Comparing over 10 different CRT Monitors - which one is the best for Retro Gaming?

In this Video we take a look at many different CRT Gaming Monitors from different Brands and with different specs. By comparing the different Tube Technologies (Diamondtron, Trinitron, Shadow Mask) and things like size or Curved vs Flat Screens, we explore the Topic of RetroGaming with them. Although the answer to the question, which CRT Monitor is the best for Retrogaming, is always a personal one, I’m sure you can find some guidance in this Video for future reference!

[@melon7592]

very nice content, definitely subscribing

[@RetroGamingBase]

Thanks for watching 😀

[@twistidclowns]

The best one is the one I found on the side of the road.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Haha, which one was that? 😀

[@ClaytonCLF]

Ahhh, please, don't tease me like that XD! CRT monitors are impossible to find around my region here in Brazil, and the last one I got is safely stored for future nostalgia!

[@RetroGamingBase]

Haha oh yeah, they have become so fricking rare nowadays

[@saricubra2867]

My Samsung Syncmaster 955DF (ridiculously ahead of it's time) gem from 2001 can reach 1856x1344 res. Triad size is around 0.2 mm, it's almost a true 1440p equivalent. Aperture Grille monitors are a lot brighter but the dots from the shadow mask gives a painterly look that can't be matched by aperture grille, a perfect natural antialiasing tool for both 2D and 3D games. The color accuracy of my Samsung is crazy, i watched current high end Samsung OLEDs with HDR and look the same (with the exception of brightness, OLEDs are a lot brighter), including calibrated screens for graphics design. We need 1440p QD OLEDs around 400 USD.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Nice! And that’s soo true man

[@saricubra2867]

I use a component shader for emulators and another shader for interlacing, then i change the refresh rate and res to 640x480 120Hz. That's your BVM look. I also have a 32inch Sony Trinitron KV TV from 2002, but it looks a lot worse on games. In fact, my 955DF ruined 1080p digital displays as well, it's ridiculously ahead of it's time.

[@cycleoffire2220]

I'm looking for the small ~15" apperture CRT, but there is little to no systemic info about what models and brands to look at, as most "top" lists includes only 19-21" monitors. Maybe you now such lists, so I would know which CRTs to look for? Thanks, and great collection btw!

[@crestofhonor2349]

I use my dad's old Apple Multiple Scan 17 and 20. Both have Sony Trinitron tubes and are curved. I don't really do any retro gaming on it though outside of emulating old console games with CRT shaders. Most of my time with it is either watching modern media or using it for modern gaming

[@bbertram2]

my man! I love your collection.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Thanks bro 😅🍻

[@SP95]

Man this is not a retro gaming room, this is a museum

[@RetroGamingBase]

Haha thanks 😅 it’s actually my workshop that I use for KZbin videos also. I have a retro gaming room also

[@MrTennisShorts]

From the beginning in the video where you're panning the camera, and just the motion clarity of what you were projecting on the CRT's is so clear and sexy.. my god

[@RetroGamingBase]

Thanks 😊 and yeah it’s totally amazing and I’m glad more people get to appreciate the beauty of this tech 👍

[@MrTennisShorts]

@@RetroGamingBase Bro, you have a CRT paradise, good on you! Amazing!

[@DecoyBacon]

i want to get upset about the hoarding here but damn if i dont love the content being made from it and the commitment ive seen elsewhere from you to sell a bunch the community when finished. keep em coming bud!

[@RetroGamingBase]

Thanks bro! 😀 Yeah some of these CRTs are not on KZbin yet and also nowhere else on the Internet. I finally want to give them the attention they deserve now. Also I’m not even planning to sell right now but I more would like to make raffles for my community here where I will give them away for shipping cost. Well, maybe not the FW900 🤣 but I also have a lot of other stuff besides CRT and I recently got the whole inventory of a old German computer store that closed 15 years ago

[@DecoyBacon]

@@RetroGamingBase we need an episode just on whatever occurred to acquire the content of the computer store! :) FWIW i ran a location of a computer store chain in the states for about a decade. It makes me sad when i think about my old monitor wall and what we used to have available

[@RetroGamingBase]

@@DecoyBacon Awwwww yeah I remember these walls also from our Media Markets over here! In one there were like 20 Sony Trinitron 17“ besides each other. Back in 1997 those were unaffordable luxuries 🤣

[@Adam-jr4lx]

I agree. I think 17-19" is the sweet spot. I think Sony makes the best overall sets. You didn't mention other factors like geometry or voltage regulation. The cheapo brands tends to have poor voltage regulation and flat screens have worse geometry. My current preferred monitor is a flat screen Sony 21" G520. It's also possible to convert lower end Sony E series into higher end G versions.

[@BackSlashJvb125]

the dfference between flat vs curved was shocking to me tbh lol

[@RetroGamingBase]

Yeah! Many don’t have that on their radar when playing on these Monitors. To be fair, our eyes also perfectly get used to flat CRTs and that’s still so much better than LCD screens 😃 But if you compare them side by side your eyes will tell you very clear which one is better view with more depths 😀

[@adamplechaty]

Awesome! Such a collection... Did you Windas your FW? Could be a nice video about how tweakable these trinitrons are.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Not yet! Still have to do that

[@ibleminen]

Since you have so many CRT's I would love to hear your thoughts on technologies like LightFrame (Philips), SuperBright (Mitsubishi) and similar technologies that are used to boost the brightness of CRT monitors.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Well yeah I know them. Personally I don’t like them so much as I only play in dimly lit or dark rooms. I can imagine though, that they can be good if you play in bright rooms or in daylight. My worry would be that they wear out the Monitor faster though

[@ibleminen]

@@RetroGamingBase i personally only have been able find more info about lightframe from Philips and they say it’s only the peak that gets raised while the average brightness stays the same. Another thing they say they have implemented is an ABL circuit, that checks the average brightness. Though I am not sure if superbright functions similar. Also if you are interested in the article about lightframe the article is named: What is LightFrame Technology?

[@boblabelle6704]

Either silicon graphics or sony trinitron . but then i liked nec multisyncs as well . good days gone by

[@RetroGamingBase]

Great choices and very true words man 👍🍻

[@lovemadeinjapan]

When one is splitting hairs in a heap of tubes worth over 10K.... You better show us how you welded 100mm steel H-girders to build a desk for 1000kg of tubes.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Haha! Bests comment ever 🤣👍

[@MarkerXD]

The best one is a random siemens mcm 1702 (only reason: I found it on our attic)

[@RetroGamingBase]

That’s reason enough! 🍻

[@WingmanLive]

Are vga monitors 4:3 aspect ratio? I thought they were 5:4? I had it in my head that ntsc tv's were the only thing that did 4:3. I thought even pal tv's were 5:4 aswell.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Standard CRTs are all true 4:3 😀 You can run a 5:4 resolution like 1280x1024 on them but it’s not optimal. The only real 5:4 Monitors that I know are early LCDs with a native resolution of 1280x1024.

[@WingmanLive]

@@RetroGamingBase im from England things are different here U.K. pal sets had 700x570 .@50hz wich was allso 5:4 aspect so thats why its confusing its because things in uk are weird.

[@lefi8435]

interesting.

[@RetroGamingBase]

Thanks for watching! 😀

[@williamaliceman]

do you guys still buying them in the old store in london ?

[@RetroGamingBase]

There is a old store in London still selling CRTs?! Never heard about that before 😀 do you know more details?

[@williamaliceman]

@@RetroGamingBase i just saw your store guys in London by using the Google's map website, do you guys know any store in the US or UK that still buys these CRT monitors ?

[@mr.electronx9036]

📺RÖHRE!

[@RetroGamingBase]

Haha auf jeden Fall 😅

[@wailsnov]

Hey I found a LG 710e for 20$ and I have no idea if it's good the resolution is 1280X1024 60hz max But I read in Reddit it's not the max resolution the Max is 1536X1152 60hz it's like 1440p I don't know if this is true I will buy it if that's true I know that game in 60 HZ It's not ideal I will lower the resolution but i want to watch anime in Max resolution can you help me know the max resolution and if have a good deal

[@RetroGamingBase]

Trust me there, on a 17“ use 800x600 or 1024x768 max. Also look that you get 85Hz minimum as the CRT technology will put strain on the human eye when using 60Hz 😀 Good news is that on a 17“ those low resolutions will look like Full HD or 4K! This is not exaggerating and you will agree when you have seen it once 😀🍻

[@WingmanLive]

I overclock my pc for beasty performance! Then go play some 240p games!😒