New Technology TV

Rumors of the demise of the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) are somewhat premature. For many decades, the TV that we all grew up with—the only type of television we knew—was the big, clunky, glass screen, heavily and thickly built CRT television.

Some consumer magazines suggested last year, that anyone who wanted a low price on a relatively large screen CRT television needed to act quickly, because the SD (Standard Definition) televisions were good bargains, but were vanishing from store shelves to make way for the HDTV Plasmas, LCD’s and projection TV’s. Reportedly, Panasonic has stopped production of CRT’s altogether.
Korean manufacturers, who are leading the way in some areas of the high-tech revolution in flat panel televisions, have apparently engineered a way to make the CRT much thinner than ever before. They are selling a 32-inch model that is only around 13 inches thick! I have a 32-inch monster in the next room that has a great picture and sound, but is almost 2 feet thick! It barely sits on its table, and sticks far out into the room!

These new, slim, Korean CRT’s may extend the life of the CRT indefinitely. At just over a foot thick, with excellent picture quality, these sets sell for a much lower price than their high-def brethren. Normally, the thinner CRT would require much higher voltage (and therefore greater heat output) because the increased angle of deflection. And too much heat buildup is an unacceptable problem, as we all know. The designers have figured out a way to use Class D amplification instead of the old, analog AB amplifiers. They use pulse width modulation, which increases the efficiency and provides a significant reduction in amplifier heating.

The demand for slim CRT’s, and the profit margins to market them, will probably not be that great in the United States and Europe. Many other consumers, just entering the television market, think of India and China, are finding these CRT’s almost irresistible. The Middle East is also a potential market. Much of the manufacturing of these sets is occurring in and around Russia, an area well known for their tube amplifier and vacuum tube making factories. This recent development in CRT technology also includes the addition of a 21-inch set, to complement the twenty-nine and thirty-two inch models. Thinner construction means fewer materials are used, so the production costs can be cut. While these new sets are thinner, the weights remain roughly the same, and a large, 36-inch set can still weigh in at over a shocking 245 pounds! It seems that our old sentimental favorite will live on, in a newer, slimmer body for some time to come.