep in mind that the models above 27” are generally very heavy so you may want to bring a few friends to help in your CRT quest.
Sony
Sony TVs are by far the most common sets you will find simply because they used to make really nice televisions. These TVs were produced in overwhelmingly large numbers, so you can probably find dozens of these locally for free.
FS Series
The FS100 is the base model in the FS series and I come across these very often. It comes with composite (with a comb filter), s-video, and component jacks. The FS320 has a few extra features such as Sony’s “clear edge vm” technology, which i recommend you leave off. Later models in the FS series also feature a built-in subwoofer that actually does produce very clear and resonant bass, which is quite a rarity for built in speakers.
Fv Series
The FV series were literally the last 480i CRT televisions that Sony ever produced. These sets come with a bit more features and extras then the FS series, but they are exceedingly rare. So it may take you quite a lot of digging to find one.
This model uses the same chassis as the FS series, so you will of course get a slew of inputs on the back as well as a front s-video and composite A/V input.
Standout technologies on the sets include our Sony’s clear edge and Dina black technologies, which helps to greatly sharpen image detail and improve contrast.
Like the FS320, all TVs in the series have a built-in subwoofer and the option to simulate surround sound. So if you’re someone who doesn’t like to use external speakers than the FV series will be a good alternative to a bulky sound set up.
As far as model numbers go, the two most sought after sets in the FV serious are the 300 and 310 models. The only difference between the two is that the 300 series does not include a high voltage regulator. This feature is supposed to increase the brightness and focus of the picture but on my 310 I find that sometimes this can make the whites a little too bright.
Keep in mind there are many different Sony TV series and many models often share the same chassis, however not all of them are able to be modified for RGB. Wikipedia has a full list of Sony CRT models.
JVC I ‘Art
If you prefer more of a shadow mast type of look than I highly recommend looking for a JVC I ‘Art set. This is one of the newer shadow mask sets that doesn’t have a curved screen, which makes it kind of unique.
Like its Sony counterpart, the I’Art to come stock with composite, s-video, and component inputs. This series also has built-in simulated surround sound and ranges and sizes from 27″ to 30″. Look for model number AV-XXF702 (xx is the size in inches) when browsing Craigslist.
JVC D Series
The JVC D series is unique and that it boasts a whopping 700 lines of horizontal resolution, which is about double the average consumer grade television. This makes the D series closer to a professional broadcast monitor and it will produce a very fine image that has very thin scan lines. Look for model numbers: AV-27D201 and AV-27D200
480p & HD TVs
EDTVs are unique in that they will display a fully (480p) progressive signal. Since they are meant for 480p content, and all 240p signals will be upscaled which will results in less than desirable picture. However, EDTV will still look better than a comparable 720p/1080p LCD display.
Samsung, Toshiba, and some of the other large TV manufacturers produced a small number of EDTVs models but none of them really stand out specifically. The reason for this is because not all a lot of them were made. EDTVs came out during the heyday of the DVD era and were quickly phased out in lieu of HD CRTs and HD LCDs.
So if you’re looking for a TV that can display more than just 240p signals, you may as well get an HD CRT. HD CRTs offer a good middle ground between a professional broadcast monitor and an LCD. There are quite a few different models of HD CRTs but 2 models in particular stand above all the rest when it comes to retro gaming.
XBR960/800
The XBR960 is 34 inch widescreen HD CRT. This highly versatile CRT will accept a myriad of inputs, and can display 720p/1080i signals. It has quite a few composite, s-video, and component inputs. It also has a handy HDMI input for all of your modern consoles. However like the EDTVs before it, the XBR will upscale all 240p signals to 480p. This isn’t a problem for newer gen consoles, but anything pre 6th gen will not look its best. Additionally, light guns will not work on this TV.
Also, many XBR960s (with the exclusion of the N series models) come with an antiglare coating on the screen. If this coating gets scratched or damaged it’s possible to remove it however it will leave a very sticky residue behind that will be difficult to clean off.
If you’re looking for a 4:3 screen you might also consider the XBR800, which has very similar specs to the 960 and roughly the same inputs.
US TVs With SCART RGB INPUTS? RCA Colortrek & Lyceum
In the mid-1980s RCA produced a number of cabinet style TVs with really cool looking “digital command center” remotes. These TVs were considered high-end in their day and some even came with – believe it or not – a SCART input. However, this turned out to be a marketing ploy by the EIA as the port was mainly meant for digital cable descramblers and does not support RGB. Bummer.
Loewe Aconda 38″
This is a rare curved tube TV that was originally produced by a German company. It has a unique appearance *almost like a sculpture) and at 38 inches, it’s quite possibly one of the largest HD CRTs ever made.
In addition to the standard composite and component video jacks, the Lowy also has a VGA input. This makes it an ideal CRT if you’re a big fan of the Dreamcast.
The Loewe also comes with extensive built-in audio set up: four built-in speakers with dual 12 watt amplifiers.
NOTE: Many of These TVs do not work with light guns!
Professional broadcast monitors
If you have a little money to spend, then you can do no better than a broadcast style CRT for your retro gaming hobby. Broadcast CRTs were used by professional video editors and cable TV stations for color correction and image accuracy. These CRTs are top of the line and will often boast a myriad of inputs along with having a very high TV line count, generally in the 600 – 1000 range.
The vast majority of broadcast monitors your likely to find are made by Sony, since they tended to dominate the CRT market (especially the professional one) in the late 80’s/90’s. These monitors are available in screen sizes ranging from 9″ all the way up to 32”, but the 14” to 20” models are the most common.
There are many different models of Sony broadcast monitors, but they can be broken down into 2 categories: the PVM or BVM series.
PVM or Sony “professional video monitors” are the lower end models in Sonys broadcast line. They will generally have fewer options to tweak the picture and a more simplistic interface and input options. PVMs resemble consumer CRTS in that they are squarer shaped and come with an onboard speaker. Most are 480i only and this range tops out at a respectable 900 scanlines.
BVM or Sony “broadcast video monitors” are Sony’s top of the line units. These have a myriad of input options and also offer removable input cards to change or upgrade the inputs at any time. Many of the early model BVM’s are 480i only however the newer models have multi format support and some of them were made with a 16:9 screen. Later models in this series are some of the highest quality CRTs Sony has ever produced.
BVM’s are generally rectangular shaped as they are meant to be rack mounted which can make them a little inconvenient if you don’t a lot of space to work with.
Odd sizing aside, BVMs have many stand out features that you will not find elsewhere. A handy feature that will help in your monitor hunting is the display hour’s counter. All BVMs will show how long they have been turned on for. This will give you a good idea of how much use your particular monitor has had, especially if you can’t test it in person.
Hour count doesn’t always tell the full story however, as many BVMs have had their picture tube replaced at some point – especially if they were used in a broadcast setting.
The easiest place to find these is eBay but be prepared to pay a lot for shipping if you purchase a larger model. If you don’t want to pay shipping and prefer to stay local than you may have to do a bit of digging. I recommend checking with electronics recyclers or video editing houses in your area.
Here is a quick guide to help you decide on a monitor that suits your particular brand of retro gaming. The list below is divided into 4 categories. There are many different types of PVM’s and BVM’s, but these are the models most commonly found on eBay.
Legend: When looking at model numbers, the first number denotes the screen size in inches, the first letter denotes the series, the second number is the specific series model (lower numbers generally indicate a lower end model with the lower scanline count), and the last letter denotes the region: E for Europe, U for the United States, and J for Japan.
480i PVMS & BVMS
PVM MD/Q Series
The PVM MD (medical display) series comes in 13 inch or 19 inch varieties and will support composite, s-video, and RGB. Some later models will also support component. All MDUs have an onboard speaker as well. The tubes are generally rated at around 600 scan lines, which is the ideal resolution for displaying a crisp 240p image.
These monitor were used in a medical environment and have a nifty white casing and a very thickly insulated power plug. A lot of them are very simplistic and will not have an OSD, instead opting for a front panel with buttons that will let you perform some (very limited) picture adjustments.
The nonmedical equivalent of these monitors would be the Q series. These also come in 13” to 19” varieties and offer much of the same inputs. You can often find these models fairly cheaply on eBay or at your local electronics recycling center.
Stand out models: PVM-1954Q, PVM-1354Q, PVM-1953MD, PVM-1353MD
PVM M Series
If you want something a little higher end, than I recommend an M series PVM. The 14M4U and the 20M4U are the standout models in this series as they have a very high scanline count (800 lines) which produces an amazing picture.
The 14M2U and 20M2U are lower end models with a much lower scanline count, but I would pick one of these up over an older PVM simply because they are likely to have a later manufacture date due to them being a later model in the PVM line up.
There are also a 14/20MDU models which are the medical equivalent, but I’ve heard that these have electrical issues so I recommend avoiding them.
Note: Sony also produced an N series for security use which have very low specs and do not support RGB or component. Don’t get these confused with the M models.
Standout Models: PVM-20M4U, PVM-14M4U
BVM F Series
If you’re looking for the best of the best, you may want to consider a BVM F series. The 20 inch model tops out at a whopping 900 scanlines, which makes it pretty much the best monitor for displaying 15 kHz RGB content.
The larger BVM’s support up to four different input cards, and most of them will do composite, RGB, and component. A lot of BVM’s also come with an SDI input.
Standout Models: BVM-20F1U, BVM-14F1U, BVM-14F5U
480P/720P PVMs & BVMs
PVM L Series
If you’re looking for multi format support, it’s tough to beat the PVM L series. The L5 series PVMs are one of the few models that will display 480p, 720p, and 1080i content. The L series models are ideal if you prefer a 4:3 screen but need 480p support as they offer a switchable aspect ratio for the later generation games that display in 16:9 modes.
Also be advised that the lower and models in the series are 480i only.
The series tops out at about 800 scanlines.
Standout models: 14L5, 20L5
BVM D Series
For the person that needs a really large monitor, the D series is ideal. The models in the series start at 14” on the low-end and 32” on the high-end.
That’s right, 32 inches. If you absolutely need the biggest and best monitor out there, than look no further than the BVM D32. The BVM-D32E1WU is widescreen, 1000 scanline monitor that is probably one of the largest and heaviest CRTs Sony has ever produced. If you want one of these things, be prepared to pay up as prices have been steadily rising over the years.
If you’re dead set on a widescreen monitor you should also consider the D32’s younger brother: The BVM-D24E1WU. The D24 is a very nice widescreen monitor that isn’t quite as heavy and doesn’t take up as much space as its sibling. This is a nice monitor to have since a lot of games produce a bit of over scan on 4:3 monitors so you wont miss out on anything since the unit has a widescreen tube.
Standout Models: BVM-D32E1WU, BVM-D24E1WU, BVM-D20F1U, BVM-D14H1U/H5U
BVM A Series
The A Series BVMS are the last broadcast monitors Sony produced and were manufactured up until about the year 2004 or so. These units quite rare and expensive, however they are likely to have a lower hour count than some of the older series BVMS.
They are very similar to the D series and have mostly the same inputs however there is one small caveat – out of the box the A series will only support digital signals. There is an input card for the a series that will allow it to support 240p signals however as of this writing it is very expensive and I’ve also heard reports of sync issues with low resolution signals. Unless you’re lucky enough to find a unit with a BKM 168X card already installed, I recommend you avoid the A serious altogether.
If the above list isn’t enough for you, CRT Gaming on Reddit has a full list of PVM/BVM models.
Other Broadcast Monitors
NEC XM29
The XM29 is a peculiar 600 line 4:3 broadcast display that is very large and functions more like a high-end PC monitor. This monitor supports a myriad of signals, ranging from composite all the way up to VGA. It displays a beautiful 640 x 480 picture and is probably an ideal monitor to play Dreamcast (thanks to the DCs VGA output) games on.
NEC also saw fit to include built-in stereo amplifier which can power a pair of active monitor speakers. Probably a good thing, since this unit is so large I doubt you would have any room left on your entertainment center for a separate receiver.
Other Brands
Although Sony dominated the broadcast monitor field, there were a few competitors that produce some comparable monitors. JVC and Panasonic have some very nice curved tube displays that rival many mid-and high end PVM monitors.
is a Japanese company that made several very nice displays in the late 90s that were on par with many of Sony’s BVM offerings. There HTM series has a very high line count and is also capable of HD resolutions.
Stand out models: BM-H1300SU/H1900SU, Panasonic BT-H1390Y, Panasonic BT-H1950Y, and HTM-2070R
Alternatives
If you’re you prefer more of a modern style display but aren’t quite sold on LCD’s than it may be worth your while to look for an old plasma TV. Generally, plasmas produce a slightly higher quality picture than most LCD or LED televisions.
If you can still find one, the Samsung PN51F4500 is actually one of the few plasmas that can handle 240p content very well. This is a massive big screen television that is only slightly lighter than a CRT so you may want to bring some friends to help you lift/mount it.
Future Technology
Many manufacturers are now starting to produce OLED TVs. These new TVs are a derivative of LCD technology and have the ability to display almost perfect black levels as well as pictures with very high contrast.
However, these sets are still very expensive and display low resolution content very poorly. If you opt for an OLED it is advisable to use it with a decent scaler to get the most out of the increased size & contrast/black levels.
